The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-26


able senators had examined that report, should moi
have deemed myself at liberty TO have said one word
upon the subject for il embraces The whole question:
and leaves, In Tact. nothing TO say concludes with
the recommendation 10 repeal these laws, based upon
facts and arguments InconJoveTube.
Here, then. we have, sir, the opinions OF two dstn-
guished chiefs OF the Treasury Department gentlemen
occupying high stand as statesmen aud opposite posi-
tons upon the subject OF commerceone being an ayo-
cate of free trade and the other proteconis YET both
recommending repeal OF these measures Their ludg-
mens were formed alter clear. comprehensive, and
elaborate investigation OF the whole subject an exami.
nation OF which necessarily involved the ascertanment
OF nearly every ton OF shipping and every commodity OF
commerce which has entered into our trade with Cuba
for the past eighteen years.
This proposition 10 repeal these two acts of Congress
addresses itself to the country ia two aspectsone
simple commercial regulation, involving dollars and ceats
only, and the other in it's political bearing rela
tons with the island OF Cuba; and propose, first 10 adj
vert TO it simply as commercial regulation.
In examining the subject, md that the tonnage du
ties OF Spain upon American vessels in her home ports
prior to 1877 five cents per ton, or Whereabouts;
and that during this identical PERIOD and for many years
afterwards, the United States were charging upon Span
sh tonnage in ports one dollar per ton, OF which
fifty cents called slight money" AS matter OF
course these onerOus restrictions upon Spanish COM
merce caused countervalling exacons by SPAN upon
ours, which soon became so to seriously
embarrass commerce with her Oar minister at the
court of Madrid, at tina. time Mr. Van Ness, was in
alruced by the Executive TO demonstrate against these
duties; and the result that he obtained the royal
der Of April 30, 1882, by which the Spanish restrictions
in her home ports, were removed from our tonnage and
reduced to what they in 1877, VIZ hve cents per
ton But this royal order was accompanied BY frovso
that should have eac! until the United States should
reciprocate in similar manner and this the President
authorized 10 do by an act Oh congress, passed IN
! 1892
| The royal order extended only to the home CONT
mental ports OF Spain and did not embrace her colonies
where discrimination in favor OF her own tonnage
not against ours particularly, but against that OF all the
word-had existed Our minister was called upon 10
demonstrate against this SPAIN matter OF course,
our vessels TO engage her colonial trade perfect
equality with herself; and this refusal originated the
laws now IN question Is
In applying dterentrue TO her colonies from AoAat
which she willing extend to her home ports Spain
was not originating unjust, ilbera rule She was
simply carrying out the policy OF every maritime power OF
Europe having c0lonies-simply adopting that policy
which has governed ever since we have been
ment, far commercial marine is concerned The
powers OF Europe having colonies have uniformly con-
tended that their commercial conventions anu treaties
never embraced those colonies, unless they were spec-
cally included High national policy, without reference
to commerce, dictated to the maritime nations OF Europe
the expedency and proprety Of holding consrainng
and controlling hand over the Intercourse OF foreigners,
and particularly by republican foreigners with their colo
Mes Spain especially governed by this policy She
had seen her American empire, the most magnificent
that ever country possessed. escape from her grasp
chiefly through the magic influence OF those new ideas
which republican foreigners had introduced to them She
saw her vast American empire reduced to the islands OF
Porto Rico and Cdba and she could moi but feel that her
tenure of hese through the intercourse of foreigners,
was reduced to mere question CI ume
| But there special and controlling reason why
Spain could not cOncede the demand OF the United States
to trade with her colonies on perfect equality with her
self When this demand was made, Span had CONNER,
cal conventions and treaties with Of the principal
maritime powers OF Europe, which stipulated that they
should have the privilege of trading with these colonies
upon the same terms as Inc most favored nauon; We
also enjoyed this privilege and were upon an equal foot
Ing with all the powers OF Europe; and concession
;c one would necessarily involve 10 all Spain could
not ccncede our demands, without also granting sml-
4 ~ IN and
OF Europe with whom she had treaties and lhis, OF
course, she not prepared to do
Her struggle with her then recenty-revolted colonies,
had stripped her of her merchant marine; and great ma
tona policy If not national safety ITSELF dictated the ne
cessy Of building up her shipping interest," and establish
ing school for her seamen and this she could only DO
by discriminating in favor OF her tonnage This dscrmi-
nation in favor of her own tonnage, not against US, but
in favor of her vessels against all others which
TO about 81 90 per ton was barely sufficient TO
attain the great object in view. II must be remembered
that she did make nvdious distinction against US,
but placed precisely upon the ground OF The most favored
| nation
| ! will ask the Senate now TO consider with what pro-
prety this demand was made by the United States upon
Spain al that time. Recollect that demanded that
vessels should go TO her colonies precisely the
footing with her Why, sir, 1t ia policy which
have never admitted but we have maintained exactly
the opposite policy II is well known 10 that voyages
from Atlantic to Pacific possessions embrace three
times the length and hazard OF voyages between Spain and
her colonies on the American coast; and yet regard
this as coaswise trade, and do not permit foreigners,
or vessels IN which foreigner owns lumber heaa
gage in IT, II we were 10 acquire Cuba tomorrow, the
right of Spain TO trade with that island would nsantane
ously She would not have right send a single
vessel there, and the idea OF our permitting foreign
sells 10 trade on equality with ourselves would be
considered dangerous by every discerning mind Of the
country.
We acquired the Flordas from Spain by treaty. Her
right 10 trade with them at once ceased, and was permit
ted for period of twelve years by express article of
the treaty. With what preprety them ask did we in
sst in regard to her colonies, condition which she
was powerless to grant without the abandonment OF
policy she dearly cherished and which we, under pre-
csey similar conditions, were not prepared to grant to
her
As have said, Spain powerless to grant our de.
mand. She could not do without surrendering
policy which she believed to be connected with her
sacrificing her entire merchant marne and conceding
TO every nation the same privileges which shc might
concede to US, and thereby, matter OF course,
not granting TO us the precise advantage which we
wanted, which was TO have a superior advantage in
the markets OF Cuba above every foreign nation. Her
refusal to give up her commercial policy, and adopt
an opposite at dctaon, produced the realiaofy
measures now under consideration These laws IN
lroduced, advocated and passed coercive measures
as reaaioy measures designed expressly 10 force Spain
into the adoption OF policy. They have been in
force for some eighteen years Every year OF their oper
alton has been marked, and the statistics OF the country
are all before us. We nave all the legitimate elements
TO form correct judgment at hand and national policy
dictates the profnety OF deliberately forming it, And il
shall find that these laws have not only failed
compsh their purpose but tina, they have had directly the
opposite eiec-if shall find that worst enemies
could not have devised more ingenious system by
which TO egslae ourselves out OF this market at our
very do0rsihen say IL is the part OF wisdom 10 revise
and TO recede from our legislation The first of these