The Washington union., 1857-05-22
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND SPAIN


STATES AND SPAIN.
There is no commercial treaty existing between
Spain and the United States, and the commercial
movements between the two countries are conse-
quently dependent onsuch regulations the Spanish
government may from time to time prescribe II is
true that the executive branch Of government is
clothed by Congress with special authority at all
times to subject the Spanish flag, or the flag Of any
other nation to such discriminating duties may be
deemed necessary countervai the restrictions and
determinations 10 which the American flag may be
subjected in foreign ports; while the same act di-
rects that upon satisfactory evidence being given TO
the President of the United States by the government
of any foreign nation that discriminating duties
of tonnage mpost are imposed or levied in the
ports of the said nation upon vessels wholly belong
ing to citizens of the United States, &c. the Pres
dent is authorized to issue his proclamation de-
clarng that the foreign discriminating duties of
tonnage and impost within the United States are
and shall be, suspended and discontinued far
as respects the vessels of the said foreign ma
ton Until within the past few years, such were
the restrictions and dferential duties, both of ton
mage and impost TO which American vessels were
subjected in the ports Of the Spanish peninsula that
the commerce between the two countries could hard
ly be said to have risen TO the Importance or
respectability of heavy retail business. Our ves-
sells were burdened with excessive port and navfga
tion duties fully 100 per cent. higher than
acted from the British French, Dutch, Russian or
Belgian flag and if TO convince us that these dis
examinations were not levelled against commerce
as penalty for whatever share the influence of
example and the success of our experiment in the
science of self-govenment may have contributed to
the earlier political revolutions of the Spanish South
American colonies, she admitted into her ports the
vessels of most if not all of the Hispano-American
republics on terms of equality with her own flag.
Under such a state Of things, our commerce with
Spain could not be otherwise than langushing and
feeble Notwithstanding the proverbia elasticity and
adventurous character of American commercial en-
terprise.
When we consider that Spain occupies, according
to Macgreggor surface nearly half greater than
all the British isles, with soil capable of raising
nearly double the value Of agricultural products
that it is eleven times large Holland land that
in respect of agricultural and commercial capabili-
ties it is favorably situated than France, Eng
land, OF amy other European nationwe would be
amazed at the great disparites which comparison
of the returns Of its foreign with those Of
any of the other nations Of Europe exhibits, were
we unacquainted with the character of its restrict
i've and prohibitive customs laws These have been
directed against the manufacturing and agricultural
industry of all nations alike, though, until very lately
the tonnage determinations borne almost
clusively by the American flag. 1t was not until
June 1854 that American vessels were considered
in the peninsula and adjacent islands like national
vessels as regards the duties Of port and naviga-
ton" although Spanish vessels enjoyed an equality
with the American flag in United States ports from
January 1852.
The following tables will show the progress of our
commerce with Spain, from the earliest period for
which official returns can be obtained