The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-08-08
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND BRAZIL,


I'll which win be found under the head of Depart
ate to submit few general remarks in reference to
the anomalous character of our commerce with that
empire, and the by which the principal obsta-
Gle in the way of fair reciprocal and mutually adj
vantageous trade between the two countries, so long
and justly subject of unavaing complaint on the
part of American shippers may be partially, if not
entirely, removed II may not be known TO the
readers of the Union generally that, at the present
time there exists treaty of any kind between the
United States and the empire of Brazil That con-
cluded between the two governments December II
1925 contained clause reserving to each of the
tracing parties the right to terminate it, after
fixed period, ON giving to the other twelve months
notice of its intention to do and such notice hay
ing long since been officially communicated to our
government, the treaty is no longer in force.
Commerce and trade, however, between different
nations and people, older in the worlds history
than treaties or conventional compacts; and the
cessties which create them generally prescribe the
law and enforce the rules under which they shall be
conducted. The 'lex mercatora' stripped of the
garb which modern science has thrown around it is,
in reality nothing than the simplest form of
preston in which animal instinct makes known
wants, and it needs other or stronger sanctions
than such convenience and comfort can
best supply. While, therefore, we have no CONNER
cial treaty with Brazil, our general commerce with
that empire is under the protection of laws and reg
ulations sprnging from the necessities of trade,
equally obligatory, though, we regret to say, not
equally benefcial and yet there is entire recpro-
city between respective flags Brazilian YES
sels no matter from what port they may hail, with
what cargoes freighted, treated in the ports of
the United States equal footing with those
under our own flag ourvessels enjoying like treat
ment in the ports of Brazil. Outside of its GUS
is liberal and enlightened-nuch more SO than
that of its venerable mother country, Portugal, or
Spain, and at least age in advance of the system
which controls the exterior commerce of France.
Indeed the commercial legislation of Brazil has been
made the subject and justly So of marked eulogy in
the standard official statistical publications of for
egn governments. In a statistical report presented
to both houses of the British Parliament on the 10th
of March last, and since published by order of the
5oNOiHHlCHt, VIC 1lHu tIc reference 10
commercial laws of Brazil; Although the whole
revenue of the country is derived from its custom
houses, the laws relating to commerce in Brazil are
extremely liberal. The rare occasions upon which
foreigners may have wellgrounded causes of COM
plant rather from vexations caused by subordi-
nate authorities than from defects in the laws them
selves. Indeed throughout Brazilian legislation
thara 10 nd ii, ,r
worthy of imitation Consentaneous to this view
of Brazilian commercial law we find the following
judicious remark in the '.Report on the Commercial
Relations of the United States with all Foreign Ma
tons" prepared by the Secretary of State in pursu-
ance of resolution offered in the House of Repre-
sentatves December H. 1858, by one of Virginia's
ablest and most sagacious statesmen, Hon. Charles
j. Faulkner Since the acknowledgment of its in
dependence, the commercial legislation of Brazil has
been marked by spirit of berality and of freedom
from unnecessary and exclusive restrictions" Thus
we find the two great commercial nations of the
world uniting in their liberal commentator of the
commercial policy of Brazil and we heartily concur
in the praise which they so justly bestow. Indeed,
our only regret is that Of accurate nfor-
nation in respect tothe commercial statistics of Bra
I'll are so scanty, that with the exception of such
occasional official documents as now lie before u.s.
we have but little that be relied upon-a want
which we have every reason to believe will be fully
supplied by new work we see announced in the
northern press " Brazil and the Brazilians = by
Rev. J. G. Fletcher, gentleman whose residence
many years in that country renders him peculiarly
qualified to do justice to his subject. We know,
however, that, as respects navigation duties British
and American vessels enjoy, in Brazilian ports equal
privileges with the national flag that their cargoes
no matter whence imported or where their origin,
pay no other or higher duties than are imposed on
similar merchandise introduced in Brazilian bottoms
What more could we ask than entire equality with
the national hag2 And yet trade with Brazil
suffers under unjust disadvantages and is virtually
denied share in that liberal spirit of reciprocity so
justly extoed by the British Parliament and so high
ly commended by the American Congress. In this
consists the anomalous character of our trade with
Brazil for while vessels enjoy in the ports of
that empire perfect equality with the national as
well with all foreign flags, themoment we cross the
threshold of the custo-houses the reciprocity ceases
and are made to bear the burden of unreasonable
unequal, and unjust determinations. brief refer
to the character Of our trade with Braz-that
is to the articles which make up the bulk of the ex-
changes between tbe two untries--vil sufice In