The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-05
The Tobacco QuestiOn.
TO THE EDIro1 OF THE HERALD.


In an article In your Journal republished in the Rich
ronA a Enquirer OF the I'd Of July, on the subject Oh
robscoo, its history production and consumption AFTER
res.iug tho matter ably and It some length, you say
Were foreign governments induced TO adopt liberal
policy in regard 70 the Ss %rss n
creased, and i beneficial results et Ia eVe'y o~'o Vi
she Union
Unless am deceived, think, in the year lS43, during
President Tylers administration Of the government,
through Mr. wheaton, our Minister Berlin acting under
nsr uctions from the State Department, treaty was
rovmed with the States the zolveren then embracing
a population OF twenty mliions-now perhaps thirty
n snar srSs,s sn 1pon trms Of
the most liberal character. As you have, by your pub
hcstOn awakened in the country lively interess on
your many readers to lay before them the terms of
ikss treaty the treaty ITSELF together With It's his
ty and fate; and at the time within your memo
nv behalf of the Senate Of thar day.
they had any, for conceaing from the country aud
suffering 70 remain unacte1 upon among the papers of
the Staie Department. When to reflect that il
ths treaty hsd been acted upon by Senate, ratified
put into operation the Introduction OF our tobacco INTO
tbe stales Of the Zoveren greatly
than tenth perhaps OF those nov exActed aud
covering rs go Sssn followed by
similar reduction OF the duties imposed by Great Britain,
France Spain and the other leading nations OF Europe the
great importance Of the question presented cannot well be
estimated. AMEHlCUS'
The treaty made with the Zollverein was only
of commercial character, as the Commercial
Congress of German States comprising it, and which
convenes either annually OF tri-annually, could
make no political treaty
The Zoveren is composed Of about twenty-one
German States and the free town of Frankfort-on-
the Maine. At the head of this commercial league
stands Prussia, which only casts vote with the
other States. Next to Prussia stand the kingdoms
of Bavaria, Hanover, Saxony and Wurtemburg
The other communities represented in the Zolve
rein are known as small German duchies and prn
cipalities.
The entire population of the Zollverein does not
exceed 25 900 900 or % 900 900, of which Prussia
contains about Is 900 600, Bavaria about 100000
and the remaining German States make up the
remainder.
The Zollyerein was first formed by few States,
including Prussia, in 1888, and other States have
since joined it. AS many as three or four have
united with it since Mr.. Wheaton was Minister to
Berlin The Zolverein holds Congress the present
year. and we would respectfully suggest to our go
vernment the propriety of sending representative
from the United States to attend it.
Indeed. we should like to see all civilized nations
triennally or more frequently, hold universal CON-
mercial Zoverien or Congress- where views could
be nterchanged statistics reported and the barriers
against liberal commercial intercourse broken down,
which would vastly promote the blessings of peace
and civilization.
These commercial Congresses could do much with
respect to the settlement OF veXatious maritime
questions; bring about greater uniformity of qua;
rantine regulations fix the reciprocal principles of
navigation laws, and regulate healthy and more
uniform reciprocity in the commerce of the world.
The Zollverien has accomplished great work for
that part of Germany embraced in its league
The cordons of Custom Houses, with their army
of officials which surrounded each petty State have
been abolished and commerce and intercourse are "a
little tranmelled between them as IL is between the
States of the American Union. The States of the
Zollyerein are chiefly supplied with imported
goods through the free Hanse Towns, or
through Holland. The tariff, under the Zollyerein
is liberal throughout. On leaf tobacco it is only
81 Is on the ll0i lbs, and on manufactured 81 80
per llOl lbs, while the tariff of the United States
imposes duty of "a per cent ad valorem.
When we speak of wishing TO have concessions in
tobacco taxes in Europe, we allude TO the great
Powers, which contain a population as follows:-
Great Britain zeVvVVvV
IfgDce. ooSvoSv,
Austria. 0SVWuvO
Russia. OofVooVsS
Port i.... .......................... 100000
rotal .......................l7l,boo 100000
Let us examine the quantity Of tobacco each takes