New-York tribune., 1867-03-06
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
PARIS.

pAGNF-TTE CUSTOM-HOUsE QUESTION
PIoE an Occasional Correspondent
PARIS Feb j, 1861
have lately paid visit of several days at inc an
eent city of Rheims, place which IS iul oi interest
NOT only for its rich historical associations hut for
tbe beanty Of It's situation, and its important posi-
zion rs the center of extensive branches OF industry
and commerce II is the seat OF large woolen manu-
laetnres carried on TO a great extent by English
oapitalsts and giving employment TO very consld-
cradle portion Of the neighbOliDg population In
passing through some Of these mills, saw several
Kpecinens Of the French peasantTy in more pliml-
tive state than is often brought 10 the notice OF the
traveller IN a rapid tour through the couLhy. They
ureeented striking contrast to the character OF the
OpeIatives IN the great manufacturing centefS Oh on
own country as at Manchester, Lawrence, ana Low
ell Instead Of the welldTessed, Intelligent ana
GOOD looking factory girls who manage the spindles
In America tie women, in particular seemed TO oe-
long to a race Of mere working ANIMALS lhef
clotbing-for the weather was hot-was but little
more substantial than the fieleaf of mother Eve.
Their faces gave few signs OF intelligence, OF lal-
iarity with any domestic comforts. They might
have been taken for a race of gypses or tribe OF
Weston Indians. Indeed, their high cheek-bones,
swaIthy eflocls, and fiery wild black eyes, bore
strong resemblance TO the natives Of the American
forest.
tuTe Of woolens at Rheims, but every other branch
of industry is thrown into the shade by the cham
paqne business Of which this district is the principal
center in France. The immense beds OF chalk which
.undeTlie the country seem to give quality 10 tie
coil that is especially favorable TO tue cultivation Of
the finer kinds Of grape Many attempts to initiate
the French champagne have been made in Germany
on the Neckar the Moselle, and the Rhine, but the
products are pronounced by cODnOisseurs to lack the
I L. .lraIa frfr~a han
pagne wine the same sovereignty among delicious
juices which is maintained by the strawberry among
fruits and the rose among flowers The manufacture
of champagne as is well known, is highly artificial
one in its crude state, the flowing of the grape
from which il is produced, is harsh and not aglec
able Leverage. Much time is required TO give IL the
precise degree Of ripenesS, 10y several different fer
mentatiOns, which has lpen found by experiment to
produce the body and flavor essential 10 the character
of the wine. The crude liquor is modified by chemical
additions which without impairing It's purity, give il
the exquisite sOtness and fmeness of tone which has
made il the favOrte beveage of modern civilization
The reputation which has been acquired by leading
houses in Rheims and Eperaay for superior brands
Of champagne is owing TO the fastidous care which
they exercise in the selection Of grapes as well as the
science and skill with which they conduct the manu-
1aetnIe.
States in regard TO the duties on imported cham
payne is Of course OF profound interest Ia the
merchant princes of Rheims. 1t not only involves a
large amount of property hut in some sense. has "a
serious bearing ON their integrity and honor. In
order TO understand their feeling on the subject you
must take into view Their position and character IN
the business world. The champagne merchants IN
France like the brewers in England. occupy the
very highest rank III the manufacturing aud con-
meIcial community. They represent the phase 0i
mercantile MistOcracy, which has always been
claimed for The great importing houses Of New-f0rk
aud Boston. Usnally they are men of great wealth
the best social Standing. often indeed bV DiTtn
Or marriage allied with the ancient nobility
of France. Any imputatiOn on their honor
and fairness III the conduct of business is
resented with the same Keen sense of wrong that
would be felt under similar nputatOns by the high
minded men who represent the mercantile honor and
good faith Of OuT own country.
The custOInhOuse question which Is soon to come
before the United States District COuIt III NewYork
presents many curious points. and without express
1ng an opinion on "A ease which is to be decided by
legal adjudication, may venture 10 R1ve you brief
summary of the views that are entertained on the
subject by the champagne merchants in Rheims
whose personal and pecuDary interests 10 deeply
touches. il Is not the amount Of duties claimed by
the United states Government OH which issue is
made by the Rheims champagne merchants They
lad pat construction upon the law which is pro-
bounced unenable by our cust0m-house authorities
but they do not hesitate 20 yield 10 the views OF the
American Government. While they submit uneOn- |
slitiOnay 10 the new Interpretation Of the tariff
they protest against the imputatiOn of rendering
fraudulent invoices. and The consequent con
fiscatiOn of The amount Of impOitatlOns 5Or
five wears back reaching the Sun of nearly
IOnses. The American tariff makes distinction
between merchandise sold to customers, and mer-
chandlse consigned ON commission. The former of
course, is liable 10 duties ad yalOrem the actual
price obtained and tins is stated III the declaration
Of the invoice; the latter 1t Is provided by the law
shail be estimated according 10 the price current of
she merchandise at the time and place in winch il
was procured on manufactured. The Rheims meT- |
sbants interpreted the price current IN this case'tO
mean the cost of manufacture. ~ there were no !
sales at Rheims OF champagne for the American /
market, and made the declarations in their invoices
accordingly IN doing this, they maintain that they
fcted n perfect good faith, with intention OF de
traudlBg The American Government flor which they |
Lad no motive whatever, the amount OF duty is |
anueu 10 the pIlce paid by the cOusumerl and there
f01e are not liable To the heavy penalties which are
attached TO fraudulent declarations IN the invoice
~ proof of their good faith they allege that in all
lie champagne district there is no established mar
ket price except Tor the orHde wine the |
wines prepared on manufactured for eXpOIta- 1
ton being sold Oh commission bv agents
10 whom they are consigned Hence they have
taken, as the basis of their invoices the price OF The
crude wine added 10 the expense of mannfacture and
packing for shipment This method until RECENTLY
Gas always been admitted without question by the |
Oblted states custOm-hOuse, and no notice to the
1miuaiy 70 the contrary was given before the an
nouncenent OF the cOntiscatiOn. The merchants are
NcobllIbsd ia theIr views by the reply of the United
SAFES Cohsnl-1epeIal 10 Frankfort. the Hon Mr.
Mbtphg' 10 Iequtst Tor the correct Interpretation /
81 the American tafifi on this pgpt TIe eynlciti,,
sanctions their construction of tbr law n,od'ncS
"peIfTctly Just" Under these crcnuistsrSs te
champagne merchants acted without suspirion tIaf
iLey were - conflict with tho United STATES low
knd 1eY wGeGpy plgsssJ PgaNki t4e sQgusssJ9a gi |