Mr. Geofroy to Mr. Seward
Sir: The rumor has been already some time spread abroad that a fresh modification of the tariff was going to take place, and that the question would be of enhancing still more the duties, already very heavy, which strike particularly the productions of French industry. The government of his Majesty, justly preoccupied by a project through which the commerce of its people would mainly suffer, has charged me to observe to your excellency that the importation to the United States of our dried fruits, of our oils, of our alimentary preserves, and of our brandies, as well as of our silks, has already diminished under the burden of enhanced duties of customs which have followed one another in years past, and that if new duties be added the increased equivalent price will restrict more and more the consumption in the American market, access to which would end by their being interdicted.
These incessant augmentations of tariffs are not, besides, only injurious to commerce from abroad—they tend moreover to compromise the interests of the American treasury in place of serving them, for the importations, which have already experienced a notable reduction, cannot diminish still more without the receipts at the custom-houses diminishing sensibly in a future close at hand. The result is already produced in a remarkable manner in what concerns our brandies and our silks, and which I would particularly indicate to your excellency. The importation of our brandies in 1860 amounted at New York alone to 70,480 barrels; the last year it was only 5,922, in consequence of the increase of duties, which Congress raised from 30 to 100 per cent.
[Page 211]The diminution on silk goods has not been less heavy; the ribbons and silk stuffs imported to the United States in 1860 were effectively worth $35,382,037, while the silk goods imported in 1863 represented only a value of $15,534,409.
Such figures are conclusive. I am gratified in the hope, sir, that the federal government will take them into serious consideration, and will oppose the pursuit of a system which is, perhaps, still more prejudicial to its own interests than to our trade.
Please accept, sir, the assurances of my high consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.