Mr. Perez to Mr. Fish
Mr. Secretary: I have received instructions to solicit the issue of such orders as may be thought necessary, to the end that Colombian vessels may be treated in the ports of the United States to which they may convey merchandise, when the latter does not proceed from any other ports of the said United States in the same ocean, in the same [Page 243] maimer as (are other) American vessels employed in. the same trade; that is, “that neither distinct nor higher duties be collected for the tons of the vessel or for its cargo, be the importation made in vessels of the one or of the other country,” as is stipulated in article 4 of the treaty of December 12, 1846, between New Granada and the United States.
By said treaty it was settled, as to commerce and navigation, that there should be perfect equality and reciprocity between the two countries, and indeed within the Colombian territory. Merchandise arriving there or going out under the American flag is free from every discriminating duty.
I deem it unnecessary now to enumerate the advantages which the United States have derived, almost exclusively, from the traffic and the transit across the isthmus of Panama since the ratification of the treaty.
I only need say that Colombia now desires to make use of the equality therein stipulated, in order to insure the establishment of a line of steam vessels, to encourage commercial relations between the two countries with reciprocal and increasing benefit.
I have the honor, &c.,