It is understood that few cases, if any, have occurred where a tonnage
duty in excess of that amount has been exacted from such vessels. I
inclose a copy of the proclamation referred to. The Department will
transmit, under cover to your address, one or more copies of any
Treasury circular on the subject which may be received.
[Inclosure.]
By the President of the United States of
America.
a proclamation.
Whereas by an act of the Congress of the United States of the
twenty-fourth of May, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight,
entitled “An act in addition to an act, entitled ‘An act concerning
discriminating duties of tonnage and impost, and
[Page 140]
to equalize the duties on Prussian
vessels and their cargoes,” it is provided that upon satisfactory
evidence being given to the President of the United States by the
government of any foreign nation that no discriminating duties of
tonnage or impost are imposed or levied in the ports of the said
nation upon vessels wholly belonging to citizens of the United
States, or upon the produce, manufactures, or merchandise imported
in the same, from the United States, or from any foreign country,
the President Is thereby authorized to issue his proclamation
declaring that the foreign discriminating duties of tonnage and
impost within the United States are, and shall be, suspended and
discontinued, so far as respects the vessels of the said foreign
nation, and the produce, manufactures, or merchandise imported into
the United States in the same from the said foreign nation, or from
any other foreign country; the said suspension to take effect from
the time of such notification being given to the President or the
United States, and to continue so long as the reciprocal exemption
of vessels belonging to citizens of the United States and their
cargoes as aforesaid shall be continued, and no longer;
And whereas satisfactory evidence has lately been received by me from
the Government of the Republic of Chili, through an official
communication of Señor Don Manuel Carvallo, accredited to this
government as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of
that republic, under date of the thirty-first of October, 1850, that
no other or higher duties of tonnage and impost are imposed or
levied in the ports of Chili upon vessels wholly belonging to
citizens of the United States, and upon the produce, manufactures,
or merchandise imported in the same from the United States, and from
any foreign country whatever, than are levied on Chilian ships and
their cargoes in the same ports and under like circumstances:
Now, therefore, I, Millard Fillmore, President of the United States
of America, do hereby declare and proclaim that so much of the
several acts imposing discriminating duties of tonnage and impost
within the United States are, and shall be, suspended and
discontinued so far as respects the vessels of Chili, and the
produce, manufactures, and merchandise imported into the United
States in the same from Chili, and from any other foreign country
whatever; the said suspension to take effect from the day above
mentioned, and to continue henceforward so long as the reciprocal
exemption of the vessels of the United States, and the produce,
manufactures, and merchandise imported into Chili in the same as
aforesaid, shall lap continued on the part of the Government of
Chili.
Given under my hand, at the city of
Washington, this first day of
November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and fifty, and the seventy-fifth of the Independence of the
United States.
MILLARD FILLMORE.
By the President:
W. S.
Derrick,
Acting Secretary of
State.
