71
PAPERS OF l\fIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
barrass the negotiations with other countries and particularly so far as Silks are concerned it would prevent England from recognizing or treat- ing with Texas. That; after much debate; seemed to reconcile them and they abandoned the claim to such an arrangrnent with regard to the Silks But still insisted upon the arrangrnent in favour of their wines, as that in their opinion would not embarrass our negotiations with any country which we are likely to treat with soon. There being: much truth in that suggestion I could only get over the proposition by making another which seemed to alter it in only a small degree but which in fact will be so constructed as to defeat every advantage they expect to gain by the grant It is this-that if Texas dose reduce the dutiees [sic] hereafter, before this treaty expires, on wines when imported from other countries either by Treaty or by an ar.t of Congress then a cor- responding reduction shall be made on the French wines provided it is made without a consideration and if it is made conditionally then France shall have a like reduction upon her wines by paying the same considera- tion which shall have been paid by such other nation. You will readily see that a clause framed in this way will enable Texas to defeat intirely the object of France For instance. Supose Texas enters into a treaty with any of the German States which produces wines and which imports foreign sugar (having no colonial or domestic beet root to protect) she has only to get a small reduction upon her sugar imported into such state in consideration of the reduction she makes of the duty upon the wines of that country taken into Texas. And as France can never agree to pay such a price for the corresponding reduction (her -protective beet root & colonial system forbiding it) she will loose [sic] all of the intended benefit of the arrangment-If they accede to this proposition (which !fr P-- seemed to think they would) the duty .on French wines will be reduced two fifths and one third on Silks. The reduction of ½ prcent on our cotton is one fourth of the present duty but by ob- taining that reduction on cotton we get the whole of our present ex-ports into the French Markets at a reduced rate of duty & France will get only two out of her hundreds of articles that she exports. This I think is the only point that can cause any delay in the business and I do not anticipate much if any delay on that account from what seemed to be Mr P--s impression. The arrangement with regard to tonage duties T think will be highly advantageous to Texian vessels I have no room to detail it in this letter. I have seen with much regret that some persons in Texas have been organizing a party against your Administration. Oppositions of that sort (which must be more personal than political) at this stage of our affairs is very unwise and tends to destroy confidence abroad, because the "'orld has long since agreed that if we do fail it will be on account of internal dissintions & not by 11Iexican power. I write this in great haste whilest !Ir Prescott waits to convey it to N. York; you will therefore excuse its want of interest & accuracy Most truly &c Yours Henderson P. S. !Ir Burnley is now in London and I expect to here [hear J this evening of Genl Hami[l]tons arrival there also. The State of the mon[e]y market now in England is de[s]parate and I expect he will
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