5090. MARKETS, Reciprocity and.—
It were to be wished that some positively favorable
stipulations respecting our grain, flour
and fish, could be obtained, even on our giving
reciprocal advantages to some other commodities
of Spain, say her wines and
brandies. But if we quit the ground of the
most favored nation, as to certain articles for
our convenience, Spain may insist on doing
the same for other articles for her convenience.
* * * If we grant favor to the
wines and brandies of Spain, then Portugal
and France will demand the same; and in
order to create an equivalent, Portugal May
lay a duty on our fish and grain, and France,
a prohibition on our whale oils, the removal
of which will be proposed as an equivalent.
This much, however, as to grain and flour,
may be attempted. There has, not long
since, been a considerable duty laid on them
in Spain. This was while a treaty on the
subject of commerce was pending between us
and Spain, as that Court considers the matter.
It is not generally thought right to change
the state of things pending a treaty concerning
them. On this consideration, and on the
motive of cultivating our friendship, perhaps
the Commissioners may induce them
to restore this commodity to the footing
on which it was on opening the conferences
with Mr. Gardoqui, on the 26th
day of July, 1785. If Spain says, “do
the same by your tonnage on our vessels ”,
the answer may be, that our tonnage
affects Spain very little, and other nations
very much; whereas the duty on flour in
Spain affects us very much, and other na
tions very little. Consequently, there would
be no equality in reciprocal relinquishment,
as there had been none in the reciprocal innovation;
and Spain, by insisting on this,
would, in fact, only be aiding the interests
of her rival nations, to whom we should be
forced to extend the same indulgence. At the
time of opening the conferences, too, we had
as yet not erected any system; our government
itself being not yet erected. Innovation
then was unavoidable on our part, if it
be innovation to establish a system. We did
it on fair and general ground, on ground
favorable to Spain. But they had a system
and, therefore, innovation was avoidable on
their part.—
Mississippi River Instructions. Washington ed. vii, 590.
Ford ed., v, 479.
(March. 1792)
