William A. Bartlett to Thomas Russell, June 5, 1873
Mr. Bartlett to Mr. Russell.
Dear Sir: Our merchants trading at ports on the Gold Coast, West Coast of Africa, are being seriously interfered with and damaged by the action of the representatives of the English government at the so-called “West Africa Settlemnets.”
Their action at the present time amounts to an embargo on trade, and if allowed to proceed will involve the loss of a large amount of property to the American merchants trading at these ports, and put an end to the American trade.
The trouble is caused by the passing of an ordinance, a copy of which I herewith inclose, placing excessive duties on all importations.
This ordinance was passed without giving any warning to the people in the settlements, or to those engaged in trade there, and as will be seen, was to take effect on and after its passage; and at that time there were on the coast seven American vessels with their outward cargoes and parts of cargoes on board, viz, the ships Susan L. Fitzgerald and Sea-Gull, barks Manchester, Speedwell, Dawn, Wheatland, and Roebuck, having on board in the neighborhood of 387,000 gallons rum and 128 hogsheads leaf-tobacco, on which the duty, as assessed, would amount to about $266,000 gold; besides which, when the news was received here, the barks Sterling and Albertina had sailed from this port, having on board 42 hogsheads tobacco, and about 140,500 gallons rum, and the bark Star King, now loaded with 21 hogsheads tobacco and about 75,000 gallons rum, was loading, and as the cargo in its present condition is unsalable in this market, she must be sent to meet a positive loss.
The action of the government on the Gold Coast is unwarrantable and unjust, and since the cession of the Dutch possessions to the English government in 1888, their whole aim seems to have been to ruin the American trade and the merchants engaged therein.
The first commencement was the levying of a duty, to take effect on the 1st of January, 1868, of a sixpence sterling per gallon on rum, and no duty on any other goods, of which they were kind enough to give a year’s warning; after which, between the 1st and 19th of April, 1872, they put on a duty of one shilling per gallon, on rum, and one penny per pound on tobacco, and as, by the great exertions of the natives who met this duty and impoverished themselves, it was overcome, they have now again without warning raised the duty to the present tariff, as per inclosed ordinance, which amounts to an embargo, and threatens not only ruin to the trade, but the loss of a large amount of property now in Africa and on its way there.
The duty is payable in coin, of which but little finds its way to the settlements, and consequently it would be impossible for the natives to meet the duties even were they possessed of enough means in other kinds of property.
The English officials in Africa pretend the necessity of the present tariff on account of the prevailing so-called Ashantee war, which has been brought about by the cession of the Dutch ports to the English, as the Dutch government formerly paid an annuity to the King of Ashantee on account of their possessions, which the English, since taking possession, have failed to do.
The Dutch, when in possession, levied no duties, but the moment the English came into control, our troubles began and have continued to the present fatal position.
It does not appear that the duties which have heretofore been collected have been used for the benefit of the natives, but only as a revenue to the English government, and have been a steady drain on the country.
Cannot this matter be brought before the Secretary of State and something be immediately done to relieve our merchants from their present embarrassed position?
Your obedient servant,