Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-01-24

British ships TO foreign and rival market. At
CledueidRd 1t is known, there are several Canadi-
an houses and houses with Canadian partners,
engaged in the produce brought by the Ohio
nal. Their operations arc so extensive that ma
ny of them have steam engines TO unload from
canal boats and to reship in vessels for Kingston.
One among the many letters, appearing in the
public prints, will best tell the course of this Brit
sh business in American produce, and from which
American vessels are excluded, by discriminative
British duties:
Extract of a letter.
Cleaveland, September &C. l64l.
"Six thousand barrels of Western Canal flour
were sold here today, deliverable at Kingston and
Prescott, in Canada, by Oswego and Ogdensburg
miers, on terms equal to Sc, cash here. 1900
bushels of wheat sold today at Sl,l5 which is the
top of the market. The stock of wheat here
must he large, but holders are not disposed to
submit to heavy losses yet.
"P S. Evening 1000 barrels more Oswego
flour sold, deliverable at Kingston, at a fraction
| below the previous sales"
The store houses in Kingston are not large c.
nough and shantecs are built to hold the Ameri-
can produce, sent there to he reshipped and COM
pete with our vessels ana commerce in foreign
markets. Much Of the produce OF eleven States
and Territories, bordering the Lakes and
western waters, is thus diverted and sent down
the ST. Lawrence, checking the free commerce oil
this city and country, and goes TO nggrandze our
naval and commercial rival. In vain did Perry
fight, with mntchless valour, for the mastery Of
the Lakes. The only ship which "beaded of"
from the line of battle, and would not join in the
fierce fight, must have been gifted with second
light, and foresaw the inutty of conquering in
war, that mastery which was soon, and so in
goriously, 10 be surrendered in time Of peace.
The tolls of the WeIIand Canal suddenly rose
from Gl2,000 to E5O,000 sterling; and the tolls
and freight of the New York Canals fell a cores
pondng amount, after the treaty tof Mr.. Van
Buren, with England, which sacrificed to us the
West India trade. The Canal aided to divert
much of the trade of the Upper Lakes; and her
commercial regulations have secured to England
also, the transportation and market of this por-
ton of American produce.
1t is one OF the commercial regulations Of Eng
land, that American produce, arriving at port OF
her colony, is naurdlized as Colonial prod6ce, and
may be reshipped in British vessels TO the mother
country, or to any other colony, or foreign port
while like voyage is prohibited TO an American
vessel Ii ia thus that a large portion OF the pro
duce of the States, bordering on the Lakes, on he
ing sen, across to any British settlement, becomes
nnturaized and is sent, by the way OF the 81
Lawrence, to foreign markets, in British vessels
thus encouraging ship-buildiug, and the ship
ping interest of England, and furnishing an effec
tua nursery for British seamen. II explains WHY
five-sixths of the commerce of Maine, and two
thirds of that of Georgia, and now nearly one
third of the commerce OF tho United s;tates u
carried on, and increasing in British vessels.
tells this country, why her laborers and mechan
les are unemployed; why the amount of New
York ship building is lessening yearly; why ma
ny of those she has, are unemployed, and he
general prosperity is unequal to the advantages o
her situation and enterprise. Add 10 these cir
cumstances the c0untervailing and prohibition,
duties Of England against the agriculture and thu
commerce of this nation, all disregarded and SUI
pinely acquiesced in, by own government
and The present depressed and disastrous condi
ton Of the currency and the country cannot b.
misunderstood. The balances of trade against u
the last six Years nearly three hundred mill
ions of dollars, for articles which could have bee
: manufactured in this country; to say nothing G
the Two hundred millions of State stocks sold i
, Europe IN the same time. How mysterious it
that our finances and currency are Geranged, an
business depressed!!! Congress and our Gov
eminent have been lnkering the system OF bank
> while they shrink with dread from looking at tn
; real causes.
The injurious effects on the measures of Ne'
York alone, are worthy of consideration. /
1885, The freight which came to Underwater, on tn
New York Canals, was 753l9l tons, and re
qured over 400 vessels of 500 tons each
f transport it TO this city and TO Il foreign marke
1t gave life and activity to our towns and citle
l by continued employment and an increasing d.
rnand for labor, materials, and mechanic skill
+, and formed an important item in our domesl
and foreign commerce. The tolls, business, an
, freight on our canas have been greatly lessene
by this diverted trade. The diminution exceed
in amount the growth and increasing productio
of the West.