The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-24
Judge Mclean may

peachable before this body Did choose 10 do So [
could eas senator who is in close political al-
ance with the senator from Ohio, to whom his admoni-
ton on this head would be applicable, and upon whom il
might by possibility prove more or less profitable al
lnde 10 a senator who, not many months ago, declared
that in his Judgment the President of the United States
had been guilty OF mpeacabe offence II the senator
from Ohio shall be able 10 conjecture to whom alude
he will be also able to turn his powers as lecturer
senatorial decency to a good account
To conclude, Mr. President | am not at all disposed
to complain that the honorable Senator from Ohio has
come forward the defender OF Justice Mclean
all surprised at his having done So Independent OF
local neighborship there certain grounds OF sympa
thy between Judge Mclean and his advocate here the
prise that the distinguished senator from ONO did not
earlier take upon himself the charge of vndcaon under
the weight of which he is vsbly staggering or
that having undertaken the defence of llustrious
culpr all, he has not been able to do more in his
behalf than to enact the part OF mere lukewarm cham
pion or mirtl-movng breaker OF pleasant tests.
Mr. President, | cannot take leave of this subject
without soemnly admonshng the senator from Ohio,
highly he may admire the character and public course
of the parsonage upon whom he has lavished such ex
travagant concentrations in hearing to-day, that
the period is not far distant when the fact of his
taking part with foreign foe, and against his own
country, when war was yet raging between them-the
fact that he did all he could to obstruct supplies to
army in Mexico, when supplies were known to be impe-
was employed throughout that war in mode calculated
bring dshonor upon arms. and dsappont the pa
trotic hopes OF the natonl'hese facts as sure as p
habaton upon earth, WILL sooner or later, consgn HIM
and his allies profound inamy, and overwhelm his eu-
ogsis with contempt. Let such men as feel my present
words be at all applicable to them and to their acts
content themselves with the reception OF congenIal
honors. such rumor declares to have been few
months since bestowed upon certain CIVIC chleains IN
this country by Mexican Congress, as the meet reward
of domestic perdy but let not such as these expect to
receive veneraion or respect at Inc nands Oh .wen
in appropriate and imposing manner. to rccompense
high public virtue according 10 its deserts, and to
sh and degrade those who are found to act unworhy
in high station
RECIPROCAL FREE TRADE.
The Senate then resumed the consideration OF the bill
to admit certain articles of the growth or production OF
Canada into the United States free OF duty, upon the
don that the like articles of the growth production
of the United States are admitted into Canada free OF
duty. The question pending being upon an amendment
heretofore submitted by MIR. PHELps-
Mr. DIX Mr. President, since this bill was taken up
for discussion have been unable from ndispostlon and
other causes to besow upon i the attention which Is
nevertheless, with such preparation as have been able
to make to explain the objects OF the measure and its
TO answer some OF the leading objections which have
been maze TO It.
ii entertained the belief that the operation of the bill
would be preudcia TO the interest OF any portion OF the
Union, should not be its ad vocae The first object of
all public legislation is 10 advance the general welfare OF
the country but this object ought certainly not 10 be
sought for at the expense of any particular section,
indeed, of any single interest believe this bill
trely free from objection in this esPec that it will be
emnently advantageous both to the United States and
Canada, and do no wrong or injury in any quarter.
Before proceed TO examine the practical operation of
the measure upon the commercial interests OF the two
countries, wish to notice preliminary objection which
has been raised
is supposed that the privileges conferred by this bill
upon Canada will be extended by virtue OF certain rec
procity treaties into which have entered, to the for
eign States with which those engagements have been
contracted take totally different view OF the subject
believe senators have put erroneous construction
upon the obligations of the compacts to which they refer
We have reciprocity treaties with Russia, Denmark.
Hanover, Prussia Mecklenburg Schwerin, the Hans
own m
treaties with sovereign States, and by every fair rule of
construction, Their stpulalons, so far as they guaranty
equally independent. The commercial arrangement pro-
posed by this bill is with European colony adioin-
ing us-ene of those dependencies which the States
of the Eastern hemisphere are accustomed to ex-
cept in their compacts with us for reciprocity OF COM
merce and navigation If any Of the States with
which which have treaties STIMULATING for the
privileges which we confer on others. had depen-
denotes situated like Canada in respect to u.s. those States
might perhaps acquire in respect to such dependencies
passes but do not admit that they would acquire those
prvk for their metropolitan possessions and for the
reason that colonies have always been made practical
exceptions the general rule OF International inter
Possibly special reservation may be necessary
in every compact from the provisions OF which it is de-
signed to exclude them; but do not as shall show,
consider matter of any consequence in this This
we know in respect to Canada that s not only ex-
pressly excluded from all the terms OF our commercial
intercourse with Great Britain, but IT is the subject OF
distinct stpulaons and yet the British legation, in &C
cordance with the wishes OF the Canadians, has urged
this measure under INSTRUCTIONS from nome,
without the least idea that they would gain for Great
Britain under reciprocity treaty, the privileges they
desire us 10 confer on Canada.
The honorable senator from Maryland Mr.. PEARcE]
said that had giveR construction to these IecPTo-
cal provisions worthy of notice and ne alluded 10 our
treaty with Portugal in 1910, by which II was expressly
agreed that the stipulation in our treaty with france III
1884, in regard French wines, should not be lneriered
with This construction is perfectly consistent with the
view of the subject / take These two treaties were
with independent powers; they were with continental
powers in Europe almost bordering on each other and
general stipulation respect to equality OF duties neces-
say required express reservation to authorize to
make the duties any of their products unequal The,
however, a totally different thing from commercial
arrangement between us and European colony ad]on-
ing -,
But in coming to the conclusion that commercial
relations with Russia Prussia, and other powers, under
The reciprocity treaties have formed with them. will
not be affected by this bill put it on other grounds
These treaties relate to commerce and navigation,
and intended regulate the commercial intercourse
carried by those countries with the United States
the They have certainly not been understood
referring TO inland trade and exchange between
tries bordering each other. The right to regulate
their interior intercourse with adjoining States has not
been supposed to be at all impaired by these commercial
eng agemenis II IT otherwise, If these treaties
restrained the States which parties to them from adj
hitting articles free of duty from neghboring coun-
toy except upon condition OF extending the same pnyi
ege TO the other contracting parties should at this
all the benefits of the custom house exemptions OF tne
Zoll yeren, of which that kingdom is leading member
Prussia borders number of the Loil Fereih States
These States interchange with her Their common PROD
ucts free of duty under the Zo compact or Customs
Union. They have stood to each other 10 me same leia