The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-23
COMMUNICATIONS.
The Reciprocity Biii---Our Commercial Relations
with Canada.

o nersons engaged in commerce and manufactures re-
garng The probable fate OF the pill now before the Sen
ate for establishing reciprocity of trade with the neigh
loring province of Canada take The liberty OF stating
few important facts IN support OF the positions taken by
The honorable Senator DIX from this State, in his able
sneech on the subject The recent intelligence of the
massage OF similar bill by the Canadian legislature now
IA session. intended TO meet the provisions of ac: has
greatly added 10 the interest felt here in The measure
The bill having passed the Hke of Representatives
last session by almost unanimous vote, doubt what
ever was entertained by its friends of in the
Senate 1t seems however, that strong opposition is
likely to be raised against it, chiefly the ground that
free reciprocity of trade in the staple productions of the
two countries would result to the prejudice OF American
interests by bringing Canadian produce and manufactures
into active competition with our own.
have not hal opportunity Of reang all the argu-
mens urged against the measure in the Senate but have
noticed that the honorable senator from Marylan who
is strongest in his opposition, asserted that II this bill
passed not a dollars worth OF any OF the products
meraed would be exported into Canada" Being largely
interested in the Canadian trade, can assure the honor
able senator, and those who of his way of thinking
that they very badly informed in reference to this
branch OF our commerce.
The annual value OF our exports to Canada, according
TO the Canadian official returns, stated by Mr. Dix,
over s3,Ooo,olo. This, however, have reason to be-
leve is much below the mark. Although the Canadian
tariff has been very low since the abolition OF dfferenal
duties, the facilities for smuggling along frontier of
more than 200 miles such as to cause large contra
band business to he carried From my knowledge OF
the entire trade, have hesitation in asserting that
during the last years we have sold for the Canadian
market than $1,000 900 worth OF merchant se per
annum OF this large amount, If had time collect the
necessary data should be able prove, beyond
yesy, that than one-haf is composed Of articles
embraced in the reciprocity bill, and OF domestic manu-
iactures of various descriptions For instance the city
Of Montreal annually consumes many thousand head OF
cattle and sheep and large quantity OF butter and cheese,
exported there by the States OF Vermont and New York;
and the State OF Maine WILL upon the opening OF the
Montreal and Portland railway, also find Canada
iensve customer for these products The State of New
York tradition to the above articles Of export, annually
sends into Montreal and the numerous towns and cities
on the Canada frontier such as Cornwall, Prescott,
Rockville Kingston Cobourg, Toronto. and Hamilton,
and many others, very large quantity OF other articles
OF these products, Ohio and the northern part of
Pennsy vana, also furnish large supplies 10 the Brit
ISL province and, in addition, these States annually
send TO the markets large shipments of cured
hams and sailed pork and some castings; receiving in
exchange pine lumber and plaster OF Paris. Heretofore
Canada always the best market for the wheat OF
large part oil those States the lake, and the advan
tages of bringing supplies OF this commodity to the doors
Of the numerous and extensive flour mills erected on the
Welland aud St Lawrence canals, by vessels OF from
three four hundred tons burden, which navigate them,
will doubtless, sill make Canadian mlers the buyers OF
Ohio wheat, AMI thus hitherto assist in keeping up
the pce Of that grand staple. In this way, there is little
doubt hat that Canadian mIllers will buy much of
wheat as the New York mi!ers will of the province
thus balancing the one account against the other.
The advantages Of this trade are not confined to the
producing States. Canada is every year becoming bet
Ter customer to our manufacturing communities, and is
desrous of cul,vatlng the most friendly relations with
ihem as well with our agricultural States. The cot
ions OF Lowell, Connecticut New Jersey, and other
States, rapidly rising in the estimation of our neigh
boris One house in this city, learn on authority,
ported $4,000 worth OF this one article, mostly un-
beached 10 the province last year. where is considered
oil superior quality TO the English manufacture, and
commands better pnce.
am also informed that another house-Messrs. Gill
BERT Prentss and Tule dealers in domestic dry goods
exported in 1877 into Canada $1,000 worth of our
manufactures and that the exports from this city the
article OF brown cotton alone to the same ,rke in 1915
exceeded half million OF dollars. During the same
Year large amount OF the sanets OF New Jersey were
also sent to Upper Canada by several houses IN the trade
Canada also buys all her tobacco, rice, and sugar OF
u.s. and fully one half of her hardware. Mechanics and
edged tools OF all kinds she purchases almost wholly iii
our markets, on account OF their superiority.
The character OF our manufactures is in fact every
day gaining ground in the British provinces; and consd
erlng that the trade is, in great measure, one
and has had until very recently to struggle against heavy
custom house restrictions, the rapid progress has made
surprising 1t is considered by those engaged in it, that
Inc passage OF this bill will make Canada our best Gus
toner Tor numerous articles OF domestic manufactures
and produce
In exchange for all the articles have enumerated
and many Others such leather boots and Shoes hides
aow and sperm candles. and long list besides, Canada
Obliged to give us specie if we except small quantity
OF lumber and some other minor articles upon which
we exact heavy duty. Under the proposed CONNER
cal regulations she will be able send her staple
production, wheat as also pot and pearl ashes and prob
d3'y, in time, some other products of her soil. Can
ada IN her desire TO remove all restrictions upon her
WIN country, has mus prOuuceu DalanCe
against herself, which she cannot long support. If Eng
iand refuse, She certainly will TO return to the old
onal system of derentia duties, the only alternative
Ieit our Canadian friends will be that OF retalia.ve
ARM by which produce and manufactures will be
excluded from her markets. Already movement in that
direction has been made IN the city OF Montreal, where
resolutions IN favor of heavy protective tariff were
almost unanimously adopted at of the largest meet
nss ever held In that CITY, Let Congress look to this
IN tine
There is another exec ,dingy important consideration
connected with the passage of this bill, and to which
10 not think the honorable senator who has ably adj
socaed the bill has attached sufficient importance: that
u.s. lhe beneht 1t will confer upon carrying trade both
il'erna and transatlantic The whole OF western Can
aaa' S lar the most important part OF the province Will
give New York and Boston the preference as shipping
o's over the longer and dangerous route OF the
a. Lawrence. for all her exports and of her imports
10 and IRON transatlantic countries. Thus nearly the
whoe carrying trade of Canada will at pass into
our hahds Let this reciprocity bill pass, and our whole
HaIe with Canada will in a few years be increased many
old and will become essentially ours as that of Ohio
ana me western States England chooses retain the
po'uca sovereignty of the province after this shall hap
pen lei her do so We shall possess the cream, and
ue can ENJOY the rest until some favorable opportunity
soa Afford her honorable preext to permit her North
nnefican colonies to work out their destinies Our
uue pol'cy unquesuonably is, to treat Them in
Metcal regulations, if they already States of the
SSh,oh his measure is regarded by all the frontier
aes and III this city one OF the most important for
ue interests OF this country that Congress has had under
consideration Tor many years.
, The Hon Mr. Dix has so fully and so ably reued all
w objections raised by the opponents OF reciprocity that
would be useless 10 attempt to add anything TO his
sumeh's Those senators who oppose it on the grounds
, ' VIII damage our agricultural interests ought
"y 10 yield 70 the wishes of our agrculuTsts them
selves who are almost wholly in favor of it, Every one
Suo knows anything about trade is aware of the
@ mat the value OF wheat regulated by the English
,h Ae and mat Canadian wheat is regulated in price by
e same market The question, them u.s. shall we carry
w lpay no adj sat