The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-06-18
The Canada Reciprocity Bill.

~ O~ eNNaPASSAsJ oAAAs
spondent-whose communication
appears in another column--has set forth II
strong and just light the bearings of ii,
Reciprocity bill, now before Congress, upor
the interests of lis State, thereby reievin.
US from the necessity of speaking so fully Oh
this subject as VIC have for some time beer
intending to do. We have recently bad oc
cason to be surprised at the little importance
attached 10 such movement, by the pcopl,
OF this couniy-arsing, perhaps, from gen
eral lack OF information respecting it, fol
which the public press are no doubt in 4
measure cupablc. No fact is more certain
than that, under the prctext of Rcciproca,
of mutual beneft-of ncighborly feeling
between the border citizens of the two gov.
ernments-a vigorous effort is about to be
made in Congress, TO carry through bill
the whole effect of which will be adverse to
the interests of this State, without any ben
eft whatever TO the country at large. Let
US examine this matter little more particu-
larly.
When the English Corn Laws were re-
pealed great dissatisfaction was felt in Cana
da, that the markets of Great Britain were
thrown open TO the products of all nations,
all dulles (unless merely nomina) on bread
siuifs (the great staple of exports from the
British Proyincos) being abolished. This
took away great advantage they possessed
in the markets of the Mother Country
FROM this source, mainly, the recent disat-
lection in Canada, and tho movement in fa
vor Of Annexation, have arisen. The grand
object of the orsnators Of this reciprocity
movement--in Canada aud Great Britain
evidently is, on the part Of the former, to
secure good markets nearer home, and on
the part Of the latter, to keep their colonies
quie: and satisfied with their provincial con-
dition, and to prevent annexation
Two years ago--July -, 1s4S--jus. at
the close OF long session of Congress, and
when the attendance in The House was thin,
this bill providing that certain natural pro-
ducts should be admitted free of duty, on
condition that Canada should admit the same
articles from the States, on The same terms)
was caught up-thc previous question APP
piled hurried through, without word
Of discussion, and with probably no very
general vote Of even the few who were pres
ent-the yeas and nays not having been
asked. 1t went to the Senate, and lay on
The table Of that body, with other unfinished
business at the time of the adjournment
AT the last session, it was quite thoroughly
discussed. The majority against it in the
Senate was manifrslly large, but it was new
err brought 10 vote. At the present scs-
sion, it is TO be again brought before the
Ilouse-under the ne,c inducements held out
by the menaces of the British Minister, and
the promise of FREQ navigation of the ST.
Lawrence. AS 4 condition Of its passage.
The border States Of Maine and Yer
mont-and New Hampshire, too, unless her
devotion TO the Free Trade doctrines Of
South Carolina induces her to make ready
sacrifice of her own wefarc-will be nearly
unanimous against this bill They under
staud-at least wcll-nformed citizens in
these States do-that, so far as they are con-
ccrned, there is no reciprocity in the case
whatever. The benefit is wholly Canada's
the injury theirs. We send no grain or
flour into Canada-they have a large surplus
to market abroad. The articles of manu-
faciure which we do send there are not in
cluded in this bill.
We have express treaty stipulations will
Russia, Austria, Prussia, and most of the
German States, Portugal, Sardinia, and nearly
all the States of South America, to admit al
articles Of export from those nations on equal
u favorable terms as We grant to any othel
nation. Are we prepared, then, to throw
opan our ports to Free 7rade with all thrs'
nations If not. let US pause before making
this arrangement with the provinces Of Grea
Britain.
1t is maintained that this measure will Sc
cure 10 American vessels large proportion
Of the transportation Of the surplus products
Of Canada. But how so? 1t is either cheap
err and moro convenient to effect this trans
porla,ion by the way of the river st. Law
renee 10 the ocean, and thence TO Europe
than by our thoroughfares and ports, or it i
not. If il is. free passage throush this coun
try will make no difference in our carrying
trade. All will 90 that way. II it is mo-
what is the free navigation Of the ST. Law
lenee-the grand inducemeHt held out 70
passing this bill worth to our people Blu
there is another and altogether sufficient an
swer to all this prelence. The system c
4lrduJacks provides that the duties paid o
Canadian products on coming into this cour
try,shall, on their leaving oar ports, TO find
market olsswnerc,b refunded which place
this business on just as good footing as doc
the Free Trade scheme. II is fact, thu
the transportation by way Of the st. Law
repca costs considerably more than thu
through our country, and that, under III
Dresent systsm, . vas. amount Of the Cana
dian exports arc carried on by United State
vessels, and through our great thoroughfars
II our people wish to qusil tbs Annea
alton spirit in Canada, and to make hsr
resi- satisfied with their provincial condition
The passage Of this bill will, by removing on
sosrce Of their discomfort, tend greatly