New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-28

views were favored by the beginning OF the JAIL
fornia excitement, which finally crowded Il out.
As that Congress terminated with the short sss-
sion the bill died with It, which rendered it ne
cessary that it should again pass the House.
The last memorable session was so wholly oc-
cupied ,rg the all absorbing measures OF Compro'
mise, that the Reciprocity bill made no progress
although every effort was made In It's behalf oy
the British Minister and the Canadian Govern
ment which kept a special agent at w ashington
to lobby for it.
The delav thus afforded has given Us four years
of experience Of the working of the Free Trade
laws Of England in reference to the markets OF
her North American Colonies. These four years
have seemed to prove 10 demonstration that the
measure now before Congress is altogether one
sided, and If passed will confer great benefits on
Canada, without giving any countervsillng advan.
tage to this country. Ii can no longer be doubted
that the markets OF the Union are, and must from
our great facilities for transport as compared with
those of the 81. Lawrence) continue permanently
t. be- better for all the articles enumerated In the
Reciprocity Bill than those Of Canada England
herself saw this and saw clearly, if the measure
could not be passed through Congress before It
was understood at Washington, that 1t would
surely be rejected on the ground that 1t was
one sided compact, unless some equlvalent
were offered The British Charge, mr.. Cramp-
toni was therefore instructed to offer the
Free Navigation Of the St. Lawrence as
that equivalent On principle, Congress, we have
no doubt will instantly reject this proposal when
it comes up for consideration. To offer as the
Free Navigation Of the st. Lawrence as an equiv
alent for opening markets to her Colonies, can
only be regarded as an attempt to sell to US what
is already our own according to the usages OF ne.
tons and the natural and indefeasible rights OF
/ mankind. That q nation inhsbiting or occupying
region Of country traversed by navigable rivers
and estusries of the sea, has natural right to
navigate such waters through adjacent and friend
D Il Nrpoua ant
| from u.s. As q matter Of justice, too long with
held, our Government should at once, and before
| conserving even to consider what would be fair
equivalent for opening our markets to the Canadl
dians require the navigation Of the st. Lawrence
/ to be opened to our citizens.
| But there is another view to be taken OF this
subject The Canadian Government went to
/ great expense to improve the navigation of their
river under the old Colonial System, which, as we
/ have shown, drew a large quantity OF Western
/ produce through their waters. These expensive
/ works cannot be sustained or kept IN repair oy
local traffic and the Canadian authorities, even If
Britain had a right TO shut out OF the river, Will
be compelled to pray to have it opened in order to
/ increase the business and support the public
| works To continue TO keep the river closed
/ against us, now that there is DO longer premium
offered in England in favor of the Canadian route,
would be like cutting ones own nose oil to spite
neighbor face.
! But the value of the St. Lawrence to US has
! been greatly overrated. Since the adoption Of
the Bonding System in this Country, the great
| bulk of Canadian produce finds its way through
| the Erie Canal via Rochester and Oswego to this
! City, and by the OgdeDsburgh Railway to Boston.
| If the St. Lawrence were opened tomorrow to
| our shippers, it is doubtful whether it would be
| used for any other purpose than for taking down
an occasional Lake vessel to be employed in the
coasting trade, or to go to California. The Cana
dans themselves seldom send vessel out OF their
! to 1fofo iran
competition for freights on the seaboard is quite
as great as if not greater than it is on the Lakes,
| it would not be worth contending for, except as
a matter Of right and principle. With reduced
| Tolls the Erie Canal and an amendment OF the
! Bonding Warehouse law, so as to facilitate the
transit Of goods and produce to and from Canada,
! we have nothing to fear from the Retalatory
! Tariff threatened by neighbors to punish us
for the refusal of boon they have no just grounds
| for demanding.
But we do not believe that such a Tariff would
stand the scrutiny of public opinion in the Pro-
vinces. If one Parliament should adopt it, the
| next would be sure to repeal it. The Canadian
people are too intelligent TO submit to be heavily
taxed merely to favor the route OF the ST.
! Lawrence, which is open only halt the year, IN
| preference TO the speedier and cheaper one
! through the States.
We think we have now stated the case in such
| a manner as to show that the measure before
| Congress is anything but calculated to confer re-
! ciprOc0i benefits the two countries. IL Will
be seen that it does propose to give n single
advantage which we do not already possess, by
our Bonding System, superior skill and facilities
/ for transport, both internal and marine. III Eng
| land desires to obtain concessions from us to keep
| her Colonies quiet and to prevent them from
| clamOrng for Annexation, she must bring forward
some more aluring scheme than the present Re
ciprocity Bill, which I'VE feel coafdent can never
| become law.
We are not, however, opposed to fair and
Just measure of reciprocity in trade with the Brit
ish Colonies, which, sooner or later must become
members of this Confederscy. But it must be a
much more comprehensive measure, and must ex-
tend to Manufactured fabrics as we'll as to the
products of the Soil, the Forest and the Nine
If we consent to take these from the Provinces
free of duty it is only right that the Provinces
should take from US such articles in return as we
have to dispose Of and which they do not produce
or manufacture. If Congress wish to pass bill
this Session. let them insert clause to include all
kinds of Domestic Fabrics of both countries, and
also Sugar and Tobacco, both Of which are the
products of the Union
We will now briefly point out the benefits
that such liberal and equitable measure Of Be
ciprocity would confer on the People OF both coun.
tries. To the United States, it would open a new
and extended market for our Manufactures. The
North American Colonies Of England contain, at
present, about the same amount of population as
the Old Thirteen Colonies at the commence
ment of the Revolution, less their black nhabi-
tants-that is to say, between Two and Half
and Three Millions, of which Canada contains
about One Million and a Half To confne our
selves to this Colony, az the most important, we
will show in figures the result of the reciprocity
we advocate:
In ls4s, according to official returns, Canada
imported from other countries about sl2,OOO,OOO
worth Of merchandise, dutiable and free. OF this
amount about s., 900 900 were from this country