The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-12-12
Intercourse Between the
unsted states and the British North
American Provinces.
W.sprxaToS Dae u 1881

Commercial Intercourse between the
United States and the British North
American Provinces.
WAsHlSsTos, Dec. 8, 1851
INTERESTING OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.
In the President's message sr sllusion d made TO
he cvertures for . convention upon the subject Of
reciprocal trade between the United States and
Canada, which have been received from the British
Minister here As the subject is Of Importance,
have procured, with some difficulty, copies ST the
correspondence alluded to, and which forward TO
the HERALD in advance of their publication.
The delay upen the part OF Congress TO act N
The matter OF reciprocal trade rendered the "a
madam authorities somewhat FESTIVE, and, accord
ipsly, the attempt was made 10 get up conven-
ton with Mr.. Webster, by which the necessity Of
soing before Congress woald be obviated. The
pnnsh Minister and the Canadian authorities seem
10 have overlooked the fact thai the Senate has 3
reyso-y power over al treaties, and that !; re.
oures the concurrence Of twothirds Of its members
IN order TO ratify treaty-wnereas, bare ma o-
rity Is efficient 70 pass bill. And the House o.
4ss make :pps eS.S
vss vhipt around the stump" by putting the matter
into the shape OF a convention The President has
declined the overtures, and turned the matter over
TO the attention Of Congress, where il legitimately
belongs and If our Canadian friends viii only keep
cool, and not get excited, they may yet succeed II
having something done.
SIR 81 have the honor to enclose 70 you here
with the copy Of letter which addressed 70 the
chairman Of the Committee on Commerce n the
Hcrse Of Representatives, by Mr. Hircks (tte IN
rpector General Of Customs in Canada, and an IN
6reptiL member OF the Canadian Cabinet), when
he visited this capital, N December last Ths!eter
10 qlestion refers as you wiu see, TO the cS%meI,
alstions 10 be between the United
Ststes and The British North American Provinces,
which i was then hoped that Congress would ,ece
upen satisfactory footing OF recipoci'y Mr.
Hlpcks however, states ~ithou: disguise what he
deemed would be the feeling and policy osthe said
Provinces If the expectations then existing were
disappointed; and il is now my painful duty TO an
rouDce 70 yoa, that from the Information have re-
eeiyed from the quarters above alluded to- the dis
sstisfs ction cha; has been produced Throughout.
Brtish North America, since II has been known
tbs. nc oil has passed the United States Legisla-
tire reylyirg TO the friendly disposition which mas
long been manifested by the British Provinces in
North America, TO improve their commercial rela-
DCns with the United states, is deep and general
The Canadians especially consider that their
application for an Interchange OF agricultural pro-
ducts has failed Of success because they have gene
rersly, and without stipula.ions, conceded many
commercial advantages which il was IN their power
70 tes.ov Cpol the trade OF this country; and they
70 believe that .teir only mode, 3. present, Of
attasslng adequate attention, Is 20 replace them
selves IN the situation in which they were previous
80 making the aforesaid concessions.
Fer many reasons deem il desirable 20 prevent,
soon as possible, this feeling, il !. Is mistaken
CHe, iyC gaming g-CGIu
lave also had my attention necessarily drawn
70 the two closed resolutions passed by the Senate
previous 10 the dissolution CT Congress- which
lutions, am told by gentlemen wei calculated 10
form ap opinion, would also have been adopted by
he EsIfe Of Representatives, Il proposed to that
body.
vish, therefore, to Know whether yca would be
S-seir consideration Of tie varioas ccmmereial
advantages affecting the trade and intercourse with I
The Hrit.sh North American Provinces, which have
been and eculd be extended BY the British govern.
next, and by the British North American Pro-
vIees themselves 70 tie United states, and also |
with respect 20 the advantages O. ike kind which
ceuso be conferred BY he United States en- the |
FYcyirces, 20 tie end tts. such convention, touch
ing tsese matters, may &c drawn " between rs, as
you'd be agreeable 20 beth governments, and bene-
tC.aI 20 a. par.iee.
J avail myself Of this opportunity to renew to you
II. I. BULwER.
EebSsttle IaIiel Webster, &c &e, sc.
NATlosAL HOTEL,
WasEIseToN, Jsnuaryo ISL.
&c lie Ecn. y. VI. MCLASE, Chairman Of COM
mite {! CoGne-ce, Hoase Of Representatives.
sR- avail myself Of yo-- kind permission to
tth'e TIC gNunds OF which The passage os the bill,
vtjcb tss beer repeatedly brought before the con-
sioersiior Q. congress, fcr establishing rec procal
free ir1oe IN certain articles, the natural prodze.s
Ct he United States and Canals as urged by the
,IsseI &c oIirs tie sneee: under consideration,
yIsce within the last few years in the colonial po
Icy Of Great Britain. The old policy OF the mo
her country vss 70 compel the colonies, BY means
heavy dfe-ential duties, to purchase their sup.
F-es exclusively from her. The trade was
oa-,ied On in British bottoms, and the
p-oeze:s 81 the colonies were admitted into
tie make: y the mother country on more
advantageous terms than those tf foreign nations
~tle such was the commercial policy Of Grea.
Britain, the political AFFAIRS Of the colonies were
materially Influenced BY the imperial government,
the local parliament having no practical control
ever lie admin tration Of Affairs. About the same
period, when, owing TO the change in the CONNER.
Gal policy Of Great Britain, il became ssary to
remove al restrictions on the colonial trade, most
important concession was made to the Nerth
American provinces, by the Introduction Of system
Of government under which the local parliament;
obtained an effective control over their govern
mept- The consequence Of the withdrawal Of the
Jrotection formerly enjoyed BY the colonies ha,
been that they have beeneh to buy and cell in the
markets Of the world, just o. the United states,
any other foreign nation. Y nder the colonial sys
tsn the difiersntal duties were that the
trade between the United states and Canada
was Of the most limited and unimPersant
character. In lsi6 the Canadian Legislsturss,
having been authorized by an act Of the In
perisl Periamen. TO regulate their own tarif, and
course with their powerful and enterprsing neigh
eors, removed the existing 'dferential dutee. and
admitted American m manufactures and foreign goods
,h u s ,ss p,san In 'os
at 2st time, stipulated With the United states,
that in return for her admission OF American manu-
prodpcts IL would obviously have beeo the interest
q the United states, to have agreed to such an
arrangement. No sucA proposition, however, wn |
made, and this very important concession in favor
Ct the United States to shich have adverted, /
seems scar,ely to have attracted the attention Of
ysur federal government and little was IL under
rtood Nat when General biz urged IL - argu-
ment IN savor Of the rseprosity bill in the Senate
the fact was disputed. Most important results,
However, have followed from the legislation
Of the Canadian Parliament. Since 1sB, the
manufactures Of the Unitcd States the teas sugars,
frsits, and other foreign luxuries purchased
~ the merchants on the Atlantic seaboard, with
the produce Of American labor, and transported TO
that seaboard In American bottoms, have been
poured int tansda The duties at the port Of
Toronto haze increased, within . few years, from
about $4,000 TO nearly tz90, 900, and Hanilten, l
Kingston, and other ports Contiguous TO the United
ttALes would thow similar result This increasn