The republic., 1851-06-13
From the Toronto Globe.
Reciprocity with the United States.

Hon. Mr.. RoBIssos moved for an address TO his
excellency for correspondence and documents
on the subject Of a reciprocal trade with the United
States.
Hon. f. HIscKs said that in the present state of
the negotiations il would be very unadvisable to
comply with the motion If the correspondence
were published here, it would be seen throughout
the whole continent and would act prejudicialy
against the interests of the province, and the
efforts OF the government to obtain the desired
reciprocity. There could not be better evidence
on this point than afforded by the publication
of dispatches Of Sir j. Harvey, Lieutenant Gov
ernor OF Nova Scotia, to the Home government, in
which appeared the full extent Of the conces-
sions which Nova Scotia ID prepared to make :
if necessary, to obtain reciprocity with the
United States. The Americans were thus made
acquainted with the character of the conces-
sions which they may demand, with certainty
OF obtaining them. He trusted, then, that no hon
orable member, however he may differ from the
administration on matters of general policy. will
press for this publication; there Is no mem
Der Of the government who Is not sincerely anxious
to obtain reciprocal trade with the United States,
and her najestys minister at Washington enter
tains equal desire. The question is still unset
tied. There has been no positive refusal on the part
OF the United States Government to negotiate on
the subject, and therefore it would be exceedingly
impolitic to publish correspondence which is not
yet concluded The fact is that the correspondence
is really between her maiesty's government and
copies have been formally communicated to the
provincial government, II would not be proper,
even II 1t were expedient, to present the cores
pondencc to the House, without the consent of the
Home government
Mr.. PRINeE deemed the explanation very unsat-
sfactory, both with regard to the interests Of the
people and the character of the administration.
No subject Is more closely connected with the wei
fare OF the Canadian farmer, and none should
there be more decided and intelligent policy.
The information sought for in the motion was
peculiarly important at this timc the days
of the administration are drawing TO a close 1t
would he YER cor fnr he nharo nf he
government If they could place an extinguisher
all their peccadloes; among other things, on their
inability to obtain that reciprocity which he
satisfied the Americans would not have refused
without sufficient reason.
Hon. Mr.. ROBINSON did not wish to embarrass
the government by pressing his motion at this mo-
ment. II must be understood, however, that If he
withdrew 1t now, it would be temporarily, and
with view to reintroducngit, il, if necessary before
the cose of the session.
Hon. II. SHEnwoop hoped the honorable member
for Simcoe would not withdraw his motion, even
temporarily, as confidence could be placed in
the course pursued by the Government. First,
they sent Mr.. Tiffany TO Washington, then Mr..
Merritt went with great confidence, then Mr.. NAL
COIN Cameron was sent, and, lastly, the Inspector
General visited the American capital-al to obtain
this much. talked Of reciprocity. All, however,
had signally failed. The Inspector General not
only failed, but rendered himself and the govern
ment he represented ridiculous in the eyes OF the
American people. by threatening to closc the canals
against them. The threat laughed at as q
piece of impertinence. The cause OF the signal
want of that has attended these efforts was
traceable to the fact that the attempt has hitherto
been to thrust upon the States one-sided reci-
procity, beneficial to Canada alone In proof Of
this the honorable gentleman read extracts from
articles In the Washington Repubiic-the organ of
the Fillmore adIninistration-in which desire was
Expressed to meet the Canadians on a fair basis;
opening the United States ports to all Canadian
pre- uce, ON the condition that all United States
produce be admitted on equal terms to Canada
Mr. HINcKs characterized the speech of the hon.
orable member for Toronto American speech,
designed and calculated 10 Illustrate all attempts
to obtain reciprocity. No stronger evidence could
be afforded Of this than the praise which he bad
awarded to the RepubHc-a newspaper distin-
guished above all others by it's hostility to Cana
dian interests, and which admitted into its col
umns articles from Canada written by known
nsxationists, whose main object is to Illustrate
ciprocity in order to strengthen the views of the
annexationsts. When he (Mr. Hincks) Mt
Washington he was told that the great opposition
to this measure came from Canada, and that the
perpetual writer's against it were avowed annexa-
tionists. [Crics of name] He would name II. S.
Brown, better known as General Brown.
Mr.. HOLMES said this the first time he had
heard that MIR. Brown 10 an nnnexatonist.
Mr.. HlNcKs was at loss to understand the OBJ.
jccts Of the honorable member for Toronto Did
he endorse the views of the Washington Republic.
and propose to take all duties off American manu-
factures coming into Canada? Was he prepared
to remove all the duties from which the revenues
OF the province are derived, and to resort in lieu
W VI ID ne IN IavOr OI the
modest proposal toput ON duties of twenty twen-
ty live per cent. on English manufactures import
ed into the province, We our whole frontier is to
be thrown open to American goods; The hon
orable gentleman had stated that this question
had not been, and would not be, entertained by
Congress. But it is remarkable fact that
there is scarcely one leading man, ON any side in
Congress, who is not avowodly in favor of re-
ciprocity. The measure failed last session, but SO
did many others OF paramount importance to the
American people The Reciprocity bill passed the
House of Representatives with scarcely any oppo-
sition, and majority of the members of the Senate
are known to be in favor of it. One Of the most
distinguished members OF the latter body-Mr. Se-
ward-had told him (Mr. Hincks) that he had
studied the subject with the view OF finding argu-
mcnts against it, but he had como to the conclusion
that the interests of both countries deeply in
volved in its adoption. II had been said that he
(Mr. II employed threats towards the Americana,
but he denied this He merely referred to GER
tain facts in order that the Americans might be
aware Of the probable results Of refusal to re-
ciprocate. The reference was not laughed at, but,
on the contrary, was seriously considered by the
United States Government. His proceedings at
Washington had most beneficial influence on the
prospects Of this measure, which had previously
been regarded as purely Canadian in its bearings.
Within the last six or eight months the Americans
have begun TO perceive their interest in the subject,
and when this conviction becomes more general
there will be difficulty in effecting a settlement
Of the question. Whatever may be said about
closing the canals there can be doubt that If any
retaliatory policy be pursued at all, (and this
point he would exprcss no opinion,) there ia none
that could be Successful the closing of our
canals to American vessels He knew that if Ame-
rican vessels not allowed to pass through our
canals except to British ports, heavier blow would
be inflicted American interests than could be in
fiicted in any other way. Such measure would per-
haps deprive oa certain of canal olls but
that would be comparatively trling loss, if it led
to the passage OF reciprocity bill. We have shown
every desire to have our trade with the United
States unfettered. We have admitted them to our
canals, although they will not allow our vessels to
enter theirs; we admit their manufactures at the
same rates those OF Great Brtan and if after all,
they will not concede reciprocity, it may become
question for our consideration whether we should
not adopt rctaliatory policy. For his part, he
should view such measure with regret, believing,
he did, that the interests of all countries arc best
promoted by freedom of trade. At the samc time,
retaliation may be necessary. He was satisfied
that the Government would bcpreparcd during the
present session TO meet the question in one way or
another; but that had nothing to do with the pre-
scntation Of the dispatches aimed at in the motion