The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-09
EXPORTS BY THE ST. LAWRENCE.

EXPORTS BY THE st. LAWRENCE.
ls4S. lS49. 1850.
Flour, barrels. 3s3,593 32l 100 2sO,67S
Wheat, bushels. 23s ,O5l 72,2S9 81 ,95l
Barley. bushels. $500 1921 3,4S9
Peas, bushels..... Ss,365 1881 292,229
EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES.
Flour, barrels.. 1904 les, 63S 369.76l
Wheat, bushels. 2S7 oil 92s. $50 l.2la,O7s
Barley. bushels. ll,l56 26,o60 63,o25
Peas, bushels.... 1851 72,lS3 1862
Official returns prove that the abolition of
Canadian differential duties has been followed
by corresponding diversion in relation to i'm
ports, those from Britain having declined,
been largely augmented.
The resolutions adopted at the Toronto meet
ing embody many statements of this descrp-
ton, the design of the whole being to press on
the Home government the consideration that
free trade has transferred the benefits Of the
intercourse previously existing between Eng
land and the Colonies to this country. A SINH
lar complaint is quoted from resolution some
time since agreed to by the Legislature of New
Brunswick The Manchester politicians are
not likely to be checked in their course by these
or any similar allegations. Their leaders have
never disguised their knowledge that free trade
is Incompatible with the colonial relationship,
as it is ordinarily understood and that, in
truth the retrenchment in the expenditure of
the Imperial government that must be conse-
quent on free trade will necesstate the gradual
casting off of colonies, and their conversion
into independent customers.
Frequent allusion to the reciprocity question
was made by speakers at the meeting, with an
evident conviction that colonial prospects now
depend more upon unrestricted trade with the
United States than upon any action that can
be looked for at the hands of England. One
Of the resolutions, after quoting some hatering
predictions contained in a despatch received
from Mr.. GLADSTONE in 1916, AYERS that
"The efforts made By our Legislature to obtain
on behalf of the province n modification of the
commercial regulations thus announced, although
limited to the abolition Of the duties on agricul
tural produce referred to by Mr.. Gladstone, proved
wholly Intellectual Upon this failure, the inter
ference OF the Home government earnestly be-
sought, act of simple justice, TO obtain from
the Government of the United stitcs some relaxn
ton of her restrictive policy toward the North
American provinces, in exchange for the market
go freely opened TO her in Great Britain
The Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, com.
menting on this, remarks:
at true TINT Canada has thrice proposed TO our
| Government n system Of reciprocal trnde, which
we have openly rejected allowed to remain un
noticed. We have virtually said in each tina
the system proposed not fair but VIC hsv,
never in fact told our neighbors what consd
cred to be fair. This has been our fault. for which
we inexcusable. We have been Indifferent be
causc VIC have been inscnsble To the advantages o
fair reciprocal rode with the provinces.
at may be impossible to predict what effect To.
late change Of ministry in England may have up
on this measure, but IL can hardly be expected tia
her old colonial policy will be returned to, and
not, it will be the true interest OF the provinces
encourage n commercial intercourse with tn
States; and it is fully believed tina, If the attention
of the parties to the subject be obtained and IL
discussion approached free from prejudice, gres
| benefits may accrue to both parties from the adop
ton of the measure in question"
Our contemporary errs, we think, in keeping
all the blame on this side Of the line. Canad
has been too much disposed to extend recipro
city just far enough to admit what she doe
not want, and TO subject to duties what she j
likely to require from this country; relying OF
an exaggerated estimate Of the value OF the 81
Lawrence as a make weight to be thrown int
the scale. Whether n Democratic Congress
will find time, on the eve Of Presidential
contest, TO take up this matter and discuss
on broad grounds, is exceedingly doubtful
The business rests with Congress, not with tn
Executive; and Congress will hardly uoubl
itself with business which is not yet mixed NJ
with eiectoneerng considerations. At an,
rate, we hope there will be no hurried Iegisla
ton on the subject. Better to leave it un
touched for another year, than to mar it by III
considered action