Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-06-05
TO THE EDITORS.

GENTLEMEN The subject to which you called public
attention in OF your late numbers that cater sit
ting six months Congress had disposed of any Of the
important recommended by the President, is
deeply affecting the vital interests Of the country
demand public animsdversion. The manifest inus
tce to meritorious public officers and detriment the
public service, caused by the unprecedented delay in
passing the deficiency BILL is too notorious and apparent
to require much comment But there is another subject
alluded to in the Presidents message that demands the
serious and immediate consideration of the manufactur
ing and mercantile interests in particulars the
Of which appear little known and appreciated to JUS
tify more particular reference to it. The President
thus notices it,
"Your attention is again invited to the question Of re-
cproca trade between the United States and Canada and
other British possessions frontier Oyertures for
convention upon this subject have been received from
her Britannia Majestys Minister Plenipotentary but 1t
to be in many respects preferable that the matter
should be regulated by reciprocal legislation Documents
are laid before you showing the which the British
Government is willing 10 offer, and the measures which II
may adopt, if arrangement upon this subject shall
not be made
The importance Of securing extended commerce
with the British North American Provinces has been
admitted by wsest statesmen and strenuous endea-
vors have from time time been made by every preced
ing Administration to obtain for people free part
cipaon in this colonial trade reference to the opin-
ions and adopted by such Jay, Madison
Clay, Adams, McLane, and Jackson, win show what
value they attach 1t and the culpable delay in neglect
ing adopt the necessary to secure this desra
bic object by the present Congress exhibits of how little
importance they deem it.
Mr. CLAY, in an able State paper on the subject says
The import trade from the colonies not SO impor-
to the United States the export trade to the
colonies 1t apparent to all interested in the trade
and commerce Of the country that it would be much bet
ter TO at the present time that this trade should
be free OPEN and reciprocal and not burdened with unne-
cessary charges to the consumer"
1t is difficult to imagine how this position can be less
true now than then. But the mighty spirit Of Henry
Clay, lowering between earth and heaven longer
enlightens and controls our councils.
Let us examine the advantages country now reaps
from the present commercial relations between and the
British North American colonies and consider how long
we are likely to maintain them unless our Government
adopts liberal and just policy In the first place,
exports these colonies for the year ending June 80
1851, amount to Sl2,0l492S, being than to any
other country in the world except England and France
and much these gross amount Of exports the
kingdoms Of Russia, Prussia Sweden and Norway Dem
mark, Holland, Italy generally, Belgium and Austria
united. The shipping employed in this colonial trade
amounted to 1851 1874 tons entered inwards of which
ed outwards Of which 030, 24S American tonnage
ne-seventh of all the cotton manufactures which we ex
port taken by Canada alone irrespective Of the
consumed by Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfound-
and and Prince Edwards Island; the gross amount Of
our exports to which is S4, 565,729.
Our shpovners have also the privilege Of interco
ona ccasting trade being permitted to coast and carry
cargoes from St. John On. b. to Halifax IN. 81 thence
to St. john Newfoundland Charlotte Town, p E. l., Mari
mach B., Quebec or Montreal, and from thence Eng
land and back again these and other ports while colo
NAL ships are prohibited from conveying cargoes between
any Of our ports the Atlantic and from any Of
these ports to California In addition these advantages
the British Government has conceded shpbulders
the right to register American built ships in any portion
OF the British domnions, whilst colonial built ships are
excluded from our markets To make the contrast still
more striking and calling to our neighbors the coonsts
wheat and breadsus are admitted into the English
Of duty and upon equal terms with the wheat
and hour Of her colonial subjects while similar colonial
produce is met by prohibtory tariff Of 20 per cent in
ours.
To expect that this unequal and between man and man
unjust state Of things viii be allowed to continue much
longer argues great ignorance Of the spirit and nte
gence Of the inhabitants Of these rapdy-ncreasne colo
MES II had good easy John Bull TO deal with. We
might hope 10 continue to pull wire without fear Of re-
taliaton But the colonists made Of different stu
they are much like ourselves to submit PATIENTLY 10
this free trade they watching with hawk
eagerness the proceedings Of Congress and should the
present session 20 without any to establish rec
procal trade in the natural productions Of the two coun