The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-12


between the United States and the British colonies
10 be prohibited.
Nevertheless the trade necessary for the colonies
and the United STATES had sought out for itself a
sufficiont though circuitous channel, notwthstand
ing the INSTRUCTIONS which beral legislation had
placed in its course. Our produce was shipped in
American vessels TO the neutral West India Islands
whence reshipped by the British colonists to
khefr own ports large trade was carried on IN
plaster from Nova Scotia, the British vessels bring
ing it to the line in Passamaquoddy Bay, from
whence II was taken in American vessels
The total value ofimports from the colonies TO TINS
country, for the year ending September, lsZi, was
t445 Ills. The value OF total domestic ana foreign
exports to the colonies was 81 S30,674. The year
lS38 is an important epoch in the history OF the CO.
lonial trade. The United States IN this year gave
an impulse to the cause Of commercial freedom by
making the first movement towards the abandonment
OF the selfish and narrow policy which had prevailed
for thirty years. aid trusting TO the effects Of con-
cession instead of retaliation.
In 1899, Mr. McI.ane then our Minister at the
court Of st. James, was instructed by President
Jackson 70 open negotiations relative to the colonial
trade. Mr. Van Buren, In his letter OF instructions,
declared the principles upon which the governments
opened these ne gotatons. He remarks: The policy
OF the United States in relation 70 their commercial
intercourse with other nations is founded on primer
pies OF perfect equality and reciprocity; ny sae
adoption of these prnc pies they have endevoreu 10
relieve themselves from the discussions, dscontcnts
and embarrassments nseparable from the imposition
OF burdensome determinations These principles
their Independence are recorded in their treaty
and have since been adhered to with the most scru
pulous fidelity"
The results of Mr. McLane's negotiations are con-
tanned in the proclamation issued by the President,
in November, $780, and the order in council issued
November 6. $780, Our ports Of entry and, subse-
quently, ports of delivery, were opened to British
and colonial vessels. The immediate effect of this
arrangement was the rapid increase OF colonial ships
in American ports and their competition in our most
important carrying trade with American vessels.
The necessary evils which followed from this ar
rangement were the subject Of much complaint
on the part Of American shipowners. They
complained that while all our ports were
opened to British and colonial ships, only o
limited number OF ports in the colonies were
opened 10 American shipping; that while colonial
produce was admitted into our ports on the same
terms ss that Of the most favored nations, much
heavier duty was imposed upon American produce
and manufactures than upon those Of Great Britain;
and they especially complained TINT all the benefits
Of tho circutOuS voyage were secured alone to the
chipping Of Great Britain. Under the system which
at this me prevailed, ship might be laden In Liv
erp00l with goods for st. John, in New Brunswick,
and thence take cargo Of lumber to the West In
dies o. to one of our Southern ports. The two ope-
ratiOns furnished sufficient profit for the voyage,
and the ship could afford to return in ballast.
Under these circumstances, the British ship could
take freight of cotton from New Orleans on the
lowest terms since it would deray the expenses Of
the voyage, and leave fair profit
The American ships, deprived of these benefits Of
the circutous voyage, were dependent wholly on the
freight Of cotton alone for the income of their voy
ages, and were thus subjected to ruinous competi
ton.
The effects Of the new arrangement were undoubt-
edly at rst injurious TO our shipping interests but
Temporary and partial evils must always follow from
. change in commercial system. Time and an ex-
tended view Of all the interests affected by such
change can alone determine its advantages One
rssls esstsny Of the arrangement was srspid in;
the colonies. Our agricultural and manufacturing
interests were benefited by an increased consump.
ton d their wares and produce The coonists were
more intimate relations with their enterprising and
aouriaaing neighbors. The value Of the exports to
the colonies In 1910, was near three times that OF
the exports in 1877, under the old system. Our to-
ta domestic exports to the colonies in 1910, were
In 1043 Great Britain reciprocated the liberal poll
cy Of the United States. Before this time the colo
Mics bad imposed discriminating duties. British and
colonial produce and manufactures admitted at
lower rate of duty than foreign. In this year Lord
stsnly, now Earl Derby, issued his celebrated
despatch, in consequence OF which all discriminating
duties were abolished by the colonies. American
sequence Of that, now admitted into all the Br
tish North American colonies on the same terms as
British goods.
Thus one cause Of complaint against the system
which prevailed under the convention Of 1880 was
removed.
In consequence Of graduel concessions, American
vessels now admitted to registry in British colo
NAL ports; can sail from colonial port to any
other colonial port in any other colony or to Great
Britain with colonial or other produce, and can
ter all colonial ports, and load and discharge their
cargoes wherever there is custom house officer, sub
ject however to the restriction that they shall sail
from one port to another in the same colony only in
ballast Thus second cause OF complaint has been
removed
The advantage of the three-fold voyage is now en-
joyed BY our shipping, and during periods in the stag
pf Tho pfnfs afo
more costly ships have made rsmunerating freightsby
the transportation ofumber from the colonies to Great
Britain Thus have all the objections TO the arrange
ments Of 1880 been removed, without obnoxious or
retaliatory legislation on the part OF the United
States.
Previous TO 1916 high duty was imposed by
Great Britain upon timber and wheat imported from
all countries except the colonies. The withdrawal
of all protection by the home government upon colo
NAL produce in 1885, by the substantial repeal Of the
corn laws, and the reduction Of the duty upon TO-
reign timber more than one half appears to have
dispelled from the minds of the colonists all their
old ideas of commercial dependence upon Great
Britain. In consequence Of the withdrawal of the
protection which had been SO long granted, colo
NAL timber and wheat were brought In British mar
kets into losing competition with those articles from
the Baltic and the Danube.
The extension of intercourse and the increase Of
trade, caused by the legislation OF 1913 had shown
the colonss the advantages OF our markets AID the
facilities we possessed OF supplying all the necessa-
res OF life which were not Furnished by their own
productions. They were now ready TO propose to Us
an arrangement of commercial intercourse, founded
upon those principles Of perfect equality and reel
procity which the United States had always pro
feased to be the policy Of her commercial Intercourse
with foreign nations.
In I848, q delegation was sent from Canada to ar
range the terms Of reciprocity between that govern
ment and ours. No arrangement. however, was
made. in consequence Of the failure Of Congress TO
iegisiate upon the subject
No further action has been had in relation to this
trade BY our government, although the provincial
Legislature OF Canada since ls4s passed law pro-
vding for reciprocal trade In natural products 10 be
carried into effect upon the adoption Of similar ar
engagements by our government.
This movement on the part Of the colonial govern
ment may be said to close the past history OF the
the British North American colonies
The committee propose now TO consider the pre-
sent position Of this trade and 70 discuss the terms
~ i4alk aadtl rnas