Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-01-27
Reciprocity with Canada.

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the co'o,ies of Great Britain STUFFED to
the North of us have enjoyed their full
share-at present they contain two and a
half millions of population. whose support
is derived from agriculture, ship building,
and fishing Manufactures. owing to the
standard colonial policy of England, have
not been developed amongst them t. any
import extent. The peculiar geographical
relations that our Northern frontier bears
to these colonies has been long the cause of
much diff cul y The shortest route from
the West to the Atlantic is aross Upper
Canada, and one Of the most important
channels of trade, the St. Lawrence River.
Is within Lower C,nada. Upon the other
hand, again, the easiest and only method in
winter Of carrying on any foreign trade
from Canada is through the United States,
by means Of the various systems Of rail.
rJals, which we have carried to our north
eren frontier Free intercourse through
Canada to the ocean, is necessary for the
summer commerce Of the Great West-free
intercourse through the United Sintes to
t'e ocean is necessary for the winter COM
merce of C,uala our relations as indie
pendant States are great distractions to
commerce, the old and general system of
tariffs now existing on eacl, side form great
barriers to the freedom, the economy and
the prosperity of the commerce of our West
and Of Canada being chiefly upon the agri
cultural products.
AS the political relations are not to be in
terfered with and admittedly are permanent
in their character, it is proposed on thu be-
h 'lf of the great agricultural and CONNER.
clal population, oppressed by the present
tariff system, Il reciprocity Of exchange
In great agricultural staples should take
place-the respective powers declaring such
staples the growth aud product of either to
be free of all duty or custom, and thus u
commerce as free as that among the States
of this Union being Permitted in agricul-
tural products. The free navigation of the
ST. Lawrence and the Canada ca,lals-the
free transit across the United States should
alike be secured, and the relations of our
people increase in friendiness as tue tie
Ut mutual benefit resulting from this free
dom Of trade would increase the prosperity
aud wealth of all now annoyed by existing
restrictions.
The proposition in itself is simple and
easily understood-its objects are to beneti
all those living upon either side Of t: e great
lakes, who trade through them, and its ad.
,antages are obvious at Il glance
Canada, like ourselves, derives u support
for her government from her tariff, which
is much lower than ours, averaging twelve
and-a half per cent. ad vaorem, whilst ours
averages thirty per cent. Although we
might desire to see this reciprocal freedom
embrace every article the growth or product
of either country, it is clear that to do so
would require much consideration and labor
to remove obstacles, and would be too much
in advance of public opinion to be immed.
ate'y successful. The propositions of the
Canadian Parliament which are already be-
sore the committees offer probably as great
an advance in the unshakling of commerce
as our slow moving business community
would desire. Bread stuff=, provisions, live
stock, lumber, cord-wood and coal are the
main articles intended to be included in
this arrangement. With the eastern pro.