The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-19
The Report Of the Committee on Commerce on
laaf hal n n,

Inc Report Oh the COmmlttee on commerce ON
Reciprocity-Whnt shall we do with Coal:
The debate on reciprocal trade with the Eng
lish North American colonies commenced in
Congress on Thursday last and before it is
over, the whole subject in all its bearings. will
be laid before the public.
We trust that the great length of the report
Of the Committee on Commerce. on this trade
with the British colonies, will not have
deferred commercial men from its perusal To
read fourteen columns of the HERALD is per-
haps heavy task; but time SO spent is well en-
ployed. A more lucid, able. and comprehensive
paper it has seldom been our good fortune to
study. Facts are fully and clearly stated; sta
ment requires them; and the whole reasoning is
pervaded by lberality and q breadth of views
which reflect the highest credit on the chairman
The committee first point out the slow progress
Of the early trade between the colonies and this
country, under the old laws of Great Britain;
then, enumerating successfully the removal of
each Of the restrictions which cramped our in
tercourse with our neighbors, he proves the be-
nefcial tendency Of these several measures, by
a reference to figures The proclamation of
1880, throwing open our ports Of entry and de-
livery to foreign ships. gave powerful stimu-
lus to the colonial trade. In 1927 our total ex-
ports to the colonies only amounted to
s2,s3O674; in 1910 they had nearly trebled, our
domestic exports alone amounting to S., 1885,
A still further encouragement to the
trade was derived from the removal of
discriminating duties on our exports to
the colonies, in l843. and the withdrawal
of protection from colonial exports to Great
Britain in 1876. The former attracted our ex-
porters to the colonial market; the latter
drove the colonists into ours. Accordingly,
we find our exports to the colonies during
the year ending June 1852, valued at ten
millions Of dollars-about one-siyteenth of our
total exports. The increase, as the report very
properly remarks, has been won from Great Bril-
tain-the colonial imports from the mother coun-
try having fallen from fifteen to eleven millions
of dollars in the eight years preceding 1s49
The British colonists now consume our produce
and manufactures at the rate of 81 Ga per head
and send us some six millions per annum of
their produce. which we consume at the rate Of
twenty-three cents per head of our population.
The committee then put the question very
aptly, whether this growing trade ought to re-
ceive check or fresh impulse; and reviewing
the objections which have been advanced
against the latter they show that the Ameri-
can farmer, who possesses equal natural advan-
tages to his Canadian rival need not fear unre-
tnI Al
lie would derive notable benefit from recipro-
cal free trade. His breadstuffs-S1.6 95, 900 0
which were exported last year to the lower pro-
vinces-would be received at ST. John and IIa-
lifax on the same terms as Canadian produce
and the demand for American pork among the
Canadian lumbernen would be greatly in
creased. The manufacturer is told that though
his commodities are not included in the free ex-
change. the demand for American manufactures
in Canada must necessarily increase in proper
ton to the consumption Of Canadian produce
here. All nations buy where they sell The
suitability Of our manufactures to the colo
NAL market, the cheapness of Transportation,
and the convenience of personal intercourse
with the manufacturer and of an inspection.
Of his goods. are ample protection against Great
Britain, lffurther proof were needed the in
crease Of our exports Of domestic manufactures
to Canada, in consequence Of the repeal Of the
diferential duties. from about 500 900. in 1910
to $1700.000, in 1916. is conclusive evidence Of
our ability to supply the whole colonial demand.
These objections disposed Of the committee
refer to the advantages which would accrue
fro n reciprocity in cheapening the raw mate.
rial such as wood-in fostering the trade Of
our great cities, in increasing the traffic On The
canals and railroads in opening new fell Cor
our shipping and finally. in enabling our sea
fisheries to make u2 their Ice way and partici-
Pate in the progress shich marks every other