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

OF TRB
Committee on Commerce Of the House
Of Representatives.
OF THB
RECIPROCAL TRADE
WITH TIE
BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES.


Commerce, to whom was referred Sundry memorials
OF American citizens relative to reciprocal trade
with the British North American colonies reports:
That the importance of the trade OF the United
States with the British North American colonies.
rapidly increasing with the extension Of facilities OF
INSTRUMENTATION, the expressions Of public OPT
Mon by resolutions and petitions from our Northern
frontier and leading commercial cities, and the be-
raj overtures Of Of the colonial governments,
urge upon Congress the necessity Of establishing our
commercial intercourse with the colonies upon q
basis of fair and liberal reciprocity, and upon prn-
eples coDscnia with the enlarged commercial spirit
Of the present age.
Tie committee purpose briefly to review the past
legislation and treaty stipulatons relative to our
commercial intercourse with the British North
American colonies, to exhibit the present position
and magnitude oil this trade, to recommend measures
to be adopted by Congress Tor the future arrange
ment OF commerce with these colonies and 20 dis
csss the effects which the proposed arrangements
viii have upon several leading interests Of oar coun
Try.
The committee do not deem it necessary for their
purpose to enter into full explanation OF the CON-
plicated legislation which has taken place in respect
TO colonial trade They desire simply to show how,
in the course OF years. Notwithstanding frequent
vi yet Al consequence Vi altef-
nate concessions, most narrow and oppressive sys
tenn has been enlarged into of comparative free
dom and Iiberaty alike beneficial to the colonies
and the United States.
In reviewing the commercial history Of these
colonies which may be said to commence in 1885,
the attention is first arrested by measure Of en-
lghtened and farseeiDg craftsmanship which re-
msrkably contrasts with the subsequent policy Of
the British ministry.
In March, 1888, William Pitt-then Chancellor Of
the Exchequer- introduced into the House Of Com
mons bill for the regulationo Of trade and intercourse
between the people Of Great Britain and Of the Uni
ted States, in which were embodied principles OF
public policy which may serve US precepts for legis-
lation in our time. A portion VI the bill Ii In tho
following Words .el.
And whereas il is highly expedient that the In
tercoUrse between Great Britain and the United
States should be established on the most ENLARGED
principles of reciprocal benefits to both countries;
but from the distance between Great Britain and
America, It must be considerable time before any
convention or treaty for establishing and regulating
the trade and intercourse between Great Britain and
the United States Of America upon o permanent
foundation can be concluded.
Now, for the purpose Of making temporary regu-
lation OF the commerce al.d Intercourse between
Great Britain and said United States of America,
and in order to evince disposition OF Great Britain
to he terms of tie most periect amity with the
said United States OF America, and in confidence Of
United States towards Great Britain, be It further
enacted, that from aud Gi.e-
the chips and vessels ri the subjects and citizens Of
the said United States Of ainciia, with the mer-
chandse and goods on board the same, lsl be sd-
tted into all tile ports Of Great Britain in the same
manner as the ships and vessels OF the subjects Of
other independent sovereign States, &C."
The regulation thu fur applied only to the CONNER
cal intercourse between the United States and Great
Britain. 1t was the same which, after lapse OF
more than thirty years. was established by the con-
nptt0 nxflS rndi vet In fnr,n 10
with the colonies was to be settled on principles
equally liberal.
The bill continues:-"And be it further enacted,
That during the term aforesaid the ships and vessels Of
the subjects and citizens OF the United States shall bc
admitted into the ports Of his Maestys islands, colo
MES or plantations in America, with any merchan-
discs or goods of the growth, produce or manufac
ture Of the territories Of the said United States,
with liberty to export from his said Maestys Islands,
colonies or plantations in America to the said terri
tories Of the ssid United States any merchandise and
goods whatsoever; and such merchandise and goods
which shall be imported into, or exported FROM said
British Islands colonies or plantations in America,
shall be liable to the same duties and charges only
ms the same merchandise and goods would be sub
ject to if they were the property of British natural
born. subjects, and imported or exported in Brit
ish built ships or vessels, navigated by British
seaman. And be It further enacted, That during
all the time herenbefore limited there shall be the
same drawbacks, exemptions and bountics on mer-
chandises and goods exported from Great Britain
into the territories Of the said United States Of Amer
islands, plantations or colonies now remaining or be-
longing to the Crown Of Great Britain in America"
| II has been well said, "That in the long and event
fui lie Of William Pitt and in the pentitude Of his
power he never accomplished nay, he devised,
measure more strongly marked with the stamp OF
| liberal principle and Of profound wisdom than the
dnnght Of this BILL" Unfortunately for the welfare
Of the colonies and both countries the resignation "a
Mr.. Pitt, with Lord Sieburn, who had concluded the
peace, and the succession of the ministry formed by
the coalition of Lord North and Charles J. Fox, I'M
conre with America, which Mr. Pitts bill was about
TO introduce, from being carried into effect. The
whole regulation OF the intercourse was committed To
the discretion Of the Kings Council.
On the I'd july 1888, an order was passed in O0uH-
Gil restricting the trade between the United States
and the British colonies to very small number OF
articles and interdcting the trade altogether except
in British ships. This order was continued by AnnIl-
al acts Of Parliament and orders in Council I'LL Feb-
ruary, 1893. when the provision established by
permanent statute, which took effect from the I'd Of
April Of that year. From l7s3 to 1915 continued OF
forts made by the United States 10 arrange the
colonial trade by treaty but oil our propositions
eyaded or declined by Great Britain. In the mean
time, as measure of self defence, in $780, Congress
tonnage on foreign shipping entering the ports Of the
United States; but discarded proposition for the
imposition Of discriminating duty specially bearing
Ply By the oct Of Sd AarcI s 1915, Congress declared
the principle upon which the commercial policy Of
she United States would be established by enacting
that all previous acts, providing for discriminating
duties should be repealed ia favor Of such nations ~
were prepared to exercise the same liberal policy
towards this country. BY the convention q 1878,
this principle was made applicable to the CON-
| merce between the United States and the Brit
ish countries in Europe. BY this con vention,
Great Britain secured the abolition Of our disexim-
mating duties. But she expressly excluded from this
arrangement the trade between the United States
and the British colonies in America. and preserved
for herself oil the advantages Of the circuitous q I'll
angular voyage from Great Britain to the colonies,
from the coloaies to the United States and fom the
United States ~ Great Britain.
This arrangement proved so unfavorable e the
shipping interests Of the United States that the gov-
eminent imme dately insisted, and continued 20 In
sist, that the rsle Of reciprocity applied 70 one
branch Of the commercial Intercourse, should be
made equally applicable to both. The twelve yoaxa