Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-26

less,
ties could be annually from the piece ground
or if forests inexhaustibe that cutting and
bringing to market might be treated producing the
wood, the would be very different. AS it is, the
consumers of rewood and the frontier would be
benefited by admitting it free of duty and the country
generally would in The end be benefited also,
Much of this reasoning in relation to rewood applies
with great force to all agricultural and other products
imported in their state, be used materials or
stock be manufactured such wool, cotton, hides,
dyestus, and timber The farmer should expedite de-
rive advantage from the growth of towns
and villages and increased demand tlerefron for his
products; and not by duties materials, which
prices and tend defeat the end and be
attained by imposing duties foreign manufactures
The policy Of France is and long has been impose
heavy duties manufactures imported but to admit
materials to be manufactured, either very low
duties or entirely free Such formerly the policy Of
Great Britain, and the was continued as long as
protective duties could be useful to her people think
therefore, that the United States would not suffer any
serious injury from reciprocal free trade with Canada and
the British Provinces in materials to be manufac
tured and products to be consumed, if
! to have other equivalents.
manufactured tobacco imported into the Provinces
is charged with duty; the bill proposes to admit
Free which would be advantage to the tobaccopant
| ing States.
The bill also proposes reciprocal free trade in agricu
tura implements, including axes; which would tend to
increase the markets and the industry well as the
commerce of the United States.
The general effect of the bill would be to increase the
commerce navigation and internal ton of the
United States and to increase the demand for
factures and thereby increase manufacturing indus
try These advantages and those stated in the condi
tions Of the bi constitute the principal benefits and
equivalents which the people of the United States will
derive from the measure if it shall be adopted BY the
first and second conditions the privilege will be secured
citizens to fish in all the waters Of the British North
American Provinces and to fish upon the coasts and
shores Of those provinces This is great privilege and
would be of very great advantage the American peoples
and what do we give for it? We grant the colonists
the privilege of selling fish in markets. without pay
npa any drlty IN double
ege of catching and curing fish within their possessions
and the adjacent waters and of selling the fish freely in
their markets, without paying duties. We grant one
privilege and secure two equivalent
The free CATION of the river ST. Johns and the
abolition of all export duties lumber cut in the State
of Maine and transported down that river and thence
ported would be great consequence that State and
materially enhance the value of large amount Of wood
and mbered lands and the fuel and lumber that may be
upon them. As to the importation Of timber from the
Provinces into the United States it strikes that the
people of the United States will be fully compensated for
it by the privileges secured to them by the bill, Of
porting timber and lumber to Great Britain free Of duty
and to the British West Indies the terms that
allowed to the inhabitants of the British Provinces II
the effect should be the supply and reduce
prices in the United States, it will promote the interest
of consumers much it viii prejudice the interest of
lmbermen The arguments heretofore advanced in rea
ton to frewood apply to timber and al kinds Of lumber
The provision to the fce navigation Of the sver
St. Lawrence and the snhjcc the payment of os(
of all the canals connecting the Lakes with the Atlantic
of importance the Northwestern States The
St Lawrence being in high latitude, the navigation
Quebec obsructed by ice about six months of the
year. below that city the navigation of the river and the
gulf is rendered very dangerous full half the year by
floating ice fogs Winds and storms and for nearly hye
months the navigation is mpracticable The navigation
is good from the fore part of May the latter part of DC
tober and the distance from Quebec to Liverpool beng
about four hundred miles less than it from New ierS
to Liverpool -four, lumber and other products can De
shpped during the summer season from Lake Erie to
Liverpool by the way Quebec and merchandise trans
ported back cheaper than by way Of New York The
objection the St. Lawrence route that very little of
the -four made from crop Of wheat be sent to Great
Britain any other foreign country through that
channel until the following June after it is harvested
y the New York route the contrary, much Of Ii may
be put into the British markets in November and Decem
bcr and the remainder during the winter and spring.
The advantage in time is very great and important IN
Of the New York route This bring the greatest
part of the wheat and -four of Upper Canada TO New
York be shipped and give to the canals railways and
citizens Of the United States the profits of transporting
them country, to shipping merchants the
profits Of shipping them to foreign countries and selling
them If this should be adopted the probability
is that the canal from Albany to Lake Champain would
be enlarged that ship canal would be made from
the foot Of the Lake TO the St Lawrence near Montreal
that very large proportion of the exports Of Montreal
would be made through New York. and the greatest part
Of its supplies goods would be obtained through the same
channel The trade of Kingston and all the other cities
Of Upper Canada would take the These cf-
ects would be produced by the operation Of reciprocal
trade The colonial merchants would be attracted to our
great marts Of commerce. to which they would send their
products in search of goods suited to the condition and
Of the people. New business relations would be
formed and they would be likely to buy the most Of
her supplies in the markets where they sell erproducs
and have the greatest facilities for making payment and
establishing credit.
Reciprocal trade would tend TO increase the importance
TO the Northwestern States Of the navigation Of the St.
Lawrence. The greater the number Of channels open,
and the greater the facilities for transporting products
and merchandise the speedy business will be DONE
and reighs will be lower. The difference in the prices
of freghts will be considerable during the
season that the timber staves and other lumber will
nearly all 60 by the st. Lawrence.
The examine the subject in its details and re-
fleet upon the probable operation Of the BILL the more
satisfied that if adopted it will open and exten
sive markets for mechanical products and mauutac
lures that II will increase the industry commerce, and
wealth Of the United States well of the Provinces
and that il is of the most important measures
before the American people.
But it is urged that the reciprocity is partial that it
goes only half way; that il should include manufacturer
and all products of American industry that it goes just
far will promote the industry Of the colonies, and
oms the principle Of reciprocity to brapches
OF industry which would benefit the people Of the United
States In order test the validity and force Of this
objection let examine the relative condition Of Great
/ Britain, the Colonies, and the United States.
Great Britain has her manufactures of cotton wool,
fax iron, and hardware we'll established She has an
immense amount of machinery in operation great expe-
rience great numbers of skilfu workmen cheap labor
extensive markets secured by long established business
relations and by of her colonies and almost
unlimited amount of capital These mostly artificial
advantages, which she has acquired during nearly two
centuries Of protection which nation possibly
acquire without securing its markets for the benefit of Us
own aborers and industry These advantages 50
great and the amount and capacity of British machinery
TO manufacture cotton WOOL and iron arc so extensive,
that they manufacture those articles cheaper than