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

ttons urging the establishment Of reciprocity in
trade were received from most OF the large towns and
cities OF the Northern frontier The sentiment which
exists in our great commercial cities may
be Known by the resolution adopted by the
Board Of Commerce of New York, which is as
folows:-" Resolved, That the Chamber of Commerce
Of the city Of New York recommend to the favorable
consideration Of Congress, q reciprocal arrangement
with the British North American provinces for the
free interchange Of the natural productions OF their
respective countries also, full and joint
participation in the fisheries, and the free Navigation
of the river St. Lawrence"
Able and elaborate articles in favor of reciprocity
have lately appeared in many of the leading Journals
ofthe country among which We may mention the worm
Amy7non Rerictc Hunts Mcrch rnt's Magazine,
and De Bows Southern and Western hercm lhese
publications made in different and distant quarters
OF the country, are not only indices OF pubic OPT
Mon but exhibit a careful examination OF this sub
ect by political economists and men Of large practi
AS further indication Of American sentiment, it
NAV be mentioned that an arrangement OF reciprocal
trade with Canada upon much broader basis than
is contemplated by the committee, was recommended
by Mr. Walker, the Secretary of the Treasury under
Mr.. Folks administration. And bill providing for
reciprocal trade with Canada but limited chiefly to
leading articles OF agricultural production, passed the
House Of Representatives in the Thrtieth Congress,
and failed 10 become law, as is believed, only from
want of time In the Senate.
rapid glance at the resources of the colonies,
their capacities for production and consumption. and
the causes which already mpel them to our markets,
is necessary for comprehension Of the advantages
which we shall derive from the proposed reciprocal
free trade.
Mr. Andrews, in his admirable reporttothe Secretary
OF the Treasury 70 which the committee are largely
indebted Tor many Of the facts and statistics embodied
in this report, observes -
" The population of all the North American colo
MES now exceeds two millions of souls. As people,
they are intelligent, Industrious and enterprising,
and if permitted freely TO exercise selfgovernment,
would soon assume an equality in commercial activity
with the citizens Of the United States aud Great
Britain. Occupying most extensive country,
of an area OF nearly five hundred thou
sand square miles, stretching from the forty
second to the fiftieth degree Of north latitude
Astounding in forests of the finest timber, and mine
rails of great value, and with soil fitted TO afford
exhaustless supplies OF food for mana country,
climate; favored with unparalleled facilities for sea,
river, and lake navigation; watered throughout by
streams which furnish an unlimited amount OF water
power and are stocked with the most valuable des-
crpton Of fish; bordered by a sea coast; indented
with bays and admirable harbors, which are open to
the most valuable fisheries in the world; possess
ing such superintendent resources and sustained and
stimulated by an energy OF character which they
have inherited with us from common source these
coonists destined to become great and flourish
ing people and to exercise no mean influence on the
interests OF our Northern continent
Looking at the several provinces, in their relation
TO the United States we find the principal exports
Of Canada to this country are timber, lumber. ashes
animals, grain, -four, and WOOL The value OF lumber
received through the lakes is not less than million
Of dollars annually. The markets on the Hudson
derive from this source from onethird to onehaf Of
their supply. The trade in Canadian agricultural
productions, with the exception, perhaps, Of wheat
frontier forming the basis Of convenient and
profitable exchange. The total exports Of Canada to
the United States exceed six millions Of dollars annu
ally, and are wholly paid for by our productions and
exported TO that province. Our present exports to
Canada Of foreign commodities, such as tea, coffee,
wine segars, dried fruits hides and sugar, were for
merly obtained by Canada through Great Britain;
but since lS46, have, to great extent, been pro-
cured through the American markets.
The exports OF New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
are chiefly lumber coal, gypsum, and fish. They i'm.
port in return, from this country large portion Of
their consumption Of manufactured and foreign
goods, and the principal part OF their breadstufs.
In the article OF -four they have been among the
best customers of the United States.
Newfoundland, although furnishing but few arti-
Giles of export except fish, sealskins, and cod oil,
imports from the United States, yearly million
OF dollars worth Of goods The exports tothe United
States from that province do not amount To onetent
part Of that sum. The rapidity with which this
trade with the United States has sprung up is illus
trated by the fact that in 1927 the trade of New
foundand with this country was absolutely nothing
Upon reviewing the statistics OF our trade with all
the colonies we find that during the past twenty
years it has greatly increased and that already they
occupy position among the best customers OF the
United States. The total exports 70 the colonies for
the year ending June 1852, were valued at upwards
OF $40 oOOO exclusive of specie near onesxteenth
part OF orr whole exports OF goods whereas the
average value Of exports TO the colonies for each
Of the wears lo27, 1929, and 1880. was only
s3l25517. Thus, through the influence Of the relax
atoms OF former restrictions which have before
sdyerted to, the trade has been nearly qnadruped
in period of twenty-five years. What we have
gained has been won from great commercial
rival, Great Britain. The total exports to the
onies from Great Britain in ls4o, were sl5,sS5 ,l66;
in lS49, Sill ,346 1874.
The colonists now consume our domestic exports
at the rate of than 81 g. for each individual OF
the population. The value OF colonial products con-
sumed by is only % cents for each person OF our
population. 1t is estimated that the population OF
the colonies doubles every sxeen seventeen years
At the end OF that period, IL the same rate Of con
sumption is retained, shall export annually more
than seventeen millions in value 70 the colonies.
But, under liberal commercial system with this
country, the cOl0niss will each year consume less Of
British and other foreign exports, and more Of
own, so that we may safely predict that in sixteen
years domestic exports u the colonies will he from
twenty-five to thirty millions, and greater than
present exports to any country in the world except
Great Britain. The question 70 be determined is,
whether the whole current Of commercial intercourse,
now settling in our favor shall receive fresh i'm
pulse in this direction whether il shall be checked
and perhaps wholly diverted from shores Geo
graphical position and daily increasing social sympa
tes are strengthening the bonds Of our commercial
alliance These colonies the natural outlets Of
American productions, and OF the overlooking returns
Of our extended commerce. Geographically sepa-
rated from all other countries they commercially
united to this country. Separate and conflicting
commercial systems, in the position Of continent,
seem to be in violation Of the physical adaptations Of
it, surface for a commercial union II the people in
habiting it. The grand highways OF oceans, bays,
lakes, and rivers which form Northern frontier,
would seem to set at defiance the barriers raised
against illegal traffic. Nature thus strengthens the
common sentiment on both sidee Of the frontier.
1t would seem 70 be almost q waste Of words
to urge the advantages 70 ne of a reciprocal free
trade with a people possessing many common
resources and afhnitics with ourselves, speaking,
the main, the same language, having the same
necessities and social and domestic habits, and so
the manufactures Of the other are alike necessary
to both.
The great example o. the blessings OF reciprocal
free trade, which have in the freedom Of inter.
course between the separate sovereignties of
-. o,,N.. h. IT,