Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-26
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
AggapaocAL TRADE AND THE FISHERIES.
wAsniSoroE, FERRuARr 2s, ]


wAsnrScroK, FERRDARr 2S 1853.
Hon. DAvIp L. SEYMOUR, 4
Chairman ofthe Committee on Commerce,
House Of Representatives..
Sin. | received copy Of your report reciprocal
trade with the British North American provinces colo
pies, which you were so kind as to send me, and have
read it with deep interest Having considered the views
and arguments presented in it, together with the pfoy
sions of the bill reported by the committee and having
heretofore given much attention TO the subject OF produc-
tive industry commerce. and thecauses ofnatona wealth.
and believing the subject of the report and bill TO be one
of great importance the American people, which should
be examined discussed in all its details and bearings,
beg leave to submit remarks for your conside-
ration.
The bill provides for reciprocal free trade between the
United States and the British North American provinces
in certain articles the growth production, manufc-
ture Of the parties respectively, TO wit in grains -four
and breadstus of all kinds seeds unmanuactured hemp
fax and tow animals of all kinds undred fruits, fish of
all kinds smoked, saed and fresh meats hides sheep
felts wool butter, cheese talow, lard ashes rewood
agricultural Implements including fish oil, rice,
cotton unmanufactured tobacco unrefned sugar, and
some few other unmanuacured articles certain
dons First and second the full enjoyment by citizens
OF United States of the right catch and fish in
all the British provinces of North America third the free
navigation of the rivers St Lawrence and ST. Johns and
all the canals connecting the great Northern lakes with
the Atlantic fourth the abolition by the Province
OF New Brunswick Of NIL export duties on lumber cut in
the State Of Maine transported down the river St john
and thence exported and, fifth, the passage of laws by
the aforesaid Provinces to admit free Of duty all said ar
cles the growth, produce manufacture Of the United
States.
The second section Of the bill provides that whenever
Great Britain shall admit into the British West India
ones round, hewed and sawed timber of all kinds and
all lumber Of every description the growth and produc-
ton of the United States the rate of duty shall
be charged similar articles from the British North
American provinces and shall also admit such articles
the growth and production of the United States into
Great Britain and Ireland free of duty then, and in that
case such articles the growth and lucon of the Bril-
tish North American Provinces shall be admitted into the
Unitsd Stftes free Of duty tss
The bill is founded upon the principles Of reciprocity
far il goesupon she principe Of mutual compen-
saon for privileges granted. 1t principle
that every nation has natural and inherent right to
fuse TO import consume admit into its ports all any
of the products Of any and every other country and to
prescribe what terms they will admit foreign products
If they admit them all All the civilized nations Of the
earth have acted upon this principle Nearly all the ma
tons OF Europe and America have felt and appreciated
the Importance Of foreign markets for portion Of
their products; and, nasmuch they could not force
their products into foreign countries for consumption
of right they have endeayored TO the bene
fit Of foreg markets by treaty, privilege purchased
by granting privilege equivalent to the people
Of the nation from whom it has been purchased The
WHOLE colonial system Of Europe is based upon the value
of colonies markets for the manufactured products Of
the parent country.
Many branches Of the subject embraced the bill have
been before the country for years have been dis
cussed in newspapers and in public reports and of
citizens well public and editors, have taken
sides many Of the questions involved in It. Some per-
object it partial and unequal and denounce it
unjust the United States because il does ctab
sh free trade in manufactures Of all kinds well in
agricultural products Foreign commerce is compli-
Gated in its character and bearing upon the industry Of
nation that general rules be laid down prescribing
the same terms and conditions for regulating IL between
all countries and in all articles Every nation should
endeayor regulate its foreign commerce in such man
promote its industry, by securing, mat
of "A good
possible for its surplus products to enable its people TO
pay for such foreign products they desire aud III
all secure equivalent for the privileges which
they may grant to the people Of other countries Nations
in regulating their commerce with others, should take
into consideration their condition. natural resources
dusry and capacity produce and also the wants and
necessares with which they supply themselves at
home, well the necessity Of raising for the
support of the Government. No nation situ-
ated to render it expedent and advantageous to its
pie adopt perfect free trade in all articles, with ali
tons and to admit all articles free Of duty impose
duties all products imported impose the same
Of duty all articles admitted free On the
trary, all commercial nations have admitted many art-
ces some and some lcss) free of duty and have
imposed different grades of duty, according to crcum-
Stances other articles imported Let examine the
details of the bill in reference TO different articles and
subjects which is intended to operate upon and enea
inquire into its probable operation upon the indus
try and commerce. Of country in order TO determine
whether should should not obtain full equivalents
the privileges grants to the inhabitants Of the Bri
tsh Provinces
Strong fears have been expressed that the farmers Of
the Middle and Western States would be seriously in
ured by the introduction Of the agricultural products
Canada into markets. Let examine the probable
effects Of the bill" the trade in and prices of the
leading products Of agriculture. First:
Wieat md What Fow.-There is no reason to doubt
that under its operation nearly all the surplus wheat and
producedin Upper Canada would find way through
the New York canals and railroads to the city Of New
York, from which it would be shipped to Great Britain,
70 New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, the West Indies, aud
south America, with American -four and mostly IN Amc-
rcan vessels and that it would enter into competition
with american -four. But IL enters into competition
with American -four In all foreign markets and will con-
tnue 70 do 50, whether this bill eha be adopted not
Ihe only substantial difference IS, that this
would give u an outlet to the fcregn market during
nearly the whce year whereas the navigation Of the ST.
Lawrence will admit Of its shipment TO the Atlantic aud
foregnports through that channel during less than hall the
year. When the markets we'll sipplicd las they
generally are with -four and grain the known fact that
large quantities are the way to market or in ware
houses to be sent on the opening navigation has
as much influence prices il the same were actually
in the market Prices governed by the proportion
between the demand and supply Of product: but thev
generally sensitive that they are greatly influenced
by public opinion Of the CROP and the quantity to come
10 market and raised and depressed by
estimates Of the crop, and by false reports sue being
the case inasmuch the United States and Canada also
produce considerable quantities of wheat and aonr for
expectation nearly every year. which seek tie same
foreign markets by which its value on the seaboard will
generally be regulated il is Of very little consequence 20
the American farmer whether Canadian -four finds a To-
reign market through the channel Of the St. Lawrence or