The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-21

Our Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, Feb. IL, 1853.
Favorable Prospect Of the New York and Wishing
tom dir Line Railroad Blu Contemplated Toll
for Crossing the Susquehanna Rirer-Ssatimsats
Of Gen. Pierce the Subject.
Mr.. Doty, of Wisconsin has considerable hope that
the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads viii
report favoraby on his bill for air line railroad
between New York and Washington, which VIII be q
great relief to the travelling community aud persons
having public business at this city, "a Mr. school
craft, of Albany who is of the committee, Is ex-
erting himself to effect desirable an object
As another reason for the passage OF the bill at the
earliest possible PERIOD proposition Is before the
Legislature of Maryland to lay an additional charge
of twenty eight cents for crossing the bridge on the
Susouehanna which it is proposed to erect, thus ad
ding to the price of passage between the two cities,
which is already proportionately higher than in any
other part of the Union.
Mr.. Doty has met with encouragement very gene
rally outside the House and among other letters OF
a favorable nature which lie has received, is one
which has just been forwarded, expressive OF the
views Of General Pierce upon the sabiect : -Four
years ago last summer says the writer, i" Jour
neyed from New York with the President elect, and
had quite lengthy conversation in regard TO the
railroad monopoly in New Jersey; and at his re quest
spent some days in obtaining signatures to print
ed petition he handed me- praying for the very OBJ
ject arrived at in your bill. thought would name
the fact TO you, for your encouragement
Should the committee determine not 70 reporl IA
vorably on his BILL Mr.. Doty purposes to move It as
an amendment to the general bill, when 1t shall be
reported. W.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is, 1853.
Anempt at Rsfoym-Debate on the Reciprocity BM
Commenced Opposition from M1ine-Refusa'
of the British Government to Negotiate if Con-
is Ercl4ded-IHe coal Question-Vessels En-
lloycd IN the Lake and West India Trade-QIes-
ti0n at Issue.
| was very glad to perceive, in the HERALD Of
Wednesday, a commendatory notice of the attemp.
made by Mr.. venable to procure a reconstruction o
those rules of the House which interfere with the
legitimate business, and which called down upon his
devoted head most inveterate onslaught on the
part Of other members. Even where q rule is cllcu-
lated to effect desirable object, it is totally disre
garded by the Chair both in the House and when in
committee. allude more particularly to the thirty
first rule, which prescribes that when q member
speaks he shall confine himself to the question
under debate, and avoid personality" The practice
however, has grown into precedent, of speaking
upon every subject but that under discussion of which
Mr. venable aYailed himself when the Civil and
Diplomatic bill came up, and the debate closed
without allusion being made to the bill itself by
either Of the gentlemen who spoke.
Yesterday the Reciprocity bill came up for con-
sideration during the morning hour the debate on
which was opened by Mr.. Seymour, with rather
brief but comprehensive speech 1t will meet with
strenuous opposition on the part Of the members
from Maine and there is little chance of its becoming
law at this late period of the session and even
should the contrary be the case, cannot possibly
serve as the basis Of treaty, as have the best
authority for stating that the British government will
not consent to the adoption Of reciprocal free trade
and the surrender Of the fisheries unless coal shall
be included in the enumerated articles.
1t is much to be regretted that Mr. Seymour was
not enabled to carry out his liberal and enlightened
his BILL which promises to defeat the object of the
report Of the chairman OF the Committee Com
merce-a document that cannot be too widely circu-
lated, or too extensively read-owng to the opposi
ton OF the coal mining companies whose apprehcn-
sions think shall be able to show by citing few
facts are as groundless as they are selfish in the
extreme
The quantity Of coal imported into the United
States from Nova Scotia, during the past year,
900 TONS the greater part of which entered at
the ports of Boston, Providence, Salem, and other
ports in the New England States. or this quantity
nearly third consumed in the manufacture of
gas, purpose for which Pennsylvania and Maryland
coal is entirely unsuited, it being as impossible to
make that article from anthracite or semibitum
nous coal, such as the Cumberland, as it would be
from paving stones, but for which that from PictOu
is admirably adapted.
Neither could Nova Scotia coal. for domestic use,
for steamboat purposes were it admitted free OF
duty come in competition with that from the States
alluded to- for it could not be sold as cheaply and,
owing to its rapid combustion, it is not so well
adapted for steam purposes the anthracite semi
bituminous coal of this country. In proof of this
may state that the Collins steamers use Pennsylva
MIA and Cumberland coal entirely. Even the British
steamers these exclusively, notwithstanding Mr.
Cunard is deeply interested in the Nova Scotia coal
mines.
There is, besides, a large export Of coal growing
up from the United States to the ports OF Upper
Canada on the lakes and if coal were admitted into
Canada free Of duty that province would receive its
entire supply OF that article from the American ports
on the lakes. The tonnage Of vessels on Lake Erie
and the Western lakes is nearly three hundred thou
sand tons, and the estimated value OF vessels en-
ployed eight millions Of dollars and if the free nav
CATION of the St Lawrence to the ocean were OBJ
tanned these vessels, which have to be idle nearly
onehalf the year, might be proftaby employed in a
trade with the seaports and elsewhere.
On the other hand, were coal admitted free OF
duty, vessels on the seaboard might be employed in
bringing cargoes from Nova Scotia during the sum
mer months, when they cannot frequent the West
Indies on account of the sckly season, bat which,
after making two or three voyages, could return in
time to engage in the West India trade
have already alluded to the difficulty which the
omission Of coal will create In the negotiation o. any
treaty with the government of the United States but
il is very evident that Nova Scotia would con-
sent to give up the fisheries and agree to the making
of any treaty of reciprocity excluding that article;
whose inhabitants would consider it suicidal to enter
into free introduction OF cotton rice and tobacco
articles enumerated in the bill reported from tue
Committee on Commerce, which that province does
not possess have one Of her principal exports
excluded.
The fact is, the question at present at issue ia,
whether, in exchange for the free navigation Of the
st. Lawrence the right to take and cure fish the
North American coast, the uninterrupted navigation
of the St. john and the introduction of agricultural
produce from Canada thus cheapening one OF the
necesaries Of life to the laborng classes, and the
importation Of lumber at low rate of daty by which
the ship builders in this country may be able To
pete with those of the colonies certain sections shall