The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-18
Reciprocal Trade with Canada-Mr ScymOur's
Report and Bill.

4 ACpoLt anu DAA
Mr Seymour chairman oil The United States House
Committee on Commerce. has reported on reciprocal
trade with the British North American colonies, accom-
panied by bill. The main points in the report are
| HISTORY or DIPLOMACY THE TRADE.
In March, 1883, William Pilt-lhen Chancellor OF the
Exchequer-introduced into the House OF Commons
bill for the regulation OF trade and intercourse between
the people OF Great Britain and OF the United States, IN
which were imbodied principles OF public policy which
may preeepts for legislation 10 our Time por
ton OF The bill is in the following words:
And whereas IT is highly expedient that the inter
course between Great Britain and the United States
should be established the most enlarged principles OF
reciprocal benefits 10 both countries but from The dls
lance between Great Britain and America, II must Dc
considerable time before any convention or treaty Tor es
abishng and regulating the trade and intercourse be-
tween Great Britain and the United States OF America
upon permanent foundation can be conducted
Now. for the purpose OF making temporary regnlauon
OF the and intercourse between Great BRIAN
and said United States of America and in order TO evince
disposition OF Great Britain to be terms OF the most
perfect amity with the said United States OF America and
IN confidence OF the like friendly disposition on the par
of the said United States towards Great Britain, be II iur
Their enacted that, from and after
the ships and vessels OF the subjects and ctzens oil the
said United States OF America, with the merchandise ana
goods board the same, shall be admitted into all The
ports of Great Britain in the manner as the ships
and vessels OF the subjects OF other independent sovereign
Stales &c"
The regulation thus far applied only TO the commercial
intercourse between the United States and Great Britain
Ii was the same which, after lapse of than thirty
years. established by the convention oil 1915 and Is
yet in force The intercourse with the colonies was 10
be settled on principles equally liberal.
The bill continues "And he il further enacted, That
during the aforesaid. the ships and vessels OF the
subjects and citizens OF the United States shall be admit
ted into the ports of his Majesy's islands, colonies, or
plantations in America, with any mechandses orgoods
OF the growth produce, or manufacture OF The territories
of the said United States with liberty TO export from his
said Majes,y's islands, colonies or plantations n Amer
| lea. to the said United Slaes, any merchandises
and goods Whatsoever; and such merchandise and
goods which. shall be imported into, or export
ed from, said British islands, colonies or plan
tations in America, shall be liable to the same
duties and charges only the merchandise
and goods would be subject TO Il they were the prop
ex orted IN British built ships or vessels nayigaed by
British seamen" Aud be il further enacted, That, du
ring all the tine hereinbeioe limted there shall be the
same drawbacks exemptions, and bounes on mer-
chandses and goods exported from Great Britain into the
territories OF the United States OF America, allowed
the OF expectation to the islands. plantations, colo
MES remaining or belonging TO the Crown OF Great
Britain in America"
II has been well said "That in the long and evenful
lille OF William Pitt, and in the penude OF his power,
he accomplished, nay, he never devised measure
more strongly marked with the stamp of liberal principle
and Of profound wisdom than the draugh of this bill"
Unfortunately for The welfare OF the colonies and both
countries, the resignation of Mr. Pitt, with Lord She
burn, who had concluded the peace, and the succession
OF the ministry formed by the coalition Of Lord North
and Charles Fox undoubtedly prevented the system OF
friendly intercourse with America. which Mr.. Pitts bill
was about 10 introduce from being carried into effect
The whole regulation of the intercourse committed
| 10 The discretion OF The Kings Council.
On the I'd July, l7S3 order passed in council
restricting the trade between the United States and the
British colonies 10 very small number OF articles, and in
lerdiciing the trade altogether except IN British ships.
This order was continued by annual acs OF Parliament
and orders in council till February, 1888, when the pro-
vision established by permanent statute, which
took effect from the I'd OF April OF that year From 1888
10 1915 continued efforts made BY the United States
to arrange the colonial trade by treaty. bat all our prop
osilons were evaded or declined BY Great Britain ln
The mean Time as measure of self-defence, in 1889
| levied n small dutv and
tonnage foreign shipping entering the ports OF the
United States but discarded proposition for the imposi
ton OF discriminating duty specially bearing upon the
By the act Of Sd March, 1915. Congress declared the
principle upon which the commercial policy OF the Uni
led States would be established by enacing that all pre-
vious acts providing for discriminating duties should be
repealed in favor OF such nations prepared TO
ercise the same liberal policy towards this country BY
the conveRlon Of 1915 this principle was made appca
BILE TO the between the United States and the
British countries in Europe. BY this convention Great
Britain secured the abolition of our discriminating duties
But she expressly excluded from this arrangement the
trade between the United States and the British colonies
in America, and preserved Tor herself all the advantages
of the crcutous triangular voyage from Great Britain
TO the colonies from the colonies 10 the United States,
and from the United States 10 Great Britain.
This arrangement proved so unavorable to the ship
ping interests of the United States that the Government
Immediately insisted, and continued TO insist that The
rule OF reciprocity applied 10 branch OF the CONNER
cial intercourse should be made equally applicable 10
both. The twelve years succeeding the convention of
1915 were employed in endeavors 10 arrange the terms OF
the colonial trade with the United States by negotiation
them through the agency OF separate legsla
tive enacments The government OF the United
States" says Mr. Clay. in his letter to MIR Vaughan, OF
the lh October 1896 "bas always been anxious that
The trade between them and the British colonies should
be placed upon liberal and equitable basis There has
not been moment since the adoption OF the present
sulion when they not willing 10 apply 10 II prnc
Piles OF fair reciprocity and equal competition There has
not been time during The period when they have
understood the British government 10 be prepared TO
adopt that principle. The struggle the side OF Gea,
Britain was 10 maintain her monopoly and on that oil the
United States TO equal participation in the trade
and intercourse between them and the British colonies"
| Although the two governments more than con-
Cured In each others views 10 the conditions which
they would assent, their respective resulted an al
most entire suppression oil the trade.
An order in council, issued on the 9th day OF July,
United States and the greater part OF the British colonies
should from and after prescribed day and on the
nth OF March. 1927, the President OF the United States
by proclamation declared the trade between the United
States and the British colonies TO be prohibited
Neverhe ess, the trade necessary for The colonies
and the United States has sought out for itself a suf
cent though crcuous channel, notwithstanding the OBJ
srucion which illibera legislation had placed in its
course. Our produce shipped in American vessels
ped by the British coonis,s 10 their own ports large
trade was carried in plaster from Nova Scolia-the
British vessels bringing IT TO the line in Passanaq uoddy
bay, from whence II was taken in American vessels
The Total value OF imports iron the colonies TO this
country for the year ending September, 1897 Sii5
iii. The value OF our total domestic and foreign ey-
ports TO the colonies 81 ,s3o674 The year 1899 il
an important epoch in the history ol the colonial trade
The United States N this year gave impulse 10 the