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

JACK the pr0ducts OF our maritime harvest Tor the
supply OF the interior. The market which the great
West will furnish through this channel for sweet and
well cured fish, now almost unknown will create
demand which the free competition Of American and
colonial fisheries will hardly supply. In considering
reciprocity and it's kindred measures the committee
have deemed 1t proper to cOnfne themselves solely
to the commercial aspect Of the questions under dis
cussion. They feel compelled, however, 70 notice
ject, which may have most serious effect not only
upon the fishing interests, but the welfare Of the
whole nation. Recent events place it beyond doubt
that the British and colonial authorities are deter
mined to enforce the exclusive rights to the fishing
ground claimed to have been secured to them by the
convention Of 1878. During the last year armed yes
sells were furnished by each Of the colonies and
raj vessels despatched by the home government under
instructions to remove by force necessary all Ameri
vessels trespassng upon the fishing grounds within
the prescribed three miles. The effect Of this proceed
ure has been highly injurious to our fall fishery and If
persisted in the fishery cannot be prosecuted by
citizens with profit The Americanfshemen once held
the right to fish on these grounds and they have
claimed this privilege by sort Of prescrptive right.
1t cannot be supposed that our fishermen will
patiently submit to forcble encroachment upon
their supposed rights. Collisions may take place.
and such an event would instantly render possible
consequences most deplorabe. These evils Congress
can avert by prompt and liberal legislation.
OF TIE REVENUE.
If the conclusions TO which the committee have
arrived as to the effect Of reciprocal trade with the
British North American provinces upon the indus
trial interests and trade OF the country are correct it
seems to follow, necessary consequence, that
revenue will be increased by It. The principal part
Of the revenue is derived from duties upon imports.
With any given rate Of duty the amount collected
will depend upon the extent Of our importatOns Of
dutiable goods. Any system of International trade,
therefore, the tendency Of which is to increase the
demand for these goods at the marts of commerce.
must inevitably operate to enhance the revenue.
more satisfactory illustration, il any were needed of
the truth Of this plain proposition, cannot be found
than is presented in the operation of our present
tariff. That measure innovated largely upon veteran
precedents and long cherished systems-it sought to
reform errors and correct abuses and, above ALL by
establishing fixed rate Of duty, to secure domes
tic industry against those fluctuations which
had 80 often proved destructive Of the very objects
intended to be subserved. Its opponents confidently
predicted, and many of its friends feared its failure
to supply the treasury; but the experience Of six
years has abundanty demonstrated its efficiency for all
revenue purposes. That the degree Of protection
given by it to domestic industry has changed with
the ever-varying demand and supply Of the market,
is attributable to those laws of trade which legisa
ton cannot control Doubtless should class among
the causes contributing largely to increase impor
tations since the tariff of 1896 the unusually large
accessions to population, the rapid developement
Of our resources, and the inexhaustibe supplies OF
the precious metals drawn from our own territory.
The official returns Of commerce and navigation ex
hibit the astonishing progress Of our trade. Our
total exports and Imports exclusive of specie and
bullion for the year ending June 80, 1885, while tn
tariff Of 1872 was in force amounted to 1921 079 $780,
Of which go, ,05e were dutable imports, yielding
revenue Of $685. $500. For the last year the
aggregate Of our exports and imports, exclusive of
specie and bullion, 1868 ,674 1884, Of which 420l
106 1874 were dutable imports, yielding revenue Of
brief period Of six years Of healthy trade an excess
Of receipts from customs during the last year of
GIG, 1927 over the amount received from that
source in the last fiscal year under the former tariff
annual expenditures Of the government, Of $14 632
1876. This large surplus, nearly equal to one half
the entire annual revenue from customs six years
since, shows that even if it were conceded that the
proposed measure Of reciprocity would for short
time diminish our receipts from that source, no en-
barTassment could be apprehended from it. Our
trade with the British North American colonies has,
since l843 under the present restrictions been
continually increasing As early as ls45 that accom-.
plshed statesman and able financial officer who was
at the head Of the Treasury Department during the
administration of President Polk speaking Of the act
allowing drawback upon foreign imports exported
from certain Of ports to the British North Ameri
can provinces, said it Twas beginning to produce
the most happy results, especially in an
I'd osDs d IN ns supply y Of Ss
this law must soon give US the whole Of this
valuable trade during the long period when the st.
Lawrence is closed by ice, and large proportion Of
il at all seasons. The result would be still more bene
fetal Canada were allowed to carry all her exports
to foreign nations in transitn through own rail
roads, rivers and canals, to be shipped from our
ports. Such system, whilst it would secure to us
/
ness on our rivers lakes, railroads and canals as well
| as augment our commerce, and would soon lead to
the purchase by Canada not only Of our foreign ex
ports but also in many cases. Of our domestic pro-
ducts and fabrics, to complete assortment In this
manner, our commercial relations with Canada would
become more intimate and more and more Of her
trade every year would be secured to our people"
| These glowing anticipations from the effects Of the
law referred to have been fully realized by subse-
| quent experience.
The trade Of the United States with the British
North American Provinces in 1846, was stated in the
aggregate, at 1884 l66 Of exports and imports In
1862, the same trade had risen to SIG 6l93l5, and
the revenue from the had asolargely increased.
The establishment of free trade in the staple pro-
auctions OF these provinces, by largely increasing
their sale in our marts of commerce, will draw to
! those points an augmented trade, stimulated by
cheapness OF transportation on roads and canals,
and the facilities by which all its operations be
/ conducted. The provincial merchant or agrcul-
| turst, following one OF the Interchangeable laws O
trade will buy in the market where he Sells and thus
become a consumer Of our foreign imports well as
of our domestic productions. The merchant Of To
ronto who has purchased the wheat rye and oats OF
the neighborng farmers when he has sold these col
lected products in Boston or New York will purchase
| there, with the proceeds, the supplies neces-
sary to complete his stock of goods. The lum-
Der dealer Of ST. John will convert his lumber at
Boston, not only into breadstufs, but also into
goods imported from abroad. The fisherman Of Nova
Scotia and Newfoundland wherever along our whole
coast, from Boston to New Orleans he shall sell his
i nSD Will Lnerc purchase LnOse ARTICLES OF foreign
growth necessary for his use. If our drawback laws
have partially converted British colonial producers
into American consumers Of foreign imports, absQ-
lutte and entire free trade in their great staples will
complete the metamorphosis and will add three
millions of people to the present consumers Of our
foreign imports It should be remembered, too, that
this trade valuable to now, is by the system Of
internal improvements in progress in the colonies,
and the increase of their population, rapidly becom-
ing more important the present ratio of increase,
their population in 1860 may be safely set down at
five millions Of people, of similar habits wants and
necessities with ourselves. The laws of trade forbid
the conclusion that foreign commerce, which shall
afford to such people their principal supplies of
necessaries and uxuries will be either reduced in
amount or shorn Of ite revenues.
In conclusion, the committee report, for the adop-
ton OF Congress, bill establishing reciprocal free
/ trade between the United States and the British
North American provinces, upon certain conditions
to be previously adjusted between the goyernments