The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-29

compeIIed to return to Shanghai where Mr.. Roberts
still remains, waiting for an opportunity to rea the
rebel Emperor.
This is the Lords dongs, and it Is marvellous in
our eye.
on motion Of DR.. SEuos the meeting adjourned
till Thursday night
Trade with Cannda--The Proposed Rscipro-
city Treaty.
From the Oswego Times
It'll well understood that the proposed arrange
ment for a reciprocity of trade embraces all the
British North American Provinces, and il Is equally
well understood that they buy considerably more
of our agricultural products against duty for con-
sumption than they produce to sell. The trade in
the articles embraced in the proposed free list
has been for many years largely in favor OF the Uni
ted States, notwithstanding Canadian breadstuffs
staple article of export, in effect admitted free
under or warehousing law. Upper Canada is the
only part Of British North America that produces
surplus of breadstufs while oil below is mainly
cupied by a population engaged in numbering fish
ing ship building. mercantile and commercial pur-
suits, purchasing. their flour, grain, pork, &C.,
mostly in the markets of the United States They
also purchase largely of our manufactured products,
against light revenue duty averaging about twelve
per cent. We buy their lumber, taxed with duty
article of absolute necessity to all classes In the
State Maine is the only State In the North that
has any lumber to export, for which she mas but
one natural outlet. and that running through q
/. British colony. Her lumber is run down the st.
John, and charged with an export duty by New
Brunswick, before 1t can go to market. VI course
Maine could lose nothing by the reciprocal free
admission Of the article.
The character of our trade with the colonies may
be by the annual report of the Treasury Depart
ment, just published by order Of Congress. The
returns show that total exports to and imp ,rts
FRI IN the Province in 1858, were as follows:-
Exports. SIS, l4O,6R
Imports. Observation-Disclosures. 7,550,604
Total trade in 1853. ........... s2O69l, 2ls
This amount of trade, in which our exports are
near double the amount of our imports, would seem
to be worthy of encouragem ent by the adoption of
liberal commercial intercourse The effect of relax
ing commercial restrictions Is most remarkably il
ustrst by the abolition of derental duties in the
colonies and the adoption Of our drawback and
warth, using laws in about 1916. After these re-
ciprT cal measures went into operation, our trade
with the colonies doubled in three years-tie in
crease in this period being greater than that
OF the twenty preceding years, under the old sys-
tenn Of stringent restrictions The official figures of
the Treasury Department show the value of trade
with the colonies to have been in the several years
i indicated as follows:-
1927 ....... $3,l49,0l4 1852. SIG ,66l 305
! ls49. ....... S,75S,9S6 1853. 20,69l, 246
This growing trade already forms no inconsidera.
bic item in the tonnage and revenues OF our canals
| and railroads.
Iron the Buffalo Advertiser, May 27.l
1t is understood that treaty, embracing the fish
cries and reciprocity Of trade between the United
vinces, was agreed to some time ago between Mr..
Marcy and Mr.. Champion, and is soon to be
submitted to a convention of delegates from
those Provinces for their their approval; and it is
this country has reference to this arrangement,
aud is intended to promote it. While we are igno-
rant Of the precise stipulations of the treaty,
cannot be supposed to commit ourselves to the sup
port OF all its provisions by advocating the impor-
lance Of the general object it is intended to promote.
Even if it should turn ont on its publication that it
is wholly wise and iljudged, arguments ever so
conclusive against that particul r treaty would not
necessarily be valid arguments against the extension
of trade with our northern neighbors on proper
basis. We will hope, however, that the treaty may
prove worthy of the important measure which it
has in contemplation When its provisions are made
! public, we shall be able to discuss the subject in
more definite, and, therefore, more satisfactory man.
ner than we can at present when we are restricted
| to mere general considerations.
We are not aware that it is denied in any quarter
that such treaty would be followed bya great, i'm
! mediate and rapid extension OF commercial inter-
course between this country and the colonies This
conse luence is expected alike by its advocates and
its opponents and would without doubt be its most
| prominent and remarkable result. Who is prepared
to say that great extension OF trade IS considered
merely in itself a formidable evili If we except
the empire of Japan--and even Japan is at last be-
ginning to outgrow its prejudices-isnot the whole
world unanimous in the opinion that the growth OF
trade and the enlargement OF commercial inter.
course, are advantages to be coveted, rather than
sources Of reasonable apprehension Who will tell
us why an augmentation of such intercourse be-
tween ourselves and Canada should be regarded as
an exception to the general ruley Belonging to the
same race, speaking the same language, understand
/ ing each others wants, and separated only by
great chain Of navigable waters which invite mu-
| tualy beneficial commerce, it would seem that If
any business intercourse Is productive OF advantage,
this must certainly be so. For the same reasons that
| domestic commerce contributes so much more to
the prosperity of country than foreign, the trade
| of Canada would be much more valuable to US than
any other foreign trade. In proportion as countries
are remote from each other, commerce between
them requires large capital to conduct IT, and gives
| labor. The East India trade for example, though
not precisely monopoly, is of such nature that
none but heavy capitalists can engage In It, every
man being excluded who cannot afford to trust
large amount of property for long time out of
his sight and allow years to intervene between the
purchase of the outward cargo and the receipt OF
the money for the sales Of the return voyage. This
large capital, exposed for long time to the perils
Of the ocean, gives employment only to the crew OF
a single ship, while the same amount employed in
domestic trade sets in motion vast amount of in
dustry, and has the advantage Of being constantly
under the eyes Of its owners, and never for long
time together out Of their hands.
Commerce between neighboring countries has
many Of the advantages of purely domestic trade.
BY enabling of small capitals to engage in it,
it fosters and encourages enterprise and, by dis
tributing its rewards, enables great number to
share them. A healthy system OF credit which is
almost the vital breath Of trade, is easily sustained
|
their proximity enables the merchants of each to
inform themselves of the business standing of those
with whom they deal in the other and to become
acquainted with its laws for the collection of debts
The shortness Of the voyage allows Of quick re-
turns, and the property Of the merchant is never
for long while out of his sight. Unless then, it
be denied that the increase of trade Is an advan-
tage and that domestic trade, trade approaching
the character of domestic trade, is more beneficial
1 TO a country than foreign commerce with distant
countries, there must be some peculiar and power
full countervaiing considerations in relation to the
British provinces, or else the opponents of this
measure are fighting against great, clear and de-
cidcd advantage.
The Circumstance that it will benefit the colonies,
| which of course no will dispute, is not a just
! ground OF objection to it, even il in striking a
balance between the respective advantages of the
two countries il should be made to appear that Il
would profit them to greater extent than it would
us. II is the part neither of wisdom generosity,