The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-14
THE RECIPROCITY TREATY.
From the London Times of August H.


But the present treaty does not stop here.
The two most important questions which have
been agitated since the peace of Client be-
tween the two Governments, with reference to
the commercial interests of their respective
countries, are, on the one hand, the admission
of the produce of the British North American
Colonies into the Union free of duty, and on
the other hand, the opening of the navigation
of the st. Lawrence and the canals connecting
the great Lakes with the Atlantic on free and
equal terms to the citizens of the United States
The treaty rapidly negotiated and signed by
Lord Elgin, after the previous discussion of
these subj cts which had been ably conducted
by Mr.. Champion, the British Minister at
Washington, thoroughly deserves the name of
the Reciprocity Treaty, by which it is COM
monty described in the United States, and will
be known in history, inasmuch as these two
points are both comprised in it. The British
Colonies obtain the admission of their raw
produce into the States, free of duty The
United States obtain the navigation of the st.
Lawrence and the canals, subject however, to
the right Of the British Government to suspend
this privilege, in which case the preceding con-
cession may also be suspended.
We are, however unwilling end disinclined
to describe these stipulations as concessions on
as elements of negotiation in transactions of
this nature, we are satisfied that the loss in
such instances is on neither side, and the gain
on both. Commercial intercourse, like mercy,
blesses him that gives and him that takes 1t
is not o balance of loss and gain, but the Gu
mulative and additional force we all derive
from more rapid, economical, and extended in
tercourse, from more abundant supplies, moro
frequent markets, and from the reader opera
tions of trade. For instance, the admission of
the produce Of Canada to the North American
States, free of duty, opens the whole line of
communication, at all seasons CT the year. be-
tween one of the largest and most expansive
coIn-growipg regions of the world and the
Atlantic ports.
The Canadian farmers will gain great facil-
tiles of export, the corn consuming countries
of Europe an easier supply, the Americans a
vast trade along their Northern RAILWAYS, ca
nals and coast. The Same advantages will
accrue to the British Colonies by the American
traffic on Cur lines Of water communication,
Multi pertrGnslbunt ct Gugebtter ScientiG-and
not only ScientiG, but wealth, humanity, and
peace. The progress of Canada in the last few
years has been surprising. Selfgovernment
and free trade have given an impulse to those
provinces which they never found under the
discipline of the Colonial Office and the action
of protective laws, and with increasing prosper
ity and power has come al increasing spirit
of independence-a Canadian national feeling,
distinct from that of the United States and re-
lying On the good feeling of the mother country,
who has learned at last to let her mighty off
spring stride EDWARDS alone. This very treaty
requires the sanction of the Colonial az well as
of the Imperial Legislature before it can come
into full operation, and the subject will there
fore be fully discussed in Parliament, both here
and abroad. But this discussion will only dis
play more conspicuously tho effects of a wise
adherence to those liberal and comprehensive
principles which have changed the commercial
relations of foreign countries, and placed the
commercial system of this nation on what we
venture to think an indestruCtible basis
We find the following paragraph in the
Richmond Enquirer. We are glad to perceive
that the editor is free from the narrow preju-
diccs which have been exhibited by other Viz
GINA papers towards Northern and European
emigrants:
"a Rush for Virginia The Chambersburg
Pa Valley Spirit says: 1--WE are Inclined to
think that a very large number of Pennsylva-
mans will visit Virginia in the course of the
next three or four months, with view of pur-
chasing landed property there. Several have
already gone from this county. We have been
called upon to answer scores of inquiries, made
personally and by letter, concerning Virginia
farms, mills, &c, advertised In our paper and
almost every one who has applied personally
to US for the terms on which the various es-
tstes advertised were offered, has expressed
belief that farmers and millers could do better
by purchasing in Virginia than by going West
Lands can be bought far lower in Virginia
than In Pennsylvania, or even in Ohio, and
there are causes now operating in the Old Do
minion that will in q very few years greatly
| enhance the value of real estate. We are re-
liably informed that tolerably handsome for
| tunes have been realized in sc-ne localities,
within the last two or three years, by rapid
appreciation in the price of landed property
Fortunes can yet be made in the same manner
and our sharp-sighted Pennsylvanians are dis
posed to be after them"
COLONEL FREMoNT-Thsre is scarcely q
man In the nation to whom more romantic
interest attaches than to him whose name we
have written at the head of this article The
perils he has passed through, the dangers he
has voluntarily encountered, and the discove-
ries he has made in the untrcdden regions that
stretch away from the western boundaries of
the Rocky Mountains, al conspire to excite our
| admiration and win our respect. He has his
ever-enduring monument in this eternal noun
I tain peaks that rear their bald and bristling
SUBMITS above the clouds, and which now bear
bis name. So circumstanced as to be able 10
live at his ease, or adorn courtly circles, or pass
where statesmen and politicians most do con-
gregste," his bold and free spirit has scorned
the swaddling carpet knights, and the plots Of
politicians, and amid savage wilds and bowling
| wildernesses, over barren wastes of sand, or in
the gorges of mountains, in the dead Of win
ter, subsissing on the flesh of horses, or roaming
on tho broad prairie, where the savage Turks
for his foe, he has carried the banner of the
great Republic, gathered from barbarism and
savage wastes themselves the knowledge that
shall aid in making civilization a practical re-
| alization and won tho thanks and commendar