The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-01

10 THE EDITOR OF THE nERALD.


DEAR SR:-In you editorial article this morning
upon the treaty with the British provinces, find
some remarks based upon an evident misunder.
standing Of the provnc'a tariffs; and consequently
so liable to mislesd the large circle of your readers
that must request the privilege Of small space in
your columns for a explanation.
You remark that the provinces are unwilling to
bear any portion of the harden of your tariff on Eng
fish manufactures. As this tariff is kept at high
rate exclusively for the benefit Of the United States
/ am at a loss to comprehend upon what ground
the provinces could be expected to share
it. English manufactures are taxed on importation
into the provinces precisely at the same rate as
American. The system of diferential duties that
existed previous to 1s48 has been entirely abolished
The provinces cannot legally raise the duty on
British manufactured goods, without raising it upon
all foreign goods to the same standard. Admission
to our markets upon the same terms with the pro-
ducts of other parts of the British empire is quite
much as can be reasonably required for American
productions. The provinces certainly do impose
upon sugar and tobacco duties heavy in comparison
with other articles on their own moderate tariff but
this can in no way disadvantage0usly affect the
American producer, except as far it may possibly
check consumption, as we not only do not raise
these articles upon our own soil, but we levy
the same duties on them, whether imported
from the British East and West Indies or from the
United States and other foreign countries. The
consequence OF which Is that all OF the sugar
sumed IN the provinces is of foreign growth princi
pay Spanish and American, Tobacco is exclusive
Iy imported from the United States with the triing
exception Of segars from Cuba. Owing to the large
derental duties on foreign sugar in England until
lately, and owing to its quality being better suited
for the refiners than the provincial market, the
British West India sugars have been shipped excu-
svely to the English market; and even with mo-
derae derental duty in its favor previous to ls4s
not one cask found its way to the provinces except
for reshipment to England. Free negro sugar has
seldom been tasted by British American this side
Of the Atlantic north Of the latitude of Bermuda.
Tea imported by provincial merchants directly
from China and British India, pays precisely the
same duty with that imported from the United
States or from Great Britain. 1t could therefore in
no way facilitate the trade in that article with Ame-
RIGA (already considerably to abolish the duties
upon it, as we certainly could not receive it duty
free from the United States and charge duties on
1t when imported by our own countrymen.
On. the fishery question / shall be very brief
When the United States gives up her sovereignty
over those bays and harbors ndentng her territory
that are more than six miles wide, as Massachusetts,
New York, Long Island Sound, &C., except to dis
lance of three miles from shore, will reconsider
the Interpretation of the fishery treaty. Until then
we shall expect the United States to respect our
rights, founded on the same basis.
! am, respectfully, A BRITISH AMERICAN.
New YORK, May 80, 1854.