Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-07-25
FISHERY and Reciprocity Treaty.

Fishery and Reciprocity Treaty.
This important measure, which has been some
years before the public, has been matured for
finai ac.scn and Is now before our Senate. Ii
can hardly be expected to measure out equal BEN
Gifts to all parties interested, but If it promises
benefits to all that is enough to commend II to
favorable action. The prominent provisions OF
the measure, which we gave few days ago,are-
The FREE NAVIGATION OF THE ST. LAWRENCE;
FREEpoM IN FIsuiSe; and THE MUTUAL Ex-
CHANGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL PRO-
DUCTS.
The New York Journal Of Commerce which is
doubtless well versed on the subject of Canadian
trade, says that the free navigation of the St.
Lawrence has been moderated in its benefits TO
the United Statcs. The impediments to nasiga-
ting the Gulf, from its high latitude its ice and
fogs. have been greatly exaggerated. The great
lakes and the river and gulf Of st. Lawrence ex-
fend halt way across the continent, and occupy
that part Of the globe which has always furnished
most of the elements of commerce, and nearly all
of the navigation for the world. These lakes,
this river and Gulf, correspond in location and
latitude with the North Sea, the Baltic, the Medi-
terranean, aud the Black Sea of the Eastern con-
tinent and must, at no distant day. furnish to
commerce vast amount of commodities and
shipping.
There are old merchants trading on the lakes,
who nave witnessed The growth Of this trade from
few thousand dollars, conducted by few hun
dred tons of shipping, which supplied our militia
ry posts transported the Iqdian annuites, the
salt for Pittsburg, and single cargo for the
Northwest Fur Company trade which now oc'
cupies third Of the tonnage of the Union, and is
computed by hundreds of millions u trade then
furnished by few thousand settlers at remote
point. now sweed TO FIVE or six millions Of inhab-
itants.
There are young merchants who will live to see
this trade and this population immensely increas
ed. Hence we cannot afford to have this nayga-
ton longer sealed up. Mr.. Galatn, in one of
his last productions, proposed, to yield tho free
navigation of the Columbia for that of the st.
Lawrence. In that article he said "that il has
become almost the settled law of nations in Eu-
rope, that rivers like the st. Lawrence whose
mouths are in one government, and whose upper
waters are in another. should be free to boht;n
but il this be right by international law, still it
is better to secure it by treaty than by force.
We quote further from the Journal of Com
merce
OF the article Of agriculture, pork, corn, tai
low, and lard, as well as rice, tobacco, sugar and
cotton all the provinces are large consumers
while the lower provinces arc large consumers al
so of our breadstutfs. Fortunately for British
America, their treasures are in condition to
enable them to remit their duties, and place these
articles of prime necessity the free list WHILE
on the other hand we are large consumers of
their lumber and om treasury can also well spare
the duty on this important and necessary article
Although our manufactured articles are me-
cessarily excluded from the free listin the pro-
vinces, yet incidentally these will derive great
benefit from the Treaty. From our skin in course
and useful fabrics, and from oontiguity, we
shall secure a monopoly of this trade whenever
by receiving the staples of these provinces, lum-
Der, breadstuffs and fish, free of duty, supply
ample funds and facilities for these purchases.
We are not aware of objections to the provis-
ions of this Treaty from any quarter, except it
may be to the two articles of lumber and coal;
and it is believed Canada will insist that the for
mer and Nova Scotia that the latter be retained
in the free list. 1t SO happens that the North
Western frontier line has thrown upon Canada
the timbered rgons, with the exception of n
small portion in Northern Michigan and Wiseon
sin, while il has thrown upon the vast prairie
rgons, almost destitute of timber. Hence the
Importance at this provision to both parties.
The lower provinces of Canada purchase all
their bread, and they will take it from New York
Pennsylvania and Maryland, and take ii home in
lieu of ballast, free from freight, in the coasters
which bring us their coaLfsh, plaster, grndstons
&c, instead of seeking their supply from Upper
Canada through the st. Lawrence uad yoy
age. II a law Of commerce that little or no
freight is charged in the direction that little fregh
istransported. Thus the wheat vessel FROM Chi
cago, Detroit. Cleveland, &C.. carries back salt
by way of ballast from Buffalo and 0swego, with
out any,or with a nominal charge. So the coal
laden vessels from the British provinces,will car
ny back wheat and -four for ballast
We learn from the Washington Star,that mot
the least doubt is entertained there of the final
contamination of this Treaty.
Cholera