The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-14


We publish with great pleasure the following interest,"
ing article the Boston Post fishery and reci
proeity treaty with Great Britain which eommends itself
The public BY the proper spirit which it is conceived
and the comprehensive view IN which that great and Inn
portnnt measure should always be considered
THE RECIPROCAL TREATY.
We have already published the Presidents proclamation
giving force and effect The fishery and reciprocity treaty
concluded with Great Britain in June last and which Is
we'll designated by the Hon Abbott Lawrence some Of
the most important treaties since 1872
There very naturally inquiry the part Of the
public the Of delay promugasug this treaty
and regret learn that il has been Of dsap
pointment and probably Of injury parties concerned il
those branches Of commerce
ID is but just and proper here TO remark that the admin
istraton is ia eensurabe for this delay and
seqGsnt Inconvenience for AFTER his Inauguration,
the President and Secretary Of State took these important
interests under advemen and gave them all the attention
their magnitude demanded that without the least pro-
crasinaon they osered BY executive vigilance and
attention until maured into the form Of treaty and
frned " both houses Of Congress
The fifth article Of the treaty Is as follows
The present treaty shall take effect the laws
required carry tno operation shall have been passed
by the Imperial Parliament of Great Britain and the Pro-
vncal Paamens OF those Of the British North American
colonies which affected by this treaty the hand
and by the Congress Of the United States on The other
Such assent having been gwen, REMAIN
force for ten years from the date at which tmay into
operation and further until the expiration OF twelve
months after either Of the high contracting parties shall
give the other of its wish TO terminate The same
each Of the high contracting parties being NJ liberty 20 give
such notice the other at the end OF the said term OF ten
years, at any time afterwards a8&
The treaty first approved by the Congress Of the
United States then by Canada New Brunswick Prince Ed
wards island Nova Scotia and by the British Parliament
The legislation Of the British Parliament, chiefly me-
IN ins,,re Of Lawrence
repeal certain restrictive acts passed in England since
in relation the fisheries those two subjects being in a
great degree considered as imperial rights.
Ii significant fact in the history of the colonies that
their to the treaty provided for and Made one
OF its conditions precedent and il cannot but be consid
cred proof that although in strict construction they
are be viewed colonies yet they in fact rapidly
attaining that period OF their history when their
ca rights and Importance must claim to be respected for
with their in wealth and population their enlarged
views of and their commercial ideas have kept
pace and il is procedure in the proper direction to second
their desires for free interchange Of commodities With
other portions Of the continent, of which they destined
to be considered such an important part
Although the convention Of $780, made by Gen. Jack
son. was productive Of good results il was only the conn
nencement of liberal policy and the trade
still hampered by enacments and stringent laws, which
conceived and given the world by the arbitrary
commercial councils Of George the third.
About the year ls40ll2, Great Britain begun to show
indications in favor ofee trade and Of changing her
mercial policy with her colonies. @ts
In ls43 the discriminating duties in her colonies in IA
of British manufactures and produce ahlised
and American and other foreign manufactures produce
for several years and now, admitted intaM the
colonies precisely the terms the prodacv and
manufactures of Great Britain In 1916 the protptiQn
colonial wheat and timber almost wholly ws46dawn
and the duty Baltic and colonial timber and othsfpro
ducts equalized. 46f sgt s.S&s
These acts have not been without their nench has
tenng closer and liberal commercial bessveen
this country and the colonies.
The treaty in force is materially yaialt from
the pred settled upon by Mr. Marcy and Mr.. Champion
Indeed the main points Of each instrument % nearly
identical that the universal approval with which The
in force has been received but III extremely
gratifying to those through whose nsrnmentaty ii
brought into existence and rpened into supreme law Of
the great countries with whose interests these gentle
charged 1t is well known that the question Of
reciprocity had been before the country sey years
being FIRST presented during the administrati of1r
Polk. g
It, however made little progress under the presidency of
General Taylor and his Mr. Webstef Anques-
tonably intended to negotiate treaty with Great rtain
and had his life been spared this eminent statesman would
no doubt have effected his purpose.
Mr.. Everett sharing the views, and equally ac-
knowedgng their importance, prevented from pre-
crossing with the negotiations by the expiration Of the
brief for which he held the Office of Secretary of
State.
When General Pierce became President therefore the
question a new before the public mind At
enton had been called it by discussions in Congress- in
the newspapers Of the day and by various reports
abroad to The world through Congress from the Treasury
and State Departments Hence the had arrived
when decision necessary The question plain as
well as momentsus and the government could neither
honorably consistently hesitate any longer II was
compelled decide either for against treaty All great
parties constitutional governments have their rise or
fall their continued life early death. Governments
sometimes only record the public voice. but sometimes thew
lead in advance Of public opniou and mould the detern-
nations it may forn
General Pierce very early day of his presidency
tated the position and undcnabe importance Of the sub
ect and the necessity of immediate action II was palpa-
bly, incumbent upon him, in justice continental and An
goprovincia interests to eliminate all Irritation
between this country and the foreign colonies which might
grow of the northern fisheries it apparent 10 him
that would be suspicious step forward in the progress
Of liberal principles 10 forever the restrictions
which shackled the rich and growing Of
minous peoples and frontier line back 10 them
he gave the question close examination that earn
advocacy which marks his convictions Of patriotic
duty and which was, aided by the intelligent cooperation
of Mr. Marcy the most potent Of its fnal
We need scarcely observe that the question Of the fisher
les and colonial trade has bsen for more than half
century the subject OF much negotiation between this