The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-21
Ths Reciprocity Treaty.
no TIE EDITOR or THE HERALD.

IA supposed to have received from the com nercisl
and manufacturing interests has been too much
taken for granted, and that sufficient proof that
the ratification Of this treaty was mainly brought
about by New York millers and merchants, and
New England manufacturers, has been or can be
produced.
The proof, however, is at hand, though some Of
the evidence 1t must be confessed 10 rather circum
stantial TRAN direct. The ENTHUSIASTICALLY the
New England manufacturers did not care to COM
NIT themselves before the country to so open
betrayal Of the agricultural interest, having pledged
themselves in every shape and form, at every cleo
ton involving the fate of the tariff, ths. the home
markets which our farmers we're thus to be taxed
to create should be exclusively theirs to possess
andeDjoy
short narrative Of the order Of events will show
with whom this reciprocity measure originated, by
whom, sad by what Arguments it was supported, by
what votes it was foaily carried, and also incl
dsptsly, by what means the vote of Southern Seaa
tors representing agricultural States was obtained
for il.
General Dix. Senator from Ne York. specially
representing as wen understood at the time, the
milling interest of Northern New York, and the
commercial interest Of tho city of New York, and
warmly sympatbizing Ia the success and prosperity
OF New lOkk nIeIhhl lmptOv5men3-ner Canals
ana rslrosds-prepsrei bill embracing the sub
stance of the present treaty, which iutrodu ,ed
by bis friends into the House of Representatives
during the early part of the session Of lS49 and
which bill, as Senator Pearce subsequently stated
in his place In the Senate was, "anaccom panied by
any report, passed without dis ,ussion" and as he,
the Senator, believed, without any knowledge of
majority OF the members of that body"
kofo to-.
the same authority, without any report, and no
papers accompanying it," brief explanation OF
the bill was now given by Ssnator Dix; but this SO
tar from satisfying Senators, only sufficed to call
theis attsntontp the obnoxious, selfish and local
character Of the legislation sought.
Senator Pearce attacked it in mastery speech
of great ability, and showed the injustice that
would be done to agriculture by thus throwin
down all barriers, far as this interest was con-
cerned. Il,
He said: I" I think 1t is very important measure,
departure from the general revenue policy of the
county, involving in los consequences, direct and
remote probable and serious injury to one Of the
greatest interests of the country--an interest as
little or less protected than any other and quite as
much entitled to the benefit Of direct or incidental
protection as any. The bill proposes to allow the
importation into the United States from Canada,
free Of duty, Of wheat and breadstuffs generally,
and other products of that colony, upon condition
that similar articles, the prodnct of the United
States, may be imported into Canada free of duty.
Now. ir, there ia really no reciprocity in all this
the Dill ls oelusve. Ii 1t pass, not dollars worth
OF all these products will be exported from the
United States to Canada. Canada is not and
cannot be mark ct for such products of the United
States; while direct effect OF the bill Is to give her
participation in our home market-so that there
viii be no equivalent afforded to US; certainly none
to the great grain growing interest which Ia mostly
concerted Ia Jhe legislation on this subject
This bill, therefore, may be considered as the first
move ment towards the withdrawal Of all, even Incl.
dental, protection to the grain growers OF the
United States, while other great interests retain
the protection which the tariff Of 1886 gives
them. do no. think the people interested in the
agriculture of the country will be satisfied with this
If they are not to have &c equality OF benefits, they
will Insist upon an equality Of another sort. Benefits
not generally given must be generally with
erawn, and other interests must abandon the pro-
lection given to them Certainly, there's equiva.
lent offered by this measure TO the agricultural in
teIess. Whatever tne6t is to be derived from it.
viii enure to the millers OF Northern Nev York
to Northern railroads and canals, and to Northern
shippers and manufacturers, aud to them the profits
must be much smaller than tue injury to the agricu
tural claes. . But surely, in country like ours
that produces surplus OF twenty to twenty i've mil
lions of bushels o, wheat, beyond all the wants Of
our ordinary consumption, we have q right to ask
that we may enjoy our home market without COM
peuUOn rom OSner cOuntrle4 on terms such az ap-
pip to no ether great interest of the country"
The Senator also forciby commended that our trea.
ties with other countries particularly with Russia
would compel Us to admit their produce the same
terms we did the produce OF Csnada-a position in
which he was subsequently sustained BY Mr..
Hunter. n ~
But Mr.. Hunter also ably opposed this bill on its
merits, and which Dill be 1t remarked Is identical
with the Treaty 50 far ss the Senator's objections
to il went. He asked: els 1t fair to take away all
the protection afforded to the agricultural interest,
while you retain that afforded to The manufacturing
interest 50 Ewonld SEE as IL the agricultural In
terest were considered q great beast OF burden,
doomed to bear all the loads to be imposed upon
the productions OF this country; and tax It free
ly and without remorse. .1
Now, sir, lam willing, far as the agricultural
interests concerned 70 place TEEN the footing
OF free trade provided all other interests ara placed
on the same footing. Bat TO allow the msnufsctur-
ing interest 70 receive hga protection, and to take
from the Agricultural interest all the protection
that is afforded 10 them-and that much less than
is afforded TO others-is unfair aud unjust
Abiding 10 the act Of 1916, by which tho Cana
dams were allowed 70 send their produ 20 THROUGH
our ports subject to q drawback, and which law
passed Congress, by the bye, as silently and hur-
riedly, IL not az clandestinely, the Reciprocity
bin aid the House Of Representatives, without
knowledge Of the majority Of the members Of that
BODY M. Hunter said:--" We have thus done ell
that is necessary to give New York all the profits
and advantages arising from the carrying trade be
tween Canada and foreign ports. We have done all
that IL Is legitimate for US 70 ali that the COM
mercial interest requires-lnd now they come here
and ask that they may be allowed to re ,eve the
productions OF Canada, free Of duty, for home con.
sumption. While the manufacturersofth the North aud
East have tho pre- lection that is afforded them under
the present tariff, they to be allowed to receive
breadstufs free Of duty from Canada, and probably
the Baltic also. Nov, sir, this Ia unequal in more
than one point Of vev-unequal not only between
the agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing
interest, but also unequal bs.Seeu different sections
of the country. - The commercial aud
navigA tng interest have all they can rightfully de-
mand In the act allowing drawback on Canadian
productions shipped from our ports. But they have
no right TO demand, and surely the manufacturing
interest ought not to expect us to iDjure the agcu