The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-28

ali oFLie az SIS 20, while sales or ordinary new mess
made at SIS 1919 and Of prime at SIS. Suesrs
were in good demand, with sales Of about 500 GA
hhds Now Orleans Cuba, Porto Rico and Texas, at ia,
Ir oes. Coffee was quiet Freight engagements were
moderate. and rates unchanged.
The New Canadian Tnrsn-Rebclilon Again
RIFE.
In another column will be found table
of the duties imposed by the new Canadian
tariff, which, with few unimportant altera-
tions, has passed both houses and received the
assent of the Governor General. This measure
is highly important one, inasmuch as it not
only changes the old system of duties, but alters
materially the existing commercial relations b.
tween the Provinces and the United States. 1t
ecognizes the ad valOrem system, with single
exceptiOn-that of whiskey-on which specific
duty Of eighteen cents gallon is charged,
and 1t abandons altogether the protective
principle, by imposing duties on raw materials
as well as on their manufactured products. The
effect of the first of these alterations will be
to divert a great portion Of the trade now car
ried on with Boston and New York to Montreal,
the duty is calculated on the price Eat the last
place Of purchase" Teas, sugars and all other
tropical productions will be imported direct or
from England, either by the river st. Lawrence
or by Portland over the St. Lawrence and
Atlantic and Grand Trunk Railways The first
of these lines has been leased by the Grand
Trunk Company under q lease Of ninety. nine
years, securing the stockholders six per cent on
the capital invested 1t is one of those contracts
which, though nominally having term, are
virtually perpetual, and it gives to
the Grand Trunk Company, with its own
road, a continuous line of thirteen hundred
miles to Detroit Under our warehouse bill, i'm
ports for Canada can enter Portland aud pass
nwards in bond to Montreal. This fact serves
to throw light on the motives which have influ.
enced the promoters of this scheme in trying to
centraize the trade of the Provinces in that city
Whilst ostensibly their purpose is to foster the
direct trade by sending it round by the ST. Law
renee their real object is to promote the interests
of the Grand Trunk line, which must benefit
largely, by its diversion from its present channels
AS the expenses of railroad transportation will
he more than compensated for by the difference Of
duties created by the adoption of the ad valorem
principle on the plan above stated, this conclu-
sion seems to be the only probable explanation
of the motive of such sweeping changes. Other
wise, it would be impossible to account for altera
tons which are calculated to excite so much dis
content and disafiection in the Upper Province
But We have in the authorship of the mea-
sure something more than mere speculation
to base our coDjectures upon. Mr.. Inspector
General Calf, who framed and introduced it, was,
until within the last year or two, director
of the Grand Trunk line. Although, when he
became q government candidate he found it
prudent to resign bis seat at the board it is well
known that he continues his connection with, and
has heavy stake in the prosperity of, the line
We are, therefore, justified in assuming that the
new tariff is intended to benefit this particular
interest," to the great injury and dissatisfaction of
The people of Upper Canada.
The Canadians seem to be outstripping US
in the arts of official jobbing, if we are to Judge
from this and other Developments which
have lately come to light. The railway inte-
rest, as in New York and New Jersey,
is oversbadowng all others, and thrusting its
creatures into the government for its own
selfish ends. The tariff has been forced
through the Parliament in spite of the earnest
remonstrances Of the representatives and people
of Upper Canada, who pay two-thirds of the Gus
toms duties of the provinces. The effects of such
legislation will, of course, be to open the door to
the same extensive system Of smuggling that
prevailed before the war, and thus the revenue
will be made to suffer, in order to benefit few
railway Spectators and trading politicians.
With regard to our own interests, we do not ap-
prehend that they will sustain any very great
damage by the measure. Having with them the
sympathies Of the people of Upper Canada our
merchants will find no difficulty in getting their
goods across the frontier. Even should detec
ton follow, it will be impossible, under the cir
cumstances, for the government to procure a
conviction. Thus tae objects contemp lated by
the authors of the scheme will be defeated by the
very persons whom it is intended to injure
Without specializing upon the measures of
reprisal which our government may be disposed
to adopt should this hostile system of duties be
persevered in, we may say, that when the reci-
procity treaty comes to be renewed the new
tariff viii exercise an important influence on the
question whether it is advantageous to persevere
in that arrangement. We do not think. how
ever, that any action upon our part will become
necessary in reference to this measure. 1t is
already creating such q fermentation amongst
the people Of Upper Canada, that we believe
Parliament will eventually have to repeal it or
consent to the separation Of the two Provinces
The inhabitants of West Canada look upon New
York as their natural MARKET and they will not
submit TO restrictions which will both enhance
the cost of their purchases and subject them
otherwise to great inconvenience. To such
height has the discomfort created by Mr.. Calls