Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-29
New Canadian Tariff Passed.

Our Canada neighbors have just passed
through an exciting Tariff contest. A defcien-
cy in the revenue had to be provided for, and
instead of following the American fashion Of
shining along by borrowing and Treasury
shinpIasters, the Ministry locked the deficiency
fairly in the face and introduced into Parlia-
ment bill providing for such an increase Of
Customs duties as would meet the exigency in
the revenues They also looked into the ex-
penditures, and provided for such a reduction
as appeared practicable. aL3
The new Tariff bill was introduced in the
House by Inspector General Gait, and sharp
debate of four days followed. 1t was pressed
as N inisterial measure, but obtained only ID
majority, in House of lis members. The
Ministry was deserted by three of the Upper
Canada supporters, Messrs. Buchanan, NJ. Cam
eron and J. Cameron, and it is anticipated that
the Camerons will remain permanently in the
Opposition. The debates were marked with
much feeling, the Upper Canada members gen
orally opposing the bill.
In the Legislative Coun:il, the Government
pushed the new Tariff bill through with unusu-
al haste 1t was read the first, second, and
third time in one day; the excuse being that
compliance with the usual forms ofthe Council
would entail a loss to the revenue, inasmuch as
freights had arrived at the seaboard which, but
for haste, would be entered at the old duties
The debate was brief, and the bill passed. OF
the Governor Generals sanction there is no
doubt.
The new Tariff makes some sweeping chan
ges, and the Toronto Leader, Ministerial says ga
more unpopular measure, in Upper Canada, has
probably never been passed. That it will rev.
OIutiOnize the trade of Upper Canada, for good
or for bad, can scarcely admit of doubt At
present, the great bulk of our trade in Tea, Cof-
fee, Sugar, and MoIasses is with the United
States" "The present class of
of Upper Canada merchants, trading in these
articles in New York, will hereafter be divided
into two classes; one going exclusively into the
wholesale and the other exclusively into the re-
tail trade; the former importing directly from
countries of production, and the latter purchas-
ing from the former We have no idea that the
trade can, even by the discriminating effects of
this tariff, be forced into the st. Lawrence"
The new Tariff raises the duties on manufac
tured articles, in some case FIVE in some ten, In
some twenty or thirty-fve per cent Unmanu-
factured articles from the United States, are
left untouched, their importation being regula-
ted by the Reciprocity Treaty. 1t is based on
the principle of ad vaIOrem duties-levying
tar, not upon the value in Canada, but at the
place where the goods are imported. Thus tea
imported direct from China to Quebec or Mon
tresl, viii pay only duty on its Chinese value;
although, if brought through New York or BOs-
ten, the duty viii be levied on the value at
those American ports-thus creating in point
of practical effect, dierential duties against the
United States
The main objections urged against the Tariff
in Canada are:
'That the mode Of determining valuation is
such as to operate unequaliy, compelling Cana
.da West to pay higher duties on goods imported
from the United States, than Canada East Will
on goods imported from England. This is done
with the design of increasing the trade Of the
st. Lawrence, but it will also have the effect of
depressing that across the American border
The opponents of the bill even declare that it
will operate so disadvsntageously TO the United
States, as to lead us, in retaliation, to demand
the abrogation of the Reciprocity Treaty"