, 1859-02-21
I be Reciprocity TreAty~-Coaszlaf
EnMR.

7 he Reo'ptecstE e.: Treat''~co''alar
The Board Of Trade Of Oswego has preseated
petition to Congress, calling attention to the
commercial relations existing between the
United Ststes and the British North American
Provinees. They submit The following we'll
known facts, ~ tho result Of the Reciprocity
Treaty:
lat- That 1t has placed \ valuable md TO.
stricted trade upon largo aud liberal basis.
sing questions between neighboring and friend
lT uommunitieH.
Sd. That it has given an impetus to huslnesa
by comforting mutual advantsgta.
4sh. That it has developed the resources Of
both countries, and afforded 10 each that great
deslderatum. home markell
The Board complains, however, that great in~
jury il done to the citizens and trade Of This
country By the manner In which the provisions
Of ths Treaty are carried ont By the United
States Ccnsul. General of the British North
American Provinces; that under the aduinss-
trstoa Of that tunctlonary this trade, instead Of
being international and reciprocal. is plseod on
q strictly foreign basis, and differing in mama
only from. tha. between this Government and
France or Spain, or any other foreign govern.
ment; that ssid Consul General has appointed
large number Of deputiss, known 81 Consular
Agents. or Vice. .Consula, who claim tho right OF
exacting teea for certificates upon all Ahipnaents
from Canada to the lake ports that the fees for
these certificates, and the delays and incon.
Teniences of proving them, act as q DIRECT
charge upon the trade, and to tho detriment Of
the citizens of this country, and are, moreover,
IN embarrassing restriction and contrary to the
spirit and intent OF the Tresty.
The Portland Boaad Of Trade has ALSO memo-
rislized Congress on the same subject They
ASSUME that ttade 50 vast1y beneficial TO the
United States should be free from all unueces-
sary restrictions; that there has been falling
Of in it. siues the movement Of the Treasury
Department to place it entirely on the basis Of
foreign trade; and that tbs recent appointment
Of Consulsr Agents, and the enforcement Of jtes
an az pare<ls or eAipm<4ts Of m<reaandizt, Is &
measure alike onerous and annoying, producing
no income to the National Treasury, increasing
only the private fortunes Of Government off
cials, and tzei&ing Ats1iA along our entire from
<lr.
In treating Of this subject the New York.
Couri1r and Enquirer Of a recent date, ssys:
These considerations are certainly entitled to
weight in Congress-. The Treasury v1e.B 1ateIy
enforced are the results Of individual opinions of
the preeent head Of THO Treasury, not those that
prevailed from 1852 to 1856. Without attempts
ing to draw an inviduous line between the Treas~
ury orders OF 1858 and those of 1885 e, ~ die.
tated By the respective hesds Of the Treasury,
tbs decline in the Colonial trade may, ne think,
be traced to the action Of our own Government,
however strict that may be IS regards The
Treaty.
There Is clear 1osa ofmilions Of dollars an
nually to onr people By the recent Treasury or
ders. 1t is, We think, unfortunate for our com.
mercial interests that snch q subject Is under
the control Of legal gentlemen only, Who look nt
it merely with aleRai eye, without that liberal
construction which Commercial Treaties should
be held to-. This il a matter that concerns not
merely tho Northern States bordering On Cana
ds, but has some importance to every State in
the Union. Our exporta to British North Amer
caemhraee portions Of every article enumerated
in the export tables Of the United States, and
we are eonYinced that speedy return to the
liberal construction Of ls54.'5 would producs
beneficial results to the country ct large.