Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-02-19

TTTTTTTITTY WFNTY 10Y UTI ETTWW ~
It psy o. as far will 60. Indebtedness
10 Canada in lieu Of coin. At port, Island Pond
Vermont, the foreign merchandise In transit TO Canad'
under bond in 1861 amounted TO f6,60S J09. Is re
markAble that domestic exports at the same point
only S2l97i6. These In lean thousands, while
the former handled by us gratis loom up In millions =
Like the traffic Of FAlstah, IL is IA "hafpenny worth o
bread 10 an intolerable deal Of sack"
The amount Of revenue now collected by the United
States upon importatious ffom Canada IL pitable
ouRh and II we deduct the articles not actually there
pfoducod, shall Ind that in four years, nom 1896 10
1853 inclusive, the average amount was only on about
one hundred and Rfy thousand dollars annually yield
ing than $4,000 Of yearly revenue, and not
sufficient pay tthe Of the annual expenses of the
collection districts, scattered as they are along front
Ter Of thousand miles IN extent and yet fourth
part, nearly that Of all Canadian Is derived
from duties mereh andise from the United States
Neither people the Government derive advant-
age from ;hs reciprocity treaty. The trade has, 1t Is
true largely increased but the footsteps Of the profits
all point TO the Hons den, returning outward. We
are the factors serving without pay commissions.
When nation admits cotton any raw material
free Of duty other nations forced 70 follow The exam
pie cease TO manufacture beyond theiroWn eonsump
ton unless they give equal compensatory advantage
upon exports This policy has already made iree Of inn
posts throughout the world large class Of predictions
They oanuo be Longer relied upon ior pnrposes o. rev
enue Canada, like other countries, had aud sil has
large free list Whist articles now be exported %
Canada free under the treaty had the same freed IN % be
imported prior 90 the treaty. aud mere self interest
would have compelled an adherence that policy, wheth-
er the treaty had been made or not We get nothing
this score, but surrendered much. We c'ncede
TO them what do cOncede TO others but what
conceded 90 either not new or conceded TO very
body 'reaty or m treaty What export ffce under
the treaty therefore, sives TO US special favor as the
Canadian markets are open 10 all the world Tor almost
the entire list Of articles named in the treaty, many oi
them being such at the time as we levy or might
levy duties upon when i'm ported into the United States
from other countries, ana for which the provinces have
no other vent but in the United States
THg HOSTILE cHAEGBs MADBiS rHR UANADfAN TARIFF.
The changes made in the Canadian tariff from the spe-
cho 10 the ad ralo'en system and by steadily advaneng
the aa ca0ren Of duty each and almost every year
after the date Of the treaty. were ayowedy made not only
for bat 10 favor British industry, which
onced 20 an Increase Of duties by exclusive ea-
ioyment Of the Canadian markets thereby secured BY
having the duisbe value Of merchandise estimated at
the last port or place from whence imported
rcctv supposed British merchandise would obtain the ad
vantage Of duty computed the naked valuation At
home with addition for freight insurance, exchange,
or other chargeswth the door open also for underya
uatunsehile American merchandise would be taxed on
the value here at the very gates Of Canada difference
Of perhaps twenty per cent IN favor Of British goods
made by cheap labor and by the of accumulated
capital eager tor safe employment At any price How
long American trade would thrive againsi such odds.
when forced Co pay twenty doars duty where others pay
only 6feen easily to be foreseen, and, no doubt,
keenly appreciated.
IL thus Canada reversed its policy, and turn
edits back upon that ofthe mother country 50 industr
ousy proclaimed for the fifteen years for the pur-
pose OF excluding American productions as competition
mainly 10 be Apprehended from this quarter Not
only low duties exchanged for much higher duties,
but sound system abandoned for vicious one,
eor1ng to British authority and practice for the reason
might iuure the benefit Of ~ United States
and for Great Britain. And this, suppose, TO adopt
The language ot the Canadian minister Is only proof Of
the wisdom Of the means employed not evidence OF de-
sigu merely TO iuure others, Great Britain could be
benefited only by the exclusion Of America and thus 1t
happened from design ill will, that America was
excluded II not rob Peter. but TO pay Paul that
Peter robbed Il is not wonderful that Canada
earnestly seeks extension cf the reciprocity treaty 80
feciousy improved, that her min steT should de-
the elteme folly Of all those who would need
lessly seek to disturb il 3"
When Canadian policy has been unequal 10 the work
Of securing further advantages the mother country
10 efficient eosdjutor. Undfr the treaty, timber
from the British provinces is admitted free but Great
Britain, when timber sent there, maintained until
1850 system # dfeIentia duties in favor Of colonial
timber. They had right do this and only urge,
while they act independently Of U.s. that we shall act in
depeudenty Of them.
IL may be suggested that action upon the tariff subse
quent to the treaty by the American Government now
pIeeludes complaint on our part for the Sd,aaeea seae
Of duties levied by the Canadian tariff The facts how
will not resort 20 this argument They had
nearly doubled their tariff by yearly additions as early as
1859 ~ had reduced tariff about twenty per cent
n S57 and aiterwards il is tue increased
not until 1851 when the Canadian tarh was still further
advanced.
famed. firstly, 10 obtain revenue equal to our
pendtute based scale OF strict economy secondly
20 furnish steady revenue, avoiding actua disermlna-
tons against and 10 allow some dscimnauons m taNoI
American labor and lastly to establish principle
that would enable the American importer 70 Introduce
merchandise with no higher payments u duty than those
paid by foreign manufacturers or by foreign merchants
engaged ia the American trade In other words specific
d4es adopted wherever prAccsblei but so far as
the British provinces concerned this gave them an
advantage distant countries and was the very
pncpe discarded by them because OF the loea favor OF
which il susceptible II is great though common
error to assume that this ta fixed of duties much
higher than that of 1916 It translated many OF them m
specifies upon average value computed fur series
Of years and restored many others 10 the same al ua
rem points. with many lower rates higher, where
they stood under the Of 1916 lu the language OF ge
onety there only change Of TERMS, or the reduo
ton Of an uncertain quantity TO an ql' and certain
quantity. SHme additions were made % the tee st, and
iu Instances mixed or compound systen-the spe
cifc and ed raiorea eombinedwas adope ed, bot thi'
system Is regarded most useful by Ooth Geat britain
and the Canadas IL effort TO carry out the heo
~ sanctioned by the experience Of nearg all civilized
tons who have adopted ci6c duties the only mode
of escaping from the perpetual variations and VeXaion'
" the ad Ua0rs system bu the amount Of duties to be
levied not upon general average much advanced
The effect TO collect whatever in fact was levied II
computed the duty upon just valuation, and that duty
slasys the same 70 be honestly collected OF 0o me
jew and the Gentle
II should be understood that any change in the United
States tadg would not sensiby affect Canadian trade
All articles uf the growth produce Of Canada which
She had 10 SELL were already fee by the treaty. and would
therefore be LETT untouched Canada really produces
hls In the way Of manufactures and the treaty nearly
covered all other exports they had from one extremity tC
the other. But IL was far otherwise with the United
States.
Oae OF the Arguments most persuasive to US at the
time OF the adoption of he reaiy-awals excepting The
undeveloped good wilwas the low rates Of provincial
tariffs; and this might have proved less potent but to
the seductive entertainments. the bird suppeIs and cham
pagnC which tmCs win their where the diplo
macy of arguu ents might despair. The wax on cUrk'
often has Intimate relation 70 the wax ON parehmeut
only assert that secret service money, by the
United States well by Canada, II is widely under
stood actively employed in bringing about the treaty
and II share well as that Of Canada, was not *
PENDED here IL Is dicult hcre IL expended
Il silly sheep that brhes the lion 20 repast Of NUT
ton, The provincial appetite needed no whetung
or course IL neither suggesieduor anticipated tha
the policy OF cp,cdo low duties might be suddenly
aNs fla f.aNrr In
with had faith, bat awaIniug to such have faith IN
further lessons ufreeipr city.
The British provinces not remote nor unconneeted
and it would seem thar we might hope fiom them sent
of ordinary good will II they we're independent
and united united might count upon som'
positive friendship But they touch US throughout Tho
whole breadth " continent and they yet merely IN
rank Of colonies and being their rulers appear "a
be less moved BY sehshness and by that unceas
spur Of inferior with the role Of riyal-Jealousy
Their Government is less anxious TO become thc expo
OF the Voice Of their own people thau to echo tina o
a far on ancestral rstoeracy We may wish II were
otherwise, but reciprocity treaty only aids TO eonhfm
such facts.
Other alleged for the increase the Canadian
tahafe thst the Government had embarked 10 extensive
works Of internal impfovemt ntsTailTOads and canals
and must have revenue pay the interest the outlay
In order that these might carry freight al low rates o
without tolls the Government assumed heavy burdens
and eyes taxes upon their whole people Tor the BEN
eht q ffeghters. The completion Of such subsidized
works, supported upon such national principles Is con
elusive aud iuexoTahle upon the competition Of private
enterprise Like the sea- tssels, u which the British
Government pays suhsides wherever they touch private
adventures vanish and American Interests are oVoimts
tered Merchandise from the United States is taxed with
increased duties enable Canadian roads aud canals u
rlN ftatr hul fn