New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-23
COmnRRCIAE. RELATIONS "s1h
THE BRITISH PROVINCES.

We published the 0tAel day oaHui''y VI
the comprehensive speech in Congress o' tac
Hon. Elijah Ward on the above subject, which
| he rightly considers of grca. moment CONNER
cially-how great may be judged from the tao;
that during the last FIVE years The commerce o.
the United States with Canada has been larger
than with any other portion OF the world eX-
cept England, France, AMI Cuba. Whatever
| lies in the way, therefore, OF an equitable adj
liustmant of interests 30 vast ought, from inter
ested motives, if from no other, to be removed.
The complaints against the Reciprocity Treaty,
says Mr.. Ward. are not unirequently based on
partial and imperfect views Of its operation, and
the demands for its repeal can be justly satisfied
by some notifications of its provisions. Since
| its enactment, we have sold to the Provinces
500, AS ,G92 more than we have bought, and
reckoning Canada alone, the balance of trade is
IN our favor to the amount OF 81 ,466,776. 1t ID
nevertheless true that the legislation Of Canada
| has diverted considerable share Of the profits
which we were entitled TO expect from the
treaty, and that the dissatisfaction existing on
our northern frontier with the discriminating
duties and imposts is a reason for revision of the
agreements and legislative acts on both sides
The exports Of foreign goods from this country
10 Canada have decreased from Sj,50l, l25 III
! in 1859 to Sl,46S,1l in 1853, and the exports
of American manufactures have decreased from
81, 1886 in 1858 and 1859 to Sl,5l0,-02 in
1862 and 1863. Tracing this TO special lcgisa-
ton, there il an obvious ground for requiring
that Canada shall fulfill the spirit as well as the
letter of reciprocity engagements by dAcon,inu-
ing such system Of laws.
In some Of the more important articles OF
commerce, tho apparent losses under the treaty
in exchanges between particular sections are
more than compensated by exchanges between
others, so that while some OF the States con-
ceiyo they have cause for complaint, the coun-
try is on the whole benefited. In coal. for in
stance, the sales and purchases are nearly equal,
the exports from Ohio and Pennsylvania to
i'nScr ranaas being Of about tho same value
as our importations rom Tb5 I6TSr -I'rovIn..eea
Anthracite coal is not fouad in the colonies,
and must be imported by them, While btu
minous coal, such as is used most commonly in
gas-manufacturcs, is not found in our territory
within an available distance Of New-York and
Boston. 1t is obvious that in such circumstances,
free trade in this article Is mutually bene-
fetal. To take different example, We buy
great deal of TINKER from the Provinces, espe.
cially for shipbuilding. our home supply of
which is so materially reduced that Congress
has been petitioned TO stop its expectation. Yet
we also sell largely to the Provinces. The ex-
ports during two years past haze been 81
900, 900, and while importing about $4,000 900
annually for manufactures our exports OF the
manufactures have amounted to moro than
: 900, 900 in the same two years.
1t cannot, then, properly be urged that inter-
csts 80 delicate, various, and extensive should
bc dealt with by q sweeping repeal, or by the
abrogation Of the treaty. A far more rational
course is the one suggested by Mr.. Ward, that
Commissioners should be appointed to examine
into the conflicting claims on both sides, TO ad-
Just the interests as well of the Eastern, Cen
trail, and Western States AS of the Provinces
and the United States altogether, to consider
what shall best promote manufactures, agricul-
turc, and commerce alike, and to agree upon
tho removal OF such restrictions on trade rs
exist by virtue Of the legislation above referred
TO- inconsistency with the general spirit of the