Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-06-10
me- REcIpRocITY TREATY.

Ia House of Representatives, May 20, 1884.
Mr.. BAxrER. By the courtesy Of the
gentleman from, New York am permitted to
submit few remarks upon this subject, not
to occupy beyond fifteen minutes. or course,
the remarks cannot be very well considered,
or put into the shape Of speech. That ! am
not able to do, but will refer TO one or two
matters connected With this subject. The
question before this House as now presented
Is whether notice to terminate this treaty,
called the reciprocity treaty, shall be given
pure and simple, Or whether 1t shall be de-
luted TO a milk-andwater consistency. This
reciprocity treaty, so called. ls a misnomer
entirely. After the people Of Great Britain
became dissatisfied with taxing themselves
for the benefit Of the colonies, and after the
corn laws we're repealed, 1t became necessary
that that Government should be supplied
with bread stuffs from some other quarter. -
Immediately the question was sgitated IN Ca
NADIA, aud men were sent here to make prof
fers to our Government, pretending that they
had something to give for what they asked
in return. Gen. Taylor's cabinet, with MI.
Preston Of Virginia, in it, gave it no heed
whatever beyond proper examination, de-
olaring that they had no constitutional night
to make such a treaty or compact and, IN
the mex, place, to DO it would be impol.tic
aud destructive Of American interests and
American policy The next move made in
Canada was TO send some Of the ebest and
most distinguished men under that Govern
ment here, to press upon this Government
the absolute necessity Of carrying that meas
ure through.
Immediately whether honestly or dishon-
ostly does not become me to say-the ques-
ton was raised by the party, the head OF
which is now the head OF the Canadian Gov
eminent, OF Canadian annexation. Annexs-
tion was the cry; they could not live with
out being annexed to this country. They
came here with that cry. On one eide they
said, "You give US this reciprocity treaty,
give Us a closer commercial connection with
you, and our people will become 90 complete
ly fascinated with your institutions that the
fruit will soon become ripe and will drop into
your lap" On the other side to the men Of
the South, /" Give us what we want let US
have your rich markets for our products with
out taxation, and our people will have no
desire for annexation - and those men Of the
South. always skillful Legislators, understood
and were willing to concsde TO them the
treaty, notwithstanding the influence OF Col
Preston to the contrary, when he was in the
Cabinet Of Gen. Taylor.
Ay, Mr.. Speaker, but that is not all. They
undertook to intimidste our oily whalebont
friends--always little slippery. They said
TO them, " Ii you do not let US into your uct
markets, not mothers son of you shall eyel
catch another cod OF another mackerel in the
waters Of Newfoundland" They were lit'
tle frightened by that, and began to think
they we're gone, hook and line : but ther
these Canadians said again, " II you do not
give this treaty we will break these nurseries
OF your seamen, and then how will you cops
on the water with Great Britain, so lonl
claiming to be mistress of the seas y Ihey
then said 10 the great West, to Chicago
" Gise US this treaty and you can have direc
communication with Europe, and you can be
come direct importers and when vessel il
hailed 90 the ocean, w here are you bound:
the answer will be, Chicago. Laughter.
Well, cir, the treaty was granted, and no"
many vessels on the ocean were ever haileC
" Where are you bouudi' that answered.
" Chicago :" The tracks have been very few
and all Ia one direction.
There is another question, MI. Speaker, o
vital importance, which should be considered
in this connection it is the question OF I'm
migration. We are at this moment losinI
brave men at the rate Of thousand every day
and how are we to make up the loss excep
from the men Of Europe Every port of Eu
rope is nov swarming with men from Canada
agents OF emigration, asking men TO come t
Canada offering them lands free OF cost
These Canadian free lands. however, hav
never prevented the immigrant from comm
a. =. nnf Ha
TO add to their plausible stories that hi
country is engaged in death-sttuggle, an
that the taxation of this people is so enor
nous under which we grosn that they will
ground TO powder if they come here, aud the
AK the emigIants, Will you 90 to this Ian
of desolauon, when you may 90 to Canad
and get your lands for nothing, and, at th
same time, have all the advantages OF Unite
States markets without being subjected |
any of their taxation :" And is not that so
Ay. sir, it so. Within twelve months a
Ter this reciprocity treaty--ss by an niamol
misnomer IL is csilea-went into operation
real estate in Canada rose twenty-five p'
cent, aud within twelve months thereafter
rose fifty per cent. And why' Because m
neighbor from the Canadas could 90 to OF
market any morning with me, in the same ca
and receive the came price tnat coulu y
for my produce without incurrng any OF u
burdens which | have TO bear.
say, therefore, that this question OF EN-
grafton has become a national question. No
sir, we owe Great Britain no particular fave
but | would scorn to bring any such consi
Grafton into this discussion. But are we
have no regard for the prosperity of our oV
peoplei Shall the right to be an Americ
secure less than the right to oe CANADIAN
Are we to beat the bush and let somebo
else catch the bird hear men who resi-
upon the border say, - We cannot bear thi
we have given our children TO the countT
aud now we are to be taken besides. I
man upon the other side Of the border sa!
Your country is bankrupt; your curren
is not worth fraction you are going
ruin. while we are prosperous and conter
go to your markets and fill my pockets,
your pockets are being constantly depict
by this horrid taxation"
Now, sir, one word as to this taxation a
and AS to the Canadians. do not expect
,hu' them cu' ! eSr~c' that 'hev win 81
c.