The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-02-12
MIR. Morrill, on the Reciprocity Treaty.

addressed the committee of the whole on the
JOINT resolution for terminating the recpro-
city treaty concerning commercial intercou: Sc
between the United States and the British
Provinces. The subject is one of great i'm
portance to our country, and the extracts
which we make from Mr.. Morrl's able ex-
position will be found very interesting. Mr..
Morrill, said:
The joint resolution relative to the reci-
procity treaty with Great Britain was iatra
duced by me for discussion and action now.
because the allotted time when the Years
notice tor the termination OF the treaty can
be legally given draws near, ard because it
IS subject upon which, however We may be
divided on other questions, | am willing to
assume every member of this House will
reach and act upon conclusions justified by
sound craftsmanship, and supported by what
take to be the general voice of the Amer
people; as 1t Is not too mucn to take for
granted that no part OF our people are con-
tented with the treaty as it now stands
We are ration of producers, and one Of
the paramount duties of legislators is to see
that producers are protitaby employed and
have market for their products. Now,
more than ever, should exports be encour-
aged, and any excess of imports vigiIently
avoided. But the treaty is framed on the
idea that We are nation Of consumers, and
therefore 1t gives employment, not to US, but
to producers. 1t furnishes a new mark for
the agricultural productions of the provinces.
rather than for those of the United States.
The joint resolution is not moved from
petty spite, engendered by the unfriendly
sentiments which few subjects of the Brit
ISL Grown have been recently so swift to
avow, as it appears to NE for the interest
and reputation. of both countries to maintain
the cordial relations of perpetual amity and
good will; but the bill, whether viewed as a
foreign or domestic measure seems 10 have
been equally impolitc.
Mr.. Morrill, proceeded first to show that
the treaty itself appeared 70 him to have
been unconstitutionally made, as it intertered
with the subject of revenue from duties,-
and so long as it existed it debarred Congress
from laying duties, except as provided in the
treaty, on large class Of imports from the
provinces. Yet this power to lay duties as
public good may require, always remains, by
the Constitution, under the exclusive control
of Congress; and Mr.. Morrill, instanced a
case Of the rejection in lS44, of a proposed
treaty, by the Senate, on the express ground
that it interfered with the power OF Congress
to lay taxes and impose duties. Sach had
been the fact in this case, and to the serious
detriment Of the United States Treasury.
! The inconvenience of this treaty has been
more or less dormant while our revenue was
abundant, but when the present rebellion
burst forth, and It became necessary to larg-
| ly augment the resources Of the treasury, the
inconvenience was demonstrated at every
step. In the adjustment of the internal rev.
enue, as well as the tariff, the hands of the
Government were tied up. Large res0urcn 5
were utterly lost because the waste gates IL
the Canadian frontier were open and c'iii
not be closed, at least until the tre2ry could
be terminated.
Leaving an extended discussion of the
constitutional question involved to Others
Mr. Morrill, proceeds to show how that which
nominally was for reciprocal benefit OF both
parties, had enured to the almost exclusive
benefit of one-that of the British provinces.
The reciprocity had proved mere deu-
sion
What reciprocity is there in making cotton
free to TIE United States from Canada when
Canada produces no cotton? King Cot
ton was in no danger from Ing staple or
short raised north of tie tor'y-tiflh d"grer.
Whose AK is ground by making srind>to1e>
free to Canada from the United States. VIII, 4
the United States are mAiniy dependent upon
the British provinces for their own supplies
What equality is there in exchanging tht
grain and cattle markets OF New York ans
Boston FOR those Montreal and q jebec, whtr
the former in their normal condition are %
per cent better than the latter, aud when She
; latter under no circumstances can be ayaIla-
bic to the United States? What is the al
vantage of a free trade in lumber with {
country whose forests are ineXhaustible ani
"coeyal with the world }" Who proposes
to carry Goals to Newcastle or Goals to Spain
What is the advantage Of free trade thai
does not include something We II Ike to 81
or something that so nebody is ready to bu!
From the Investigations which Lad beer
made the injurious results of the treaty /;
our own trade ard government resources, arr
set forth in some striking paragraphs.
In the four years from 1850 to 1853, inclu
Sive, the imporlaiOuS Tree OF duty from Can
ada to the United States were S4.l07,392
while the irnpor:ations paying duty &lj,o02,
634. or nearly four times greater. But til
mportations free Of duty. after the treat
took effect, in four years. from 1856 to 1855
inclusive, were SiJ9,4l9 925, and those sub
ject to duty mad .ael' off in the same tim
10 S2,l5O,394, or Only oGe in twenty-eighl
This is the first exhibition Of reciprocity.
Ia 1853, when the United States co!lecte
duties only on S3l39j3 in value Of Cana
diar productions, those. of American lab0
upon which duti.s were paid in Canal
amounted to S4,j24 j03. TINS is the mex
exhibition OF ,ecjprocity, being on the sea.
Of forty-fre to on, During 1886 1877 an
1853 the amcunt OF American industry tan
6 ed in Canada was SlS494 ,293 more tha
i that of Canadian industry taxed in this conr
try. BY the returns Of later date It woul
seem that their trade had almost ceased
e be source Of revenue to US, while from OF
n trade they obtain their accustomed ilberi
contributions.
In 1856 the articles received from C.nad
and made free by the treaty amounted
t Sl7, ,SlO,6S4; and if valued according to tt
3 prices actually obtained in our market