Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-06-17
Mr.. Pixies Speech on the Reel
procity Treaty.
WASHINGTON, May 1864.

| tIuut VIII VIC piON uau ~ bSS''
in our favor. 1t increased rapidly with
increasing population on either side of
the line, bearing about the same relative
proportion from year to year. But the
treaty went in'o operation. Population
ard business continued to increase as
rapidly as ever, bnt all at once the whole
trade changed, and instead Of exporting
three dollars and importing one we were
importing for the first time more than we
exported
The gentleman from New York Mr..
WARp] gravely said yesterday that this
was not criterion by which to determine
the value of trade; that whether the
balance was against US or not still we
derived benefit from it, lie has forgot
ten the exhibition which took place in
this House two or three weeks ago, when
for the purpose of checking this balance
Of trade against us with European na-
tions we added fifty per cent, to our
tariff. He has forgotten the attempt
made all over the country by patriotic
women to restrict themselves in what
is perhaps one Of their strongest desires,
that of dress, for the purpose OF dimin-
ishiug foreign trade. The desire of
statesmen has been that we should not
import so much, but that, as in 1851
our relations in trade with foreign coun-
tries should be put upon satisfactory
basis. go that the price of exchange
should be knocked down and with it the
price of gold.
The gentleman from New York, (Mr.
SrEpnIys,) i'll his able speech upon the
resources of the country the other day,
said that if it was in his power he would
draw a Chinese wall around our trade,
and have no intercourse with foreign coun-
tries rather than have this balance aga inst
us. And the gentleman from New York
who spoke yesterday (Mr. WARD can de-
monstrate that the farmer had better buy
OF the trader, year after year, Il great
/ deal more than he sells, and, for the
balance, mortgage the old farm, then he
can demonstrate that 4 treaty which takes
.way balance of SIG 000,00 in favor,
and converts it into i balance OF two or
three million dollars against us, is protlta-
bic to US. Until he accomplishcs that he
mus: conclude with NE that that treaty is
notliu. but au injury, and that constant
lr.
3. 1t was supposed that as this looked
toward free trade commerce would be
largely benefited Ship-builders and
ship.owners were, for that reason, III
favor of the treaty. Bat it was Of no
manner of benefit to the ship-owners.-
The whole increase Of provlncioi trade
comes to US in provincial bottoms.
know that in my own State, in protisa'
bic little eddy Of provincial trade, there
are those willing to foster the treaty at
the expense of the whole country, and
they talk of treaty as benchtng COM
merce.
But this treaty, as the Committee on
Commerce proposes to extend IT, VIII
throw open our coasting trade TO these
provinces. There is no logical reason, il
the treaty be continue and extended
why our coasting trade should not be
made free. The coasting trade now en-
braces two thirds of our whole tonnage.
Our registered tonnage has been under
the ban of Alabama and other British
pirates. 1t has greatly diminished, till
now it is hard to find the American fao
anywhere upon the ocean. 1t Is now
proposed to let this coasting trade open
to the provincials, and thus subject the
hardy men scattered along our coast, who
pay our taxes and upon whom IN peace
and war the Government must lean Tor
support, to a competition with people
who have cheaper wood, cheaper iron,
and cheaper labor. The provinces could
always build vessels and sail them as
cheap as we could, and now they 60 un
taxed. how could our coasters maintain q
conp petition with them it placed on the
same footing? Would not the coas'lns
trade follow the foreign, and our "enroll
ed and licensed" tonnage diminish as
rapidly as the "registered' has done
within the past three years?
In these particulars the treaty has
failed to meet the expectations OF those
who so diligently got it up. The report
OF the COmlnllteo Vi OomhoiSo SPe""' VI
the free navigation of the St. Lawrence
which is secured by the treaty; and how
valuable this grant has been to us |;
shown by the letter Of the Secretary tt
which | have already referred. 1t ap
+ pears by that, up to the latest dates
> forty vessels had avaiIed themselves OF it
making an average of five vessels year
In the last four years there have beer
bat eleven Of our vessels that have gone
to sea through this river, Should tho
effect of repeating the treaty be to with
hold this boon of the "free navigation
the St. Lawrence, about which so muct
was said prior to 1854, it is to be hoped
.. the lake como.croe will be able to sur
viyc the loss
now call the attention of the Hous'
, to serious loss of revenue which tn
Government sustaius every day durln;
the continuance of the treaty. 1t can
not be estimated at less than Sle, ,0oo,oo'
| per annum.
When the treaty vert into operation
VIC we're collecting about one mi'lio'
t three hundred thousand dollars OF du''e
on imports from the provinces. Since
! then we have not received enough to pa.
the salaries of officials along the lines
$ We should restore these duties ana
, following the Canadian example, add T.
! them largely.