New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-28
CANADA RECIPROCITY, FALSE
AND TRUE.

A Commercial Convention is called to assem-
BILE at Detroit, July 18th, with express reference
to the trade between this country and the adj
joining British Colonies. The Canadians very
naturally, are the prime movers III the premises.
Our Government has given formal notice that II
purposes, at the expiration of year from DATE
to discontinue the arrangement misnamed Reel
procity and this involves general stagnation
of Canadian trade, a desertOn OF Canadian rail-
roads by large share Of their present business
and reduction of some twenty to thirty per
cent. in the current value of most Canadian
products. Of course, the prospect is not agree
able, and the Canadians have stirred up this
Detroit Convention with hope that means
NAV thereby be devised of averting Its
realization.
We agree with our Colonial neighbOrs as to
the end, but not as to the means There ought
to be. must be, ,eN be, not partial but perfect
Free Trade between them and US; but
this can only be achieved through the
INCORPORATION of the Colonies with our
Union. Had the colonists of l775 seen
fit to make common cause with cur fathers,
striking for freedom from Old-World leading
strings. the Cenadas would ere this have had
Five to Eight Millions ofpeople, and the banks
of the Ottawa, long since denuded OF their
heavy forests to build our cities. would have
been dotted with the Summer retreats OF oar
merchant princes The past cannot be re-
called, but its plumbers need not be stupidity
persisted in. Canada is geographically and
Geographically one with us: hef eager demand
for Reciprocity IS blind and peverse but
emphatic obedience to the law OF political
gravitation-or more strictly, of centrpetal
force. Canada wants to buy and sell mainly
in our seaboard cities; we want to help her open
her extensive and promising mines, to clear away
her forests, and supply her with all she needs
in exchange for her Timber, Wheat, Ores, &c,
&c. She has not a farm nor square mile OF
accessible forest which would not be instantly
and largely enhanced in value by annexation to
this country; and the more intelligent Cana
dams know this as well as we do.
Hitherto, while we were restrained in 1Si2-l5
from expelling the British from Canadaby South
ern jealousy of Northern growth and preponder-
ance the COlOnists have been repealed from
seeking annexation by just loathing of Slavery.
They did not choose TO turn negro-hunters; and
We honor them for it. But, now that American
Slavery has committed suicide, and negro-dogs,
human and canine, have lost their vocation,
there remains no valid reason for erecting great
piles of ugly mason work on either side Of the
long line that divides us, mounting them with
costly cannon, and hiring men to stand over
them, keeping watch against each other. Nor
do we need two rival rows of custom-houses
ogling each other across the Lakes and
the great River, while our clever youth take
first lessons in knavery by smuggling this way
and the other. The whole business Of keeping
up the parade Of mutual Jealousy, apprehension,
hostility, is most absurd anachronism
and horribly expensive. The Canadians are a
brave, patriotic people, but they know in their
souls that their eel-skn of settled country is in
defensiblc against the Half Million Of Men with
which we should promptly invade and suddenly
overun it, in case of hostilities with Eng
land; and they, very properly, hate to
squander their hard earnings on fortih.
cation, that could prove of no possiblesuse, and
dislike to be mustered and drilled with view
to possible hostilities which could have but one
result. This is not cowardice-it is simple
common sense. Our late Rebels are brave
men, and fought like heroes; yet they
gave in when Richmond was lost and Lees
army surrendered. because they saw and felt
that they were overmatched, and did not choose
to squander their lives to no purpose.
Now, we demur to what is call Reciprocity
that it is plainly calculated-nay, Designed
to postpone if not ultimately prevent annexa
tion-that it is palliative for an ailing which it
can never cure. So long as such quack nostrums
are applied and endured, the patient will be
dissuaded from seeking the true and adequate
remedy. We heartily wish the people ofCanada
could be induced TO look their condition square
in the face, and decide on the action it requires.
Yet, as We rejoice that Canada was never an.
nexed by conquest, and hope she never may be,
we are unwilling to do or refuse anything
whereby an impression may be created that
we would constrain her to seek the fullest
and only complete Reciprocity. Ifher authori-
ties should proffer terms that are truly recipro-
cal so far as they go, we shall favor their
acceptance, only protesting that nothing which
does not clear the Lakes of revenue cut
ters and the present frontier Of custom-houses,
detectives and tide-waiters, can give the relief