Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-01-20
Ghe 6ree press.

BURLINGTON
FRIDAY MORNING JANUARY 20, 1885.

. a'AAss
The Resolution for putting an end to tn,
Reciprocity treaty, so called, has passed the
United States Senate, by vote Of 81 yeas,
to nays. It, passage was earnestly oppos-
cd IN debate by Senator's Hale, Rsmson and
Howe, and advocated by Senators Sumner,
Collamer, Foot, Sherman, Morrill,, Chan
der and Doolitilc The essential POINTS in
the question are stated in the speech Of Mr..
Sumner Tho treaty. he said. might he re.
garded under four different heads, the fish
eries, the navigation Of the St. Lawrence.
the commerce between the United States and
the British Provinces. and the revenue of the
/ United States.
is to the hsheries, they had always been
a source Of anxiety and cause Of mutu-
al irritation. There had been nothing of
this during the treaty, yet there WAS a
division Of opinion even among those con-
cemcd in the fisheries az to its value. If,
however the fisheries only we've to he regard
ed, he would let it remain.
The privilege of navigating the St. Law
renee, had proved to be Of little more than a
nominal benefit to Us. The treaty is worth
nothing TO us on that score.
The Interchange of commerce between the
United States and Canada had increased
va tly since the treaty came INTO existence
hut it Is doubtful If that increase is to be
credited more to the treaty than to the in
crease OF population On both sides of,he line.
and tie construction of the railr1rd,
cannot doubt (said Mr. : that the railroad
system Of the two countries has been Of itself
reciprocity treaty more comprehensive and equal
than any written on parchment. The extent Of
trade before and after the treaty may De shown
in "a few figures. In the three years Immediately
preceding the treaty, the total exports TO Canada
and the other British Provinces, ,were~ - 2lt.5le,
and the total imports were So. SIS, ,577, beiugof
exports 90 imports in the proportion Of 100 TO 80.
In the ten years OF the treaty the total exports
were S256,3jp,93l. The total imports were
300, 5t, 7o6. According 10 these amounts, the
exports were in the proportion Of 100 TO =. Ii
We take Canada alone. We shall find the change
IN their proportion greater sti.. The total eX-
ports to Canada IN the three years Immediately
preceding the treaty were 81 ,S66. 500 and the
total imports were S6, ,5c7 .674-bcug IN the
proportion Of lpu 20 81; while the whole exports
90 Canada alone during the ten years Of the treaty
were -ltl tl.i.4,347-beinC in the proportion Of
lul ta "a. / present these tables 20 SIMPLY lay
before you the extent and nature Of the change
in the commerce between the twocountries. But
H- o. als I5l.. .s..Na arr..r r=rs
as 20 the effect Of difference between the amount
OF exports and imports. involving as ii does the
whole question OF the balance Of trade. In the
view which take on the present occasion, It Is
not necessary 10 consider il. The Reciprocity
Treaty cannot be maintsiued or overturned, on
anv contested principle OF political economy.
On the fourth point, the Revenue to the
United States. Mr.. ; said We had substan-
tial ground to act upon.
come in the last place, to the influence of the
treaty on the revenues Of the country, and here
the Cu-tom-house is our principal witness. The
means Of determining this question Will be found
IN the authentic tables which have been publish
"a from time 10 time In the reports Of the Treas
ury, and especially in the report made 10 Con-
gress at this session, which have in my hands
Looking al these tables we find certain unan-
@HHTNNle NHllf- tfEU WIN an EeLlllldlt luALl-
ed on the trade before the treaty From this, it
appears. that If no treaty had been made and the
trade hld increased IN the same ratio as before
the treaty. Canada would have paid to the United
States IN the ten years Of the treaty at least
Sl6.3-3. 500, of which she has been relieved.
This sum has actually been lost to the United
States In retu-uC canada has given upS2, ,65o.esO
-heiug the amount II would have collected no
treaty had been made There IS a vast dispro-
rorti0n 10 the detriment Of the United States.
Here is another illustration derived from the ia
bcs During the ten years Of the treaty, the
United States Rave actually paid in duties 10
Canada Sl6. .S02, ,962, while during the same pc
riol, Canada has paid IN duties to the United
StatCs the moderate sum Of $3.50, Az. Here again
Is a vast disproportion, 10 the detriment Of the
United States The same inequality may be seen
in another way. During the ten years Of the
treaty dutiable products of the United States
have entered Canada and the other Provinces TO
the amount Of Ss3. .337 ,0l9, while during the
same period dutiabe products Of Canada and the
other Provinces have entered the United states
only to the amount Of -. .750. 49, During thus
same period free products Of the United states
have entered Canada and the other Provinces 10
the amount Sis. .S53. .972. while free products
Of Canada and the other Provinces have entered
the United States 10 the amount Of Sl.o,3n ,lS4.
Here, again, Is a vast disproporuon 10 the de'ri-
ment OF the United States.
Mr. Sumner then quoted from the report OF
the Secretary Of the Treasury, showing that the
treaty had released from duty total sum OF
81, ,333 .357, in value Of goods Of Canada more
than Of goods the product Of the United States
From these various considerations II was clear 10
MIN that the revenue Of the United States had
suffered by this treaty and that IN this important
particular its advantages had not been equally
shared by the two countries.