Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-01-20
ABROGATToN or THB RECIPROCITY
TREATY
REMARKS OF HON. JACOB COL
LAMER,
RRCIPROCTTY
In the Senate, january IL, 1895.

have, however. some views about this treaty
which, perhaps, not exactly fall within the
remarks Of any gentleman who has spoken
upon it. | have been somewhat conversant
with the listory of the treaty. had occasion
to be. know that many efot,s were made
by the Canadian people to secure this treaty
from the Uuited States which we're unsuo-
cessful. know why they we're unsuooess-
full. know that this treaty was finally made,
aud | think | know why it was made.
In the fret place. wish to have it under
/ stood that for myself sm utterly opposed to
the regulating Of duties on imports by 81
treaty in any case whatever. think it at
war with the theory of our Government.
When the Constitution provides that bills for
raising revenue shall originate in the House
\ OF Representatives, no measure regulating
/ regulating revenues should originate any
where else; and all treaties made with
/ view to shape that revenue, to my mind, are
contrary to that provision Of the constitution.
I do OF mean to be understood AS saying that
| II treaty is made which provides that il
shall be adopted by law to go into effect, aud
/ that law is made agreesbly to the treaty
making the duties, that that law is not con-
! stituiUnal but object to that mode OF in
itiating such measures. do object utterly
to the House Of Representatives ever being
invited by the treaty-making power to throw
out Of their control and out OF their reach
the shaping Of their tariff duties as the cir
eumstances Of the country may require them
They should be held in the hands Of Con-
gress. The exegencies Of times demand It,.
1t should always be there. If we make treaty
providing for duties and Determinations, and
even if the House and Senate pass a law pur-
suant TO it, do you not perceive that the
House have their hands tied up while that
treaty lasts They cannot repeal that treaty
and make new one whatever may be the
exgeucies of the country. The honorable
Senator from Ohio has very well remarked
how we are embarrassed now in relation 30 our
internal duties which the exigences Of the
time require, by the operation Of this very
treaty. Ii is 20 me matter of sstonishment,
and always hAs been, that any House Of Rep
resentatives ever could be found that would
agree to tie up their hands 10 that way but
they have done it by this treaty, and think
the sooner we get rid Of IL the better and |
hope that by the lesson this teaches us we
shall be sure to guard against its repetition.
It was that reason which governed my
mind when had the homer to be in the Cab
met Of the country, in rejecting altogether
any proposition Of a treaty Of this character
and believe the sentiment Of the Cabinet
at that time was unanimous on the subject
| know that when 1t was talked Of then in
conversation with southern friends they were
entirely unwilling on policy to make such q
treaty on the ground that they did not wish
the Canadian productions to compete with
their own in our market. They had sense
enough, as we all have, spprehend, to see
that you could not 60 and make an advanta-
geous or reciprocal bargain wife Canada by
agreeing to give them the market of this
country of thirty million people for the pur-
pose of our getting their market Of three mil
e lion Of people for the same productions foi
they produce the same things we do with III,
/ exception of cotton, believe. Those article,
enumerated in the treaty that are to be pass
ed free Of duty are the common productions
of the two countries. We open to them
market of thirty million people, aud the.
give US a market OF three million. What sor
, Of reciprocity is that
have said that southern gentlemen will
e whor. talked on the subject understood tina
as we'll as we did. But how came it abou
that they ever agreed to it afterward wher
they were in power think understoo,
the reason. There had been great deal 0
b. restlessness and uueasiness in the people o
z Canada for long number of years. Their
are some elements Of that to be found 10 III
French population there at all times but
had been increasing and had led to open out
: breaks in most of them. Much Of shat wa
to be ascribed TO this feeling: We ar
q crippled we have no market for our pro
ducts they are taxed in going into the u
nted States so much that we cannot compel
there they do not mean to have foreigner
n compete 10 their own market against thei
d own people, and therefore we cannot make
: market there and as to England, since sh
. got rid of her navigation acts and entere
upon the system Of free trade, we get no ad
u vantage from being colonies of England a
J, all her markets are open to all the worlC
J. and we have no advantage in being colone,
We are cut off and competed with there b
the United States productions, and yet "
% cannot compete in the United States" We
\ might they complain,fo they were penned q
in that way. That was their condition. The
were restless under ii aud very extensis
7, feeling of desire OF annexation to the Unite
d States prevailed in Canid 1t is very we
d known. Was it not policy of England
-, quiet that feeling If she could Was 1t n,
:, To the advantage Of Canada to get mark
oil thirty million people here without pawn
any duties Certainly. II you could Civ
to Canada treaty Of that kind by which Il
people Of that country might have all the at
~ vantage Of our market, aud not pay anYthin
b, 60 our government, would they not be confer
ii then with their situation OF course the
IN would. And, sir, from the date Of this trea'
/, you have never heard of whisper of di
content in Canada. They can have the who
Is weep of our markets, all the advantages
ut his government, without contributing Gel
8, or its support. That is their condition.
remember we'll that op one occasion he
fter the making Of the treaty, and soon aft
RS had the honor Of seat in this body, wat
Il, his question came up colateraly, plain
~ lated that that was the motivy with while
. hat treaty had been made that it had be,
:" lade with view to quiet the people Of G
ada and prevent their annexation to Il
"a forth, which might disturb the (" balance
over" Of our southern friends, and NJ
% combs, then sitting on the other side of Il
hamber, bowed very low TO me and sal
of We have got the treaty they have be-
- ~