Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1865-02-03
The Reciprocity Treaty.

Judge Coilamer tells good stories some
times, and told one OF two good ones in the
Senate the other day, during the debate
on the reciprocity treaty, Some Senator
having charged that there was prejudice
against the treaty, Judge Collamer re-
piled:
| acknowledge that have some preju-
dice against this treaty. | am little sit
uated as my old neighbor Judge Chapman
was when he was called upon TO testify
whether a certain witness was a man OF
truth. He said he was not. He was
then asked "Sir, are you not conscious
that you labor under prejudice against
that man 7" He answered: a think it
likely that l am; | have detected him
stealing two or three times" Laughter.
| am much in that condition about this
Treaty.
The following is an extract from the
debates in the Globe, of a passage between
him and Senator Hale of New Hampshire,
who opposes abrogation
Nix. HALE. Sir, Great Britain and
these colonies are ready TO receive US in
the spirit of reciprocity, and they tell us
| that if this treaty is not reciprocal, they
wart to make it so, they want to enlarge
| it.
Mr.. CoLLAMEB.. They say they want
20 enlarge il rather than TO have il ended.
If il is ended we can make good one, ii
we make any.
Mr. HALE. Now | would ask the hon
orahle Senator from Vermont. and no man
has more respect for his judgment than |
have, does he think hat If it is desired by
this country ever TO have reciprocity
treaty with these provinces, the way to do
it is in this mann er, to abrogate and destroy
the existing treaty?
Mr.. CoLLAMER VIII the gentleman
hear the answer now
Mr.. HALE. Yes, SIR
Mr.. CoLLAMER. | observe that It is
proposed by The chamber of commerce OF
Milwaukee, and, believe, of Detroit, and
the honorable Senator from New-Elamp.
shire seems 10 have the same view: to
continue this treaty until it can be medi.
fed. with a view to making notifications
and making it better. 1t does not seem to
me that hat is The part of wisdom. may
be obtuse about il; but think that when
they have treaty altogether beneficial to
them and we want to make another, if you
please, more beneficial 10 ourselves, the
way 10 get it is not too keep in force that
which is beneficial to them. What induce.
ment have they to make any other treaty
while you are willing TO let this stand
The proposition is to make better treaty
and to make it ont of the old one, and t.
let the old one stand as good when it i:
not good. 1t really reminds me of the
Irish grand jury who decided thar there
was not a sufficient jail in their county. and
that there should be new one, and that il
should be built out Of the materials of the
old jail. and that the old jail should be
kept good for prisoners until the new one
finished. Laughter. That is just the
cial TO us, 10 make it out Of the old one
and 10 keep the old one good (Which is not
good now until a good one can be made
cannot see the wisdom of that course Of
proceedings.
Mr.. HALE. / ara Obliged to The henor'
able Senator, because he has not only an.
swered the questions but told good story
and in answering the inquiry he has done
what a great many ingenious advocates
and learned lawyers frequently do, and
that is, beg the whole question to begir
with. He has assumed that this treaty j:
favorable entirely 10 one side, and fniavor
able to the other.
Mr.. CoLLAMER. The gentleman i
mistaken. | understood him to say yes
terday that he agreed that the treaty ough
to be mended. Then it Is not good; bu
now he says it ought to be kept until il i:
mended, My idea is that it ought TO bt
ended because ii is not good