Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-03-13

way OI explanation IN reference TO the
bounty on fish, that the ground we take is,
that the fishing interest, instead of having
been protected heretofore, has not received
the average protection accorded to other
interests in the country; that if the fishing
interest could receive the average protec-
ton accorded to the manufacturer Of iron,
wool, of cotton, and other articles of the
same class, amounting, as the tariffsho VS.,
to about forty per cent, we should be bet
ter of by throwing the bounty to the
winds. Under the idea that the House
had come TO this conclusion, I said yes
terday that we were DESTROYS of exchang-
ing positions, and instead of beng appar-
emily mendioants before Congress and re-
ceiving what is n%oninally bounty, We
would rather take our position with the
average of the manufactures Of this conn
try. That in nay judgement, would be
much better and more profitable for the
fisherman.
Mr.. SPALDING. l instaneed the fish
ing bounty simply to explain my posi-
ton. ! do not occupy al attitude of hos
| tility to the interests of New England in
any way whatever. / unly say that a
| specific ard special tariff bill, like this
with the Canadas, cannot be made with
out operating favorably to some portions
of our Union and Unfavorably to others.
With regard to the general tariff for the
whole nation, if we experience i%nconVen-
fences we must submit to them but we
are not bound to submit to them in bill
like this. This bill, corresponding in this
respect, word for word and letter for let
ter, with the provisions of the reciprocity
- -L.-L :. .l1,A g. n-n1ra n-nvTInc
that we shall enjoy the benefits of the nav
igation Of the St. Lawrence and the Ca
mails of Canada equally with British sub
jects, subject te no greater tolls. The pro
vision of that treaty, which is copied
word for word in this bill. gives to the
c~isizens of the United States:
1.-THE right to navigate the river, st
Lawrence and the canslsin Canada used as
the means of communication with the great
lakes and the Atlantic ocean with their
vessels, boats, and crafts, as fully and free
" as the subjects of her Britannia Males
ty, subject only to the same tolls and other
assessments as now are or may be hereaf-
ter exacted of her Majesty's said subjects
Now, sir, that is the way in which the
treaty stood when it was made some nine
or ten years age. We have been cheated
by Canada in that respect, and shall be
cheated again though we make as many
laws and regulations as we please.
A report made by the Committee on
Commerce of this House in the Thirty
Seventh Congress contained the following
important disclosure;
1.-THE Welland canal, connecting Lake
Erie and Ontario, is extensively used by
American citizens. Under an enactment
of 1860, if vessels and goods, having paid
toll on the Welland canal, enter the St.
Lawrence canals or any Canadian port,
all except ten per cent. of the Welland
charges is refunded, and thus is created a
discrimination Of ninety per cent. against
vessels going to American ports, besides
a free passage through the canals of st.
Lawrence"
Just so soon as that treaty, called q
treaty of reciprocity, was concluded, the
Canadian Parliament regulated their tolls
upon the Welland Canal with a view to
discriminating in this wise: If one of our
American vessels went through that ca
nal she paid toll to the amount, saw of a
collar per ton and if she was bound with
her cargo to OswegO or Ogdensburg, for
instance, in the State of New York, that
remained as the amount of duty but if
she would land her cargo in the port Of
Kingston, OF any other Canadian port,
ninety per cent. of the duty was refunded,
leaving toll only ten cents per ton.
This was n discrimination made by the
Canadian Parliament in favor of their
own ports-a discrimination imposed up
on us after that treaty had been made.
1t Is now proposed that We shall renew
the same contract, leaving ourselves sub
ject to the same imposition. We have
men lobbying here in these Halls for The
passage of this bill to restore that same
contract which has thus been violated
year after year.
Mr.. MORRILL,. l presume the gen.
tleman does not desire to do injustice.
What he says was true at one time; but
it is no longer true, as they have repealed
it.
Mr.. SPALDING. That is very well.
So the rebels have surrendered. Why de
We not receive them into this House?
They have surrendered. The Canadians
have surrendered until they have a chance
10 de so again. l tell you, Sir, they can
play that game better than we can, and as
soon as we have adopted a treaty sgain, |
without passing an act with this provision
in it, they will meet us with regulations
by which cargoes from American ports
shall pay six times as much duty as their
own do.
Now, Mr. Chairman, l have no faith in
this tribe. I live near them. I live
upon the southern shore of Lake Erie
opposite to Canada. 1 happened to
be a member of the great commercial
conventions at Chicago and Detroit;
and I saw there what they were. They
have been here this winter, and they will
be here necessarily. If they cannot
make it by fair means they will by foul
| tell you cur only true course is to leave
this business to the tariff.
l agree with my friend from Hin ois.
Let the bill 90 back TO the committee, and
1 hope it will be buried. Let us try
them under the operation of the general
,ariff, because, as my friend says so soon
as the 18th of March is over they will
come under the operations of the general
-arif. If that be not sufficient let the
earned committee who have the subject
n charge report a revised bill. But l do
strenuOusiy object to this special bill
or the benefto of the Canadians, who have
lever done anything particularly in cur
t
I have done. If this bill is to pass /
i've notice l shall offer a variety of
-mendments, and perhaps some of them
ny friend from Vermont Mr.. Morrill, c
viii acknowledge to be rubbing upon the 5
-rindstone.