The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-13
The New ReciprocIty TREATY.

On the 18th Of next month the Reciprocity
Treaty between the United States and the
British Provinces will expire, and all COM
mercial relations between the two countries
1ominally cease. We say nominally, for there
can be no question but that a vast system of
smuggling will at once commence. The
evasion of the revenue laws will become a
regular profession, and the Government be
swindled out of hundreds of thousands of dol
lars. The workings Of the old treaty belle its
name. There were nc reciprocal advantages.
The spirit OF the contract was violated years
ago by Mr.. GAIT and the administrative
heads of the Canadas. Under it all commo-
dities passing from one country to the other
were to be exempted from local taxation. The
Minister of Finance, in order to circumvent
the treaty, laid a heavy tax on anything
brought into the colonies; not on its introduce
ton, but on its Importation. Thus an article
from America was sold in Montreal and Quebec
at rate much higher than that exacted for
Canadian productions. On the contrary, the
United States were debGrred from the internal
revenue tax on Canadian goods, SO that, while
American manufactures were dearer than the
Canadian in Canada, the Canadian products
were able to underbid our home indus
try in our own market. The whole
vital design of the treaty was thus
frustrated by the duphclty of the Ministers.
In consequence Of this duplicity, this viola
ton of the spirit though not Of the letter OF
the law, the Government gave notice on the
18th of March last that the treaty would ter
inmate one year from that time. AS it Is of
importance that some provision be made for
the protection OF our interests, Mr. Secretary
MCCULLoCH has submitted to Congress the
draft of new treaty. 1t provides for the
extension Of the present treaty for the further
term of one year from the 18th of March
next, on the condition that Canada shall re-
peal all the duties and taxes on salt, cars, To-
comotives, and all of the principal articles
sent from the United States into the Pro-
vinces. 1t also provides for the increase Of
the duty on spirits to at least Is per cent, so
as to eeualze the price in the two lands, and
discontinue her free ports on Lakes Huron
and Superior. The treaty for extension shall
also proUide that the United States may i'm
pose dny internal tGTeS on the productions
of the Provinces, avhich they leUy upon their
oacn products Of the same kind. The Presi-
dent is authorized to appoint two commission
ers or ENJOYS to negotiate a treaty with the
United Kingdom and the Provinces, either
Jointly or severally, to regulate the commerce
and navigation between the respective terri
tories and people Of said Provinces aud the
United States on terms reciprocally bene-
fetal.
These new provisions will be only consist
ent with equity. 1t will be a compulsory de-
mand on the authorities near the border to
do justice to our country, but holding to the
spirit as well as to the letter of the law, and
will act as only temporary matter, as with
the appointment of the Commissioners will
come permanent and more elaborate code
for international traffic.