Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-03-16

charging these men eighty cents for every
one hundred pounds Of salt used by them in
curing fish, and this it is proposed to remit.
whether RENTED or not the fishermen can
have free salt with little inconvenience by
calling at provincial ports. Provincial men
have complained Of the bounty, but having free
salt themselves, they cannot complain that
our fishermen are placed upon an equality.
Hereafter our soamen, unlocked after, must
be entirely self-educated and self-reliant.
May we never have reason TO reptoaoh our
selves that we have ignored and deserted a
class whose vocation ls one OF continuous toll
and danger, who furnish more widows and
orphans than any other class Of equal num-
bers, and whose conspicuous bravery, when
ever their country demands sacrifice, chal-
lenges the pride and affection of every
true-born American
Such articles a. the Committee Of Ways
and Means have proposed to place in the free
list-only four in number-are those which
they would most likely deem it wise to place
there at any time unless the exgencies of the
/ Treasury imperiously demanded larger sup
plies.
lii proposed to admit bituminous coal
/ from the British Provinces, in consideration
of certain privileges to be extended to the
United States, at fifty cents per ton, while
from all other places under existing laws il
will be charged 81 % per ton. The present
internal duty Of six cents per ton and the two
and half per cent on the gross receipts Of
railroads for freight, amounting on the aver
age to at least twice as much more, it may be
hoped will at an early day be removed, II
with free coal from the Pro vinces, while that
from our own mines has been taxed, our
miners could live at all, the change which
frees them from home tax and imposes du-
~ Of even fifty cents per ton on provincial coal
must be hailed with favor
Coal is raw material, and for every ton OF
iron made at least three tons Of bituminous
or two Of anthracite coal are consumed. 1t
is the motive power Of railroads aud steam
boats, rs well as Of manufacturing establish
/ m MS. We tax non and all other msnulac-
lures when produced and sold, and we tax
railroads and steamboats, on their business
Can we not afford to have our coal free 1t
is too, an article of universal consumption
required in our rigorous climate in large
quantities by those unable to clolhe them
selves in heavy and abundant wooltns OF
thick and costly fufs by the poor as well as
the rich. There are hardly more reasons for
tax on coal than upon frewood. In i'd
diuou TO this, our own coal fields are unsur-
passed in extent and quality by any in the
world.
But our export to the Cansdas Of coal from
Ohio, Vir. mia, and Pennsylvania bids fair tc
equal in amount all that we bring from the
Provinces the value OF our exports in 1854
being $685., 332, and that Of our imports 1888 :
sos. So that under any circumstances, here
is one article which approaches he idea Of
reciprocity, and an interchange fleets ecoLo-
my in long lines Of freight, relieving ourselves
as well as others. from positive loss.
When the reciprocity treaty was made a
low tsrf prevailed in Canada, and Eng and
only eight years previously, had adopted the
doctrine Of nee trade Great expectations
were held out by the negotiator, Lord Elgin
feeding thegDot unwilling hopes Of our peo-
Pile, Of an increased demand for American
manufactures but suddenly the Canadas
adopted the principles Of protection and large
ly increased their tariff on manufactures.
! he imperial Government did not veto these
acts, and u csc great expectations were nipped
in the bud The Uniied State. never ex-
pecting TO fnd In the Provinces d market for
the productions Of its agriculture. Hor of its
mines, forests, o. fisheries, ct once found their
manufactures also practically exc udtd. But
now, making no compact, we yet tender a
law concedirg certain privileges. If hi.
shall not be met by corresponding literally
sufficiently indicated in the conditions en-
bodied in the bill, we have the night, and il
will be our duty, to change the terms Of the
present bill for such as will be most advan-
tageous to US, regardless OF the interests Of
others.
The bill proposes to grant the free use oil
Lake Michigan as well as the Saul. Ste
Marie canal to British subjects if the use Of
the St. Lawrence and the Weland and other
canals shall be continued to us in return
The tolls we pay form much the largest share
of the tolls Of the Welland canal and its use
though much more frequent, is hardly much
more important to us than the St. Marie's tc
them. The St. Lawrence has been very lit
| tie used by US, and the right to navigate Lake
Michigan appears to be very large equival-
ent.
1t has often been supposed that the traffic
carried on over the Canadian railroad trans
| porting merchandise in bond for Americans
and the same with regard to the railroads OF
the United States and British merchandise
intended for the Provinces, was conducted
under the proyisiont Of the Reciprocity Treaty
but that is not the fact; all this has been
done for twenty years at least under Treasury
regulations. 1t has been deemed far better
that IL should rest upon positive law, and
Therefore. the system has been incorporated
into this bill. This vii. insure the accommo-
dation- we now have for travel and freights
to and from the West. However useful to
US ihis outlet may be, ship oanal around
the falls on the American side at Buffalo i,
needed, and also from the st. Lawrence to
Lake Champlain, and thence to the Hudson
When this line OF improvements shall be
completed, and, so far as my vote is con-
cerned, am ready at all times to give them
my support, cheap water communication
will have been secured that will be commen-
surate with the wants Of the future C mmerce
! OF lhe West, however great these may be.
think it will be conceded that The bill is
not only necessary, but one Of importance
and If 30, it is very desirable that it shpuld
p s., in order that notice may reach all points
prior 10 The l7th inst.
In SENATE, March 8.
! The Constitutional amendment on the sub
jeot Of representation was taken up. Mr..
Fessenden spoke at length in its favor. Mr..
Sumner replied. Mr.. Wilson made few re-
marks in its fsvor.
/ The question was hen stated to be on the
adoption Of Henderson, amendment, to suo.