The New York herald., 1866-05-30

the government OF the United states Mr. Seward and
ths United States government had power negotiate
Of his honorabis friends Argument on that poin, came
To end The question OF bvnsiug the treaty TO an
II h,s honorable friend turned the papers he would
find that the notice 10 abrosae the treaty not gwen
s'r,s I'd % s,s g. f r., s ss q A. =. 1sS %
Cngrss The notice Was In pursuance OF thin resola-
tom
Resolved tho Senate and the House Of Representative.
That notice be given Of the termnatss q The Reciprocity
@ 3 liz Z .%s: .s sss Sssds"s y sSs Unsi
sttes Is hereby cnargsa WIN ,ns % OF s9ch no
Britain sn IL snd o. inc OF
That being th state Of the CASE ths question arose
whether her Maeety'e government could have brought
about such change Of opinion among the members Of
Congress would induced that body To alter their
policy with respect 70 the Reciprocity treaty. On that
point he entirely at issue with his honorable
friend Az " bis suggestion that resolution OF tho
eay might haVS been Obtained Sy % tho
he would AK his honorable friend the case,
and TO suppose that the House OF Commons had re-
solved to put an end TO the treaty. What would have
boon the effect OF resolution Of Congress asking the
House OF Commons to renew treaty which Il had de-
ble friend used Of the most extraordinary arguments
he had ever heard. He 'did there trfn0 pIry in
Of on. Mrth Xms,ican c",rts r. AZ ,e.,,, @ and tb.s
they looked upon tn, Recpro ity treaty obstacle
to their designs Did not he mr. waikin) see that he
could not have quoted waghtier expression OF opinion
influencing Congress- than he had done he mn
timed hat GacV (iear, hcarl Thera great differ
Of opinion between tho Eastern States aud the
western; and while II was true that largo meet
ings in favor Of the continuance Of the treaty
had been ar nela ga N & the United States it was
held there in favor Of putting end to II. number
Of influential Chambers Of Commerce had agreed reso
lutOns Ia favor Of the retention of the Reciprocity
treaty. and at Detroit convention five hundred deegats
from the Uniied States and fifty from the British colo
quent speech, in which tho whole question was dis
cussed from first TO last and resolutions in favor Of the
treaty were passed but notwithstanding that expression
the other hand an expression Of public feeling which
than couterbaianced II and Congress adhered to ts
Charge dAaires hts willingness to take into consdera.
ton the question Of oci'y treaty. and when Sir
Minister he was instructed to say that her
Maesty's cove, government were prepared 70 treat
TO the state Of feeling toouid mt only be iprdem bit
almos impossible o o. nsgoisons Mr. Lincoln had
and there was strong feeling in the United states
consequent on the proceedings e tie Alr,ama and other
10 her government that would
be most mprudent to attempt to open negotiations and
her Maestys bound to accept the views
Of their Minister to the United States (Hcar) Now Sir
r. Bruce was then In communication with the Governor
Of Canada and he requested Mr. Gat distinguished
gentleman, and one Of the Ministers OF the colony, to
come TO Washington and unite with him in
ascertainins how far was practicable to
ca d S ans several ns ~
Mr. Seward he arrived at the came conclusion AZ Sir
f. Bruce that Il would be most unwse at that time to
make any proposal for the pr0longaon or renewal Of
the treaty Not merely political but other
put forward by powerful parties in the United States
Treasury instance maintained that the Of
commercial relations between Canada and tho United
Generally
to reciprocal treaesand those who shared his opinion
thought that until the confederation Of the North Ameri
can colonies brought about would be useless to
negotiate with TO separate reciprocal legsaticn
with each colony. Moreover, tho honorable gcn-
Senate was requisite 10 authorize the President
to carry through treaty Of this nature, and in the
existing state OF public opinion, II vas hopeless
then suggested by the American government that
though the public pnion Of the country strongly
sibe to obtain its proongation for year. and there
upon Sir 4. Bruce was instructed to ask the American
that course Congress however, was not disposed TO do
aud the attempt failed Mr. Seward then suggested
that az the negotiation Of treaties rested entirely with
Congress- and not with tho Executive, the best course
would be for the British government 70 put themselves
in communication with tho Committee OF Finance and
endeavor TO get the committee to report 70 the Senate in
favor Of the renewal Of the treaty Sir f.
ngly communicated with the governors OF tho North
from Canada Nova Scotia and New Brunsw ci proceeded
TO Washington and entered into communication with the
Committee OF Financc His honorable friend had
described these gentlemen amateur negotiators, |
who went to Washington negotiate their nc
count but the fact was quite the reverse for they
communication with the Finanee Committee Unfortu-
nately that committee was presided over by Mr. Nor
.,; wno a. IVA was ven nnown was an aavocste o. pro,
to any renewal Of the treaty Several interviews took
place and proposals and were made
but the claims OF the committee were such the dele
gates found impossible 10 accede TO, and after
negotiation tho attempt at understanding foil through
This being the caso Mr. Seward advised her Majes.ys
that negotiations other than these would be
not only futile but prcudca to the cause which as he
Mr Lsy.rdl believed both governments bad A. heart
addressed note 70 Mr. Seward which, with the reply,
he would read and he would lay the papers tao table
Of the House. On the 18th Of February Sir y. Bruce
wrote the following letter TO Mr. Seward
WASHINGTON Feb. Is 1868
slnmAs the Recprocy d treaty is about 70 expire am
%
% hsp s with rs
increase Of the trading relaons between the United States
sse s % As
s. @ s
board By the other and Parcgsss ds BY side
government would be well contsn. % renew the
u The IN eS with the Cow
q q s limited sa ss 4 Is % wSus S
q possible more beneficial 70 both counris, , than has
disposed hs an
ssw g s .s s Ss as into
nS IN q 70 s %ss gsa ny %
FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE.
What the reply 10 that notcf He thought his hon.
orablc friend would lind IL complete to all the
which he had preferred against her Msesys
government tnssr, hosr) Mr. Seward replied thus 70
Sir Y. Bruce:--
DEPARTMENT srAYs. wAsmxaroS Feb. H. 1895.
SR-1 have the honor 70 acknowledge tho receipt
which addressed " me the l6th inst, concerning
proposed extension OF the Reciprocity Perhaps
could not reply in any other manner more satisfactorily than
one c'ss
that subject The character Of the constitutional drbu
ton Of public affair. the different departments OF the
governmen, 10 well known. II onfdes and Il
national expressly TO the Legislature The
piring Reciprocity treaty consues almost the only In
which the Executive Departments has BY negotiation
sumed supervision Of any question Of either commerce
finance Even In that the Executive Department did
,,le more than 70 make treaty the details Of which
United States and sanction after
leg gslaon. The question OF continuing
treaty mainly subjects OF the special
which have before described Careful inquiry
Of Congress- induced the President
that then such harmony Of public sentiment in
favor Of the extension OF the treaty would him
directing negotiations 70 be opened Inquiries made since
the rsassemblnG OF Congress confirmed the belief then
adopted that Congress prefers TO treat the subec directly
approach Through the of diplomatic
agreement In accordance with this conviction