Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-10-22
From the Montpelier Journal
Reciprocity and the ship Canal.

rotiation Of new treaty for reciprocal |
trade between the United States and the
British American Colonies, the construc-
ton. by the British Provinces or Great |
Britain, of a ship canal from the river ST.
Lawrence to Lake Champlain, be made
cardinal point" and our delegation IN
Congress be instructed accordingly. This
question transcends in Importance any
question Of merely State policy. 1t affects
directly all the States bordering upon the
British Provinces, as well as those Prov
inces; and, in the mode Of action proposed,
it is in form National question. 1t Is so
in fact also, and an important question
that demands high craftsmanship. Of
course our Legislature should treat the
question with the caution which its grav-
ity deserves, and act iudiciously if it acts
at all
Several years ago, when the proposed
canal was santagonized with the then strug-
Cling railroads of Vermont, our sympa-
thies were all with the roads, and We We're
inclined TO scout the canal project as be-
ing unnecessary. We imagined the roads
TO be all-sutfcient for the needs OF YER
mont and the commerce of New England
and the West: but we have learned that
it is utterly impossible to construct rail-
roads as fast as the new States Of the West,
and the fast growing commerce between
the East and the West, will furnish pas
sengers and freight for transportation.
Indeed, existing roads Of long lines cannot
construct double tracks, nor even furnish
the rolling stock for the present single
tracks, as fast as they are needed.
In looking for relief, we can discover it
only in extending water transportation as
far, and enlarging the number and capa-
city Of short connecting lines Of railroads
as fast as possible. For instances a ship
canal of "A few miles, from the st, Law
| renee TO Lake Champlain, will open new
line Of water communication between all
the country bordering on the northern
lakes and New York city and another
ship canal from Lake Michigan TO the
Mississippi, will do the same between the
Northern and Southern States; and the
effect upon the corresponding lines of rail-
| road will be, TO relieve them OF the heavy
and small paying class of freight, and en-
| large their capacity for the transportation
of passengers and profitable freights. Com
merce would gain trebly in doubling the
means of transportation in the increased
facility of moving light freights; and the
reduced cost of moving grain, -four, iron
coal, and all the class of goods that would
tako transportation by water.
| Again the proposed ship canal woult
make Burlington. instead of Buffalo, OF
| Ogdensburgh the port for all heavy freight
between New England and the West sub
stituting cheap water communication fol
about two hundred miles of costly railway
communication. The Governor well says
that this would save largely to Vermont il
the cost Of breadstuffs but it would do more
Our granite, marble and slate will bea
the cost of water transportation to tn
farthest port of Lake Superior, and to New
Orleans, and all the other ports in the Gul
of Mexico, while very little of it will bea,
the railway rates. Vermont would be Ger
tain of rich harvest from these sources
But still again: the additional freight
lpoured into Lake Champlain for the Eas
would soon far outstrip the capacity of tn,
Central and Rutland lines with all tht
tracks these lines can plant on their road
beds, and new lines, through other sections
of Vermont, would be demanded by tn,
necessities of commerce, thus enlarginl
the fields for profitable enterprises in Yer
mont. We are therefore for the shiI
canal proposed by the Governor for ano
ther round Niagara Falls for still anothe
from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi
and for enlarging the capacity of th
Erie and Complain canals. Pretty larg
business, think you Yes very large in
deed, of national Importance and tn
national government should secure thei
construction.
Now for the way of securing the st
Lawrence and Champlain canals. W,
will not disguise our dislike to what i
called Reciprocity with Canada, for W.
are yet sore of the old treaty, which wa
worse than cheat. 1t was an absolut,
and deliberate sacrifice of the interest o
i all the Northern States, and in som
, points of the nation also and that not S
much for the benefit of Canada as of Grea
BIitain. 1t was designed to appease tn
craving of the Canadians for annexation
to the United States, and the treaty wa
forced upon the country, by a Democrati
administration, simply to prevent al
addition to the political power of tn
North. That was the root of the matter
Now we want no more trick
: of that sort, no mere sacrifices G
the North, and no more treache
, ry to the interests of the country. Possi
bly, better treaty may be.negotiated; bu
We think it ought to be treaty of free nav
: igation and transportation, rather than {
free trade-each country reciprocally gi,
3 ing to the other the use of water and raj
way transportation. If Great Britain wi
, build the Champlain and st. Lawrenc
! ship canal, let the United States reciprc
t cate by enlarging the Champlain canal
and if the Canadian canals and railway
are given for our use, then let us ope
0 ours to their use. That sort Of reoiproc
ty will do; but SO long as it is necessar
7 to impose duties upon foreign product
! for revenue, we object to putting the Bri
J. ish Provinces upon any other than th
J, footing of other foreign countries The
# deserve no special favors from US, and
e would be neither just to other nations
J. grant them, nor polite for our own.
1t, therefore, the Legislature is to adoI
= any resolution for the proposed ship cana
n we trust it will not in any way comm
= Vermont to the Canadian policy of Rec
Q procity or embarrass our delegation in Co,
!, gress with any instructions on that sui
s ject. Mr.. Morrilrs views are we'll know
n to be strongly hostile to any thing like IL
g latter treaty; indeed our entire delegatic
le was, from the first operation of that treat
70 entirely hostile to it, as were the peop
,e of the State.
IL We hope it is not necessary for us
s. add, that no part of this article is to
y construed as censure of the Governo
le We understand him only to suggest tn
y it treaty is to be made, the opportuni