The New York herald., 1869-01-13
Trade with Canada-The Reciprocity
HumDug.

Trade with Canada-The Reciprocity
We publish to-day report on the CONNER
cial relations of the United States and Canada,
made by Israel I. Hatch, the commissioner Of
the American government in the reciprocity
matter, in response to resolution of Congress.
1t contains some interesting and important facts
in relation to the reciprocity question, now
invested with new interest by the strong lobby
movement on foot to secure the restoration Of
the old treaty, and makes an elaborate COM
parison between the value of the route from
Canada, and that by way Of the lakes, the
Erie Canal and the Hudson river to the sea-
coast at New York.
The old Reciprocity treaty was swindle
upon our government. 1t was all turkey for
the Canadians and none for our own people.
While it was in existence the Canadians stuck
to their exclusive or Preferential system of COM
merce on all points not covered by the treaty.
They compelled manufacturers on this side
who depended on Canada as market for their
wares to remove to the province, and they dis
criminated against our boats on their canals.
They have discriminating laws in favor Of a
railroad through our own territory, but made
subservient to their commercial ambition and
exclusive profit, to the prejudice of other lines
through the United States and to the great
injury of the merchants of this and our other
Atlantic cities.
The report shows that while the so-called
Reciprocity treaty was in existence we col
lected only seventy-fve thousand dollars
annually in duties-a sum less than the expense
of collecting it and guarding an inland frontier
some six thousandemiles in extent. On the
other hand, Canada during that period col
lected annually between one million and half
and two million dollars on the products
of American labor. For the two
fiscal years since the abrogation OF
the treaty we have collected fourteen mil
lion dollars, or seven millions annually, in
duties, and the trade with Canada has in
creased rather than diminished. These facts
place the renewal Of the treaty out Of the
question as a practical measure, and will rem
der all the efforts and expenditure of the
Canadian government and their hired lobby at
Washington useless. All our representatives
are required to do Is to let the British pro-
vinces alone and treat them as we treat oil
other foreign nations. When they come to us
as an Independent republic for free trade, or
when they become part and parcel Of our gov
erpment the question win be different. At
present we should have just the same COM
mercial relations with Canada as we have with
the home government.
The report presents some sound and SEN
siblc views on the question Of inland COM
merce, and elucidates the true State and
national policy, that ''the right Of way Is the
right Of the Million" and that no part Of the
Union can Justly levy tolls or tribute on the
products Of other States passing through 1t.
The conclusion Is that 90 soon as the Erie
canal debt shall be paid navigation from the
West to the New York seaboard shall be
entirely free, subject only to the necessary
cost Of the uaintepance and repair Of the
public works.