The national Republican., 1869-02-26
RECIPROCITY WITH THE BRIT.
IsH PROVINCES.

IsH PROVINCES.
1t Is difficult TO conceive upon what grounds
the Committee Of Ways and Means can re-
port favorably upon q bill to rc-establlsh reci-
procity between the British North American
provinces and the United States. At the
time the former treaty was adopted our Gov
'ernmcnt was not In debt, and could afford to
throw of the tariff revenue on goods coming
from the neighboring colonies without doing
injustice to our own people. But we have
since gone through protucted war, which
has LEFT burdcnsome public debt upon the
shoulders Of the people. Every dollar Of the
public revenues arc required to meet the
hoayy drafts upon the United States Treas
ury. The revenue from the importatlons
from the British provinces amount now to
$1,000, 900 annually. A new reciprocity bill
proposes 10 wipe this fund out OF existence.
In other words Congress, by passing this bill,
proposes 10 let our neighbors have access TO
our markets without paying for that priv.
lege. Not only this; under present arrange
ments this s7,000,O00 comes out Of the
pockets Of our nelghbors, the owners Of the
goods sent into the States, and constituAcs n
fair and just tax upon those who avail them
selves Of the advantages Of the American
markets, aud arc not otherwise taxed or con-
tributing to meet the public expenses.
Adopt the reciprocity bill and the Cana
dians arc not only relieved from the payment
OF this amount, but our own people will be
compelled to pay just SO much more them
selves. The money must be raised, II not by
a tariff on Canadian goods, then our own
farmers and manufacturers must submit 10
the collection Of an additional seven millions
annually from the productions Of their own
hands. II Is a clearly demonstrated fact that
all goods coming from the British provinces
Is Just SO much more competition against the
producers In our own country. Canadian
wool imported into the States affects di-
rectly the wool.growers Of this country. The
same, also, in regard to coal and agricultural
produce. Every wool-grower, owner Of coal
mining stock, and all our farmers, are re-
quired to bear their fair proportion OF the
public debt, for which they have the advan-
tages offered by our markets for the disposal
Of their commodities. Now, by the contem-
plated bill, 1t is proposed to offer those same
markets to foreign competitors without i'm
posing any Of the burdens our own people
have to bearl Charity and liberallty are
virtues to be admired and commended In na-
tions. as well as In individuals; but there is
trite maxim that we must "be Just before
we are generous" and this action Of Con-
gress, If successful, will exhibit to the na.
tlon one Of the grossest pieces of Injustice
ever imposed upon this or any other people
1t Is scarcely possible TO conceive that Con
gress is SO blind to the interests of our coun
try as to entertain the proposition.
The Legislature of Vermont, by recent
action, has protested against the measure,
and by resolution declared that cit Is the
duty Of our Senators and Representatives in
Congress TO use their influence against the
contamination Of any treaty relating to re-
ciprocity in trade with the Dominion Of
Canada" The Secretary of the Treasury
pronounccs against the expediency Of the
measure, and the Commissioner Of Agricul-
ture, In his annual report, recently issued,
Us
enduring the necessary burden Of internal
revenue taxation, and submitting cheerfully
to imposts upon our foreign products con-
sumed by them, will enter vigorous protest
against any proposition for the removal Of
the abrogated reciprocity treaty, or any
arrangement admitting untaxcd and low
priced Canadian productions customs free,
or at q lower rate of duty than Is provided
In existing laws regulating the tariff upon
similar imports from other nationalties."
Aside from the loss Of revenue and the In.
justice Of such measure to every agricul
tural community throughout the country, II,
adoption by Congress would form a prece
dent for other nationalities or colonies
equally entitled to apply for similar favors
Cuba, the East India Islands, Mexico and
South America have just as strong claims
upon the United States for reduction oI
our tariffs as the Dominion of Canada. In.
deed, II would not be very difficult to demon,
strate the fact that the claim Of some, at
least, Of those countries would be more de
serving Of favorable consideration than the
demands Of our nelghbors on the north, who
rejoiced In our recent troubles and prophe-
sled the sundering of the Union and the
establishment Of a plurality Of nationalitics,
each OF less Significance than the dominion
Of Canada. 1t 10 not the purpose Of this
Government to bear any malice toward the
"new nationality" on our border; but we
have no fayors to grant them that cannot
be extended TO nelghbors on the south, and
out In the Pacific, where they are now ask.
Ing for, but are denied, treaty of reci-
Proeity with the United States. If Congress
Is true to the interests Of the country, neither
brega's gold nor Sir John Sanford Nc
Donalds lobbying influence will have apy
weight In inalCting n new reciprocity treaty
upon the people Of this country.
AL the industrial Interests of the limited
States are opposed 10 any act of ConRress
that will tend to Increase our burdens. and
as this measure would compel our people to
pay annually into the public chest 81 ,OOO, 900
now collected from our nelghbors, by duties
On their goods, Ii Is quite evident that the
passage Of the bill would raise an opposition
In the rural districts that could not fail to be
productive of serious consequences. Mem.
hers oil Congress will do well to pause before
they commit themselves to this measure.
There Is meaning in the language OF the
incoming President when he saws the Gov
ernment shall be administered with st,ic,
regard 10 "economy, retrenchmcnt. tho col
lection Of the revenues and payment Of tho
public debit" and It is dlflicult to reconcile
his policy with q measure which tends
directly to the loss of o., 900, 900 of the reyc.
nue--an amount that cannot be otherwise
restored to the United States Treasury bu,
by an Increase of the duties upon goods from
other countries, or by direct internal reyc
nue. tax upon our own people, whose burden,
arc already sufficiently onerouS.
"WEDNESDAY afternoon the Illinois Housl
OF Representatives passed q bill providing
for general system Of railroad corpora,
tlons, by dividing directors Into three Glasses
The bill is In the interest Of the Rock Island
road, to enable the present managers to con.
tinue In power two years longer. Members
contended that the bill was necessary TO
prevent Wall street speculators from aaIn,