Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-11-26
Letter from Speaker Blaine on the
Reciprocity Treaty.
AuGusrA. Me-, Nov. 10, 1869.
HoN. JAS. C. DAscoMB.

Skowhcgan, Me.
Ny Dear Sir:-From conversation |
had with Secretary Fish in Washington Il
short time since, feel justified in saying
that there is no foundation whatever for
the rumor that the State Department is
negotiating another Reciprocity Treaty
with the British Provinces. Under the
Resolution passed by the House of Rep
resentatives nj the last session of Congress
the Secretary of State would not feel
authorized To open negotiations except
upon the two points relating TO the Fish
cries aud the navigation of the ST. Law
renee, which are, of course, TO be adius-
ted only through the Treatymaking. Pow
or. In regard 10 the whole question of
the duties on Imports, the House of Rep.
resentatives hold that the regulation
thereof belongs in the first instance to
their body, where the constitution has,
in plain and explicit terms, lodged the
right of originating Revenue Bills. The
Reciprocity Treaty. lately expired, was
made in palpable disregard of the priv
ilcges and immunitics of the popular
branch of Congress, andihis infringement,
in my Judgment, will not be repeated.
If the President and the Senate can make
n treaty dispensing with existing duties
on Canadian products, they may do the
same touching English products, and
French products, and German products,
anil Tins. in effect, destroy the entire
power ofthe House of Representative in
the cuactmcnto OF laws for raising revenue.
This would not give the House any voice
mt all in the matter. whereas the founders
otour Government designed that the pow
cr of taxation should be primarily and in
dispu,ahly located with the immediate
Representatives of the people, so That the
popular will and Judgment could be most
directly and most speedily reflected, and
50 that he responsibility of the public
agent could neither be questioned, divided
nor cyaded.
trust the day is far distant when we
shall be again afflicted in Maine whit the
burden of wha; by way of grim sarcasm
i called Reciprocity Treaty. Such a
treaty simply proposes that we in Maine
shall pay Our fail share of national tax
alton in all It's forms. and that then our
varied products of field and forest and
flock shall have in all the markets of the
United States the free competition ofsim-
liar products Of the British Provinces.
whose people pay none of these taxes.
\ good deal of discussion is INDUCED in
OF latc touching the doctrine OF protection
in all lis pha>cs-but it has been lett for
the advocates and upholdcrs of Reel
procity Treaty Ia propose that the FEEDER
nj Government should exercise lis power
the material interests of those
who arc aliens To Us in nationality. and
rivals to u in trade.
some attempt has been male at differ
cnt times ip divide public opinion in Maine
on ,hi, question by representing that the
shipping interest, now somuch depressed,
would be greatly benefited by a Rccipyoc-
rs Treaty. SpcciouS as some of the ar.
Sumeut> may bc on this point, they are
all courlusiycly answered ly the fact that
,hipAuiidins j. far more depressed to-day
aud his been for three years past on the
81. Lawrence and the st. John. than on
lac kcuncocc aud the Pcnobscot during
The same period. In view OF this fact,
Iudcnicd and uuicniabic. there Is no ne
,c>>i,y Tor an elaborate discussion OF the
u icc, Indeed the argument is ou,y
made ~ those who maintain that absolute
rec trade would be Il great boon and
blessing 10 our navigation Interest,"
position which in my judgment is wholly
il not wildly absurd. The cN-
pertinent would result in transferring our
.ulirc >hiphuiiding 10 the chcap-labor
lochyards otEurope, and would, otcourse,
destroy that monopoly of the coasting
trade which has been guaranteed 10
American bottoms from the foundation OF
.hc Federal Government. When The rep
c,cutauves ii our shipbuildmg interest
shall, under any delusion. surrender the
great protection OF the American Registry
and the great franchise of the cOasting
trade, they will have parted with adyan.
,agcs which no power can ever confer up
on Item again. But | have no fear that
any such proposition will be made from
any responsible source. An intelligent
and able Commit ce OF the House OF Rep
rcscnlatiyes. specially organized for the
purpose. Is now carefully considering the
\, hole subject, and doubt not they will
mature and present for Congressional
action such measures as will greatly re-
Iieve the shipping interest, without at
the same time, venturing on any such
rash or radical changes rs have referred
to. All sections of the country realize
and deplore the fact that our commercial
interest from series of causes has been
greatly Frustrated, and | am sure that q
just and generous spirit will be found in
Congress for its revival and upbuilding.
But let us not be led in Maine to the
folly OF believing that any interest of our
State is to be promoted by a Reciprocity
Treaty. The experiment in that line
which terminated in 1865 cost Maine
many millions of dollars, and a new treaty
would iniure us still more in similar