Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-01-20
The RecinrOcifY Treaty.

sPEEcTr OF MR.. MORRILL, or VT, IN TUE a. :.
SENATE, JANUARY Il, 1869.
. On motion of Mr. Morrill,, the Senate then
took UT the resolution Of the Legislature of
Vermont, presented by him some days since.
which was read, as follows
= hcsoI5e,., Inat having an intelligent re-
G.yd for the best interests of Vermont. it is
iliie duty of our Senators and Representatives
in Congress 70 use their influence against the
consummation of any treaty relating to re-
ciprocity Of trade with the Dominion Of Can
ada. and to insist that the subject of our
trade and personal intercourse with Canada,
as well as with all other foreign countries,
is not proper matter of treaty stipulation
but belongs to Congress, and should be wise
ly regulated by judicious tariff.
Mr. Morrill, said Mr.. President The
resolutions of the Legislature of the State of
Vermont, believe, only express the opinions
Of come of the rlpest statesmen Of the country
in times past, and the present sentiments of
the agriculturists Of nearly the whole nation
have sought the opportunity to submit
some remarks upon the reference Of these
resolutions, for the same reason that most
likely induced the action of the Legislature
of Vermont, because of a disposition mani
tested in some quarter hope it may be
limited-to revive an unfortunate example
IN our UlctOFy Dl utSOlidlADE HOIe VI IIldI
class of treaties whereby our foreign trade
is to be regulated by treaty instead of being
regulated by the usual and accustomed laws
of Congress believing, rs | do, that such
treaties are contrary to the practice of the
Government, contrary to the constitution,
and contrary to the interests Of the whole
country. The exclusive policy SO long main
taincd by the British Government and other
nations relative to trade with their colonies
having now been greatly modified. though
not wholly abandoned, and the policy of
granting equal favors to all nations with
whom commercial intercourse is maintained
having become almost universal among civil
lied nations, there is no longer induccment
to seek by treaties special fdvors, or to at
tempt to overreach less enterprising nations
| by the arts of diplomacy. Secret treaties
or partial treaties find little favor, and what
ever is granted to one party is practically
open at once to all others willing to accept
of like terms If England negotiates a treaty
with China it is at once duplicated with tho
United States If the United States make
treaty with Japan equal favors are promptly
obtained by England and other nations. L
is even reckoned, if not discreditablc, some
what beneath the dignity of independent
nations to grasp at any exclusive privileges
by means Of treaties. and sure mark of i'm
Z
/ has also been growing more and more politi
cally unsafe to hamper the trade of colonies
with such badges of inferiority as make then
! tributary and subservient to the imperia
selfshness of the mother country ever since
the successful resistance of the United States
to the policy of taxation without representa-
ton attempted by George III. When
Spanish Embassador represented to Crom
well that the inquisition and colonial tIad
were his masters two eyes, Cromwell re
piled - Then | must trouble YOUR maste
to put out his two eyes The inquisitiol
r has been blotted out and. while the lanruac
of Cromwell might not be accepted by mOderl
diplomacy, it is questionable whether tn
world will long quietly tolerate anv monopo
ly of colonial trade. The first real negotia
I ton in the way of treaty of reciprocit
was made by Mr.. Wheaton, at Berlin. III
had been instructed by Mr.. FORSYTH in 1899
, then Secretary of State, to obtain a relaxa
tiOn OF the duties on tobacco-that was all
| and after seven years of effort, or at least
lapse of years, he concluded what is know
I, : as the ZJllverein Treaty. Prussia and he
German associates would consent to nothin
Q without an equivalent If Prussian dutie
on tobacco were to be relaxed, then til
Il nited States must render a relaxation
the duties on certain other articles of th
growth or produce of the ZoIlverein, an
G these articles seem to have become co-extcr
: sive with the number of the principaliti,
: embraced in the associated crowd Each al
pears to have rushed in with some pet to |
= favored. and all would seem to have bee
: gratified. The workers in hardware, and
h wool, worsted, silk, cotton. and linen WEI
n no sooner appcased than the fabricants
I. 1 fish-hooks, snuff-boxes, and toys presente
: their budgets, and at last the proposed treat