The Portland daily press., 1869-01-18
The Niagara Ship Canal and Reciprocity.
INTERESTING DISCUSSION In THE PoRTLAN1
BOARD OF TRADE.

~
A meeting of the Board of Trade was held
at their rooms Saturday Afternoon, President
Perley in the chair
The President remarked that communion
ton had been received from the Boston Board
of Trade, asking cooperation on the part of
Portland Board in reference to a Reciprocity
Treaty between the United States and Cana
da. He said there was also another matter on
which he should like the opinion of the Board,
namely, the building of ship canal around
Niagara Falls
The first question taken up was that of the
ship canal. 80 -I"t a.4
Collector Washburn said that while the at
tention of Congress seemed to be particularly
drawn to matters OF economy, he thought this
question was one which would be productive
of the greatest economy, and he therefore Of
fered the following resolution:
Resolred-That the Niagara Ship Canal is an
enterprise of such absolute necessity to the
growth, prosperity and development of the
country-and that its construction at an early
day would so certainly increase the wealth and
taxable capacity of the nation, that it stands
apart from all other questions before Congress
",
supported not only as commercial necessity,
but as matter of economy, prudence and q n
ancial wisdom.
The resolution was passed by a unanimous
vote.
Mr.. John A. Poor was then called upon by
the President for his views on the question OF
reciprocity treaty.
Mr. Poor said that he had seen notice in
the papers that meeting was to be held that
afternoon in regard to reciprocity treaty with
Canada. He remarked that he was very much
interested in the matter. He thought we were
all bound up in this measure. We want all
possible avenues of prosperity opened and
kept open. The lumber trade and smuggling
trade were opposed to treaty, and he consid-
cred it remarkable sight to see the people of
Vermont opposing reciprocity treaty when
they were lying on the borders of Canada, and
should surely be most interested in keeping
trade open with that country. He said that
both Mr. Howe of Nova Scotia, and Mr.. Rose,
had told him that they must have outlets for
their trade; that all the commercial interests
OF British North America gravitated towards
US; but if q check was put upon the trade be-
tween the two countries then their only re-
source would be to push their way to the sea
through their own country. He should advo-
cate the passing of resolutions advocating
treaty, and thought that on this question of
reciprocity we could carry New England with
u.s. We must have, he said, unrestricted trade
with Canada. I'D 81 So .ra. r.oaT ~ sslas VI
Collector Washburn said that he wanted to
see broad treaty between the two countries,
and, in fact, would like see free trade between
Maine and Canada. That the articles of trade
which had been imported into Maine from
Canada had been those of growth, with the ex-
ception perhaps of fish, and had been in the
proportion of ten to one as compared with the
imports from Maine into Canada. Now he
wanted to see all articles of growth, product
and manufacture imported as freely between
Canada and the United States, as between
Maine and Massachusetts,. W d., . ....
4 Mr.. w. s.. Dana made some brief remarks
strongly in favor of a reciprocity treaty.
Mr. T. G. Hersey said that although he was
suffering severely from the effects of recent
bad cold, he could not refuse to respond when
the matter of discussion was one of such great
Importance, He was pleased to see his rather
conservative friend, Gov. Washburn, went SO
far as to be in favor of free trade. The only
argument against the treaty has been that un-
less we had a treaty the Canadians would have
to resort to annexation, and Canada would
drop into our lap. When people desire to en-
ter into closer relations, they approach each
other; they do not stand off upon the border.
1t was needless to 60 into statistics; all and
every interest here-lumber, fish, dry goods,
&c.,-was in favor of the treaty. The old
treaty had gone by. A resolution adopted
here should have weight with Congress from
our situation. Twenty -four hours after the
abrogation of the old treaty we could have
done better than now, and every day and hour
that passes without making one, tells to our
disadvantage. There was already deep and
growing feeling in Canada against any treaty,
and if postponed much longer we shall never
get one. This reciprocity treaty must be Sc
cured by treaty or by concurrent legis lation-
If by legislation he thought it would be o life
long work. He thought there must be com
promises. The best way would be to get to-
gether and talk the whole matter over; but it
looks now as if a number preferred legislation.
He thought it would not be settled this session,
although it may come before Congress and be
settled by close vote. Finally he thought we
ought to send men to Congress who were
sound on those matters that redou nded to the
prosperity of the country, and if he was in the
Legislature he would not vote for man for
Congress unless he was clearly in favor of the
broadcast reciprocity treaty.
The following preamble and resolutions, Of
fered by Mr.. W. 8. Dana, were then read and
passed by a unanimous vote:
Whereas-The commercial reasons for the
abrogatiOn of the former reciprocity treaty
under which the exchanges Of the United
States and the British North American prov
inces, mounted in ten years from sixteen to
thirty eight millions, have ceased to exist;
therefore, sss1s ID .s.as;a.sC .,sbrgI All
Resolued That in the opinion of this Board
the time has arrived when it is the imperative
duty of the government of the United States
to undertake the negotiation of just, fair and
impartial reciprocity treaty, or reciprocal legis-
lation, for commercial intercourse between the
United States end the British North Ameri-3
can provinces. -lH .z47I..l.l-
ResolUed-That our Senators and Represent
atives in Congress be requested to use their in
huence to secure the negotiation of such
treaty, or such reciprocal tariff legislation as
may be necessary to accomplish the object.
Messrs. James M. Churchill and John F.
Emery were elected members of the Board, and
the Board then adjourned 4 g,ctf "a a 81