Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-04
The Condition Of Trade win INC
North American Provinces.

A few months since Mr.. L. n. Larned
of Buffalo, was appointed by Secretary
Boutwell, special agent to inquire into
the extent and state of trade between the
United States and the several dependen-
cies of Great Britain in North America.
The result of the investigation has been
laid before Congress and published in
pamphlet form. 1t proves a valuable and
important document, giving an inside
view Of Canadian affairs, with glances at
the condition Of other British provinces.
This will prove of service in the discus.
sion which has already commenced rela-
tive to annexation to the United States.
The report starts with the proposition
that the natural intercourse OF trade be-
tween the United States and the British
dependencies, lying adjacent to us on our
northern border, ought to be as intimate
and extensive as that which exists in
the Union between the States at large.
The natural intimacy of oonneotio on be-
tween the provinces of the Dominion of
CAnada and the Northern, Northwestern
and Eastern States is such as exists be-
tween very few geographical sections OF
the Union. Though more than half the
co.terminous line of the two territories,
the very boundary of political separation
is itself great natural high road of COM
meroial ntercommunication-t most
II 80 oil &ha n,ro,1 Of
traffic or travel with which nature has
furnished the American continent. The
lakes on which we border at the north
link us with, rather than divide us from,
the foreign border on their opposite
shores while the fact that the great river
through which their waters escape to the
sea DIVORCES, at last, into that
neighboring domain, only adds
to the closeness of the relationship in
which the two countries are placed. The
territory of the Canadian peninsula be.
tween the lakes is thrust like a wedge in
to the territory of the United States.
Across this peninsula lies the short cut of
traffic and travel between our Northwest
ern and Eastern States-geograph ically
the structure of that energetic zone of the
continent which lies between the 40th
aud the 46th parallels of the Province OF
Ontario, with reference to commercial in
terchanges east and west, what may
fairly be described as the key to the
whole. The lower Province of Quebec
through which the st. Lawrence passes
to the ocean, is situated with hardly less
advantage, and in some views which
taken in account with the commercial
possibilities of the future. On the sea.
board there is no natural distinction or
partition to be found between the mari
time provinces of the Dominion and the
New England States. New Brunswick
ia but an extension really of the State of
Maine along the Bay of Fundy, and Nova
Scotia is but a peninsula taken off from
the side of New Brunswick.
The inland provinces that lie
north Of those within or beyond
fho Gulf Of st. Lawrence are a little re-
moved, from the same intimate relation
OF geographical and commercial fellow
ship with our own national territory, and
yet to the extent of all the resources they
possess, the most natural connection of
trade is with the United States. The
new colonial State to which the British
settlements in the North west have just
rudely carved ont, and the older
and thinly populated Province of Brit
ish Columbia, on the Pacific coast,
the condition in which they are placed,
relative to this country, are subjects
worthy of consideration. This view OF
the geographical and commercial relations
between the United States show most
conolusively that the two territories and
governments should be one, so that the
usual commercial restrictions between
two foreign countries should be removed,
thus making all their interests one.