The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-08
CANADA AND THE AMERICAN CANALS

S1NaDA AMI LIE iMLhlOaN OdNlLns
IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE In RErERENcE TO
THE RIGHrs OF CANADIAN vEssxLs IN THE
CANALS or NEW YORK State DECISION
INSISTED ON BIZ THE DOMINION GOVERNMENT,
OTTAWA April Z, 1876
Important correspondence between the United States,
imperial and Dominion governments in relation to
Canadian vessels and tho American canals pre-
senled to Parliament last night The correspondence
begins February, 1874 aS extends down 5th Of
April, 1876, making very bulky document
on the ID Of November, 1874, the committee OF the
Privy Council adopted report complaining that en-
gagements entered into between Her Majesty govern
ment and that OF the United States in reference 10 the
mutual OF the canals Of both countries by the YES
sells Of tho United and Canada respectively as
in the twenty seventh section OF the Treaty OF
Washington have not on the part Of the United States
been carried practical effect; but that while all
Canadian canals have been freely opened to the
sells on payment Of the Same tolls and charges
as are exacted from Brush or Canadian ves-
sells, the latter still entirely excluded
from the use Of any and all the canals within United
States territory except the Saut Ste Marie Canal that
thus while barges and other vessels with or without
cargoes clearing from ports the Hudson RIVER
allowed to pass through the Chambly Canal 10 the St.
Lawrence, and thence from Montreal through the
Lachinc Canal to the city OF Ottawa, other desna
tions, British Canadian vessels loading at Ottawa or
any oher Canadian port or even in ballast, are pro.
hibted from passing Whitehall through the Champain
Canal to tho Hudson River the State OF New York,
and that prohibory policy obtains generally Ia
references the OF the Ere and other canals con-
Meeting the navlgable waters with the ter.
ritory Of tho United States; that considering
that three years have passed during which
tha dim h.v faith llv
acting upon the spirit OF the treaty permitting the
OF their numerous canals in rs full aud Unrestricted
that accorded to their own vessels and this
liberal policy having met with reciprocity the
part Of tho government OF the United
States, the committee recommend that tho
British Minister at Washington be commun.
Gated WITH with the view OF ascertainDg whether the
government OF the United states endeavoring to
procure British and Canadian vessels tho OF their
canals according TO said twenty seventh section OF said
ON The 23d Of November Sir Edward Thornton replied
that tho United States government mad already brought
the subject under the notice Of tho government OF the
State OF New York. In which State the principal
situated aad that they had therefore, lost time
in carrying out the engagement contained in the
Treaty OF Washington. As their representation had
no effect he would urge that the subject should be
again brought under the notice OF the State govern
ment
On November 20 Mr. Fish writes TO Sir Edward
Thornton say that he Is surprised at the general
statement contained in tho report Of the Canadian
committee, and that would have been satisfuc-
tory had some special instance oil exclusion been re-
ported. He says however, that he had forwarded .
copy OF tho despatch TO the OF the State
OF New York.
On the 4lh OF December Governor Dix writes to Mr.
Fish, enclosing letter from tho Canal Collector at
Whitehall and other papers, from which he dcduces
this statement:-rhat Brush subjects allowed to
navigate tho New York canals terms Vi equality
with citzens.of tho United States and that tho Cana
dian authorities have been nisnformed In regard 10
the exclusion OF British Canadian vessels from the
Champlan Canal at Whitehall
On the 9Th Of February the Privy Council adopted
minute giving reasons which led them to formulate
the charges contained III their former minute but thus
winding up"that as the government OF the state OF
New York now asserts positively that Canadian
sells not prohibited from navigating these canals
terms OF equality with American vessels ("
1t Is recommended that Her Majesy's Secretary OF
State Tor the Colonies be informed that the Canadian
government longer continues to be OF the opinion
that Canadian vessels are excluded from the canals Of
the State OF New York. and will take the necessary
steps promulgatc officially this important tnforma-
tion, in order that Canadian canal boat owners and
iorwarders may be enabled to take advantage OF the
pears 10 have rested until the 27th OF August
when another minute OF the Council adopted by
the Prvy Council based on tho refusal OF the Collector
at Plattsburg N r., TO allow Canadian barge laden
with lumber other foreign merchandise from
New York to Rouse's Point, tho United States law ~
trade In question SO tar British vessels
cerned. This Interpretation required the barge 70
load at the first port of entry which was Wnitehalb
thereby practically closing the Chainplan Canal 70
British and Canadian vessels.
The correspondence this subject which Is very
volumnous, contains letter from Edward Thorn
ton detailing conversation with Mr.. Fish the
jcct, in the course OF which Mr. Fish said that II
under the consideration Of the Treasury De-
partment, and while he could speak officially
with regard TO It, IL seemed to MIN that the revenue
laws the United States would prevent the the
entire navigation OF tho canals by Canadian vessels
Mr. Fish, Sir Edward writes added that he supposed
that the idea aud object Of the Canadian government
that Canadian boats should be enabled bring
cargo from Canada through tho canals and down the
Hudson to New York This impossible by rcuson
the above mentioned provisions Of law with regard
the entry and because neither the Treaty
OF Washington by another treaty had the naviga-
tion the River Hudson been allowed tc British or
foreign vessels This view subsequently
Ivy Secretary Of the Treasury who commune
Gated long letter the subject TO Mr. Fish which
transmitted the 18th oil November 10 Lord DunerIn
Hero the matter rested until tho 9th inst, when
Privy Council, apparently provoked by the inquiry for
the papers, adopted minute reply. II takes Up
Secretary Bristows argument and calls attention
the that be had overlooked the provision OF law
in tho Of Congress passed the Goth Of
September, $780, and re-enacted and confirmed in
the Revised Statutes OF 1875, which authorizes the
American government 10 permit vessels laden with
products OF Canada to load unload ut any port Or
place any collective district in the United States
provided similar privileges extended to vessels Of
the United states IN the colonies They therefore
ommcnd that Sir Edward Thornton be requested to call
the attention OF the United States government this
and 10 press upon that the making of
such arrangements az will at once secure the Same
privileges Canadian vessels in the United States
nails accorded TO United States vessels Cana
dian canals