The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-09-08
FREE TRADE.
Organization of "A National Council a,
Sarat0ua

Ur2anlZatt0h OF " 0tlOnak Council at
Saratoga.
SARATOGA, N. Y, Sept. THE conference
OF free traders met at noon.
Nathan Appleton of Boston, chairman of
the provisional committee, took the chair and
expressed hope that the meeting would result
IN the organization of a free trade League
Edwin A. Pratt of New York and Samuel
l.. Powers of Boston, were appointed secre-
taries
D. D Field, Parke Goodwin, Horace White
aud Francis A Walker, committee ON resolu-
tioos, reported the following:
Resolved, That the pre- sent depression of the
Industrial commercial and financial interests
of the country is largely due to our inability
uuder present laws, TO dispose of the surplus
products of our ihdustry-productsw which other
countries want, and which but for restrictive
and injurious legislation, the United States
would, to great extent, produce and sell
cheaper than any other.
Resolved, That this depression has been
caused mainly by erroneous financial and COM
mefcial policy, pursued by the federal govern.
ment since the war, in forgetfulness of the
economic axiom that sit is necessary to buy in
order to SELF I; and that it is utterly impossible
for US to dispose of the surplus products of our
industry to other nations unless we are to
accept 10 return the surplus products of their
industry.
Resolved, That by imposing taxes for pur-
poses other than revenue, and by preventr G
us from cheaply building and sdvantageously
buying Ships, our shipping, which had become
the second in the world, aud was fast becom
ing first, has been almost swept from the seas.
Resolved, That in view of the fact that
large and important interests have grown up
nnder the erroneous financial policy which the
United States has maintained during sixteen
years, due regard must be paid to the security
and welfare of these interests But seeing
them PROSTATE aud suffering in common with
Others, we are persuaded that it protection has
ever done anything for them, it has done all it
can, and they, no less than others, need for
their revival and healthy growth a thorough
revision of existing tariff.
Resolved, That as one means towards a re-
vival of commerce and general prosperity, we
ask, concurrently with reformed legislation, a
thorough revision of our commercial treaties
with foreign nations many of which are uu-
suited to the present Industrial protective con.
dition OF this county, and we ask also the
negotiation of treaties of com erce with couD.
| tries such as France and Spain, with which we
have now no such agreement
Resolved, That the treaty Of reciprocal trade
| between the United States and Canada, which
expired in 1865 was commercially beneficial to
both countries and intended to promote that
state of friendly feeling most desirable to De
maintained among neighboriDg peoples; and We
believe the time has come for renewal OF
reciprocal trade relations with that country on
| mosf liberal principles; and we unite with the
National Board of Trade in urging the execu-
tive to institute negotiations to that end.
Resolved, That all citizens who agree with
as in the views we have expressed, are invited
| to form local organizations for their dssemna
ton. To promote the united action of all such
associations, a council of Is shall be appointed
| who shall be authorized to call national con-
vention and form national association.
Parke Goodwin seconded the resolutions.
David A. Wells said that if certain laws he
could indicate were repealed, he would pledge
his head that in four years the prosperity of
this country would be assured.
The resolutions were passed.
David A. Wells was designated as chairman
and Abraham L. Earle as secretary of The
council provided for, wiGh power to nominate
the remaining members.
The committee thus appointed, recommend
| ed the following names:
Nathan Appleton and William Dominic o.
Boston, G b. Marshall, A. r. Stokes, f. r
French and W. r Sperry of New York, A S
Biddle of Philadelphia, A. B. Mason of Chi
csgo, w. l.. Trenholm of Charleston, G. w
Nichols of Cincinnati, and Charles Nordhof
of New Jersey.
The nominations were ratified and the meet
ing adjourned