St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-03-29

which free navigation and recipro-
cal trade with the States are indis-
pensable, the end may be nearer than
we wot Of
Again, in November. 1849, Lord
Elgin wrote:
But if things remain on this foot.
ing there is nothing before us but
violent agitation ending in convul-
sion or annexation and I much fear
that no measure but the establish
ment of reciprocal trade between
Canada and the States, or the i'm
position of a duty on the produce of
the States when imported into Eng
land, will remove it.
Repeated efforts we're made to ne
gotiate such treaty, but they all
failed, as did similar proposed
treaty with Germany and another
with Mexico, mainly on the ground
that the president had no constitu-
tional right to make treaty regulat-
ing the revenues and also because
such a treaty with Canada would
work great hardship and injustice to
the border farmers. But Lord Elgin
perSeVered. He came to Washington
in 1853 accompanied by a brilliant
staff of young, wealthy English noble
men. They entered into the social
and earnestness, giving parties, balls,
dinners and other festivities of the
greatest luxuriance, and succeeded
SO we'll that Notwithstanding the
democratic senate was at first
strongly opposed, the first recipro-
city treaty was ratified by the senate
and approved by the president Aug
ust 5, 1854, taking effect March 16,
1856.
wards it was openly charged that the
treaty was secured by corrupt and
dishonorable methods. It was said
over and over again that the treaty
was foated through the senate by
British gold and English champagne.
Lawrence Oliphant, one of Lord Ell
gins staff, wrote book giving a
sarcastic and contemptuous account
of American craftsmanship, which
was held to give color to the charges.
Anti-slavery agitation was then
rife throughout the United States.
There was an equal number of slave
and free states. Southern politicians
feared annexation as the addition of
three or more free states from Can
ada would destroy the even balance
of power, and they perferred free
trade for northern farmers rather
than annexation. Some northern
senators thought the Canadians
would be so grateful for reciprocity
that the annexation feeling would in
crease. But in this they were mis-
taken. Lord Elgin and the southern
men were more farsighted. The
gratitude of Canada turned to Lord |
Elgin and the British Empire. BY
this treaty President Pierce had Sc
cured for the Americans equal rights |
in the navigation of the st. Law |
renee and ST. Johns river and the 7
canals of Canada, also important con-
cessions as to the fisheries, none of
which President Taft secures in the |
latest effort to give farmers free
trade on what they have to sell while
still paying high protective duty |
on what they have to buy.
This old treaty was stongly OPP
posed by Solomon Foote of this
state, by Daniel Webster of Massa-
chusetts, and by nearly all of the |
Wing senators on the north. They /
predicted that the results of the |
treaty would be very unfavorable |
to northern farmers; they said that |
with much lower lands, much lower /
taxes and much cheaper labor in
Canada we could not compete with |
them successfully.
Few persons now living have any |
effects of that treaty My own re-
membrane is that Senator Foote'S /
predictions were realized. One
farmer, over 80 years old, writes
me that the treaty was hateful; |
others say that it was everywhere
in the north regarded as distinctly |
unfavorable, as indeed It must have |
been. Edgar Nash, Esq, now living |
in another state, was then farmer |
in Shelburne, owning one of it's best |
farms. He lived here until within |
a few years and was long called |
our best farmer, and was a highly |
Intelligent, observant, Honorable and
man. He writes me that
farm products began to fall in
price in the fall of 1855 and that it |
required the very closest economy !
to make buckle and straps meet I'M
til prices increased, as a result of
the Civil War.
Conditions have changed very
much since 1855. Our good neigh
bors, with their great ruler, who in
northern boundary, have become a |
great people. We all wish them sue
cess and prosperity. But it seems
proper that we should inquire wheth-
er conditions have changed enough |
to make free trade for farmers now
desirable We all know that taxes in
Canada are much lower than in Ver-
mont. Congressman Plumley has
shown US that labor is 25 per cent
lower in Canada. On this latter
point noted apple buyer tells me
that these figures are correct so far
as Ontario is concerned, where he
has been operating this winter. A
we'll known dealer in hay writes me
that he has been buying hay in Que
bee this winter and that he gets his
labor there for one-half what it cost
him in Vermont. 1t is notorious that
some farm machinery is bought at a
lower price in Canada than in the
states. In 1855 the blow fell heavi-
est on the farmers of Vermont and
northern New York on account of
their long co-terminous boundary of
fertile land.