Year: 1862

THURSDAY, JANUARY B, 1859


TEE ERECIPR0CITTT TREATY.
That advantage VIII be taken Of the irri- |
tajon which the clustering Of the Canadi- |
ans has excited in this country, to attempt
The abrogation Of the Reciprocity Treaty,
is already indicated hy the tone Of the
Journals hostile to that measure. But we
trust that the members Of Congress from
a1l the Lake country, which is peculiarly
Interested in the maintenance Of unrcstrict-
ed commercial intercourse with the British
Provinces, will not suffer themselves for
get their duty to their constituents, in the
clamor which other interests are now en-
dcavoring to excite We put out Of sight
altogether, though they play an
important part in the business Of the West,
Ill advantages which accrue to the Lake re-
gions by free interchange Of products
with our Canadian neighbors, and point
our readers to the one fact, which, in the
West, should be conclusive: The St. Law
renee route to the ocean, now, by the
operation Of the Reciprocity Treaty, open
to our vessels, cheapens the cost Of
the transit Of every bushel Of Western
grain to market, full two cents bushel,
If not more. That route being closed, our
Western business would be compelled to
seek the already ove1tasIed Erie
Canal, and in addition to the
losses and vexatious delays incident to ac-
cumulations of freight, We should probably
be called upon to bear an increase Of tolls,
which the short-sigAted policy Of New
York would be sure to lay on. It requires
no effort Of the Imagination to see what
would be the condition Of the grain trade,
and through it the agricultural interest in
the West if our bulky products, which
now yield no rcmunerating prices, should
be forced through single channel, under
the control Of State that is deter
mined to make it q fruitful
source Of revenue. We cannot
afford to pay the tax which such
calamity would entail upon our Industry;
and ne have no patience with, and are not
at all inclined to submit to, the policy which
Buffalo ware house men, transportation
agents, bankers, commission merchants,
and others who now live offof Western pro-
ducts, are endeavoring to force upon the
country. II, as q war measure, or if for
any cause growing out Of our relations with
Great Britain and her colonies, it is neces-
sary to abrogate the treaty, the West will
make no complaint; but when asked
10 give up a considerable fraction Of
the small price now gotten for corn, or to
consen: to reduction Of two to three
cents per bushel in the present market
rates Of cur wheat, for the qualification OF
international spite, or to put money in the
pockets Of any interest in New York, the
West will make a protest that the whole
country viii be sure to hear.


Luckily, though notice may be given
now, the abrogation which is sought can
not be had until 1854 In the mean time
those Senators and Representatives in Con
grcss, to whom the interests Of the West
arc confded, will have ample opportunity
to set forth the advantages Of the treaty,
and to unmask the selfshness Of those who
would destroy it 1t is work to which
He commend 1hem. Let them see, as
preliminary step, if in the new tariff which
Canada has enacted, and in other CONNER
cial arrangements, there is not reason fol
amending and improving the bargain int
which the two countries have entered
Causes Of complaint may be removed


other articles may be taken from or added


to the free List, and details may be perfect


ed By agreement, and without touching th'


point in the maintenance Of which tn


West is vitality concerned. Bullet it be al


The while remembered that the free naviga


ton Of the ST. Lawrence is necessity t,


Western industry, not less imperative thai


the ownership Of the whole Mississippi


from St. Anthony to the Balize, and tha


it cannot be destroyed without creating i


the most loyal part Of our country q fee1in


Of dissatisfaction exceedingly hurtful to tt


general veal