Year: 1866

lent advantage anywhere else.


The Reciprocity Treaty-The Position or
the British North American Provinces.
The Reciprocity treaty expires to-day Trade
between the British North American provinces
and the United States has been carried on un-
der this treaty since 1854. By its terms a
commercial union practically existed between
the two countries, and, as is always the case
with such unions, it was most advantageous to
the poorer pc ople. Certain privileges IN the
fisheries on tive northeastern coast were ac-
corded to us, and the st. Lawrence was thrown
open, and for this Canada snd the other pro-
vinces enjoyed free trade with a customer
always demanding more than they could sup
ply. This CONNER ce was a great source of
wealth to the provinces, but they did not ap-
preciate it. They wt,re always declaring that
the treaty was not ad vantageous to them, and
on several occasions when its operation was
found unequal, and the question of abolishing
1t was mooted on this side Of the line, che
provincials were always loud in their declara-
tons that we might abolish it at any time, and
that they did not care to- retain 1t. We have
recently had q chance to- see the sincerity OF
those declarations. Since the period was fixed
for the expiration Of this treaty the several
provinces have sent delegates to Washington
instructed to retain the treaty or get another
on any terms. 1t was even said in the Cara
dian papers that the delegates were furnished
with the means to buy treaty, and the dele
gates, thus instructed and prepared, went 80 far
to attain their object, and did SO much to keep
the benefits of this despised treaty, that their
friends at home were made ashamed by the ex-
travagance of their promises. For weeks and
months past moreover, anticipating the ex-
piration of the treaty, all kinds of Canadian
products have been rushed over the border
with the greatest energy. Very large arrivals
of Canadian -four are noted in Boston, and
there is great activity in the transmission OF
Canadian products over Western railroads.


The abrogation of this treaty meets with the
hearty approval of the whole people of the
United States By extracts elsewhere it will
be seen that the Boards of Trade in Canada
fume greatly over our illiberality in this mat
ter; but the dissatisfaction is confined to their
side of the border. If the treaty had been equal
in its cffects-if its abrogation were even Sc
we're blow to our own commerce, the people Of
the country would be quite ready to accept and
endure that blow in order to make an effective
discrimination of any sort against the people Of
the British provinces. Canada and her sister
provinces can easily enough forget their acts
toward us Of the past few years, but it Is not
the same with the people OF the United States
We know that the whole people of the British
provinces were our active, earnest, open, inso-
lent enemies; and while Canada enjoyed agreak
trade by our generosity--while she enjoyed the
exclusive benefits of that trade and grew rich
upon it--while, for al commercial purposes,
she stood in nearly the same position as State
of this Union, she yet connived at plots, ar
ranged within her territories for the burning OF
our cities and the murder of our people she
encouraged the plotters and urged them on,
and, even in the very so-caled courts of justice.
assisted their escape. This Is what makes the
very word reciprocity, as between Canada and
the United States, offensive to our people. We
shall get on very well without our part Of what
was given by the treaty, and the provinces will
doubtless make the most of their position by
the grand scheme of confederation or otherwise.
We would recommend them to try the scheme
Of confederation. That has in il the promise Of
making them a respectable power. As they
stand they are in all national respects so many
nonentities. Confederation will give them .
national existence at least II may make them
British viceroyalty, and sandwich the United
States between q monarchy in Canada and ono
In Mexico. The United States will be amply
able to meet any such difficulties when they
menace it,