Year: 1873

ADOPTION OF FREE TRADE REsoLl IloN Ef


THE DOMINION BOARD OF TRADE.


At meeting of the Dominion Board of
Trade, held at Ottawa, January Eth, Hon.
John Young moved the following reso-
luton.


Whereas. The National Board of Trade of
the United States, both at a meeting held at
St Louis and lately in New York, resolved
to exert it. legitimate influence to promote
a measure for reciprocal trade with the Do
miniOn Of Canada, on a broad. c0mprehen-
sivc and liberal basis; and, whereas, the
Executive Council of that board We're in
structed to memorialize Congress in favor
of the appointment of n commission to act
in conjunction with the State Department
TO negotiate such a treaty and whereas 1t
i the opinion of this board that more ex-
tended commercial relations with the United
States would be highly advantageous To both
countries; therefore,


RcSolrcd, That the Executive Council be
instructed to memorialize the Government
in favor Of the appointment Of a commits
sion 10 act with that of the United States,
is it should be named. or to take such other
means as Will best respond to action on
their part to carry ont treaty Of recipro-
cal trade with the United States.


MIR. Young proceeded to say that every
eff ort made by this country to cultivate
good commercial relations with the United
States, had been cordially responded to by
the government Of that country. lie gave
hiSt3ry Of the manner in which these nego-
tiations had been begun and completed. lie
believed that all relaxation of past reStric
tions had been of great advantage to both
countries. Unfortunately the treaty of
1851 was ahrOgated in 1865. but two years
ago, on an invitation from Boston. several
of our merchants went to that cit and had
Il conference with ths nited States Nation
al Board of Trade. The conference was
pleasant one and resulted in showing
strong disposition to meet the Canadians on
the subject. The same feeling was mani
tested last year at the conference with the
National Board Of Trade held at st. Louis
Though there was some difference of Opin-
ion as to what the treaty should be. there
was no difference a. to the desirability of
restoring the treaty. The same spirit pre-
vailed again in the National Board which
met in New York this year. If there were
to be a new treaty many things would have
to be considered. If the registration in the
Uuited States of Canadian built ships could
be secured, 1t would be a great boon. More
over. though we admitted American vessels
to our canals, our vessels were still excluded
frOine American canals. Again. while the
Washington treaty granted the free naviga-
ton of the St Lawrence forever to the
United States, Lake Michigan wa> only
made free by that treaty for ten years He
was the first person who had ever sent a YES
sci from Montreal to Chicago, and that yes
sci was seized, though he had previously not
been aware that the lake was not free to
us. She was, however, subsequently re-
leased by Secretary Walker, Upon repre-
sentati0u that there were no differential du-
ties in Canada against American vessels or
goods. This was a very important thing,
because most of the cargoes which reach
Montreal from the West came from Lake
Michigan. He concluded by saying that he
thought it was to the honor of Canada that
an enlightened sense of self-interest had
prevented her, notwithstanding the repeal
Of the reciprocity treaty, from making any
change in the terms on which she received
American produce. The single alteration