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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 INTERCOLONIAL TRADE I OUR ONLY SAFEGUARD AGAINST DISUNION \, BY R. G. HALIBURTON, M.A. FILLOW OP THK SOOtETT OF AKTIQUABIKS OP LOKDON, AKD OF THK HOTAL 80CIKTY OF NOBTHCSK AKTIQVARIRS OF OOPEMBAOBN, ADTHOB OF "KRW MATKBTAtS FOB THK HIBTOBT OF HAN," "NOVA SCOTU IN 1862," " THK COAL TBADB OF THE NEW DOMINION," ITC. OTTAWA PRINTED BY G. E. DEgBARATS ■I)- CANADA NATIONAL LIBRARy BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE f INTERCOLONIAL TRADE OUR ONLY SAFliGUARD Al'.Al.NSr DISUNION BY l\. CI. II ALllUiinON, M.A. >KI.I,(HV "I TIIK SOCIKTY OF ANTlQl'AniKS UK l.dMXiN, \M) ()K THE rtOY.U. »r- iiiission to snl)mit llic iic*corr.j):niyini^ iroclutre to llu; public in llio loria ol ii letter to Your Excellency. The importance of llio sub- ject and llie impossibility of d(»ini^ justice toil in ijio narrow- limits 1)1' a letter, will account lor tlie present ))nblication. Tae lads anr<) and con., and being desirous of having the subject explained by some unpre- judiced person who was out of the inilucuce of political ♦ xeitcuient, and who was not likely to .share in the dignities of the ncnv nation, did me the honour of selecting me as their adviser in the matter, and heard at least a cantlid and sincere statement of tlie importance of confederating British Aujerica. As u ci»mparative stranger to the people of Canada, f n^ay vtmturi; to plead the conlidence of those with whom F have lived, as an excuse for asking to be heard by the pul)lic. DiSlMnN AlUTATION IN .\oV.\ S(:(.'T!.\. At this iut)ment a deputation from one of the Provinces of the Dominion is (Mideavouring to enlist the sympathies or prejudices of the British Government against Confederation, and to obtain a dissolution of the Union. While we cannot for a moment suppose G ihal llic Imperiiil luiilioril'K's w ill (•oiKJrDin our it)ii>liliitiou wit!i- oiit a trial, wc can hardly imagine lliatil", alKT li;i\ inuf Icslod it,t!if pt'oplo t)f Nova Scotia arc opposed to il, liny will l)c forced u> remain under t!i<' Cjovcrnnicnl ol' the Dominion. A short stay in Canada has convinced m<; llial all classes here are disposed to show fair play to Nova Scolia, and il'tliat will not siitisfy her, h* let her f(o her way in peace. It is u.^eless lo deny that dio fctlinv,- excited in that Province is very diMp and slronf^% and that il may bo fomented into disaH'cclion ai^'^aiiisl IJrilish ct)nne(Mion itscll, if it is not met with ])rudence and forhearance. The causes which have led to this slate of thiuj^s ar(^ not i:^cncrally undcrslood, and should be explained, in jiistie*; not only to tlu; statesmen who rcprescniod Xova Scotia at ihe conviMilion in I.ondon, but also lo the peoph.' of dial Provi?K'e. 'I'he caiises arc lo l>e traced lo the isolatins^ ])rejudiccs inherent in all })rovincial institutions, and to pcculiarilies in the history of Xova Scotia, which have tend<.'d to d(>prive its prjoplt; ol' their si^ll-reliancc, and to make them shrink from 1 he ihoni^ht of sharing' in the burthens or respoii.>ibiiiti(\s of national exislence. In addition to all this, the fact that ihcy had no ctMunicrcial or political lies witl'j Ontario and Qncbec, provinces so remote thai ihcy could only l.)c reached lhronsary lo h(dp tliciu thron^h life, and they oblained it. A cen- tury of ii;ov('rnni(Mit contracts, of lavisii expenditure on fortilien- lions, and the presence of a large lleet and of a numerous garr'son Imilt up the town and ihe fortunes of its leading families, iIk; outlay from the Imperial treasury direetly, and indir<*ctly, having up to the present lime amounted to a smu that, if returned to Uio pockets of the liritish tax-payers, would eniible them to buy up the whole IVcehold of the I'lovince, or at least lo secure the some- what uusuhslanlial ])rivilege of being a fricMidly couns(dlor aslo our future,'. I'rotecled from the possibility of invasion by the arnia- inents of Jiiilain, iuid em-iched by the lavisli outlay of the Imj)eri!d government, ihc inhabitants of Halifax have never been able lo learn those habits of self-reliance, which are essenlial alike to national and individiud success. In the counlry districts, it is true, the people have escaped froiu the contagious clU'cf of this lack of eiilerprisc, and have liu-ncd ihcir attention lo shipliiiilding so sm-- cessfidlv, ihat lliev have m!id(! Nova Scotia one of the lirst inari- lime countries in ihc world in lelalion lo the popidalion of the pro- vince. Scores of villages with not a Iwentielh part of ihc population of Halifax, leave it in tin* shade bv ihcir busv ship vards, while Ihm.v are empty and silent. A stcrcotyp<'d trade in iisli with the WCsi Indies and tlwr I'niled States still exists; !»ul the merchants an been brought to a stand still by the obstructive tarilfof the rniled Slates, and folding iIkmi- hands have done nolhing to open up new markets, or to face and overcome the dfhcidties in their way. The vast mineral resources of the province have Ix'cn recently thrown open, but the measure would have been a dead letter for many v<'ars to come, if Ameri- can and Canadian enterj)rise had not been allracled by our mines. A Canadian capitalist who recently visited them, had he lislened lo his friends at Halifax, woidd have returned with the iuipression that our gold mines arc a myth, and our coal mines viduele.ss. A personal insi)ecli()n, and his subsequent experience have satis- fied his mind as to their value. Though lher«! is no town in America in which there is so much wealth, in pro|iortion to its population, as in Halifax, it is of but little service to the province, a larger amount having been invested in mining and other cnlcr- 8 prices in Nova Scotia by Now Vork and by Monlrciil than by the iiipital of llio PioviiuH'. The contracted limits of our polhital and commercial sphere, lijivc l)een j)rolifi(' of jealousy and detraction. Many persons .unonj]; ns can hardly believe that the country is large enough to contain more than one statesman, one banker, or one company in ;iny one business ; and statesmen, bankers and companies too often seem to ihiiik that the existence of a rival is fatal to them- selves. In j)olitical matters, however, this want of self-reliance and enterprise is peculiarly ap))arent, and re-acts on the rest of the province. In addition to this state of things which can be explained by our past history, there have been at work those iso- lating and dwarfing tendencies which are peculiar to no colony and are common to all. More tiian a centinv :iuro b'raiddin and Th(3 leading statesmen of British America Aveni ihrotigh the same labours at Albany, which were assumed by our delegates at Quebec, and with ))reeisely the same result. 'I'hey found that lliey were ahead of their times, and that their constituents dis- avowed their acts. Franklin l)owed to the storm, and allowed disunion to rij)en into disatlection. Had he staked his |)osition on the cause of ("onfederatioJi, as the Premier of Mew liriuiswick recently did, it would have ultimately triumphed, and the United States would have, to this very hour, remained liritish Colonies, or would at least have grown into a friendly nation, the oride and the protection of tluj Mother Country. Kven after thev had drifted into rebellion, and had successfullv fought side by side against the parent State, they drew apart when their inde|)endence was secured, and for a long lime the possibility of uniting them under t)ne govermnent was a matter of dillienllv and of doubt. So large were the concessions demanded by each isolated Colony, hat the evil of exaggerated State rights weakened the hands of the General Covernment, and paved the \\ ay for disunion and lor a civil war. With all due li the same le legates at y found that ilitncnts dis- iiid allowed his position Hrniiswick [the United ;h Colonics, le oride and successi'uljy drew apart )ng time the lis a matter concessions (exaggerated rnment, and 'itli all due ion, [ cannot, ijne, by een- >wer, which, fatal in time lo ll'.c rights of the niinorily, and to the hx-ai iiiterots of the weaker members of the Confederation. Had the (pu.stion of Union not been one that Mas exceptional from its novcliy and its magnitude, tlie policy pursued by our statesmen would not only have been fully justified by the consli- uition, but would have l)cen almost unanimously sustained by all parties. lint the passion of provincial jealousy inherent in all Colonies, jm counties in \ova Scotia, and look some trouble to ascertain the state ol' jxiblic opinion as to what was taking place, and was greatly surprised at finding that every one I met, without a solitary exccjition, from the highest to the lowest, was alarmed at the idf'aof a Union with Canada, and that the com- bination of political leaders, so far from recommending thi^ scheme, filled their partizans with as much dismay, as if the |)owers of light and darkness were plotting together against the l)ublic safely. It was evident that unless the greatest tact were exercised, a storm of ignorant prejudice and alarm would be aroused, that would sweep the iViends of Union out of power, if not out of public lile. The proloimd secrecy ))reserved by the l" ('o.\i.Mi;i;i|.\l. INI'KlKOl'lJSi;. The alarm and prejudices of a large majority of the people of Nova Scotia, though partly due to the isolating tendency of pro- vincial jealousi(\s and the c"nstitutional objection to the jnodf of uni(>'i, were also l)ased on more sui)stantial and rational grounds. Canaaa was to Nova Scotians, lo all intents and purposes, a foreign ciuntry, far more so than the United States. The Reci- procity Treaty had tapped the trade of Hrilish America at its Eastern and Western extremities, and eH'cctually isolated them. Previously lo the Reciprocity Treaty, a trade with the Maritini'' Provinces and with the West Indies was growini; up, foranouilct 11 lilt, but lit- mal or nii- [loubt thai •cts Unicin )niiiicd lo 1 districts, h\ by tlic rcssion by ssed Avas •idont bad , to the late was much Iiim that ra Scotia, press, was apidly the fay by a i^ forth tlic ) hope of Scotia for :*re to the ipposcd to I upon Mr. ' people (•[" icy of pro- lo mode of d grouiifls. )nrposcs, a The Reci- erica at ii> lated them. L" Mariliiiie or anouilri I for the surplus prodnOions ol' Canada was n-cjuired, iail ilf moment a market was found near at JKind, more distant cus- tomers were forgotten. The immediate efleclsof tlu^ Treaty wen- in some respects most advantai^^eous. TIk; Americans b()Ui;ht from us our coal, gypsum, cordwood, lumber, lisii, apples ever> article that we could raise or which the country could produce, while we imported manufactures and Hour from them. Most of tin- /lour purchased from the Americans had been imported by them from Canada, though occasionally, probably to encourage the u ol food. The St. J.r.wrence, the natural highway from Canada, was a- wide and as deep then, as it now is, but we had got into a groov<\ and even the temptation of buying in the cheapest market,' and of avoiding the cost of American railway freight and commission^.. Avasnot suliicienl to temjn us to abandon the beaten track. The eflVMl of this large trade with the United Stales was \o unite the Maritime Provinces in very elose bonds of commercial sympathy with them. Almo.st every family inul at least ow- meml)er, if not more, who had gone to the United Stales to maki- them liis j)crmanent or temporary home. TIi(>y were cducaliiiL: our farmers, our lisliermen, and our mechanics. American manners and cloUiing were daily becoming more (conspicuous anions us; and if our social and commercial symjiathy with the United States did not give rise todisaHection against Great Hrilain, it was due lo the fact that the lib(.'ral and enlightened policy oi die mother (country left us nothing to ask for or to desire, and relieved us of every burthen exc(>pt thai of gratitude. The repeal of the Treaty, threats of invasion, Fenian raids, and abuse of our common country have elfectually prevented the commerciai sympathies of the ])ast from producing any political fruits, whi!'; the attempt to starve us into annexation has ii>acl(;d on its audiors. and has iriven us at least the i)roverbial solace of having compa- nions in our misfortune. The blow, how<;ver, has fallen very heavily on Nova Scotia. Our coal trade, larger though it has been. was only in its infancy, new coal mines were being opened, and aiv 12 : nliiiiilctl export wmiltl liiivc \)ccn in ;i short liiUv' snpplic.'d, liaod and for liastv lantjuaire. '•'AN Till': DOMINION oK ('ANAPA KXlST WrrifoC'l' ■I'lIK Ail> AND IN si'iri-: OK 'rii!-: initkd statks? SiKcli is the c|ii('sli()n whi(tli now stares ns in the lace, and v,iri(-liiime is desiined lo answer. If we imagine that we have si'IvcmI iIk! dilllcuhy by an Ac-1 of Parliament, we are building our house on a fomidation of sand, \o l)e swe|)l away by the first storm ".riat assails it. If, on the other hand, we des|)air before we have; '.(irly tried the experimenl, we uuiy create tin; very dangers that we dread. Can llu! Americans slarM* u-; into annexation? The Lower Provinces have provided a home market for the smpliis ])roducl ions of Ontario and Queb(>e, which, in addition .'" foreign markets, have left the grain grower but little lo regret. As respects the western portions of the Dominion, tlu; jiolicy of ifie I'nited States lias most liopelessly failed. I should be happy i] I could say a> much for the .\[aritime Provinces. The answer iimst depend upon llu; commercial policy, which the parliiuuent of ( ariada is at the present session ])repared to ado]")f. Arc we able to <'xisl as a people wilhoul the aid of our neighbours? I, for one, h«'licve that we are ; nay, I may go l^irthcr and say, that if we ftave caught a tillie of that spirit of enterprise and of s(df-relianee, uhieli chtu'acieri/ces the Mother Country and the Americans, we c;m not only live without the assistaiu'e of the latter, but tan also take their place as a commercial and manufiu*- 'iiring j)eoj)le, anration, his ai.! would have l)een in vain, but for the still more valuable assis- tance of Mr. Seward. True, it is that ids fri<'ndshi|) has not beers appreciated or suspei'ted, and his languagi^ has not always as- sumed the appearance of conciliation or rcg;ird, but christian charity demands that we should judge men by their acts, rather than by their language, and adopting this charitable standard, wi must confess that he is entitled to claim our gratitude as the Father of Confederation. We had acciuired commercial an(J social sympathies with the United Slates that might in time, it allowed to grow into maturity, have ripened into political con- nection, lie eflectually cured us of lliein, by his hostile policy towards the Mother Country and ourselves. We were unarmed, divided and practically defenceless. By permitting the Feniafi organization in the United States to openly drill and ecpiip an army for the avowed purpose of invading Canada, he forced us to become one people as a means of self protection, and to organize a powerful militia. We had learned to depend for our existence on the United States. He has tried to be teach us self reliance, but casting us olT, and by refusing to have any further commer- cial intercourse with us; and by closing the markets of the United States against us, he has taught us that the world is somewhat laro-er than we supposed, and is wide enough for our neighbours and ourselves. As one of the fruits of his far-seeing policy, tiie oats, potatoes, and other agricultural products of Prince Edward Island, instead of being sent to Boston, have been driven across the Atlantic to larger and more certain markets, where they are now competing successfully with the exports of the United States, while Canadian cheese, instead of being bought up and exported by our neighbours, has entered the lists abroad as a rival with 11 ihu prodiii'ls ol Americiui dairies. 'I'lic l.owcr Pio\in(;cs hud IcariK'd to d<'|n'nd upon llic United Slates for their bread, and had purchased Cauatlian th)ur al secotid iiand IVom tiie Americans. We ha\(' been lorced to l)uy it in the cheapesil market and to import it direct, and we now m longer coniribute to the heavy profits of the American dealers. Even wiiere he has hcv.n unabU' to help us, iiis oppoi -nts supply the deficiency. An imaginative Attorney Gcnoral in Xova Scotia, threatens that, if J^owning Street will not listen to n(Misensc, he will try the White House. All chance of impertinent or idle intrusion • Ml the President has been prevented, l)y impeaching him, closing the establi.shiueiit by a guard, and allowing no admission except •on basiness. What important interests are there then, that are dependent on the United States ? Two, and two only, the coal trad(5 of the Kastern and Western portions of the Dominion, and our cxpoits roriiii:i(i/ riglils. Wv have ceiitralixcHl in the Cienerd (»overnin(!nl ])ovvers denied lo the Fedf>ral (lovernnient in the United States, and have hfi no cliefk upon a doininani majority, bnt a mere nominis iiiiihniy a Senate, whieh, whiK; free Irom 111 ' dietation of the peoph , is t)n ;hi; other hand tluMUore esposeil lo he inlhienecd hy the Kxeentive, beeans*- il is removed beyond the saliitiiry control of the |)opnl!ir voiee, and of public opi- nion. If Xova Scolia were to-morrow lo enter into the American I nion, it would have an e([iial representation in the Senate w ith the State of New York, and tiie Senators (>.iected by the people v/ould carry with them the conlidenc( of the pul)lic, and would fairly represent provincial interests. 1 speak here not of the indi- viduals who at present hold the position of Senators, as I'ley were the nominees of our local ii^overnment, and as all our leadinju^ interests are represented by men of ai)ility and position, but of the system ol' fntiue appointments and the i,Miarantees whieh are ])rovided for the protection of our local rii^hts. It is almost incredible, that our only safeguard as a Province rests in a Senate, the members ol" which will herearter he. the nominees, not of the local, but of the (General Ciovcrnment ! Such a power vi'sted in llie Kxeculiv(; renders the Senate a source of danger, instead of safety to oiu- Province. It mav in time dci'enerate into an asylum for members of the Lower House who may forfeit the eonfidence of their constituents, ov may bec-ome the reward of persistent subservience lo the wishes ol the Executive. But assuming that a kind Providence will always bless us with a self denying ministry, who will harden their hearts against their j)arti/ans, and will devote their bowels of compas- sion to the claims and necessiti(>s of a distant province, yet it is clear that, even it' their nominees are unobjcctional)Ie, the amount (»t our representation is unsalisl'aciory. { believe that with the )a'ecedciit ol' llie I'nited States belore us, an et|uaily liberal policy will be necessary, if we 'xpect the Dominion to grow , like the American I'nion, into ;hi aggregate of many States, by the voluntary adhesion ol new members of the confechM'acy. Kipud representation in the I'pper House is a necessarv safeguard for local interests, the nature of 16 wiiicli is llic rcsuli of ii[«'(»f^rapliic:il iiccidcnts, w liilc ilicir vaim- iifid iiiijjortiinco Imvi; jio relation Aviiiitcvci' h. lln- >\/r dla coiintrx, or ilif mmibrr of its population. The iiiiiKM'al, iiiaritiiiic and coiiiincrcial inli-rrsls of iVo\;i Scoliii and New Hninswick, as nialters now stand, will be, for all linu! to come, at the mercy of the timber and au^ricnlturai interest;? of Ontario and (^nel)ee. hi the j)opidar branch dii> preponderance cannot bo avoided, as repre.-eiitali<»n l>v population is the most simple, if not the most desirable xtjniion of a dillienh problem. The Act of Confederation itself an'otfls no >iirji protection a> i> secured to the rii^hls of the |)eoplc reter the Supreme Court. Whenever an amendment of the Act is desired by a majority of ovu- Legislature, it will b(; made, for tlu^ Imperial Parliament will pay litth; hc(;d to the xoiee ol' a minority or of a province, when it is opposed to the wishes of the majority. Even if it were disposed to act as an arbitrator, it would not be iu a position to do justice to the «-onllicting interests t)f a distant dejx'ndency. These objections ac(iuire ))eculiar force \\ hen \\r remember thai practically tlu^ Eastern and \V«'stern portions of the Dominion are foreign countries in the eyes of each other. 'J'o the people of Oiitario we appear, even more than wf do to our imaginative neighbours the Americans, to Le situatom(nvhcre East of sunrise," a feeling which we reciprocate by looking upon our fellow countrymen n\:i will be, lor ni^ricnllurnl branch \h\> V ])0|)nl;>lion of n dillifull Died ion ;>> i> Irs llironijli :i lie SuprcriH" desired by :» llu' Imperial I minority or the majority, lor, it would ting interests ciuembor that Dominion are the people ol" r imaginative where East «>t" ing upon onr \ where Wcsi iiled, is mon- Nothing bur Mt divides iis. () remote from St in our pros- ilie control of remain to the liry of Canada, cedent in the a possibility, Confederation ii success. If it is not practicable, the sooner we face the question, and work out the destiny which iiature has reserved for us, ihe better. Is a couMuercial union, a coummnity of inter.v>ts bc^tween the K;ist and West, an impossibility.'' At present, as respects fuel, we are as a j)eople existing by stiirerance, and are at the mercy of oin* Republican neighbours, and have fovmd to oiu- t^osl that lluur " tender mercies are cruel." \n Ontario and, to a cert;iin extent, in Quebec, we are dep(>ud- ent for our hard and soft coals on the United States, the total imports of which in the year ending July 1, 1807, took out of the country the (Miormous sum of !^73O,G70. 00, to fdl the purses of Pennsylvanian and Ohio coal owners, who are striving their utmost in their Legislature and out of it, to tax Colonial imports and to hamper oiu- trade, as a return lor our admitting their coal free of all duties. Ou the Eastern seaboard, wht^re our position is reversed, where we have unlimited coal fields close to the water's ('(\go, and have learned to depend U|)on the United States market, we have had a ])rohibitory duty of $1.25 imposed, the ruin of manufactures in tiu' Eastern States, which this heavy duty on our coal must result in, being amply compensated for, by ; crushing one of the most important interests of the Eastern por- I lions of the New Dominion. The question must for(;e itself upon us — is this starvation policy of the American Government to be j)ermitted ? Is it pos- ! vii)Ie that a Dominion aspiring to a future state of national '•■ existence, can hope to become a jX'ople, if it folds its hands, and calmly allows one of its most imjiortant outposts, its outlet to the s(>abr>ard, to l)e jnv(^sted by a cordt)n of hostile tariff's, and to be starved into a surrender, simply l)ecause the scen(! of the contest is far removed, and because the inland portions of the Dominion iiave not yet felt the eHecls of seigc ? The man that remains inac- tive and indifferent in his ])eaeeful corn fields, when the distant Irontier fortresses are being invested, and when his country calls all its sons to the front, will find that, when the l)arri<'rs liavc been broken down, the 'ide of invasion will sweep over the land, and |!ie will be forced to defend himself when defence and submis- Ision are alike unavailing. IS Apaitr^'vcii IVoiii the coiimicrciiil contest tliiii is i^oin^ on in tin* Kast, Onliirio and (^ncibcc arc in a ifioat measnrt' at the ml llic Americans. IT lliev \vere sucldcniv in liie autninn to stop tli(!ir exports of I'licl, tlironi^li any political complications witU Kngland or w illi ourselves, or tlirongli some temporary pique, the eonse(iU(!nces woidd he most disastrous to the \V(^stern portions ol the Dominions. 'V\\v. early closiuijj of the St. Lawreni'i! would prevent them ohtaini!)^ their supply from \o\a Scotian niino, I'ven assuniin*!; that the lat1(.'r, parali/ed hy the strong hand of" tTie American (Jovernment, could be suddenly rtvopenc.'d, and could come to the r(!senc. 'J'Ik* intense cold of the past winter, and the sullering?. of the ))oor in their hovels, of which even tin- wealthier classes in their well-built houses, were enabled to form some sligiit idea, suggest to ns the inevitable result of such a l)oliey, a picture of national misery and privation, of which bislory iortunately has but few prec(;dents. It is of vital Juij)ortance that a Dominion, three Ibm-ths of which is shut oil' from llu* rest of the world for one half the year, and to ■which fu(d is as important a consideration as food its(df, should not be dependent, for its safety, on tlii; policy or forbearance oi' strangers. ■■ In some parts of the mother country they speak of beintr " starved by cold." That the expression is a correct one, may yet be realized by us, if we trust for our safety and our existeiice to the ' tender mercies ' of our neighbours. But what is to be thought of us, if we, with our eyes open, not only invite these dangers, but actually (le])rive the coal inter- ests of tlu^ Dominion ofth(; only means of holding out against the hostile cordon of tariflTs by which they have been invested. I oau go farther, however, and can show that opening the; coal trad<^ with the Eastern Provinces, is as vitally important to Ontario and Quebec, as it is to Nova Scotia, as great a benclit to the grain- grower and to the manufacturer, as to the coal owner, and that upon it depends the issue, whether we shall have intercoloni;ii trade, and whether the markets of the world are to be thrown open to the manufactures and products of the West. We have at present no intercolonial trade of any moment. Through the Reciprocity Treaty the United States absorbed the rr on in Ulf ic mcrcv *>l nun Ic) 8to|» itions \\'\\\i i piqiu;, the 1 porlion.H ot nvc would )tian niino, trong lia)i(l ypcnod, ami )iist winter, ell even tli<- l)lrd 1o fori II ; of suciii a 1, of wliirli llis of wliicrli year, and t(» Isolf, should rl)caranci' ot ik of beini; ;ct ono, may )nr existence es open, not 2 coal intcr- t against the ^-stcd. I cais he coal trad<^ ) Ontario and to the grain- ier, and that intercolonial thrown open any moment, absorbed the < 19 traih' (»r the Ivisfcrn and \Vest Duiiiinidn, w iii.li have i^M'ow.i up ill friendly iiilereonrse wilh foreiirii'-rs, hiii aliens and strangjTs In each oilier. Tlie repeal of !li«' Treaty has forlii- nalely reiniiided iis «)f i^u-h other's e\istenee. Our iiiliuiaey v. iili our Aiuerieaii eoiisiiis was, as I liuve >lale(l, veiv nearly tiaii- .'^erous to our loyally ; Imt liudin:,' thai lliey turned ueonus some- what bitterly, when an o!d family feud was revived, we have suddenly remembered thai we linve nearer i.laiives, and have lormed u family jiailnersiiip almo't ixlore we li;:d time to revive the remembrances of the |)ast, or had learned lo known e/cii other's face's. 'I'h(! remedy for this eslran^'-ment will l)e to cn-ure (iailv and constant iiilereou!s(? wilh each other. We mav then le;;ve it to the hands of time and of niitmy; lo weave alVesli those Jjo!id> of ali(!ction, which should havt* iniver l;(>en severed or for:j'olten. So far our intercourse wilh Ontario and Qiie!)ee his noi h,-.a muliially satisfactory. A small duly on American (loin' of 25 eenl>, and a slight i)rotecli()n to some other j)roducts (,1 the iJominion, have, ii is iriie, j)roduced instantaneous and somewliat remarka!)l<^ results. On this point I <;annol do better than to cpiole from a letter received from a prominent member of l!ie Lc'^is.laiure w ho ha.s turned ids attention lo ihi.s point. ''The inlluence of a slight duty and increased facilities lor iraile an^ very well exhibited l)y llu; following ligmes taken f.eia tia; trade r(>turns of Nova Seolia for ISGG, and 'G7. I have ben • .bliged to contrast f) monthii of IS()7 vUh the )/?r' G9,705 lbs. 9 months, 18G7 " ... 27,983 " Navy... 825,078 " " ... 190,000 '* (>» Canada. 50 BbN. 825 " 20 Oltliis 190,000 Iks. impoilfd in IHG7, ;JI,.20O Ihs. cMmc frotn Ciiniuh. t''l()ur and Wheal. l.SGd '2K1,281 HI. Is. tin,l(Jl ni.ls. iMnonth*. 1SG7 17,10() " HJlvJOi! " J) It tier and Lard, 1SG() 99,950 U.S. 38,191 I l)s. 9 numtli>, 1SG7 100,07,3 '^ .').'] 1,9 I.J '• Chi'i'sc. 18G0 .■)G,2G.-) " 28,078 " 9 nionllis, IHG7 1!,<102" 21,835 " The duty iinj){).sc{l on hei'l' and pork a\ as? $1 |)or barrel, on iuK* l.iT-ad 1 cent per 11)., and on navy bread l-5tli cent per lb., on wheat flour 25 eents per bbl., on buller and lard 1^ cents per lb., and on cheese 1 cent per lb. It is evident from those lignres that by the iinposilion ot" very small duties and improved means of inter-eomniunication, wc may confidently anticipate a great increase of trade between the Maritime i)rovinces and the other j.rovinccs of the Dominion." These tables given do not allord very satisfactory data, because the high tariff of the American Government having lowered the price of Canadian products, and raised the price of the same articles in the; United States, the much lower cost at which we lould import from Canada must have had some effect, while the Canadians, being cut off from their usual market, naturally made great exertions to jirocure customers in the Maritime Provinces. On the other hand, the nine months of 1867 do not afford a fair test, for it lakes some lime to change the course of trade, and especially to open up new channels of intercourse between countries that are commercially strangers to each other. But this trade has had little or no elfect in ])roducing inter- course between us, and has been in some respects disastrous to Nova Scotia. Most of the articles in qnc:*tion were sent from Mont- ! St inc iVom »s. 1, on finn er lb., on s per lb., urcs thai means of a great llio other because ered the le tsame hicli we hile the ly made ovlnees. rd a fair adc, and Ijctween 12: jntcr- strolls to m Mont- real JJoO tnib's by raih'oad to Portland, and thincf came to Ilalilax by a steamer. Hy such an expensive; mode of transport, fewof onr prodnelions eouUl be returned ; eonsecpiently, aUhoufrh through the enterprise of Mr. Mrydges and the (irand Trunk llailway Com- pany, Nve purchased our Hour at a moderate cost — far lower than we could have proemed it elsewhere, yet, in the long run, it costs us more than it ever did before. The Americans, it is true, had madi! us pay a high price for Canadian Hour, which we should always have iui|)orled from ('anada ; but they took in return almost ev(;rv article that was worth buying or could be turned to use. Our potatoes, eggs, coal, lish, bunber, cord wood, and a va only cxiensive dcpo^iil« of coal on llie seaboard, from llic Orknuy.s to ilic Cajie of Good Jlopo, and as fuel is more or less in tleinand i'.i all parts of ihc globe, she is enabled to send oulwj'.rd earirocs of coal to ;iii parts t)f the globe, v.'hieh are Mirc to retili/;- a fair j)rie , ajid to earn something which goes U)\\ards reducing the cost of l!i(! raw material imported in the it'i mil voyage ; otherwise the imi)orted articles would have to ixar the whole expense of the outward and homeward voyage. l\)Ltery and salt sometimes answer the same purpose, and prevent ili(! shij) going out in ballast. _\ova Scotia, on th(>. Western Shores of the Atlantic enjoys precisely the same ad>antag(^ as the jNIother Country, and seems destined by nature to inherit the same career of commercial and manufacturing success. I'^rom Cape North to Cape Horn, as I hav(! shown in my j)aper on " The Coal trad(! of the New Dominion," and by the maj; accompanying it, there are no extensive; coal fields near the sealxtard, e\ce})t those of Nova. Scotia, which lie far out inthe Atlantic, where the Ocean highway from Europe to American brandies oli', one road, which leads to the l;'nitcd Slates, passing our Southern Coast, while the other runs alonu our Northern Shore thromrh the Culf and liiver St. Law- rencc, beyond which nature and art have combined to extend the ])athway of connnerce over our vast inland seas to th(; far Wes'. Is it possible that while we pos-^ess the grandest and cheapest, water (;ommunication in the world, and a coaling depot far out in the Atlantic, at the very jioinf v.here the convenience of com- merce would seem to require it, our natural highway is deserted, while wc crowd the thoroughfares of a for(Mgn coantry, and depend for our access to the ocean upon a long and expen- sive means of artificial transit, instead of availing ourselves of the herit;ige wiiich URUiificent nature has had in store for us from die beginning of time ? How then can we employ the coal resources of our Dominion as the feeder of intercolonial trade ? What can Ontario and (Quebec send to Nova Scotia, and what can iliey take back in return ? Previous to the Reciprocity Tredty the barrel of /lour on the Canadian side of Niagara was worth one fifth less than it was c)ii the American side, for while the markets of the world were alike oi)en to them, American flour had also an extensive home market, while that of Canada had no such I "1 1, from the 'c or less in (1 to send which are a'hich goes )rted in tlie Id liavc to ird voyage, uid prevent lern Sliorcs the Mother line career [)e North to oal trade of t, there are e of Nov; I. inhigliway h'adslothc other rniis ' St. Law- extend tlie '■ far Wes'. [1 cheapesl, 'pot far ont ice of eoni- ighway is 11 eointry, nd c'xpeii- dves of the )r us from y the coal li.'d trade ? 1 what can Treaty the worth one* le markets • had also no sneh tlomestie outlet. The Lower Provinces have rer(>ntly supplied a home market, and prevented the depreciation which once aflected the value of Canaditm lloin-. IJnl Ontario and Quebec arc fast l)ecoming a manufacturing, as well as an agricuhurid people, and their manufactures and products are exceeding the wants of the population, and need a wider nrn-kel. livery branch of woollen, leather, or wooden manufactures may find an outlet in lime in the MaritiuK" I'tox inces, whil(» Nova Seolia can send in return, not only coal, bul also lish and \Ve>.i liidiiin produce, building stone, pottery, and other articles. Tlic excellent and abundant wool (>r Ontario and (Quebec, and their cheap water power will always lend to make llieiu the seat oftexlil^ manid'aeturcs, while the presence of coal, iron and superior clays, and the ])ossession of an almost insular position, will make Nova Scotia the carrier and factor of the l^oininiini, and the vicinity ol' her collieries the seat of those branches of industry whicli are coimeclcd with the smelting and manufacture of iron, and with |)ottery, for coal being the most bullvy article of commerce, and therefore the most expensiv(^ to transport, " Mahomet, will have to go to the mountain." This has ))roved to be the casein England, for nearly all the materials for her potteries are l)rought from a distance, and manufactured at the mouth of the coal pits where (dieap fuel can be procured. The Staflordshire ol the Dominion will be in Nova Scotia, and the futiu'c '•' l)lack country "of the New World will be thf! vicinity of our coal mines. I find from careful en([uirics made in Staflordshire and in Cornwall, that the China clays of Cornwall can be landed nearly as (dieaply at Pictoii as they can be sent to the potteries of Stallbrdshirc ; and that by saving insurnnee, breakage, treights, and commissions, we can from our possessing more acces- sible coal de[)osits, rmd fire-clays superior to those of the Mother Country, j)roduce an article that can, in the markets of the new world, defy competition from abroad. The Pennsylvanian coal fields cannot compete with us, for they have no imtler-tdays thalcan compare with ours, and arc now importing fire-clays from Nova Scotia and I'rom Great Britain. It is difficult to over-estimate the importance of this branch of industry when it is once dev(doped, as it will not only afibrd an enormous source of demand for our coal, but will also supply additional outward freights to foreign 24 ports, iis well as rclurn iVtMi^lits I'roiii NoviiScuUia to Montreal ;ui(] the West. The trade in flour also will indircclly benefit and developr other branches of commerce, by lowering iVejglits, and the meehanics of Ontario and Quebce will in time be al)le to count upon us as their customers, though tlu; mamifaeturing capabilities of Canada are so vast that the market in tlu; Lower Provinces will not be able to absin'b the future si;>plus j>rodu(tls of the country. Extensive foreign markets on this side of the Atlantic are a nces- sity. We need a wider field as an outlet for our t imber, flour, fish. clothing, manufactures in wood and leather, salt, petroleum, for everything in short which Ontario, Quebec, or the Maritime Pro- vinces can raise or produce ; and this uiarket Mr. Seward is now driving us to open up. We have no alternative but to bow to our fate and to submit to the career of pros])erity which is being forced uj)on us. Natnre and American statesmen, hand in hand^ are doing their best to make us a people, and if they do not suc- ceed, the odium of failiin^ must rest, not upon our benefactors, bm upon ourselves. AN rM.IMITEl) MAIJKirr |V)I{ CANADJAX .MANtJFACTUJfES AN]» IMlODrcrS IX THE WKS'I" IX1)1]:S AXl) SOUTH AMEJUCA. If I covdd go to a merchant and introduce to him a stranger who would be a customer to the extent of over sixty-two millions of dollars annually, for articles many of which the former could snpply at a rate that woukl defy competition, it ispro]>able that both parties would be equally pleased, and even if they should not have gratitude or comtcsy enough to thank me for the hint, they w^ould at least hav<' enterprise and common simse enough to turn their acquaintance with each other to good account. Little yet has been done to throw o|)eTi the mark(^ts of the West Indies, and of the Atlantic Seaboard South of the United States. True it is that we did send a roving Commission to the West Indies, but they paid such a flying visit, that they had much the same facilities for mastering their trade and resources, that a passage in a balloon over a country affords for studying the cus- .u... 1 lonfrcal and 'I deveiopc •'*, and the Wl' io COUlll capabilities ►vinces will le couniry. are a ncres- , ilonr, fisli. roleum, for ritimc Pro- avd is now bow to our 1 is bcini>- d in hand^ lo not sur- acfors, 1)1 It IKS ANl» nc.A. stranger iillions of lid snpply >th parties not have t?y would urn their the West d States, tlie West luch the 25 that ;i the cus- toms and instilntions of its inl)abitanls, and as ii was foHowcd !)-. our imposing heavy duties on West Indian ])roduets, History, whiehhasagooddeaJ yet to learn before it can solve the mysteries of legislation and diploniaey, will, it is to be feared, somewhai hastily eonelude that th(! object of the mission was to enquire into the most efleetual mode of preventing any intercourse with thr West Indies and with South America. For our leijislation, the Cou'- mission,! presume, is not responsible ; and considering the hasty nature of their visit, the results were creditable to their industry and energy. So far Ontario and Que1)ee have practically little or no share in the (Miormous foreign trade with those countries, of Avhich the United States, on this side of the Atlantic, hav(; had the monopoly. Newfoundland and Nova Scotia exported a larire amount offish to the West Indies and Mrazil, l)ut their exports are but trifling compared with those of the United States, which embrace a vast variety of products, seme cf which they procured from us, thus reaping a profit which we should have seciu-ed. I while nearly all of them could base heeii produced more cheaply in Canada than by our neighbours. The course of this trade is well worthy of our attention. TIk- Americans have generally sent assorted cargoes, of which fish. Hour and lumber were the staples, the balance being made up of manufactures. Sec-. For the fish they were largely indebted lo the French and to ourselves, as we vised to send our lish to them in bulk in bond. It was repacked by them and sliip[)ed to their customers. Ilenc- they were using our fish without having to pay for it, and weri« trading on our capital without giving vis any interest or return The balance of the fish exported by ihem (;onsisted of their smaller fish which were unsuiled for domestic use. They purchased (lour from the Canadians for their own use. while they exported their Southern flour, which being thoroughly dry, and well packed in small barrels, was able to stand the climate of the South. What nature has done for Southern flour rnay be accomplished in Canada by artificial means, as our kilin dried flour properly ])acked will supj)ly a very superior article to what is exported by the Americans to their Southern customers. That we can send it at less cost, admits of little doubt, provided, 36 iliiit \vv can '-^v\ into a rrt^ular clianiiel of Iradu in which fieii^lits •.vill be low. The (iiianlity of broad and biscuit exported by the United States in 18G1 to the IJrilish, Spanish and French West Indies, Ilayti and St. Domingo, Mexico, Central America, New Grenada and V'ene/uehi, lirazil, Argentine and Cisplatine Kepnl)lies, ainonnled to !^17J),404 ; wheat, !^1 11,010 ; and flour, §10,110,852; total jSilO,7(Jl,2GG, a respectable sum that will not (•i)U2e amiss if it is transferred from the pockets of the American people to our own. Then we have, ajuong these exports, rye-meal, oats, beans, peas, barley, bran and shorts, $332,4.'J0 ; of onions alone, v,lGl,90() ; ai)ples, ^llG^Gll; hay, $8G,4oG ; butter, $S23,85G ; candles, '^002,838 ; potatoes, $133,G55 ; cheese, •^305,925 ; cggfi, •530,028 ; fruits preserved or dried, 1^44,708 ; beer, ale, and porter, !g,107,332 ; fish dried, smoked or pickled, ^1,1G9,327 ; beef, $528,0G9 ; hams and bacon, $838,309 ; lard, !|f3,797,115 ; t>ils (includini,' whale, iish, lard, and tallow,) •^319,570 ; pork, $2,207,475 ; tallow, $2 11,054. These fimn-es will be somewhat interesting to thos<' of our farmers, who suflt>r from too large crops and too small prices ; espe- cially as W(! can undersell our ovi^rtaxed neighbours in most of the .irticles specified. Tlu? soap boilers, who are not afraid of com- j>elilion, will i)e glad to know that there isademand for ^052,686, wortli of soap, and will be surprised to find tli;rl the negroes of Ilayti and St. Domingo were purchasers of soa[) to the extent of $259,208, Speaking of Si. Domingo reminds us of our petroleum, which is in somewhat ' bad odour,' although superior to the Am(N rican article in illuminating power. It is probable that some of the countries euunier;ited may have learned toleration on this flelieate point, and will regard our oil as ellectually deodorized by its extremely low price. They imported petroleum, coal oil Stc, to the (;xtent of $1,025,221, St. Domingo and Hayti taking $306,077 worth, and Brazil $200,573. We can manufacture boots and shoes cheaper than otn- neighbours, and may give them Trouble when our dealers find that the Americans sold $902,038 worth to those countries. The Americans are buying clothing from us, yet that article amounts to $142,590 in the list before me. •Our house furniture is unsur|)as*ed in cheapness and beauty. Li.'t 27 'liich frejirljts orlod by the ^ronch West ncrica, New CispIatiiK; >; and flour, Lit will not 10 American 3ats, Ix'ans, ons alono, $S23,85G ; 925 ; eggs, ', ale, and l,lt>9,327; 3,797,115; >70 ; pork, >>*<' of our ices ; espo- inostofthe id oi" coni- $052,686, legrocs of extent of etroleum, die AnKN t some of 1 on tlii^i -odorized » coal oil ti lakinff U'o. boots ve them ^902,038 clothing fore me. iity. Let iiur maniifacliin.rs look to the figure !^701,G7S, and bestir theni- >(;ives. In all articles of hardware in wiiicli the American can ronipete Avith England, we can excel them — the amount sold was ^793,1 to ; mamifaclurcs of leather, »J)93,313 ; saddlery and harness, $88,623 ; trunks and valises, $86,901. Although this is my first visit to Ontario and Quclx'c, I have seen and felt enough of the climate since January to c()nvinc(* ilie most sceptical that Canada should fear no rival in the ice trade, unless the \ordi Pole, through the aid of Arctic explorers, should become a competitor, and drive iis out of tla; market. The Amc- vlcans exporled lo the connlries iu ipiestion in I8G-1, <»;127,-103 worth of ice. In manufactures from wood, we not only excel in furniture, but can also comj)cle in other branches provided iIk; market is >ocured. I'niler this head we have carriages and parts, !i^l9G,782 ; matches, $81,7S7 ; waggons, carls and wheel-barrows, !i|)76,765; wooden wares and wooch'U manufactures (not specified,) $.311,318. As large exporters of timber, &e., we should note for future use ihe following liguK^s : — Boards, |)lanks, laths and pickets, box .>liooks, other lumber, liinhei-, and shingles, ^2,889,990; staves iuid heading shooks, hoops, l>arrel:< and hogsheads, '|)3, 109,454 ; limber rough and unh(!V.n, S5.*),999, making a total of $6,053, 143. As wc are making excellent iron, \\ e should note the value of manufactures in iron exported by the Americans, ^2,755,30L A surplus of s|)irituous liquors might tempt us to use what we •cannot dispose of, but this j)lca lor a lack of moderation is put an end to, by oin- finding that there is a market abroad, and that our >oulhern friends were customers of the United States to the fol- lowing extent — brandy and whisky, !«,I28,7()3 ; alcohol, |)G7,915. Any one travelling through th(^ United States must be puzzled lo know whicii an^ in the most deplorable state, their licpiors or ilieir politics. The former are destroying their stomachs, and the iattcr their cot/stflidiou. Thev have j)laced an excessive duty oii whisky, but the law s are evaded. An Anu'rican friend states that only one fourth of the duties which should have resulted from the tarifl", have reached the treasury. It would bo idle for u)e to state what is patent to every man in Canada, that in the 1 28 oxporl of wliisKy {he Ainci-ieniis cannot j)r('t('nd lo ('ompcle wiUi ns. Tobacco faclorics arc spriii^iiii^ up in various parls of ihc Dominion. 01' tobacco the United States exported to thoH' countries $123,072. The exports of woollen niunuractures were com))!iriitivcly suitill, still it would b(i a boon to our Avoolien mills, which arc turninu oat a very superior artich^ at u v(My low price. This business is liable to be overdone, and an outlet abroad will soon become a li^rcal public necessity. Of the clothinii^ exported, the value oi which was, as we hav(; seen, $,112,500, we may inlbr that a por- tion was made uji ol' woollen cloths. Jiut even ii'tlu; demand has not been large, wr. must imitate oiu- enterprising neighbours, and must create marki'ts lor our products, li' we can send a usel'ul article at a lower price than any other j)eoplc, ([uality and cheap- ness combined will be suflicient to unlock the door of markets hitherto closed or unknown to us. I might specify other items, but space l'()rl)ids me to enlari,'^; farther on this inleresting point. Enough has been shewn to iii\ ile our enterprise, and to pave the way for the great work which awaits the New Dominion — Mie task of reaping the rich commer- cial harvests of the South. Nor is the field of enterprise lindled to those uuirkets, Imi extends to every irountry to which the Americans are now export- ing. Tludr total exports in ISGT in the following items were, breadstuds, ^38,797,(550 ; coal, |,1,815,J)28 ; iron and manufac- tures of iron, !^G,72G,372 ; lumber and manufactures of wood, 1^15,030,471 ; coal oil and petroleum, «(2 1,397,308 ; provisions and lallow, $28,150,539 ; distilled spirits, $1,880,884 ; leather, and leather goods, $1,040,543 ; tobacco and manufactures ol., $22,671,120. p' '1 ''II Tin: AMEJ.'K'AN SI'IIINX. The Emperor of the French was for some time regarded as h. modern Sphinx, for his ))olicy was a riddle and his objects wrapped in mystery, until Napoleonic "ideas" took the tangible form of '' material guarantees." Profound as m'rs the interest ■onipete vv jih pa Its of ,h,. "^l to tJlOM" tivGlysjhall, <'irc tnniiiio business is ^ become m ho value dl' ■ tliat a })or- emand im.s ibours, and id a usei'iil ind cheap. >'" markets 10 onlarirt. 11 to iji\ Jie ^ik v.-ijicl.i eomin(>r- ■ivcls, hnt w- ex]X)ri- 111 s were, tnanulac- >f wood, '"ovjsions ieatlier, iircs ()(■ I *i 'ed as a objeols angible interest I 2!) wliii.-h he took in his neighbours, il" it i-xeiltid misgivings, ihoy were not as to his sanity, but as to his sinc(n-ity. But the ways (if tiio Anicnicaiit government, as rcspeets ourselves, are truly inscrutable ; and their last act respecting us is of so startling a character, that we are almost disposed to fear thai loo much philanthropy has made them mad, and that they are robbing ilieinselves lor the benefit oCthe \ew Dominion. Let us nniew their policy as respects our l-'i-iheries, those harvests of the deep, wjiich a century ago were Iridy described hy a British statesman, as " of monr value to a nation than the ijold mines ol' Peru." ^V]^en the I\Iay(lt)wer landed the Pilgrim Fathers in Massachusetts liay, they found tlie a\ liok^ coast of \ew England and Afaine teeming with lisli. These treasures Ji;ive been wasleitilly destroyed, and the Amerii-ans have lieen compelled to turn their attention to the Shore Fisheries of British America. The difliculties that their intruding on om- property •j:i\r. rise lo, the desire of the Americans lor the iVce navigation of the St. l^awrence, and the anxiety of the Canadian grain grower lo procure an outlet for his wheat, bronght abt)Ut the Reciprocity Treaty. The position of the IVrarilime Provinces and of Ontario ;ind Quebec, have since been reversed. 'J'hen the latter regarded the 'i'reaty as vitally important, while the former were indiflercnt or opposed to it. Xor a\ as the American (Government ignorant (if the fad. President Pierce iu his instructions lo Atulrews in I'-'jo, states — '' The Government is aware liiat the Colonies arc^ not agreed nor united on lh(! question of Reciprocal Trade and Fisheries, and that a treaty which should be satisfactory to Canada might not be acceptable to tlic lower ('olonics, parfiriildi'lij Ncv Ih'/tn.su'ick and Nora Scotia.''^ * The dilliculty was overcome by quietly sacrilicing the interests I'fthc Maritime Provinces, 'i'hey had, it is true, the courtesy of * Seo ''A Slcotfh ol' the iJisr iiiid Profiles- ol llio Jfrciinocity Treaty.'' By Tl.umas C. Keeler, C. E. hi ciicctiiig tlio Troaty, 1' [iriiiciple of tlic division oi' laljour sccnis to iiavo been strangely obsci vod, most of the liard work and (?xpoiisc having bf'cn assigned to Messrs. Andrews and Keofer, wliilo the. lame and glory dej-iartment was atti'iidcd to by Lord Klgin and his advisers. . ;U) an invilulion to he present al IIm; (MUircrciicc i-xti'iidcd to lliMii. I)ut Ihc mailer \vas prudently setded and closed hcfori? llie\ arrived, and lliey found themselv(>s ^oniewliat in llie position <>t" ;i hungry afler-ilinner i,niest, A\liose only >liarc oC ihc I'casl i> tin- smell of the diinier. All the i^ood thini^'s had been (lis|)osed nl'. The eoaslini^ trade and the ri^dit of rei^islcrini; onr >hips in the United States, might Iiav(! been seciucd to the Maritime IVovinco, hut as Canada was an inland eonntry, witlioiii shipping or eun- merce, she generously perinilted the United Si.itcs to a])i)ropria'<' this bonJic hoiic/ic to themselves. The Ueeiproeity Treaty has come lo an rad — and the (luc-ii'in of renewing it linds the positioii ot all parlies .singuliirly chanui-d. The crushing taxes oi' lli(> United States, eoinliined with lii-- opening ol' the markets of the Lower Provineer-Jia'.e rendered *tie grain-grow(n' oi" Ontario and Quehee iiidilil-renl to tlie rtniewal ot the Treaty, and the l)arrid ol' Hour, the standard ot' ))is political creed, is no longer depreciated twenty per cent, by being grown on the Canadian side of the Trontier. Hut in llie Maritime Pro- vinces, the reverse has been tlie ease. Their coal mines, held under a stringent monopoly, having been thrown open, an unlimited market was opened up in tiie United Slat(.*s, wlicn- everv article which we would raise found a ready sale. On the other Inmd, everything re(|uired by tlie country which we could not import from England, we obtained from theui. 'I'lie cHecl of the sudden stoppage of this trade can be easily imagined. Aprni from an\) polUical '^rU'rance^ ami even hi spite of llie most cordial (iiul friendltj sjjiupdthij irUh her i^hilcr Prorincr^^ Xova Scotifi iH/ist^ as niattrrs now staiul^ be forced out of Ihc V// ion, for she iinll^ (IS a commercial neecssitij^ either he vtlerhj ruined^ or must have a market secured to her bi/ the United S/ales or b// Hie Nenf Dominion. Yet with this serious slate of things endangering the safety of the Union and the commercial existi'uce of one of our provinces, the Dominion has stood upon its dignity, and not a step lias been taken cither to cncourag(! overtures from the Americans, or to collect the mass of information as to the j)rescnt state of the trade of the United States and of British America wiiich will be required, before we can deal with so complicated and diilicult a subject. It is easy to be independent, wIkmi the risk of the coti- 31 '•I lO Ilji.ill. "'foro tiic'\ ('cast i> tlic ^'jxjsc'd 1)1'. lips in ilic l^n)vincc>, r or CMjii- |)|)r()]))iatf (•haijnvij. Willi ;!;.. i-l(.'rc(j U\r politic;!! ig grow n ino Pro- !10:<, ll(>l(l >])on, iin On !)],■ onl(] !U)i t ol" Ihc Apr/)'/ ' cordial iJie irf//, t have a minion. ifety o\ >vincos, xs boo?) , or to t! trado nil br ioiilt a ic con- snquonccs falls upon onr nciglibonrs. Last suinnicr I licsilalrc about riding over a rickety l)ridge, and enciuind Ironi a country- nian who was working in his corn Held, as to whether it was sad*. " 1 don't know," he replied, " I ran walk over it t)n loot, though 1 don't think it can stand very long, but you had i)et1erlry it, I guess I'll risk it." As my neck and my lunse's knees were at stake, I was somewhat amused at his being so ready " to risk it." Canad.i linds that it can get on safely enough without j)atehing up tlir Treaty, and though the eonunercial existence of Nova Scotia with her enormous resources for trade is at stake, the Dominion Gov- ernment advises her to take courage, ami is willing " to risk it." At the present crisis when the trade of that ju'ovincc has been [)araiysed, and the peoj)lc are excited by real and imaginar\ grievances, the odivmi of which agitators are endeavouring to fasten upon Canada, though tiie Canadians are not in the mo>i. remote degree r(s[)onsible for them, most serious conseciuences must have ensued, had the Americans attempted to conciliate the Nova Scotians by reducing the duties on lish and coal as boon to that province. Having so far failed to starve it into annexation, the American Government might have done more by an alfected sympathy, and by extending a noisy generosity to an oppressed l)eopie. They have not only abstained from taking advantage of the crisis, but have done more. They have actually come to the rescue of the Dominion, and have forced us to become one people through int('r(;olonial trade, and are now compelling us to increase our manufactures and our products so as tt) supply the demands of an extensive foreign market which they have thrown open to us. I cannot do belter than ([uole from a letter addressed to the Minister of Fisheries by the Ilonble. T. D. Archibald, a Senator from Nova Scotia, who has kindly sent a copy to myself. The writer who is one of the proprietors of the Gowrie coal mine in Cape Breton, is largely interested in the West Indian trade. 33 *' UUSSKLL IIoUSK, '•Ottawa, lltli Maicli, I8()8. " SiK, — 1 l«'^; to call your attention to the recent action of llic •' Ain(>rican Government touehini^ tli(' importation of Frencli and ** English fish in bond. For tin; past fifteen years the American "' (fovernment iiave ceded the right to importers of French and " Knglisli Fish, to rcpa(;k them in bond for exportation ; they are " usually j)Ut up in drums and form a portion of a sniiill assorted "• cargo for St. Domingo and other markets of the West Indies; "• and the j^rivilege heretofore allowed to importers of French and *' English lish of packing such (luantities in bond as the trade '' rccpiired for exportation, enhanced the value of our fish very " considerably, as tlie American fishermen do not cure their fish "• sufficiently to keep in hot climates, and the French and English •• lish are taken exclusiv(!ly for these markets. Within the last •' three weeks Secretary McCullocii has issued an order to the " (.'ustoms Department of Boston, prohibiting the packing of fish •• in bond, without giving the lioldcrsof fish in bond a day's notice; '• and they arc now com])elIed to pay the duty of 5G cents gold per " 100 lbs., and allow su{;h fish to go into consumption in the; "American market; thereby losing fully the din'erence of duty, '• 5G cents, gold, jx-r 100 lbs., on the fish held by them in bond at -'the present time, and at the same time they are excluded from " prosecuting a business which they have been carrying on for a "number of years successfully. This all witliout the slightest "notice from the Government of the United States. Messrs. " Athcrlon, Hughes & Co., of Boston, the largest importers '' of French fish, sent a strong remonstrance to Secretary McCuI- "loch, urging him to i)ause and give the matter due con- " sideration belore issuing an order which would upset all the '' privileges and rights the importers of French lish had enjoyed ' for the past fifteen years, and pointing out to him the efTcct such " a sweeping measure was likely to have with our Dominion '' Government in fixing the fishing licenses on the American fish- •' ing vessels using our waters for the present year. Mr. McCul- •' loch replied, that the law prohibited packing fish in bond, and " it was his dutv to see it carried out. . '* I Uiink our i^ovorninciit now oiii^lit l») lay :i liii^li liix or ton- *' n;ig(! clues on all American vessels lisliing in our waters, and "that measures should Ix; taken to collect such tonnage dues at " the various points of the Provinces where these vessels jrcnerally " resort for shelter durini? tli(! lishinii; S(>aso?). '• I have the lionor to remain, " Vour obedient servant, "T. I). Ar(iiibali). " The Hon. Pkter Mitcukli-, '■ Minister of Marine and Fisheries." We might have supposed that the American fishermen who get their bounties now in the form of drawbacks, had already protec- tion enough, for our fisli has had to pay directly and indirectly rovide, iVom the manufactures and products of th(^ Doiuiiiion, the assoi ted cargoes which are required for the purjiose. The (juantity offish exported by the Unhed States, was little over one sixth of their total exports to those c.ountri(\'<, which exceeded in 1SG4 sixty-two millions of dollars in value (|,62,934,o60.) When A\e add to this the large exports direct from Nova Scotia to a few of these coimtrles, for she does not send a dollar's worth to some of those markets, we may imagine the enormous trade which is de.^tinqd, if w^e seixe the golden opportunity now that it is thrust 3 I T iipoii u>, lo |);ivr ihr \vn_v lo our hctomiiii,' Mr /ir.sl vohuiwicial nation on this sUh: of Ihi: Atlaiiiir. All llmt is now ic(|uin'd is a iifllo soH-rcliaiicf, and cncriiy, I'or we hold all the lniin|) cards in .\i \i, \NI> I'mK-kkin 'ri;,\|.|.; |.|;i'KNl>s [Vos "ii: TdAL ri;.\i»i:. I h;iv{'sli<'un llial nalurc ha> i.'i\cn lis a ,::ical uatioiiul liii,diway, in ilic Si. Lawrence, while it is open and so Icmij;' as wc have eniiiiiiand of Ihc Sea, no enemy can occnj)y the connlry liirongli Avhich it passes. Kveii the narrow rivers of the South, in sj)ile ol powerful forlifical ions on their banks, left the inl.-rior at the mercy o( invadinij: i,'unl»<)ats, aiid the iniportanci'ofa wide navii,'al)le river held hy a naval forci", is too strilxinir lo escape the notice of the most casual ol)servcr. Dnrini^thc winter months, ic(! and snows, entrenched in (h.-nse forests, are the most dangerous and the inosl stuhborn defender^ of our \orlhern country. The intercolonial railway will, [)olh in peace and in war, be a necessary auxiliary of our highway, bm can never be a substitute ior it, excepting during the winter months; and as in war its pro- tection will mainly depend upon our having the control of the St. Lawrence, and in ])eace its usefulness will aris<> I'rom its beinff n. iributary of our main highway, military necessity and commercial utility alike rc<|uire that it should be kept as near as ))ossible to the shores of the St. Lawrence, tiiid as jar as possilile from the frontier. Although I have resiricted my rfmiarks to a portion only of the jiiark(!lsof the Lnited Slates, we have; seen that ancuiormous trade, even on this side of the Atlantic, may be created by om- fompetiug with onr neighbours. \ova Scolia having already become familiar with this foreign trade, Halifax must become the entrepot i'or the outlet of our pro- ductions, which must be sent ])y the St. Lawrence via Pictou to JJalifax df.ring the siuniTicr, and in winter by the intercolonial .3.) is ;i s ill llCIII .line »l railway. IJui lo iiiaKr ilic trade |)r()(il;il)lc. \v<' must n'ditce Iroiglits to the IdwosI possible point, ami this can only be clle others which arc, at thi; present juncture, of equal moment to us. I have hitherto avoided dealing with this sidiject in a sectional or local point of view, but knowing as I do the serious disallection which exists in Nova Scotia, I believe that the itnposition of a duly on Ameri- can coals, similar to that ichirh is levied on ours, will cut \\u-. ground from imder the feet of agitators, who n^pn-sent the Do- minion (lovernmenl as indifierent to our maritime and mining interests, and watchfid only of the welfare of the two grtsat pro- vinces that hold the reins of |)ower in tluur hands. That j)rom[)t action in this matter, and a desire to sacrifice everything for the general interests of the Dominion, will in time soothe the alarm that 3- . 36 has been excited in Nova Seotin, and llie picjudiccsthalljavt- iwcii aroused, we cannot doubt. Looking at the matter iVom tiieir poini of view, we cannot be siivj)rised at their indignation, nor should we condemn that spirit ol" independence which they have exhibited, without which no peoph; are lit lor .sell-governnient. The day will yet come, we must hope, when they Aviil contend witii equal vigour and earnestness for the periuanence and perpetuity of the New Dominion. As matters now stand, assuming tljeir views to be correct, the fate of Nova Scotia has noparalhd except tiiai of afflicted Job. She '^as had her coal trade and her market for her lish and other products cut off, and her worldly possessions depreciated. Political Sabu'ans have robbed her of her birth-riglit, and the cup of affliction is filled up by the conduct of ungrateful friends. It is possible also that the parallel may go a little farther, and that the evils have been aggravated by tlie temptations of an agitator, who exaggerates her calamities, and (>ndeavours to make patience an im|)()ssibilily. That if this policy which I have advoeatr'd, be carried out, Xova Scotia will be more largely beneiiled by Confederation than ajiy other Province, is perfectly clear. Halifax and Pictou will bcct)me the most important points in the New Dominion. The merchants of Halifax, already familiar with the fish trade, will reap a rich harvest, if they have the energy to take hold of the chance thrown in their way ; and the shipping interest will be extensively iK'nelited, by having a large and increasing trade with foreign co'.intries, which will recpiire the aid of a numerous fleet to carry on the 'usincss. It is true that as respects our coal trade, the measure advocated will give us a poor substitute for the American markcit ; but it will be extensive enough to enabh^ our people to liold out, until new markets arc opened u}), which may prove, to some (extent at least, a compensation for those tiiat have been (dosed against us. While the Nova Scotians are, however, accustomed to look upon the United States as their only reliance as a customer, and fancy that Canjula can be of but little use t > them, Ontario and Quebec have been trained to a similar feeling of dependence on th(> Amt^icans for their supply of futd, and many persons fancy that they cannot get bituminous coal from the Lower Provinces at a reasonable rate, while for liie 37 tU'fll [>oint buld I ted, thf anlhracilc tlicy iiniigiiK* no siib^titntc cuii ]io>sibly be pro- cured. On both ollheiso points I coiiccmvo ;i vciy giviil amouiil ol' mis- apprehension exists. We can supply Ontario and QinOjec with a far cheaper fuel ihan they are purchasing from tlie United State>. and M very satisfactory substitute for anthracite, so soon as lli(> development of the Gulf Iraile lowers iVeights to the j)r()per point. Thus we can put coals of excellent (|uality ou board at Pictou for ^2.50. The freights to INfontreal have hitherlo l)eeu a.> high as to New N'ork, froui iffi^ to ff,2.o(). Assuming that they are reduced from $1.25 to !jf)1.50, \ve have our coal landed ai Montreal a1 S-^-'^ to %l per ton. If we can carry coals as cheaply by our canals as the Americans do by theirs, and a a through trade between Toronto and Piclou grows up, the retunt freight from ^[ontre:d to Toronio should certainly not exceed ,«,! per ton. This would make a lou of coal $1.75 at Toronio, whicli is less than the price j)aid there during thi^ past year. Once <;reate a large export for the jiroducts of the West via the Si. Lawrence! and Pictou, and the same causes which givi; us ihc use of cheap Knglish coal, will secure tons the boon ol ch(.'ap fuel from Nova Scotia. liul it uiay l)e said that a duty, while ii will operate against Auierican, will also exclude Knglish coal. On this point we need ieel no hesitation. The increasing demand for fuel, and the probal^le exhaustion of those mines that are most accessible, will, it is feared, so raise the i)ri(u; of English coal, as to transfer the smelting of iron, &c., to Pennsylvania, and au' export duty is daily urged in mining papers, as indispensible ioT the future mantifacturing and couunercial supremaiiv of England. Nor nev.d there be any fear of Nova Scotian coal owners enjoying a monoply, and raising tin" price of fuel. 'I'heir colli<-'rics could supply fiv(^ times as much as Canada can use for years id come, and the competition will be brisk enough to reduce the price to the lowest j)aying ])oin1. * *ThG hnpoi'trt ofooiil by Ontario and (JiU'bcc. in (Jio ycnv Duliiig 1st -Inly, 1867, wcn^ iis follows: I'rom (iro;it liiituiii, .*472,710; iVoiii llritish North America, 848,824 : iVom tlic Ignited States, !5',7.')O,070 ; from other coimti'io>, $9,000. Total, l|il,LV>3,110. In 1800, Nova Scotia oxportod to Canada ;viid t.. other countrios $l,()7'!.02.'i woi'th of coal. OS I now approach the subject ol' anlliracite, in llie use ol wiiicli wc laney wo aro absolutely (lepeudenl on the United State.^. In Kngland, anthracite is but little n^cil. In the nmnufactiuvi ol' iron ordinary coal with the hot blast is used, or the same coal coked. I do not mean the ordinary gas coke, brit an article pro- perly prepared in coke ovens. For cook stoves and for our hot air furnaces, coke is admirably suited, and can l)c used without any alteration. Coke is almost exclusively used for Joooriiotive (jngine:?, as it gives out no smoke or sulphur, and makes a steady intense fire. Its adaptation for house us(; and for manuiaelories is so well known, that it is liardlv worth Avhile discussing the point. The eminent authorities which f give i)ei()w, will be fotmd to go into the comparative uses and v;du(\s of anthracite and coke with the greatest accuracy.* It would be strange if an artich; which in Pittsburg is used for cooking, and for furnac(\s and open fires, in preference to anthracite, should be inferior to it in British America. In Montreal, (;oke has been used in furnace for a heating the Merchants' Iteading-rooni, in ])refenMice to antl;racitc, although the price of English (toke is jiigh because it rarely comes out in ballast, but has to be imported specially to order. There is at present little or no demand ior slack coal i!i Nova Scotia, which is therefore wasted, but which could be utiliired by being converted into cok(>. and be sold at a moderate price for domestic and manufactm-ing use. liut in order to supply a good article, extensive and very ct)stly eoke ovens must b(; erected, and this could not be done, unless an inducement is held out by a sufficient market being secured. In one, and one only instance- anthracite will be required, and that is in making the liner castings ; but for all other purposes cok(^, by the aid of which England has built up her manufactures, and driven her locomotives, may safely be relied upon by ourselves. It will take some lime before coke ovens could be erected, and in the mean time to save incon- • See Faii'burii on tln\ MamiiUcture of Iron, p. ;j>. Sro alsn •• |]xpenm(>nt> upon Coal," eonclucted I'V J'rofo.s«)r .loluiseii. fnr tli.'. AiiKTioau Goveiii- Jneiit. Tlio authoi' in ji. ;j07. sliows Lhat coke oxcetKls anthracite and iVm burninj? coals in evaporative powei-. •' Tlus circunistanco tlnM-el'ore iustilics iJio use of coke in locomoiive holler-:, in prcCoreDcc to anv otiior fuel." 3f) [iiich in |<-' of Icoal I)r()- liot vcnit-nee to luiinuraciiucr.s ;ind olliers, tlic diitv on anlliracilo should be only oii> halliif lliat which the Americans impose upon onr coal ; btd it should not he fess, for a less duly will not be a sufli- cicnl indncornent for ns to incur the expense of entering upon the luaniifacture of u subslilutc, and we shall always remain depen- dent u;)on the Americans for a large portion of our domestic fuel. Ai<- respects our bituminous coal, we must rely »'ntirely on our own resources, by the imposition of a similar duty to that levied upon our own by the Americans. We are independent of them in this particular; and tlie safety of the Dominion requires; that we should, as a measure^ not of protection^ but of self-preser- ratio?}. adoj)t reciprocal legislation, and when they learn to appre- ciate a more liberal policy, they will not find us less liberal than themselves. Upon this c)uesli()ii arises the more important one — are we at the mercy of the Americans, for our supply of fuel in the West, and for our market for our coals in the East ? If so and this must continue to be the case, we have given an answer and a not very satisfactory one to the enquiry, "can we exist as a people without the aid and in spite of the United States .- " FKHK TRAI)!-; '' Defend me from the man of one book ! " is a sensible axiom in private life. " Defend mo from the man of one idea ! " might become an equally useful saying in politics. This one idea fre- (|uently stakes its valuable existence on some trite truism, such as ^ tlic all iraportanci! of free trade ; ' and on the strength of this somewhat limited investment of capital, it bases its claims to any amount of political sagacity. W^ith persons of this class argu- uienl is useless. Their rule is universal and infallible, and is a|)plicabl(; to all cases and in all times. They are like the tyrant of old, who had an iron brd which formed his standard of manlv development. Nature, unfortunately, having made some men tall, and others short, he obviatcid the ell'ects of its stupidity, by lojjping oil the superabundance of the long ones, and by stretching the short up to the proper standard. 'J'lie man of one idea adopts an 40 « !-4u;illy siipicn! i)t>lify. To prove its ubsardity \h hardly necessary. Laiiiij:, one. of llic most accurate observers, and a writer who is re- ruarkable for bis common sense views of svich matters, places this subjectt in its trm* light : " l*olilical economy is not a imiversal science of which the principles :ire applicsibhr to all men under all circmnstances, and equally good and true for all nations ; but «'very country has a political economy of its own, snitabh; to its A)\vn physical circumslanc(>s of position on tlie globe, climate, soil, products, and to the hal»ils, character and idiosyncrasy of its inha- l)iiants, formed ov iiiodilJcd by such political circumstanc(!S." As respects free trade in the abstract, few of us will difTcr. We all like free trade, as we do sunshine and good roads; but sun- shine and good roads are not always to be had, and if I should venture to use an umbrella 1»» protect me in a. storm, I trust that the man of oik^ idea will not suppose; that I am prejudiced against a bright sky, or that 1 consider that the acme of human liapj)incss consists in going through life with an umbrella over my head. It is a temporary expedient only to escape the cH'ect of a temporary inconvenience. In political matters we are obliged to adapt our measures to the ever varying combination of circumstances. But a man of one idea, who can {jreacli about free trade at a time like this, when we have a nation ricar us that refuses to have any trade whatever with us, is like; an imaginative; person, who boasts iliat the happiness of his life consists in his having the society of an asreeable neighbour, though his friend next door cuts his acquaintance, and kicks him out whenever he ventures to intrude upon him. There are some absurdities the exposure of which is hardly worth the (>xjienditm'e of serious argument. Standing on •one leg is so uncomfortabU; a position, that the only animals in nature, that s^cm to adopt such an unstable position, are a goose and a one-sided free trad<'r. TIIK laDDlJ-: AM) ri'S S()JA"l'ION. Wc have arrived at manhood. Are we prepared to undertake its responsibilities ? Nova Scotia shrinks from the prospect of national existence, and accustomed to t • support and protection n of the British Government, looks willi iilarm and dismay on tlm prospect of its being ealled npon to assume its share of national burthens. A few days ago, while visiting a friend, I was alarmed at finding his little son and heir on the lloor, crying and kicking lustily, for no apparent reason, no one having hurt or thwarted him. The reason for the outcry was at last divulged : " T want to bo a baby again, for I want to be petted." Here was a dilliculty fo'- his indulgent mother. She would gladly do anything in the world for him, but this was beyond her power. She how- ever assured him, that though she could not make a baby of him again, she would make a man of him in time, if he would be a good boy and behave himself Nova Scotia is distressing its Mother Country with an equally unreasonable request, and will no doubt be comforted by the maternal assurance, that if it behaves itself, she will make it a great country in due tim(^ Nor is Nova Scotia the only part of the Dominion thai shrinks from the necessilv for self-reliance. We have learned to depend for our protection on Britain, and for our commercial existence on the Americans. The latter have declined the honor, and wish to throN\' us upon our resources, and to teach us self-reliance — not by precept, but by what is far more convincing — by example. They have shown us the spectacle of a republic, that is willing to sacrifice everything for the public welfare. In war they have astonished the world ; but in peace their trials and their triumphs are even more surprising. A nation, that calmly, without excitement, can without a murmur, endure the frightful burthens that are crushing industry in the United States, and can keep a brave heart and a high head, is a great people ; and no matter what disasters may befall it, it will continue to extort the admiration even of its enemies. This was the spirit that made Rome the mistress of the world. That she was destined to the mastery, was proved in the darkest hour of her history, when though the Alps no longer sheltered h(!r from invasion, though her armies were scattered, and the foe was near the gates of " the Eternal City," the Senate rewarded the man who dared to hope — " because he had not despaired of the Com- ?^ 42 .nomvi^allli." How could such a nation be subduod, unless it were exlorminalcd ? •(•,,> Have ^vo ihis spirit of self-relianee, and of se f-sacribee ? Without it, we have about as much chance of national hie, as a tand erect upon its leet. V\ c ha^c arrived at manhood. We are aspiring to nationality. Are we able to stand alone ? Can we exist as a people without he ad and in spite of the United States ? If so, then we have solved the eniizma, and our future is sale. ■^