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FRANCIS HINCKS' VIEWS OH rua COMMERCIAL POLICY or Canada, In 1846 and 1847, md in 18S& V MONTREAL: t. »OTtB, PRINTER, HERALD OrtlCB, ST., 6ABMSL STMMWH 1853. m ■;'ii .*.-.-; I^P^rr S. w'^;^ f',""SPj "W^r ' *■ * i-' ■ *■ - ''.'- . & ' 1 > ' » l • ■ \ ' / 1 ,» 1 '" 7 . 1 • A îf,. , ■' t ■., . ■ \ ;-^ t^^' * . ' t * 1 ^ ■' '. ■ -■ >. y •" « " >, ■* > ■• * V ■( ' 9 ■ \ \ > y ^ ^ -''' ■ • '* y^^ « •■' , - /' / \ k • * - r - ■;' ' t • -*'' ■ « * • . 1» l ; • ,■ • ■ V. ' " * ,• • t • 1 , (• /.' ..;' • ' T . . * '^*^ \ • ' ' Vk - ^ ^, __ _ ,•_.;■ i^. ■-. - ...r. \^.:...:i ;-r:;, : :',r''^SJi-i^'r-.\.'ig^'r-hs:;f^i^^%y0^a:-y-^^^ ^àfc'; ^,I^TJW (î-rt ,•m^\ ■^"* ^'«3 TBE HGNBLE. FRANCIS HINCKS' VIEWS OK COMMERCIAL POnCY OF CANADA, .4' In 1846 and 1847, jind in 1852. The opinions of the leading statesmen of a country at différent periods of its political history are always a matter of import- ance, and therefore thoae of the Honorable Francis Hincks ii| ihe years 1846 and 1847, are now presented to the reader. At that period Mr. Hincks was Editor of the Montréal Ptfo«, and an influential Member of the Eeform party. He was moreover a free trader in the fuUest "sensé of that word— opposed to differential duties at once with Mr. Merritt and the now Inspector General on the question of Reciprocity, and clamorous in his démands for the free and. unrestricted navigation jof the St. Lawrence. Mr. Uincks has changed his ^ews on ail thèse questions, and it is important that the public should be put in possession of the ,reasôns now given by himself for doing so. In order to arrive at this, U is necessary to go back to the ezplanations offered by the Honorable Mr. Young in the House of Assembly in Septem- ber last, on his retir^ment from the Ministry . On that occasion Mr. Hincks explained his reason» for advocating a policy entirely oppo»- ed to the views he professed in 1846 and 1847. In giving thèse çztracts, there is no denre to préjudice Mr. Hincks. There ii , vt-p-'"' ^t. y nothing stranee in th» fîict that a statesman should modify bia views in regara to a particular policjr. It haa beén done by men of the higheat réputation in other coantriipa beaidea Canada. Cir- cumstancea may render such a change nece^sary and désirable. The main quçation ia as to the necessity, and whether.the reasona oflered for thé change, are such aa ought lo prevail. - Were not Mr. Hincks'a îrieWa of the oomnaerciaLpolicy of thé country in 1846 and 1847, nlorf^ in accordance wlth the priaciplea which ought to govern,^ than'the views and meaaurea of the minister in 1852? Thia is the really important queation, and it ia to give the public an opportunity of deciding for themselvea, that thèse' extravts hâve b««n Rtrung tpgethec. {From Parliamentary Report») ( In the House of ÀBsemblyt on the 20th Septerober I^st, Mr. Young aaked permission tô make some explanationç per- ■onal to himself, which being granted, he proceeded to say, that he begged to atatetothe House, that on Saturday eveninglast, he had tendered to Hia Excellency the Gfovemor General, the résignation of hiaappointment aa Executive Coancillor,and of bis officeof Chief Commisaioner of Public Works, and that the aame had been ac- cepted. He atated also that he bad Hia Excellency the Gover- nor Greneral's gracioua permission to make any explanations to the Houae as to thé causes which had led to hia résignation. Sarly in laat Oot<^er, wiien açtiv^ly engaged in bneu^lJI^ he was cailed upoifc by. hia Honorable friend, the Provincial Secretaiy, and very unexpectedly offered a aeat in the Cabinet, then about being formed, aa Chief Cdmmisaiqner of Public Worka. This offer he promptly dediiied, atating that the aaerifice to him waa too great; — 'bqt, onits being mentioned, thaihe had aiways taken 10 deep an interest in public improvements, and hadgiven roucb attention to public mattera, and uiat an. opportunity wonld be tbus afforded him of better carrying out hia views, he agreed to coo" aider the matter, and having come toMthe conclusibn that he might be of some service- to the country, be eoncloded' to accept nie offbr, after asoerlaining who, were the. parties eomposing the Cabinet,, whose views on gênerai Bubjeçtp beiog koown to hia^> hie was satisGed on ^ding j^at ail were.free and that no |fledges| as. be ui^erstpod, were given. From that time up tÀ tho lâth inst. the ûtmost harmony prevailed in the Cabinet, on the various \ questions ofpolicy sabmitted. At that tim& the Aiture commercial \ policy of the country' was discussed; and OO' Saturday last a me* morandum eipihnifQing that policy wa» brou|^ fof;w9nl hf, t^ <%, '\ Inapector General, which, having t^ceiveJ tbe wnction «f H|B Excellency the Governor General— be had at once tendered hia résignation in the following ternis : — Québec, 18th Sept., 185^. , Sir,— The memoranduth of the Inspector General on tbe future commercial policy of the country, andlhe adoption o( that policy by the Government, places me in the unavoi(®ble position of con- «idering how far I can, under the circumstances, retain my rela- vion to the Governor General aa one of hia adviaers. I under- atand that it ia the intention of the Government to pursue towards the United Statea a retaliatory policy which ia to be carried out — first, by charging a higher toll on American than on Canadian veaaela and their cargoea, in paaaing tbrough tke Welland Canal ; Secondly, by levying a higher rate of,4utie8 on augar, molaaaes, a^t, tea, cotton and wooUen gooda, àïidW iron, hardware, lealher, glaaa and paper manufactures, than the -jarae articles will be chargeable with, if imported by thjj^Gulf of/the St. Lawrence. Thia policy délaya for an indemnité, period, the making free the navigation of the St. Lawjctïce between Québec and Montréal, to American vesaels. Itralao involves the like delay in tb(frCiom- raencement ©f theX^al to connect the St. Lawrence with Lake Champlain. By^arging a higher rate of-toll to American vea- aela and cwgéea, tbe American trade will be forced from Oawego, and Oadénaburgh to Buffalo, and the Canal and RailnAd con- Iwith it. Whatever roigbt be the advantages ?'~ ! ■ «■ ^ Excellency the Governor General o/my office as Executiv* Counc.Ilor,and also thatof Chîef CommiaaiJner of PubiS Wo k7 I hâve the honor to be, Sir, . Your oiost obedient Servant, TotheHon.A.N.MoRm, ^ohn Yocng. Provincial Secretary, ff &c. &c. Sec. ♦ tance of h.s resignaton of the office of Executive Councillor aid £v IS rT'T' °^ ^"^"'' ^^''''- Mr. Young wen on to jay that, froîn thm correspondence it would be seen that the Goyemment. had detërmined on adôpt^ne a VetaMaï»r! ~.l^ Jgain«t the United States, in conseque'Ll of tietS §SS tocS TT^ '«ciprochy. He believed that the X^n^l ^t?nt °^ î'" ^^^"""^ ""^ reciprocity were yery muc^ ovf r. » M 1 ** ^'J?"*''' misapprehension on the subjecl existed he T^y^Zâ:^'^ the whole exports of clnad:i„^8.l! J ? Forest. .....A 820848 16 U . do do .ÂgncuIture,aaT animais «nd their pnâuetB, UlAll 19 a do do Agriculture, «y "M71 12 » vegetablefood '... 4,,,., . do do Seeda, Tobacco, iid *^'''^' *! ' Balsam,. 9,94/ 9 Z j Manufactures, 11,266 8 oo do otherarticJes...... 82,088 4 2 »» . Total Exports, £1,011,886 & » Thèse exports from Canada were oïf two kinds, first of eood» 1 which.are sold ,n bond in the United States, and doTot pa?W doly,andnextofgoodswhiehdopayduty. Of the fomeîVere wheat and flour, which articles, iA bonrf; sold as hghTNevT York as Amencan flour or wheat, of the same quaKhis he ^T^^^c*^^®"^"» ^ *•>« New York Priées Cur?en 6f Ist U ■ait, witbm a very few cents for extra chapes in Bondeî vrart VnZ He could^Dot see why it shoold be'^hëîv^^'bithX United States .n* Canada bad a surplus of wfaeM andflow pHœ at which it sells m the market to whicJ» U w« tentfle» «Mini wnett in bond thraugh tl^ United States kfmTtnuto^ H itive irks. sep- and I (o the licy ttes ge» er- he 51. y" T r© w le more than there was from Oswego, he could not see why the samv quality of flour and wheat. should not sell in New York at the rame price, both- being niled by value for export, nor why the price of the same <)uality of wheat in Toronto should not aell at high aa in Oswego, minus the freight to Oswego. The value ôf flou/ and wheat exporled in 1851 was ^6404,032 198. 7d., leav- ing £603,853 3s. 8d., which probably paid duty in the States, — of thisamount there was £320j&i,5 15». l Id. Value of timber^ Now the American people were obliged to buy our timher, th^ had not enough of their own, and whether they put 20, 30/or 50 per cent duty, the effect was not to diminish consumption^ but • to increase the price to themselves,' and ràise the value of pine land in the States. Suppose the price of 1000 feet of board in Canada to be $10, freightjito Albany, $1, duty $2, the Ameri- cans had to pay $13 for what they could get at $11 but for the duty, and in either case the Canadian got the $10. 'As a gên- erai principle the consumer paid the duty, and he had no hésita- tion in saying that Canada had lost enormously, by delay, in her attempts to obtsùn reciprocity, when her true policy was, and is, to give up begging, and pursue a course dictated by her own interests, to open the St Lawrence, free U> ail nations; aboliah^ the useless agricuUural duties ; construct a canal to connect Lake Cbamplain with the St Lawrence j arrange by Bill, for recipro(ni trade with the British West Indies and Newfoundland ; and en- courage mahufactures by admitting free of duty, ail articles re- quired in their production. This would be a Canadian policy — and should be pursued whether the Americans give us recipro- city or not. înstead of doing this, however, the Government propose to charge ^|ÉKh^' '^^ of ^o\l on American vesaels and cargo, passing the ^l^End Canal, than will be charged to Cana- dian vessels, and on^irfiports into Canada inland from the United States, they proppse to levy a duty ol 12j per cent œore on sugar, sait, and molasses, 7j pej^cent on tea8,'and 5 per cent on cotton and wooUen goods, and on leather, glass, paper, iron and hard- ware — this avowedly was a retaliatorp policy against the United States for not grailting reciprocity, the'advantages of which mea- sure are muçh exaggerated. Now the United States would «jarcely feel the eflects of this blow of the Inspector General the parties who will feel it were the merchants of Ogdehsburgh and Oswego, ou^best customers, to whose enterprise Canada ia indebted for the présent success of the Welland Canal. Again, a blow was to he atruck at the United States by placing heavier taxes on imports inland, than by the river St. Uiwrence ; this tue would be paid bv the conBumer, and would not afièct the pio- dneçr, but Would fall almoet exdupively on the ftrmers of Upper Canada. What hâve they done to deserve thisf The arrivai «r importi of the articles referred to, in 1851— were / -<»■ , ' U i V 1ifiu.fi -^ lo, Tea, 8alt, Maiuëea, Cottoa QoodM, Leather, Olaaa, Phper, 8- £«0,687 18 7 8,085 Ll 8 iS1,4W 16 10 81,879 7 ' 3 «,018 8 1 2M,880 10 89,927 7 10 9,878 1» 10 12,077 12 1 poMd duty. 12i»ct 12i " 7i " 12i " 121 " 6 " . 8 '• 5 " £881,170 « 8 If the import of thèse articles continuëa^to be aa^irreat this ÎÏRn"r5.^^^ ^ tax paid by Upper Canada would be over ^5,000 per annum, but admitting that much of the surar, tea a«d sait, may çon^ by the St. Lawrence, still therè is a làrse amount of American manufactured goods whicih could not be oblained in England, goods (hat are particuJariy adapted to the «wntry, wjiich fiust be bought by the fjirmer in Canada, and on ail suçh that could not be elsewhere obtained, it was évident, that the proposed duty would act as r direct tax. The pohcy to be pursued was, to diminish our taxation not to mcrease it. It should be. remembered that our public works hère cost us ;e4,500,000, an^ that the annual interest whiph is jMiid on this debt amounts to £225,000, le«s about £60,000. cd- lected, leavmg a sum of £160,000 tabe made up every yeir by duties on imports. He thought it was the duty of the iovem- ment and of the House, to take raeasures to m«ke thèse public Works pay. The throwing open the St. Lawrence to the s^s of ail nations would give an enormous impulse to trade on the St Lawrence. Th^ western people, about 7 millions, would then bave an equal mterest in the developement of the St. Lawrence route as ourselves. The construction of the Champlain Canal would give U8 the cheapest and bpst route from the west to New. -York and New England affd would ih his opinion rapidly amr- mentthe revenues from our canals, hnd gradualljwreduce dutiea /on imports. ° . ■^ ""^ Mr. Young hère xead a' long extract from a speech of Sir Kobert Peel, m which we underslood him to contend, that it was tlie true policy not to pursue retaliatory measures and not " to punish other counlries for the wrong they do us in continuin» ttigh dnties, i^on the importation of our products." He stated that -thèse viewa may not prevail witlF the House nor in the country but the time was not distant when they would prevail. The step he had taken had been done under a sensé of ^iity to the ^jountrï at largeé He felt the deepeat possible interest in the progreas of i.ie 4win»ïiy. H© koew its resources and iti capabilities aad it was becaime he tbQught a moef fatal bbw was about to be struck at tts best interest», that be had resigned. \ : \ ■ J \ ■ N X Mr. HiNCXS, tfKNigh not ready to make anj objection to thé. BtatiBinent tbps made, wotild offer a few remai^s oit th§ policy of tbÎB govemmeat. — His hon. friend had stated that the advantagea>€>f reciprocity had been'overrated, and he thought it beat to give up tfae a^tempt to- obtain it. ^-Now the différence between them Iwerned to him to consist exacUy of the relative v^ïue whioh tlrây respectively atlaohed to reciprocity.- For his own part hé attached the greateat iippprtance to reciprocity aa respected . Upper Canada^ and as to.what the hÔn..jDember said about pricea, he wàs not prepared to admit that the pricea ef wheat were equal on the two aides ôf the Unes. A friend had jnst put infb his hands a statement, by which itappeared thàt'while wheat was 8o1d at *n cents on one aide of the line, it waa aold at 91 cents on the ottTer. But wheat and âour were not the bnly exporta from Canada to the United. States. There isthe value d* £100,000 eithér of animais or 4ie produce of animais, the'entire duty on which appeared to him to corne from the pockets of tne Can adian exporter. Hia i^as■ -I» . =t*= il _.- .,• =*^*- agked. The Americans entered Qur canals, though we were excluded from theire, and we had no further favour to grant. He knew there would be a great deal of boasting and loud talking on the other aide, about building another canal, but be had inves- tigated the whole subject, and he was certain they could not do 8o. He was perfectiy confident that bis policy would be suc- cessful. He knew he incurred a deep responsibilityi He knew hia political réputation was ataked on this amendment, but he only asked what lall American statesmen always obtained, that unanimous support, which was too often wanting in Canada and England, as was shown iQ|Jhe latter country on the Flshery question. If bis policy fai^pr ' fuh ne |hia bon. friend should hâve ail the triumph ; but if'successfulj he should daim the crédit for the government On the 28th October Mr. Young introduoed into the Houae of Assembly the following séries of resolutions respecting the Com- mercial Policy of the Country, embodying the views expressed by him in his explonations of the 20th September: 1. Thât the rapid advance of this Province in population and weaith, and the proeperity witnessed in ail branehes of industnr, are highly satis&ctorr ; that the Commercial policy pursued during the last few jinub has greatir ^y- contributed to that proeperity ; and that it would be unwiae to adopt any ^ new policy, which, on the mère hope of securing a prospective advautage, would coerce a change in the présent corrents of Traoe, and might be atten- ded with serious mercantile embarrassment 2. That the only true policy of Canada is to simplify the machinery of Government, and reduce the public expenditure as far as can be oone* with due regard to efficiency ; to remove ail restrictions on Tradeaqd Com- merce, not reddered necessary for revenue purpoees ; and td use the great natural capacities of our Country, as shalt best advance onr own interests— without reçard to the policy of other Nations. 3. That it is highly expédient to place the internai water communication of the Province in the best possible condition, without tinnecessary delay. That with this view, Ship Canals to connect the waters of the River St. Lawrence with Lake Ohamplain, and Lake Superior with Lake Huron, should be forthwith undertaken as Public Works ; that the Navigatimi of the St. Lawrence below Quebeé should be improved by the construction of Light Houses ; and, that every other means should be taken to loweï the price uf freight on Canadian waters between the fer West and the Atlain&^ ,/ 4. That it is inexpedient to impose higher Tolls on Foreign VeneU'nuiing through the Canals than are charged on Canadian Craft ^ ^\7 5. That it ia highly inexpedient, and would be.moatunjùst to ^éoosu- men of Canada, to impose heavier Cuitoms duties on Ffreign M«/;chïèdiae imported inland, than when imported by the St Lawrenlë. •> ' ^''^ 6. That it ii expédient that law materiala required for jjhmftrtnrini porpoMS thould bé admitted into Canada finee of Customa dutâF- 7. That it ir4éutable that the foU ««trol over the Naviga^n of the St Lawrence and other internai wateia of Canada, thouM b* ttanaleilvd fhiin the Iinperial Parliament to tiie ProTinct|l Legiaktara. 8. lliat an humble Addieai be inreeented to Hia ExeeUencr th« GoT^mor General, baaed on the fint nz Réaohitiona. '^ . ' " ■ ! an nnmnia nnnr aai sapnMMaa to aKWamvmtaat bhMMK =^ d on th* wTwitil fimgDiBf lUnivtMo. . %\:^f--^^, '■'M" On this occasion Mr. Hincka, made gotne remarks, which are reported as followa in the journals of the day : tr«ÎJ';-"th?f '^'*'^\'^"''.^*' «" ^^^°*^*« of theoretical free mfiv K ^ V ** ^'^^ "''"P*^ ""°<*'«'^ course in 1846, réciprocité niight hâve been obiained from the U. States. He believKS a commercial treaty might be made even now; but Hot by (Sn- h^Sn «îw P'f^'. '**"*^'"8 together in this country, as in !o!nl^ ! ?'*?VT"''"'*"°"'«^«'^^ere made in Upper Canada tSis noTcv '''\'.^'^'''i^^'^^ whatthey might do Tcoun'^ct bv a narcPl ^fLZT ^"""l P^'^^^'P^'^y ^««t^^'d «f Belleville, mJS t ï/"^" merchants, actuated by the most selfish mti^^^u ^^' ^® i.? "°^' however, fear thèse people : thev m^ght do their worst. The greatest enemies of recip^oc^l S trade, were Canadians themselves. It had been frequendy sLîd sSlT^f r ''^î* '?'*/!" imported more goods from the United eïport^ toThe'r '"1?^ '".i-" ''^^ <>f redprocity. than we hS 1. ^ ^^^''- ''"** .*'^«^ ^»' *«* ^a« an advantage to hâve our goods gomg into the United States. The only waf to obtâin Ae question fairlytokenup. The onlyUme it wastaken upflt HÏfhZft \h^c;^r*1: 'i*'"" «" ""«"'«nouH vote in the HoL ne thought the Senate had a majority in ita faveur: and it had been recommended by the Président. Now, it was ail îer^ WeU m J.- ^"®"''*" """«* by the Impérial action on the fisherv TZi'y.TZ'^ advantageous to this country, notwithstafdSJ ad an feehng, could see the position of our shipping at présent ' without hum.hal.on. Their vesaels now passed through ÎHur . waters, and ours could not enter one of theire. So that if ?he màinin^Tfr^ '"'^ Çharaplaip canal were opened, things îe! Su3r tnSf^ are American vesaels would pasa from lake wïïîhJ^îf ^""'^ by this navigation, while éanadian vesaels • Tth Ih/aI^" '''"*'' f- ^'^ "^*«"- «« ^'»'' >^"ing to «rade mot th.„ îl T"\? ^'^' ««™»»-to give themeven what wa. AmrfHTl^P^P^'ï''" T*^** "■'^« "o concession to us, we ^ Aould not try to getfrom them, o n our conalg, ftR the t^we^^t^ f > 13 ■ / f > He had never proposed to drive the trade to Buflaio ; but he did propose to make it pay ail the tolla hç could. The hon. œem* ber, Hke the hon. member for Lincoln, seemed never to tbink o( anything eiae but canals ; biit there were réilroads in the présent day, and it was worth while to think of the interests of raiiroacfo. Nonr, what was the position of Canadian Raiiroad»] At présent, goods passing overthein paid higher toHs than thoee passing over the Ogdensburgh road. He wanted instead of that to make the iatter pay as high toils as the former. Uniess ydu tould do something like this you could nevet induce American statesmen to do anything, fer they never could carry any measure uhless they showed the people that they were going to get something in return for their conces* sions. The Osvvego people believed they would be ruined by the adoption of this policy ; but bis answer to them was, go to your own government and influence it, and do justice to Canada. The hon. member for Montréal admitted thaï the route by the St. Lawrence was as chéap as by New York ; but he said that the Montréal merchants would get ail the diflerence between the duties by the two routes. He believed, on the contrary, that this matter would be regulated by the legitimate profits of trade. The hon. member, however, admitted on a former occasion that he did not value reciprocity. That was just where he diflered from the hon. member. He did not want, for a political reason, the farmers of Canada to think themselvea worse off than those in the United States. ' . Mr. YooNG stated worthless; but that that. Twenty per cent, on ail our expoi^, would not comè to the amount of. the toUs on the Welland Ca^al alone. Mr. HiNCKS placed a high value on reciprocity, and if he «howed, as he thought he had done, that this was so, thenhe asked what hope there was fût (eciprocity froni the course bis opponents had adopted î There was none. He asked too, whe- ther there was any free trader in England, who pushèd free trade to its legitimate estent 1 Were they not ail inconsistent 7 Was not the hon. member for Montréal inconsistent in advocating the admission of raw materialê duty free. Mr. YouNG — ^you advocated it yourself. Mr. HmcKS— well, gentlemen were welcome to show whatever inconsistency they plea^ed in his opinions, that was not the ques- tion ; but rather what was for the good of the country. « He had, however, always vindicated the admission of raw materials duty ftee ; but what he contended for, was that this pdlir.y was a pro- tection tothe manufacturer in this country over the manufacturer in the U. S., and thisMas inconsistent with Mr. Young's ideas of ^'^ree trade. HeeonRfRvd reciprocity then, of the highett 'at- that he had never said reciprocity was we had a much higher prize to gain than t^, •X. of cotaBumption, sugar he ha? «h«««.7 **'® chief article Mr. HwcKS «aid yea. 'ïï' .. I ^ V I È*îiAKA;-.:»tNv'^- ..^L^-ù.^ ... „sit-.'i/:.i,. î "» r î> T'»!^ 'P'» / n™" " \ \ bUe ^ou !ain on, oie ing ties lies uld ' COMPARE THESE VIEWS WITH THE OPINIONS OF THE HON. FRANCIS HINCKS, ONTHB COMMERCIAL POIJCY OF THE COUNTRY, t fw 1846 AHD 1847, WHEN EDirOR OP THE « PILOT." f^omtheTiloro/lUhApril.lSM. * We have alread^ statedtbat the time has gone by for discas«- ipg tbe question of Free Trade — as Mr. Elder has jnstlj obserred in bis traly éloquent speech, " public opinion in Canada must foUow the great fact of Free Trade." The real frienda of the agricultural interest must turn tbeir attention to the beat means of compensating U for tbe loes of those advantages which it bw hithelto had. Tbe Montréal Free Traders bavé f^en tbe bol! fwrly by tbe homs. Tbey demand the repeal of MkGladstone's Act iroposing differential duties in faveur of British manufactures tbey demand tbe repeal of tbe navigation laws, and tbe removal of ail reatijptions upon commerce. The impérial duties are fltated by Mr. Glass to be £104,555. r The measure likely to be of the greatest advantage, not only to Upper Canada, but to Lower Canada, and especially to the Cities of Montréal and Québec, is the giving the Americans tbe free navigation of the St. Lawrence. Were such a wise méasure adopted, we can bave no doubtthat the duties on oqr agricultural prodnce in the United States would be abandoned, and that w» woald bave tbe advantage of the great Eastem markets of thi« Continent in addition to those of £ngUnd-r-there would then be an inducement to the Americans to turn tbeir attention to the St. Lawrence as a cbannel of communication» wbereas at présent tbey are ail interested in direoting tbe Western produce by other routes. Let the navigation of tbe St. Lawrence be free and we ■hall have cheap frèigbt, and upon tbis our farmers must now chiefly rely. There must be an end put to difierential duties of ail kinds ; 01» teas, sugar, leather, spirits, &o., and such revenue duties im- posed as the necessities _of the country require. We belJeve that if tbe measures suggèsted were carried out, tbe agriouhar. ina iwuiu owMBv UJ-%DmOruu»uMXBiy nOTCk UHDI itifty- ffligf TO h T l;». $ 16 twT°*'°" ^''.î''* P'^'"* ^"*'«« °° a^ricultural produce. Bat thej hâve a nght to expect th,^ if Free Trade principles are îo ^t ?nr?h -Vi^^'l ^««d'«°ta«P. they .hali also be carried Z ÎTei ;W>^°f •: *5''''^':f' ''^^ ^^^^-^-ï Mercantile iSerëlî riôn to ^S 'V? '^1'^"^' ■« '^^ ^« »»»<» repeatedlj occa- n-^lir t ; J''«y»'a^e complained latterlvif oirricuS protection bu they hâve never remonstrated againsf ?hat paî s^rerThr' T'™ ""JV^^*'»' the agricSltu™! i! eî: S forIïr!i^ rr °^ î* ^"* T'»*'^ Association hâve t"ey wiî îr«wl r • "^'î *"i^" * P°«'*'°° ^hich we think tftey wiU be able to maintam. We areiagainst any half measures at the présent crisis. Without any acUon on ^ -W^-gj- Welland Canal and may enter our.upper lake ports at pleaaure. It this bas no tendency to annexation, we woùld like to know how sailing down the St. Lawrence would lead to euch a resuit. Jbe Courier appêals to the «'loyal," and would frighten tbem from having any thiflg to do with the Yankees, and yet he ad- mits that "Free Trade is a settled thing. We trust that the members of the Législature wiU hâve good sensé enough to see that the oply means by which the trade of the United States can be preserved, is by making the navigation of the St. Lawrence 5*®-.ir^ ■ °Pil°^ *"*'*' a policy, we may draw the oroduce of the West ta Montréal and Québec, otherwise it would go to New York through American channels. We shall keep this snbject before our readers, but we must say, that there is a senous ground of complaint against the Ministry for theiA-emiss- nesB m not bnnging forward measures calculated to benefit the agncultunsts of the couotry." ^ . V ^ iBtkAprU,I8i6. ^*' A meeting to denounce Free Trade has been held at Oue- bec^ In so far as English Législation is concemed,4he partie» t« fiï;r7** '"1"'T ''Ï?'*®T- '^^^y^^> however determined to fight for protection for themetves, Differential duties in faveur of goods impgrted by sça are recommended. The farmers. who are ^he pnnciple eonswtur,, will hâve to pay the niuer Strange as it may appear, the interests of the agriculturists havê been whoUy sacrificed by the tJpper Canada Tory MemW? ovér whom Mr. Moffatt ixerâsJïn unlounUiluén^ k 18 to be hoped that when the electors meet those gentlemen aà îS^luUons^'' '^*" '^^ *° *°*°^ *^° """'^ "'^ ^' Cayley" indjune, IM6. ., "T^.«. ^°i*«^ States Drawback Bill is likdy to become law, w»d When Sir Robert Peel's new corn law shaU be in ooera ion îhî Upper Canadians mU hâve ha obstnictiTwhateverKnd/iî their produce via New York, The American fo^s^^rnSÎ pc«, to deUver fluor in lâverpool fh,m any port on Sk^OnS ÎLÎ « J»^"rency, per barrel. What then is to become ofthe teade of Montréal, what of the tolb on the sTSlîinï .Cnals ? The Lower Canadian merohants are infatuati^Tow •pphcable is the ancient proverb, Qtim Deus vultJrdét ^ ^"S'^\J\'^ r'" aq«e»tion oflife and deathNeiSoSî and Monh^l, and a few infatuated and ignorant m^n are found Mmyabout protection and differential duties, v,hm^£^ e*ance ofenàtenoe dépends on immédiate anâ viaorouà eéfhr^ B ft % ^ 18 hnPhili^P-n *>f ^'^^ English corn duty.aad the American draw- Is .t then possible to carrv a barrel of flour from Toronto £ Liverpool va Montréal an J the St. Lawrence, or via the Cland ^.1 Éoad. as cheap as via New York? That is the quesUon to be answered ; and if not, and if the produce «roesto New Ck the supplies will corne from tbesamephice ^^ mayco mlS^ our commun.cat.on8, take off aU our toUs, on which X Sri»; •^ much rehes, then open the St. Lawrence to the W ca.^ al chants use the same lan|uage. lo matter XtnheTr p6l£' and at the next élection the yeomanry wiU call to TafS .ccount the traitera who havJ^vSeddi^LS.l' dS •ttheirexpenscm order to force trade bj unnatural channeb For our own ptfrt. while we shall on ail ocLions pi^est agaTnsi Lovrer Canada being plunderéd ty Upper CanLda. we shaJl Can'ïlir *^'m'''^ P'oJecl.ofUel^tectiSs in W Canada, who would impose a heavy tax on Uppèr CanadaTw ^irom» benefit People should r,iolIect%at Pree Trade J^ factnnd .nstead of grumbling over that protection whîch we &L ;:J°J 7**y^'^f •»»«"'d boldly look our difficuItiesTn thê f.^ and adopt practical measures to remove them, if it be pol ISth Jwu, 1846y. HON-REÇn.RO0AI. TEADE NOT JSJVBIOXJB TO OUR DmtBESTS. Such is the heading of an article whick appeared in a late number of the Economùt, (Canadian,) and wtàTwewLan^ at the présent moment, that thèse view. should" p^s^'^n^l coo«derat.on of the pubUc, that we. hall oflTer nS^o^t oopyinglargely from the veryable article before us. ^^'°' ,^ ' 1«at the moBt équitable, anil »h« »<»» L. .-..i ^'^r^ A^t 4i.„ : -,,•^""8 "»« owr opinion nas long been ^:..I.!i.^* équitable, and jhe^ort economicil mSderf^ «BBuig wteaveriweiiue is reqaîn»d for ihe public 8«rviJ^ wouSl ,:..:J 19 be a direct tax on property. To carry out thèse views, every Custom-house should be swepl away with Ihe numberless tribe of officers of ail kinds. In this opinion it is probable that the EconomUt would conq^ir with us. But every practical states- mnn must be awnre ^bat this is at présent impossible. Believing then, that the time has not yet arrived for abolishing duties alto- gether, the question is, how is fhe tariff to be adjusted. Our différence With the Montréal merchants, and their varions organ» is simply tothis extent. We are for a revenue duly, of course incidentally protective, on ail conimodities brought into the Pro- , vice, save and except raw material* of manufactures. It was upon this ground, and this alone that we defended the duties on agriculturai produce." 2lth June, 1846. " The Courier says — " The Freie Trade notions adrocatetl by thèse young men in the Economist, meet wîth no sympathy hère, or in any other portion of Canada. Their whole object appears to be, totshake - the confidence of merchants abroad, and to turn the trade out of its présent dianhels, by endeavouring to persuade the Upper Canadians that they will do much better both tobuy and ship in New York." Now, what are the real facta? The object of the free traders, is to^ obtain for us the advantages of Free Trade, by way of compensating for the loss of protection. The free traders bave never advocated the removal of protective duties in Ëngland. No pétition ever emanated from (hem on such a subject — what then do thèse free traders aim at ? Let the Canadian people understand — let their reviiers meet them with argument if they are able.' * They désire that the carrying trade of the St. Lawrence shonld be thrown open to the world, so that by lessening ihe cost of freight, the cities of Québec and Montréal may be enabled ' to compete with New York for the trade of the West-^they désire the abolition of impérial dyties under which the Canadien consumer is taxed, as we bave shown «Isewhere in this number, £15 on every £100 of glass he uses, and nearly three farthinga on every pound of sugar that he consumes, and in like proportion on neai;ly ail imported articles. Such are some of the objects of the men who are reviled by the anonymous correspondent of the Chzette and by the Courier. If the majority of Montréal merchants are opposed to such views, then it only prpves that they are grossly ignorant of the true interests of the country, ^tnd more^especiaily of their^ttu;.. ItLJr Jiighl^irobable thaL^ many, or even ail of the freMIdera may think^ people of EogUnd right in demanding the repeal of the corn laws, but it n v-ijrili-; 20 is untrue that they they hâve ever demanded siich a repeal as a measiire foj the ad vantage of Canada. On the contrary, they hâve only corne forwait prétend that it would be for the mterest of the^anadiUrpeople to maintain such duties, mdeed such a position would b» whoily untenable. But they toll us that we stiil enjoy a modicum of protection in the ingljBh market, and that so long as we do so, we should not be hasty in removing ail the protective duties in favour of England. They would fain frighten particular Canadien interesta on the Bubject of the protection whjch they yet enjoy, and which they would persuade them would be whoUy removed if our Législature ahould see fit to repeal the impérial dutien. The passage of thè Impérial Act must be taken as a formai déclaration, that England vtsàes no protection from the peopU of Cahada. It does seem incompréhensible to os, and we think it must seujltaa^^ M practical men of boâiness, tj^ we should constrï^^ canals at an immense expeh^' for facilitating tl the Western produce, that we should aUow AmemÊmmAeUw pasg through the Welland Canal with their .prtîduce, but refuse to allow them to take it by the St. Lawrence Canals ànd the ^Ki^er and Gulf ; in other words, that we should endeavonr to grce trade to the Américain ports at the expense of Montréal and ^j^ î&nd BqiUmbtr, 1846, ' assumes that American manpfaotores, if admittedi Irma witW|h{M;i«of England, would compete with them llly. Thiipay be doubted, but Ie( us admit it to be. ho would be the gainera ? The Canadian consumera-^ those farmers d* whoae interesta the Star prétends to be snch a JfiTolad adïocate. Nothing ean be clearer^han tbat iti^ thei»^ ^ .■à #> ioterest to boy in the cheapeat markets, and England having feh :i>' / «• - < .^-é ! *•, ^ 1 f ■ V heraelf bound in honour and justice, to grant us the honor of doipgso if we please. It ia étrange to find Caùadian Jourarf» Nbirowing obstaclea in the way. It would be eaâjr to demoqstrata fthat solarfrom the revenue being» reduced by the propoaed changes, it might'be matetially improved without injuring the consumer in the slightest degree. Let us illustràte this by refer-- ence to the leading articles of^tea »nd sugar, both of which are Bubject to difièrential duties. Tea imported froiin the United States pays 2d. sterling duty, and by the river Id. In 1845 the ^ quantity imported by inland ports was 1 ,908,329 Ibs. ; at Québec and Montréal 770,616 Ibs/ Now, if the latter had been subjected to the same duty as the fornjer, very nearly £4000, currenqjjr, would bave bçeiT added to the revenueP without an ^ncrease m priée to the consumers, because the pnce was regulated by that which paid thefiigheat duty. Agàin, foreign Sugar paya rf duty rj>{ as. and 78. 6d. sterling — Dritish muscovado and bastard 7b. 6d. only. If 12s." 6d. was charged on tV whole, the latter woold éither be thrown out of consuroption, or would bave to compete on the same terms with the foreign artiéle. In this oase, as in that of tea, the great proportion of the sugars imported pays the high duty, wibile a smaUer quantity is admitted at a lowiar rate, thus benefitting British sugar refiners, at the expense of our revenue or our consumers. • la Oetoher, 1846. « We copy below Sir Robert Peel's answer to the congratula- tory address of the inhabitants of Elbing in Prutoia. Sir Robert'a brief and décisive rationale of •' protection," as the "suttaining of certain branches of brade at the expense of the public ^nanees." His exposure of the wasteful absurdity of " nations purchatfng at a dear rate articles of an inferior value^ when they migbt hâve euperior articles at a cheap rate ; his boldly avowed teliance on the eventual adoption by other cbuntries of a policy which Great Britain \t, seen tohave espoused without any «•nego- ciatioQ or barter of reciproeal concessions," but simply bécaase she finds it uaeful for her own purposes ; his confident appeal to the financial responsibilities of statesmen, and the growing intelligence of nations, to overçome the résistance of " isolated mterests,'" »nâ powerfql parties in Législative Àssembliès." 29«A Octoidr, 184(r. It is clei|r that the Cobourg Star bas given no attebticm whatever to the subjeot of the impérial dutiee, and that be does not comprehend the views of the free traders. Their demàod u, that goods coming iWmi the United States and other foràign countries, whethar of British ae foreign manufacture, shall be admitted on tnesMBe tenns as tboeQ ooning ftom- wrpatfift^u5:rr=; or her possessions. AU tbis is very simple, biit tiie opponents A,-,-o- / ef^, ' 24 ' *IF'^1?'^^^ ^T "°"^'* *° comprehend it. The revenue and the pub ic would be benefitted, not idjured. by the repeal of the different^al duties. The foregoing remarks iiU be a sufficient sZZ *°^''** *»>« ««"'^° ^pectaior bas said on the Lme Z.-rî: ^ can .«ssure that journal that Mr. Hincks had no ofn^f-!^*'*'^/ u'".'^"**"*''*^ ^'^ *^« subjecl from the people of Oxford. If the latter bave received no explanàtions of Ma vjews whatever. « it ia simply because he is incapable of expresa- ing them more clearly." ^ ^^F*^» ■ ' Sfrf/Wy, 1847. r«.T";- •'''^"^'«'f ^«o/«/,V«.-Mr. Merritt'g " reciprocifj» resolution was subm.tted to the Houae of Aasembly, on Thutsday evening, and is as follows :— ^ -^uuraaay «.nlnf^f""'"",'^.'?**' ^}^I^ tl»e mutual interests of the agri- cultura! population of Canada and the adjoining States of Amenca wQuId be materially beneÇtted by establishing perfect n^î^ ?J° **** ^^'J'^^ee of the respective countries. it is ^«m«^'în ?5 7'V '^P- J' " ^^^ *° ^«tîes on the articles nSÏ!î«î L ' P*lî °° provisions, grain, animais, vegetables, and minerais, bemg the natural productions of the United States ÎT^*ft^ ^' not mentio ej in said sc^hedule, also raw materials he^inafter mentioned, that is to say,lar, pitch, resin, turpent be! hemp, fish, 0.L Provided always, that the Act to b^ paawd for th s purpose take effèct after a proclamation of the Governor 7t fZ eT^ announcirig that the Législature of the United btates of Amenca bave repealed ail duties upou such articles as àSnîJ beVofe"- '°*° «h^ United States from this Province. « The resolution before us aims attm totatty distinct abjects ; one to secure for Canadian producers the advantage of thé American market, the otAer to obtain for Canadian consumera the 3T°jf '^^ '*'l*'"^ •*"*'«« «^ ««ricultural and otheî naturel productions, which are, no doubt, very popular with a considérable portion of our population. Mr. l&îrritt baaes hiî proposition on the principle of reciprocity, in which we hâve no faith whatever, but which we shali not'discuss on the prcLn° «.i2^e^^'' présume, very Uttle différence of opinion on the £i ? A^^ admission of our pràflucte into the United States free of duty. One or two of the membera, probably without much reflection, talked a Uttle bunkum about sending the Western prodiice to Montréal, but the farmers must see that it is iî object to them to hâve a choice of markets. and it is their interest to «end it to the higbest; we think too, that it wiH be « eoase- quence of Free Trade in England, that the lOanufkctaring districts in the Eastern States wiU ocoasionally be a better market for our products than the Mother Count^. Now, we really believe that Mr. Merritt's object is to obtain free admission for onr products into the United States : it is an object ot importance^ and if we could be broaght to believe that the repeal of our agricultural duties would, even m the shghlest degree, promote that object, we Phould not hesitate one moment in Bupporting the resolution before us. But really it appears to us preposterous in the extrême to imagine, even for an instant, that ihe United States will be influenced in her cDmmercial pohcy by the resolutions of the Canadian Législature. We care not what letters Mr. Merritt may bave received fi^m the United bUtes ; there are free traders there as well as hère, who wiU support every measure calculated to remove protective duties ; but let it be borne in mind, that the United States can enter into no separate reciproetlf treaty with Canada. No doubt Free Trade principles are progressing, and will continue to do BO,^nd the United States may repeal, ère long, ber présent duties on food. But what we «entend is, that ne Act of ours wiU haye the Blightest influence upon that question, and we feel asaured, that on mature considération, no maa of intelligence can hâve any doubt of the correctness of our opinion. The notion of declanng inten- tiens as to what people wiU do at some ftiture tune, » one of Mr. Merritt's crotchets. For our ow'n part, we are contented to deal with matters as we and tbem at présent, and leave our children to adopt that which may seem to tbem best. We now come to the second branch of Mr. Merritt's proposi- tion— the admission of certain foreign products into our markets duty free. This is deemed by many a question of great inmortance, although we must candidly acknowiedge that we are not of the number. If Mr. Merrijt really believes that the duties in question are baneful to Canada, that they operate in deprmng us of commerce, or are felt oppressive by any large portion of our community, then we say, let him corne out boldly and dem«nd their repeal. Why wait the action of thq Amencans before relieving our own people of a burthen ♦ The.idea is absurd. 1 he duties'on the various articles specified by Mr. Merntt produçe a revenue of at least £25,000, and as that £25,000 must be raised, the effect of the change will be to throw it upon other articles ot gênerai consumption. We think tiiere is much to say on both ^des of the question ; but with ouV views, and with a full know- ledge of the absurd préjudices entertained by many, we would rather vote boldly for the total repeal of the agricultural duties than for Mr. Merritt's proposition. If the total repeal were ^ 26 1 effected, we mîght be able to convînce the farpierin a short titnc î,vf„ \7l' r° T"^ °^*'*"° *^^™ ' ''"t Mr. Merritt's résolu- I U»,r"i^ «he nex^ten years perhaps.abugbear to frighten aU the silly protect.onîsts in the countrjr. They will be made a clap-trap «cry» at the élections, and wiH be imagined often timesof ihore importance than they really are. Our deliberate con- viction 18, that we should legislate for ou^ehes, and leave the Amencana to themselves. They will neither take off, nor put on, dotiesto please U8, nor with any référence to what we doi Let Mr. Merritt take the buU by the horns, and state plainly to the country what he means. la he for the présent agricultural duties or not ? To state our viewson this subject would occupv more space than we can command at présent, and it may not be necessary to résume the subject, although we hâve no désire to jhnnk from it. We want to say a few words on a question of infinitely more importance, and which seems sadly neglected in the House. Are we to hâve an address-an unanimous address. S"" / free navigation of our inland watersî Whature o7t Boards of Trade about ? Now is the time to be active. Bold measores may yet save them. They hâve great advantages in T^ ï^'lT-l '^ î^'^y ^"'^ '^«"'d «-«a'^e them. We really could hardly hâve believed that at such a criais, Ministers would hâve occupied their attention with such a trumpery point as that of makmg Montréal a free port. They must, however, be pushed on thèse really important questions, before which, Mr. Merritt s résolution on reciprocity sinks into ntter insignificance.' *;.■.' ' PromthePUotof9thNovemher,\U9. THE MONTREAL BOARD OF TRADE. {From the Miuiiquoi i^«iM,) P ^' *ÏV'"?\''''** selfishness of Montréal, the Report of the Board of Trade has supplied the deficiency. The merehants of Montréal may now be fairiy regarded as the embodiment of a LlL ï!; ^"^ "^^ "r* ^^'^P* ^~"' t^'» unenviable category ihebonajùla Free Traders. We hâve the right, however tî infer that the Board of Trade epeaks the sentimenLf ïhe majority Ipntr'"'^"*''? ''"""""'^y «f Montréal, and «nless the projet Monïl^l^ "f"^ i« protested against, the merchants of ih« Jïf,„l^ S'^' ""-"^ ^^' V^« •^'"'" '' ^i» excite throughout the country. Thia project we sball proceed brieffy to set forth:- •' > "lav •' I 27 First of ail, they wish to repeal the existing duties on agricul- tural products, but asthis subject bas been pretty fully disciissed, we shall forbear any remarks on it for the présent. Secondly, theBoard advisea the Gk)vernment to pass a law to force every trader in the Provjnce to resqîrt to Montréal and Québec for supplies. Veiling their selfish design under cover of a patriotiô désire to préserve to the St. Lawrence its ^rade, they call upon the Administration to remit one third of the duties payable on the various imports, when such importation shall hâve been made via the St. Lawrence. We shall endeavour to illustrate the working of this selfish scheme; A trader wishes to import tea, tobacco, cotton and other productions of the United States. If he conveys his purchases to the country by the most direct route, he may pay, say three pence per Ib. on tea, while the same article brought round by Québec will only paiy two pence per Ib. Now, as a country dealer does not purchase enough for a ship load,the practical opération of the plan proposed would be to force every country trader to purchase his goods in Montréal and Québec. The plan, like most selfish and narrow- minded schemes, would defeat itself. We should srauggle rather than submit to an unjust tax, levied for the benefit of the merchants of Montréal, (they remind us of Shylock) we would amuggle — covertiy if possible — openly and forcibly if necessary. The tea tax cost Great Britain the thirteen Colonies. Any administratiofi that adopta the views of the Montréal Board of Trade is doomed. We do not apprehend, however, that any itatesmen will ever be seduced into a policy so narrow and unjust ; and hâve noticed the project, more to illustrate the contracted view among the Montréal merchants, than from désire to warn the administration of the " decoy duck" placed before them. Our remarks may not be very palatable to those for whote espécial benefit they are intended, but as they are meant for their gpod, and as we happen to be in an officions humour, we shall repeat them our good advice. If our Montréal friends would cease to fritter away their éner- gies on schemes utterly unattainable, and would concentrate their forces upon objects they can attain, there would be no lack of vessels in our noble river, nor any want of craft or produce for our magnificent Canals ; remove the restrictions on the free navigation of the St. Lawrence, and the mighty products of the Great West would as inevitably seek our outlet to the océan as water will ^d its level. Nature designed the St. Lawrence as the sewer of the West, and alUïough short sighted législation may dam the current for a period, in the end, nature will triumph over man, we can hasten natural conséquences or we may retard them, but we cannot stop them. Ir