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ADDRESS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FREE TRADE ASSOCIATION, 
 
 TO THE 
 
 INHABITANTS OF CANADA. 
 
 Fellow Counthymen, 
 
 A crisis hns arrived in (he rotnmorcial iifliiirs of this Culoiiy which ilemands ti)e hest energies, the 
 (lovotcd attention of all concerned in tlic welfiirc of its various rising interests. 
 
 That crisis has arisen from the new Commercial Policy of ihe MoiIkm- Coun'iry — a Polif y which strikes at 
 the root of protection in every shape, exposing at oncj this Colony and liie Mother Country to the severest 
 ullects of unrestricted competition. To wise t)l)jections to this Policy wouUI not only he idle, hut inconsistent 
 with the ohjects of this Association. 
 
 Believing, as we do, that the principle of Free Trade, applied generally to the commerce of a country, is 
 sound, and the wisest, under all circumstances, for a nation to adopt in order to s<;cure the prosperity of all 
 classes ; helievingalso, (since the Mother Country is depriving us of the favor we have hitherto enjoved in her 
 markets,) that the prosperity of Canada can only he maintained hy its trade heing ri'nilered /'rpf, allowing 
 Industry and Capital to seek out their natural distribution and employment; hut apprehensive at the same time 
 that our Legislature is not yet prepared to give cfl'ect hy law to those liberal views, we hav(> deemed it prudent 
 and expedient to form ourselves into an Association for the purpose of collecting in one body all who agree in 
 opinion with us. By this means we shall extend our influence, consolidate our views and interests, attain unity 
 of purpose and acticui, and thereby place ourselves in a position to secure the ascendancy of our principles in the 
 Commercial Laws of the Province. 
 
 United on the basis of Free Trade, we shall respectfully but fn-mly dcman<l, in the (irst |)lace, the removal 
 of all Imperial Acts imposing discriminating or regulating duties; in the second jilace, the upeal of all duties, 
 Imperial and Local, levied on American Wheat, Proviyions, or Corn of any kind whatsoever; and lastly, wo 
 pledge ourselves to resist by every lawful means, llie future enarlment of any Prote<live, Proliibiti\(', < r merely 
 Regulating Duties whatever — believing such to be detrimental to the general interests of society, and at vari- 
 anci; with sound policy. 
 
 Wo further avow that we entertain the opinion that Duties should be levied solelv for ibe purpose of crent- 
 iUj,' Revenue to [irovide for the necessities of (Jovermnent, and ilie extension of internal improvements; and 
 that, for these objects, such articles only should be selected for Duty as will alli)rd it wiiliout restricting or fetter^ 
 ing the general Commerce — the Cariyiug Trade — or the Agricultural Indusir; of the country. 
 
 Declaring these to bo our guiding principles and opini.ins, we now earnestly invite men of all classes 
 throughout the I'rovince, to combine andco-operatc with us to give lliein practical elfecl, by carrying them through 
 the Legislature. VV'e call upon our fellow-citizens to enrol their names upon our hooks, and our fellow-subjects 
 at a distance to form Branches, in connection with this Central Association. , ; 
 
 The Commerce and Iiulustry of this Colony, as yet in their infancy, and hitherto nourished under an unsound, 
 system of Protective Stimulants, will soon ho left to. seek out their natural channels; and fortunate will it l)c 
 for our common welfare, if, by our united etlorts, we now succeed in planting the principle of Free Trade in onr 
 Commensal syNtem. Then, — hut not till then, — may we hope to make the Saint Lawrence the highway for 
 the rich products of the teeming West — to devolope tho vast resources of this rising Colony — and to secure for 
 her people the highest possible share of prosperity and hap[)itiess 
 
 We shall now address a few words to the Canadian Agriculturist, to sjitisfy him that he has nothing to leai 
 from Free Trade ; hut tiiat, on the contraiy, he will derive advantage from it in common with every other 
 member of the community. We are aware tho opinion ptevaiis that Protective Duties enhance prices, and we 
 nlmll consequently take some pains to remove tiiis fullacy. 
 
All writers of piniiKiice on ilic iiiliifci of Fuliii .iil Ei'onomv ; iiU close ami earnest ubscrvcrs of (lie course of 
 Trade, iigrt'i- in opinion that wlitTL' ti country is in tliu liiiliit of fX|iorlin!f any surplus Prothice, tlie price in tho 
 market she mainly depends on, as her customer, regulates the value of the whole to the Producer. Canada is in 
 that position. She has for many years past been an Exporter of Agricultural Produce, partly her own growth, 
 and partly naturalized American ; and the course of jirices hasever heun regulated by the value in tho markets to 
 which such surplus was sent. To prove this to tho satisfaction of all rcascmable men, it will only be necessary, wo 
 think, to review prices hero for the Inst six years. We adopt tliisterm as most likely to t^arry conviction to the mintk 
 of Agriculturists, because it enables us to compare pricesduringtwopeiiods of directly oppasitecharacter. During 
 the first period American Wheat was admitted duty free ; during tho latter it was subject to a duty of 3s. sterling 
 per quarter. Let us now compare die average price of Flour in the said years in the Montreal Market; taking 
 Flour as our criterion, r.ot as being better adapted to our purpose, but because* the Market prices are Ixitter fixed 
 .ind more readily got at. We shall place tin sc prices in parallel columns, that the principle we are contemling 
 for may be obvious at a glance, viz ; that, to tho Canadian Agriculturist prices are not enhanced, by Protective 
 Duties, but depend on the Market to which his produce is sent. 
 
 Thus, when American Wheat was admitted into j American Wheat subject to a duly of 3s, sterling 
 Canada /rer, prices Were as follows, t. f. the average • per quarter : 
 of the vear : — Average prices of the year ; — 
 
 1840, 26s. lOd. 
 
 1841, 28s. 5d. 
 
 \M2, 30s. Od. 
 
 Average of tlireo years,. 28s. 5d. 
 
 1843 25s, 7d. 
 
 1844, 25s. 3.1. 
 
 1845, ■. 27,s. 2d. 
 
 Average of llireo years,. .2Cs. 
 
 Who now will contend with these fiicts before him that prices are enhanced by Protective Duties, or that 
 such duties favour in the .slightest degree the pros|K'rily of the Canadian farmer ? We call upon bim, therefore, 
 (o unite with us to rid the country of such fettering duties, which plaiidy have no elTect but that of crippling il.s 
 Industry, and restricting its Commerce. Let him also bear in mind, that our ])lan, if fully carried out, will 
 rboapen every commodity which he requires for his daily u.so ; for, by removing all Discriminating and Hcgula- 
 ting Duties, we shall enable him and every other consumer, to obtain his Sugar and hi.sTea, his wearing apparel 
 and his luxuries, wherever ho can procure them cheapest. 
 
 We now proceed, in the deve'opment of our plan, to show the incalculable advantages that will result to 
 Canadian Commerce and the Carrying Trade, by removing all duties and restrictions from Am"rican Produce. 
 
 First, we .shall show the amount of prmluce collected annually on the shores of our great inland waters and 
 brought to this city for distribution to the various markets of consumption ; next, the vast (pianli'y that passes 
 through the Erie Canal, seeking a market at New York, and other American jKirts ; and la-^tly we shall 
 show that it is in the power of Canada to diver! a large share of this latter trade through her own waters, if lier 
 people and Legislature will promptly give cfi'ect to the lil)eral and enlarged policy wiiich it is the object of this 
 As.sociation to advocate and urge. 
 
 If 
 
 No. 1. — Table shewing the quantity of Produce brought by the St. Lawrence to the City of Montreal in 
 the year 1845. 
 
 POHK. 
 
 Brls. 
 
 Beef. 
 
 IJrIs. 
 
 Lard. 
 
 Kegs. 
 
 Flour. 
 
 Hrls. 
 
 Wheat. 
 
 Bush. 
 
 'Other Grain. 
 Bu.sh. 
 
 Ashes. 
 Brls. 
 
 Butter. 
 
 Kegs. 
 
 G109 
 
 723 
 
 461 
 
 590,305 I 450,209 40781 
 
 33,000 
 
 8112 
 
 No. 2. — Table shewing the quantity of Produce carried through the Erie Canal in the year 1Q45. 
 
 Pork. 
 Brls. 
 
 Beef. 
 Brls. 
 
 Laud. 
 
 Lbs. 
 
 G364G 
 
 7 699 
 
 Ft,o0h. 
 Brls. 
 
 Wheat. 
 
 Bu.sh. 
 
 Corn. 
 
 Bush. 
 
 I Flaxseed. I Ashrh. | 
 1 Lbs. Brls. 
 
 3064800 ' 25ir250 I 1020033 
 
 35803 
 
 8303960 
 
 80646 
 
 From the foregoing Tables, it will be seen that the quantity carried through the latter channel is enormous 
 as compared with the former. It Incomes then a question of vital importance, whether a portion of this trade 
 ran be attracted ibrongb the St. Lawrence. We bcdieve that it can, liccausc the cheapest conveyance to tho 
 sea-board and to the mamifacl:::ing districts of New England must win tho prize ; and who will deny that the 
 securing of this prize is not \V( rlh our liest and united exertions ? • •■ - ^ ;.,•. ^4;: 
 
 The cheapening of the n cans of transit is the great object to be attained ; and our best practical authori- 
 ties are firmly of opinion iha', the Saint Lawn nee will lie made the cheapest route as soon as our chain of inland 
 improvements is rendered complete. They afilrm that the cost of trnnsfwrting a barrel of Flour, from Detroit to 
 Montreal, will not exceed Is. 6d. to Is. 9d. The diflficulty will then be to secure a Port of ci.nstant access to the 
 sea ; and that difficulty will be overcome by the enrly completion of the ]irojected Portland Rail-way ; a road 
 
 I 
 
bourse of 
 
 |o ill (1)0 
 
 lada is in 
 
 I growlli, 
 
 jrkets to 
 
 nry, wo 
 
 he minck 
 
 During 
 
 sterling 
 
 t; taking 
 
 Iter fixed 
 
 Intondiiig 
 
 rrotectivo 
 
 sterling 
 
 I 
 
 ■I 
 
 that will place us wliliin a day'.s Journey of tliui uity, the harbour of which may be made the safest and clieapcst on 
 till! Cuiitiiieiit of America. Hy that route, >vc shall avoid the occasional dangers and inconveniences of the St. 
 Lawrence from Montreal outwards, practically yecuru n longer season for Trade in the fall of the year — and 
 safely reckon on freights to Liverpool as low as those from New York. But what is equally important to the 
 Transit Trade to England, is tliis: that by rendering our charges cheaper than those through the Erie Canal to 
 Boston, we shall secure the Transit Trade to that great City, and all other Eastern Markets, as well as the sup- 
 plying of our sister Colonies, commonly known as the Lower Ports. This picture may appear too flattering to 
 those who have not investigated the subject ; hut to sucii wo say, • ainintition will convince them that, with tiio Saint 
 Lawrence as a highway, and Portland as an outlet to the Sea, we iJiall be enabled successfully to struggle for 
 the mighty Trade of the West, and bid defiance to competition on the more artificial route of the Erie Canal. 
 But there is no time for slumbering ; inactivity at this crisis would be fatal to o»jr hopes ; even the very produce 
 of Western Canada may be carried, in spite of us, through American Channels, unless we immediately carry 
 out the completion of our own. 
 
 Wo may also hero remind the Canadian farmer, at whatever place he may bt situated, that every 
 saving cfTectod in the means of bringing his produce to market, adds in the same degree to the value of his 
 Wheat and every other marketable product of the soil he cultivates. And here it may not be out of place to add 
 that, repudiating all sectional feelings, we seek no advantage for classes, no peculiar advantage for Montreal 
 over other parts of the Province ; we advot^ate, on the contrary, the general interests of Producers and Consumers 
 — tlic general welfare of the community. \ 
 
 In connection with the foregoing we shall now briefly advert to the Regulation Acts imposed by the Mother 
 Country, for the purpose of securing harmony in the working of her Commercial Policy. These Acts wore car- 
 ried when England's Policy was protective, and we had no right or interest to complain of them. Now jicr policy 
 i(i founded on the opposite principle, that of Free- Trade, and it becomes the duty of this Colony to object to 
 their continuance, as incompatible with the welfare and development of her resources and interests. We al- 
 lude now to the Irr.|ierial duties on American Produce and Provisions generally. England can have no interest 
 now in maintaining these fetters on our Trade, and will doubtless remove ihcm as soon as their objectionable 
 effects are fairly and legitimately brought under her notice. 
 
 The Imperial duties upon Foreign Manufactures are also objectionable, as being at variance with the Im- 
 perial maxim of legislation : — " That it is true policy to buy in the cheapest and sell in the dearest Market." 
 They are also at variance with the doctrine laid down by Mr. Goulbourn the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in 
 the late debates in the House of Commons, " that Canada has no right to complain as long as she is placed on 
 " the same footing as the inhabitants of the Mother Country." 
 
 Accepting thi.< doctrine as sound, this Association shall deem it its duty to demand the removal of all Impe- 
 rial Acts levying Discriminating Duties on articles of foreign manufacture ; thus leaving us free to obtain our 
 supplies wherever they can be procured ohea])est. 
 
 We conclude by again api)ealing to the Canadian Public to combine with us to give effect to the principles 
 of Free Trade in our Commercial policy — the only policy which can secure prosperity and rapid development 
 to our great resources and the rising interests of all classes of society. 
 In the name of the 
 
 Free Trade Association, 
 
 .JOHN YOUNG, 
 
 Chairmnii. 
 OrricE OF THE Free Tiiade Association,) 
 Montreal, March, ISIO. <i