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Tha copy filmvd h«ra hat baan raoroducad thanks 
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 Legislature du Quebec 
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 1 2 3 
 
 4 5 6 
 
THE 
 
 OPENING 
 
 or 
 
 THE NAVIGATION 
 
 OF 
 
 »ai!2 Sff^ BiAWmiaW©! 
 
 ^ 
 
 CONSIDERED. 
 
 NOVEMBER 20th, 1828. 
 
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 The Opening of the JSTavigation of the St. Lawrence. 
 
 considered. 
 
 November 20th, 1828. 
 
 Thirty years since the Island of Cuba, or Port of 
 New Orleans, was deemed by not a few essential in 
 the English Scale, to counteract the influence which 
 the United States would one day exercise in rela- 
 tion to British supremacy on the ocean ; the present 
 trade of the Western States, and great extention of 
 the United States was not then in view, the 
 trade by the Mississippi, it may be stated, will in a 
 few years out run the most extravagant estimate, 
 notwithstanding the efforts which are making 
 by the States of New York, Pennsylvania, 
 Maryland, and Virginia, by means of their canals 
 and rail-roads now in progress, to draw part of 
 the commerce from its natural outlet, the Missis- 
 sippi, through these Atlantic States. Such efforts 
 are by artificial means, and are onerous, clogged 
 with many obstacles, and will entail heavy and 
 unavoidable imposts. If it is so important an object 
 to the Atlantic States, to draw a portion of the 
 Western commerce, through their artificial ducts, 
 what should be the policy of his Majesty's Govern- 
 ment, when they look at the map and perceive 
 that the great British outlet by the St. Lawrence, 
 washes a lake and river Navigation of about four 
 thousand miles, running into the Western States, 
 and reaching towards the rocky mountains? As 
 it is deemed so important by the States to in- 
 cur so much expense in making Canals and rail- 
 ways to obtain a portion of the trade, is it not worth 
 
serious reflection on the part of his Majesty's Go- 
 vernment, to consider how far British interests may 
 be promoted by opening the Navigation of the St. 
 Lawrence to the Western trade of the United 
 States ? The subject should le taken in a two-fold 
 light ; politically, and commercially— and first po- 
 litically. 
 
 May we not view Quebec as possessing all the 
 / advantages which the Politicans to whom I refered 
 anowed to New-Orleans, provided the navigation 
 of the St. Lawrence should be thrown open ? The 
 States of Vermont, New-York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, 
 Michigan, to them I might add Kentucky and Ten- 
 nessee, by means of the canals now in progress, 
 would all become deeply interested in the free navi- 
 gation of the St. Lawrence. Far be it from me to 
 adopt the Michavelian policy of cherishing distinct 
 interests between the States, in order to promote 
 British interests, on the contrary, my aim is to per- 
 petuate peace by giving them an interest in the navi- 
 gation of the St. Lawrence, which would be de- 
 stroyed by a war, as it cannot be understood by 
 any but by such as have been resident in the United 
 States, what an amazing influence a small interest, 
 •ast by a judicious policy into the scale of any party, 
 •an produce on the public measures of the Repub- 
 lic, but setting apart any considerations tending 
 to keep alive British interests in a people not subject 
 to the crown of England, I will endeavour to show 
 that the opening of the trade of the St. Lawrence 
 is a measure fraught with interest to Canada, 
 and to the British Empire : and here an objec- 
 tion may bo stated by Mich as will aUege that 
 
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 I 
 
 the opening this trade would create a school for 
 navigators inimical to British interests, who would 
 be ready to unite in conquering and separating Ca- 
 nada from England. Results of a character quite 
 opposite to this doctrine may be expected, when 
 the navigation of the River is opened, as every man 
 whose trade would lead him to the West, would 
 become interested in every measure tending to 
 preserve it open, and, as has been hinted at, hostile 
 to what would interfere with, or interrupt it. 
 
 Let the Americans bordering on, or connected 
 with the lakes and river, feel they have an interest in 
 the open trade of the river, and the general govern- 
 ment of the United States will find it difficult to enter 
 mto a war so long as we possess Quebec, there- 
 by wielding such power of checking or promoting 
 the interests of their commerce ; nor will they rea- 
 dily support any President, or any measures which 
 may endanger their commercial prosperity. But 
 to leave these high and momentous questions to the 
 statesman, it may be fitter to meet the objections 
 which will flow from the adoption of the proposed 
 measure. 
 
 There are some who fear that the trade would 
 be cWefly carried on by Americans, and that 
 1^ rench and China goods would be introduced into 
 Canada. That such might be introduced into the 
 United States by that channel, in consequence of 
 the lugh tariff lately passed in the States is proba- 
 ble, but the measure contended for can excite no 
 fears as to a contraband trade injurious to British 
 interest. In fact, the danger arising from smug- 
 gling would rest entirely with the States. But 
 
if the British merchant enjoyed the same privi- 
 leges in the Cliina trade as the American mer- 
 chant, great advantages would arise to the port 
 of Quebec, separate from the duties that the 
 introduction of these foreign articles would supply 
 to the Colonial treasury. 
 
 The narrow and selfish policy of the East India 
 Company, though driven to send teas to Quebec, 
 still operates on those arrangments, which private 
 merchants would obviate, not only in the selection 
 of teas suitable to the market, but also to sell them 
 at such a rate as would make the market of Canada 
 assume that position as to the United States, 
 which the latter lately possessed in relation to the 
 Colonies ; viz. the warehouse for the supply of 
 their teas, and India manufactures. 
 
 Another cause of apprehension, is the admission 
 of American produce or manufacture into Canada. 
 This objection could only be made by those igno- 
 rant of the trade, as the protecting duties and char- 
 ges bemg equal to 50 per cent, on the importation 
 of manufacturers into the States, which American 
 manufacturers deem inadequate to enable them 
 to compete with the British in the United States : 
 in fact there is no article of consumption in the 
 Canadas but what may be afforded by the British 
 much lower than by the American manufacturer, 
 and by thus opening the navigation British manu- 
 factures can and will find their way into the heart 
 of the United States. Did clearer views prevail 
 as to freedom of commerce, there is no part of the 
 i empire where it could be exercised with more 
 effect for the advantage of the British raanu- 
 
 ' 
 
• 
 
 tkcturer and shipping interest, than in Canada. 
 In the opening of the trade I would propose 
 to confine the Americans to carry to the sea 
 the produce of their own soil only, and to bring up 
 such articles only as were to be landed in their q\ou 
 ports. 
 
 In like manner British vessels should alone 
 convey to the ports in the United States, on the 
 St. Lawrence, or Lakes, s :ch articles as are 
 supplied by Canada. The policy of admiting 
 American vessels to the navigation of the Canada 
 canals, under the above restrictions, is further evi- 
 dent, as enriching the Province by the transit, and 
 the consequent expenditure thereon, but by such 
 concession on the part of his Majesty, a cor- 
 responding arrangement might be looked for in 
 opening the canals of the Union to British boats 
 on the same terms to his Majesty's subjects, as the 
 citizens of the United States should enjoy in 
 passing of the British canals, as such facilities would 
 enable the colony to convey, by the Erie canal, to 
 Jamaica, the flour, pork and beef of their market, 
 and in return bring back rum, molasses, and salt 
 trom the Bahamas, so essential for curing provisions 
 for the West India markets. The flax seed, also, 
 which could be raised in large quantities in Upper 
 Canada, for which is paid amiually to the United 
 States, £150,000*%., could be sent to Ireland by 
 the same route ; for the want of which privilege the 
 growth of that article has not been cultivated, as 
 the late opening of the St. Lawrence precludes 
 the shipment until at a season too far advanced be- 
 yond the period of sowing that crop in Ireland. 
 
The writer of these observations has ftilly coii^ 
 sidered an arrangement to guard against any aouse 
 of the privilege by either parties in the proposed 
 trade, as it respects smugglmg, which it is unneces- 
 sary to set forth at present, as also to guard against 
 the vessel or boats of either carrying other than 
 the produce of, and for their respective countries. 
 These he is prepared to communicate ; indeed, 
 he sees m the measure of a regulated free port in 
 Canada, as it respects the products of France, 
 China, and other countries, consequences of such 
 vast magnitude, and of such a bearing on our 
 manufactures and shipping, that he prefers detailin 
 them in separa.,e article. 
 
 icr 
 
 CHATHAPd. 
 
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