Willing that the existing regulations should continue in
effect; but Canada is ready to enter into engagements with the view of
improving the means of access to the ocean, provided the assurance be
given that the trade of the Western States will not be diverted from
its natural channel by legislation; and if the United States are not
prepared at present to consider the general opening of their coasting
trade, it would appear desirable that, as regards the internal waters
of the Continent, no distinction should be made between the vessels of
the two countries.
"'If the foregoing points be satisfactorily arranged, Canada is willing
to adjust her excise duties upon spirits, beer and tobacco upon the
best revenue standard which may be mutually adopted after full
consideration of the subject; and if it be desired to treat any other
articles in the same way the disposition of the Canadian Government is
to give every facility in their power to prevent illicit trade.
"'With regard to the transit trade, it is suggested that the same
regulations should exist on both sides and be defined by law. Canada is
also prepared to make her patent laws similar to those of the United
States.
"'WASHINGTON, D.C.,
"'Feb. 2, 1866.'"
"'MEMORANDUM B.
"'In response to the Memorandum of the Hon. Mr. Galt and his
associates, Hon. Mr. Smith, Hon. Mr. Henry, and the Hon. Mr. Howland,
the Committee of Ways and Means, with the approval of the Secretary of
the Treasury, are prepared to recommend to the House of Representatives
for their adoption a law providing for the continuance of some of the
measures embraced in the Reciprocity Treaty, soon to expire, viz. - For
the use and privileges as enjoyed now under said treaty in the waters
of Lake Michigan, provided the same rights and privileges are conceded
to the citizens of the United States by Canada in the waters of the St.
Lawrence and its canals as are enjoyed by British subjects, without
discrimination as to tolls and charging rates proportioned to canal
distance; also for the free transit of goods, wares, and merchandize in
bond, under proper regulations, by railroad across the territory of the
United States to and from Portland and the Canada line; provided equal
privileges shall be conceded to the United States from Windsor or Port
Sarnia, or other western points of departure to Buffalo or Ogdensburg,
or any other points eastward, and that the free ports established in
the Provinces shall be abolished; also the bounties now given to
American fishermen shall be repealed, and duties not higher imposed
upon fish than those mentioned in Schedule A., provided that all the
rights of fishing near the shores existing under the treaty heretofore
mentioned shall be granted and conceded by the United States to the
Provinces, and by the Provinces to the United States.
"'It is also further proposed that the following list of articles shall
be mutually free: -
Burr Millstones, unwrought.
Cotton and Linen Rags.
Firewood.
Grindstones, rough or unfinished.
Gypsum or plaster, unground.
"'SCHEDULE A.
FISH - Mackerel $1 50 per bbl
" Herrings, pickled or salted 1 00 "
" Salmon 2 50 "
" Shad 2 00 "
" All other, pickled 1 50 "
"'Provided that any fish in packages other than barrels shall pay in
proportion to the rates charged upon similar fish in barrels.
All other Fish 1/3 cent per lb
"'As to the duties which will be proposed upon the other articles
included in the treaty, the following are submitted, viz.-
Animals, living, all sorts 20 per cent ad val
Apples and Garden Fruit and Vegetables 10 " "
Barley 15 cts per bushel
Beans (except Vanilla or Castor Oil) 30 " "
Beef 1 ct per lb
Buckwheat 10 cts per bushel
Butter 4 " lb
Cheese 4 " "
Corn (Indian) and Oats 10 cts per bushel
Corn-meal (Indian) and Oatmeal 15 " "
Coal, bituminous 50 " ton
" all other 25 " "
Flour 25 per cent, ad val
Hams 2 cts per lb
Hay $1 00 per ton
Hides 10 per cent ad val
Lard 3 cts per lb
Lumber -
Pine, round or in the log $1 50 per M
" sawed or hewn 2 50 "
" planed, tongued and grooved or finish'd 25 per cent ad val
Spruce and Hemlock, sawed or hewn $1 00 per M
Planed, finished or partly finished 25 per cent ad val
Shingle bolts 10 " "
Shingles 20 " "
All other, of Black Walnut, Chesnut, Bass,
White Wood, Ash, Oak, round, hewed or sawed 20 " "
Planed, tongued and grooved or finished 25 " "
Ores 10 " "
Peas 25 cts per bushel
Pork 1 ct per lb
Potatoes 10 cts per bushel
Seed, Timothy, and Clover 20 per cent ad val
Trees, Plants and Shrubs, Ornamental and Fruit 15 " "
Tallow 2 cts per lb
Wheat 20 cts per bushel
"'MEMORANDUM C.
"'In reference to the Memorandum received from the Committee of Ways
and Means, the Provincial Delegates regret to be obliged to state that
the proposition therein contained in regard to the commercial relations
between the two countries is not such as they can recommend for the
adoption of their respective Legislatures. The imposts which it is
proposed to lay upon the productions of the British Provinces on their
entry into the markets of the United States are such as in their
opinion will be in some cases prohibitory, and will certainly seriously
interfere with the natural course of trade. These imposts are so much
beyond what the delegates conceive to be an equivalent for the internal
taxation of the United States, that they are reluctantly brought to the
conclusion that the Committee no longer desire the trade between the
two countries to be carried on upon the principle of reciprocity. With
the concurrence of the British Minister at Washington, they are
therefore obliged respectfully to decline to enter into the engagement
suggested in the memorandum, but they trust that the present views of
the United States may soon be so far modified as to permit of the
interchange of the productions of the two countries upon a more liberal
basis.
