The Committee, after careful consideration at a full meeting, was unanimous in its report. And as the Committee represents all parts of the country and all sentiments of the Senate, I have thought that perhaps there might be a similar unanimity among Senators. Therefore I forbear all further remarks, and ask for a vote.
On motion of Mr. Hale, of New Hampshire, the further consideration of the question was postponed.
January 11, 1865, it was resumed, when Mr. Hale spoke against the notice. He was followed by Mr. Sumner.
Mr. President,—The Reciprocity Treaty has a beautiful name. It suggests at once exchange, equality, equity; and it is because it was supposed to advance these ideas practically that this treaty was originally accepted by the people of the United States. If, however, it shall appear, that, while organizing an exchange, it forgets equality and equity in any essential respect, then must a modification be made in conformity with just principles.
I mean to be brief, but I hope, though brief, to make the proper conclusion apparent. It is a question for reason, and not for passion or sentiment, and in this spirit I enter upon the discussion.
The treaty may be seen under four different heads, as it concerns, first, the fisheries,—secondly, the navigation of the St. Lawrence,—thirdly, the commerce between the United States and the British provinces,—and, fourthly, the revenue of the United States.
1. The fisheries have been a source of anxiety throughout our history, even from the beginning, and for several years previous to the Reciprocity Treaty they had been the occasion of mutual irritation, verging at times on positive outbreak. The treaty was followed by entire tranquillity, which has not been for a moment disturbed. This is a plain advantage not to be denied. But, so far as I have been able to examine official returns, I do not find any further evidence showing the value of the treaty in this connection, while opinions, even among those most interested in the fisheries, are divided. There are partisans for it in Gloucester, and partisans against it in Maine.
If the treaty related exclusively to the fisheries, I should not be willing to touch it,—although the circumstance that representatives of these interests differ with regard to its value may leave it open to debate. But the practical question remains, whether any seeming advantage in this respect is sufficient to counterbalance the disadvantage in other respects.