HISTORY

Widespread Canadian Trade

On July 6th, 1812, Congress enacted the Enemy Trade Act to prevent trade with England in a time of war. It was about as useful hitting a hornet's nest with a short stick. The odd thing was the British position in Canada was untenable without the large quantities of food provided to feed their military by the United States. Effectively British North America started the war in a state of siege.

Fortunately for the British, Americans had a voracious appetite for things English. This created a steady flow of goods in both directions. American General George Izard noted, "an open disregard prevails for the laws prohibiting intercourse with the enemy." Trade with Canada actually increased between 1812 and 1815. British ships regularly obtained supplies from very American ports they were blockading. This fact makes Admiral Cockburn's raids along the Chesapeake hard to understand. By burning farms and property in the United States, his strategy was putting British supply lines at risk.

"Two-thirds of the army in Canada are at the moment eating beef provided by American contractors," declared Governor-General Sir George Prevost in 1814. Ironically, one of these contractors may well have been US General Jacob Brown.

Although most large vessels remained impounded in American ports (at least those not being outfitted as privateers), trade by small vessels was booming all along the New England and Great Lakes coasts. With so few US soldiers under arms and engaged with the conduct of the war, it was impossible to seal even the smallest portion of the border. Especially because smuggling operations were met with active support by civilians on both sides of the line.

Congress gradually gave widespread powers to customs officers in a vain effort to stem the tide (since Canada would have easily fallen due to lack of supplies without US support.) However, not only did customs officials receive no support from the locals, but they also got no support from the courts. Judges all over the northern United States were frequently involved in business dealings in Canada themselves and had no incentive to shut down any trade with British North America.