The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-21
IA. H,shsry Question:.
Efon tke Lo.den IyMe., AsEu.t 8.

TAs FISHERY Question. .,.g,~
ee.ts Fsoa he Losdon 7yme., August g. .
When the Senate Of the United States proceeded,
on the 23d OF July, TO discuss and to adopt Mr..
Mason's proposition with reference 70 the fisheries
America, that body had received no official infor
nation on the subject beyond Mr.. Wcbster's COM
munication 70 the newspapers; and, by it, Consti:
tation, no member O. me Governmsnt could be
The consequences was, that q considerable amount
Of hAsty invective and erroneous imputation was
discharged against the British government. The
facts aud the law Of the case were alike misrepre-
sented; and debate ensued Of 60 desutory aud in
temperate character, that we cannot but express
regret that such spirit should be manifested
on 20 little provocation by he most sedate and
statesmanlike assembly In the United States
misstated. II has never been the Intention Of the
British government 10 contest the rights which
American fishermen have been enjoying under the
messiy to protect the rights reserved to our own
fisheries, and expressly renowned by the United
States by that convention. Mr.. Case went go far
a. to assert that "the treaty was now over thirty
years old, and that il clearly recognised the right
Of the Americans to fish within three miles Of any
shore" IL he had looked ut the convention he
would have seen that it IL just the reverse. The
United States thereby renounced, and forever, any
liberty to take fish on or within three marine miles
Of the coasts, bays, SC, not specified In tho treaty
Il IL deplorable 10 see popular prejudices inflamed
by such gross misstatements as his.
The convention of 1918 was not limitation of
rights previously enjoyed BY the fisheries Of the
United States; but, ON the contrary, II wns a con-
cession to the United States of the right to fishing
ON certain parts of the COATS Of Newfoundland and
Labrador, British possessions, In lieu Of the right
Of fshing granted by the treaty of 1888, which had
been abrogated by the war Of 1919 The British
government of the day was strongly attacked for
L. Thin concession wac geographically defined. in
ss e eSa made y ss
tanned what they asked for, they solemnly re
nounced all the rest. Upon this point we haye
direct evidence in the words Of Mr.. Rush himself.
states in the narrative Of his residence at the court
Of London, that the most difficult part Of his task
was to secure the permanence Of this arrangement,
BY the insertion of the words "for ever" and he
adds: 1872. 3d. H.. ,r .. -...s.
ut was by our act that the United States re-
to them by the convention. That clause did not
6nd place in the British counter project. We
deemed i proper, frst 70 exclude the implication
sscoad, TO place tho rights secured and renounced
on the came footing OF permanences third that it
might expressly appear that our remuneration was
limited to three miles from the coasts"
"a Nothing can be more conclusive. The question
now raised 10 not about tho rights then conceded
to the United States. which are andisputed, but
about the right they formally renowned. But
they cannot lay claim to the one without admit
ding the Remuneration Of the other So much is
this the case, that when the right Of the Americans
70 fab of Newfoundland was disputed by the
French government in 1921 and 1928, o corra-
spondence took place between MIR. Monroe and M.
de Chateaubriand, in which the American Govern
ment took it's stand on this very convention Of
1918, and insisted its execution; and the Brtish
government, az sovereign in Newfoundland, con-
Cured In that view. hut the present discussion
arises with reference TO the sheries of Nova Scotia
aud k,ck~ SuV IA
the convention of 1918, except under this general
renunciation. and Newfoundland seems to have
been needlessly mixed up with the question.
This 10 not the first time that discussions have
arisen with reference to fisheries of these coasts,
or that American vessels have been seized by Brit
ish cruisers for intruding into British waters In
l666, for instance, correspondence took place
with reference to the seizure of the Washington
and Of the Argus under similar circumstances; and
Il appears from a despatch of Mr.. Everett, then
American Minister in Lopdon, that Lord Aber
deem intimated to him, by q note Of the 10th of
March, l645, that "the British government would
ing their occupation in the Bay Of Fundy.' TO
Judge of the full force and value of this communi
cation it would be necessary to see the whole cor
respoAdence; but the mere TACT that this permits
eeded by the English government and accepted
by the Americana, clearly denotes that they
and that the right Of granting OF with
az neyss soU" S;nee bnyysvsr the e Rritish
S.crss.sru IF Stsi. f. Eorss.n Aff.;r. thnnnht
m ~ me- that corss.sor ~ Ysas The Aass;cs ns
naiSht ;ustIv expect some clear notification If il
80 =, nv snhsenn.nt ne,iod n ha n;thdr.wn ~
a. W.ts;.r Soes MT snnssr 70 has. hesn awsrc
- INA sssstcncs If this dpcnnsn. aSsn he wrote
~; s.st $500 NC. to-, 80 h.a 49, !, ~. ar
800 N ..cnnd Istte-. "a !. !. nnt ;nonoss;hIo
Hat the - ~ nS xner;cncs IN bcr ma
;.s.1,. .ovsrnrnSsnt ID M i..sh,,r,, e.; iohn
Pst;nuson. nd the oneen,s Advocote ysra ennsiiu
uninfarmed. But in Marcb. isIs' Lord Derry was
S;,a.aif $500 ~ &C., e. ~ co,.,is 80 %i :,
annssrs from The tenor a. M. Everett;s dssnatch
tisdt ~ snh;ect uas snre..i,, Trr.J ~ th Eo,n'
n;si Ssfs;cs INA thsrsE,r. IN ~ o. ~ =, ~.
dste r nj much ssnens;bie far the Concession in
ihs Raw Of Eundv M Tnrd herdser h;noseif Snr
~ coicr;. ;nters.,s G.cs. E a. ,,a.s na.s ~,
nnder bia charge Th.t nos. - csrs.;nlp . niss ~
Guor IF the ~ $3.50. p'a ~
en;ovment ~ 6.h;ns, !; sh,p 4, tha NJ ~ E,ndu
wS;:h do nnt i.rsiiS hsfcno - ,hsrn R,t a,,hom
rnnr..sv rsr,rtsss ~. .s.s o,a.aa;s .hn,iJ ~
- -;thJ ,;.hrs,t I s,;,h~. .,,;o. -
1890. \. .aa $500 u, 100 :. 10 :.u .:"s ;
&C., c.a,s ~ IL: liz ~. ~ ou .Sn
nsn.Iv nhro~stsd -. T.. ~ 80 ~, ~ Socra
ssrw c. 49, ~ - no'e H .n sue S.o ',.,
49, v. Soso w .ac sassto OeuSs 0ho VIC 0aiAo Po~