Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-07-31
of War.

tiripate great national dlttlCuitieS, ana al no
distant day. The first of these causes which
has called for the prompt action Of the EXecu-
tive. were the repeated transformations OF Anne
rican citizens on the Rio Grande, near Matamo-
ros. by matauding bands Of MeXicans and In
dams, authorized or permitted, it seems, Qrom
documents taken from some OF the captured
murderers,) by the commandant at M~atamoros'
Gen. AvaIos, and partially acknowledged IN
subsequent statements over his oW1 signature
Nothing could be stronger than this, it would
anpear, to call for an immediate explanation
from the authorities Of Mexico, and that full
and speedy satisfaction and atonement be rem
dered. But it seems that another occurrence
has lately takan place in this Inflated country,
which, in a political point of view, is far more
serious, if possible, than the last: tins Is the
imprisoning of our Consul, Mr.. Rice, at Aca-
pulco on the Pacific, and the detention Of Anne
rican vessels in that harbor. We are not ac-
quainted with the merits of this case; the Co.
vernment, however, has sustained Mr.. RICE,
and, as in the affair of the maSsacres on the
Rio Grande, has taken immediate steps in the
premises.
The third occurrence of recent date which
calls for the Intervention Of Government, is
the fact that a naturaIized citizen Of the United
States, returning home 10 see his friends, has
been imprisoned ct Hamburgh upon some poll
teal p~retence, where he will doubtless continue
inrarcerated until some decisive action is taken
by This country TO effect his release.
The fourth occurrence of which the light
ning's flash informed us before The slow Wheels
of the steam car had brought the intelligence
and Which is perhaps equally portentous of
seizure of an American fishing vessel by an
English man-of-war. This affair occurred in
the Bay of Fuody. for an alleged iofraclion Of
the fishing convention. Now, without going
into any lengthy detail, it appears that a ( eatv
was made between Great Britain and the Uni
ted States on the 20th Of October, 1918, to
regulate lhe fisheries on the coasts of New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Canada and New
foundIand, By this treaty, or convection. the
United States pledged itself not to fish "within
three marine miles of any coasts, bays. or har-
bors of bis Britannia Maie>ty's dominions in
North America The colonies have for some
time insisted that an Intraction of Ibis conven-
ton has been made by our fishermen, because
they literally and justly construed the meaning
to be three miles from the coast or from any
bay or harbor far r~eSSe!S. The British Govern
ment has listened to the construction of her
coIonist>, and after a lapse Of thirty-tive years
has discovered that our New England fisher
men were really infringing upon her rights,
and that he Ebay" or "harbor" mentioned in
The treaty, included that vast ocean of water
stretching between her dominions on the North
East coas. of Newfoundland and The Southern
cape of Nova Scotia-tbat "taree mi e>" from
a straight line drawn between these two points
was The meaning of the treaty. This remark
able construction cuts off all the fisheries for
citizens, with the exception of a NAL spot
off Newfoundland. The following is the con-
Guiding portion of Nj. WEBsTER's official des-
patch upon this subject:
The vessels of war mentioned in the above
circular dispatch are expected to be upon the
coasts of British North America during the
present month, (JuIy,) when, we doubt not.
will begin TO be made of American
fishing vessels, which in the autumn pursue
their business intents on the coast from which
it IS commended they are excluded by the con-
of 1918.
1t is this construction of the intent and
of the convention OF 1878 for which
the co onies have commended since lS4l, and
they have desired should be enforced.
This the English Government has now, it
would appear, consented to do, and the imme.
d'ate effect will be the loss Of the valuable fall
fishing TO American fisheries, Il complete inter
dlction of the extensive business of New Eng
land, attended by constant collision of the most
unpleasant and exciting character. Uhich mau
end IN The destruction Of human life, in the in
rottement Of the Government an a question of a
uery serious nature, threatening he peace of the
two countries. Not agreeing that the con>truc- {
hon thus put upon the treaty is conformable
to the intention Of the contracting parties, this
Information is however made public, to the end
hat those concerned in the American fisheries
perceive how The case at present stands,
'i'd oe upon tHeiF euafu. i1e Whole subject
wit engage the immediate attention of the
Government. i
The fifth act which has just startled us, look.
NC like war, and serious war, is the massacre
Of MARcy's command by the Indians on the
Plains, and The reliable report that the various
RIDES are banding together to attack our forts
ind villages.
With all these clouds around as at once. it
Gems that one of them must burst upon rs.
whether for good or evil time alone can tell
We are not inclined to swell into grand signi
!canee matters of eamnaratipelr nrdinarr