Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-21

Now, provincial newspapers are authority one side of
case, am sure that they equally the other
very happy to produce uh for the purpose of
ing the equanimy Of the Senate read from the New
Brunswcker provincial paper Of the date of August g.
1852:
"Neary all the American papers we have seen labor under
the erroneous impression that the Imperial Government
about 70 enforce the legal construction given the
ton Of 1918 by the Grown officers England and
Americans from hshng except the distance Of three
rne miles outside OF lines drawn from headland headand
We have good authority asserting such Is not the
1t is quite true that since the opinion of the Attorney General
Advocate General England was given upon the
submitted by the Legislature Of Nova Scotia the
of that colony the urgent request Of the fishermen has
evinced desire to carry out the extreme legal view that
conventions but the Imperial Government has steadily
ed take that view Of the case concevng that American
fishermen might properly claim fish any where outside Of
three miles OF part of the coasts of British North Amer
ca, within bays more than six miles wide
"Actng under this impression, the Imperial Government
has for some sent few other smaller
armed vessels to cruise during the fishing along
shores Of the colonies prevent foreign vessels from
within three miles OF the land But these had each
large extent coast to watch over that the dutv
keeping foreign fishermen three miles from land was in
differently performed and the trespases and
have consequently increased every year. until they could be
borne longer The colonies found they must take the a
fair into their hands, else abandon their shore fisheries
the people of the United States who by the convention
ISIS renowned any liberty heretofore enjoyed
claimed to take dry fish in within three marine
miles Of any Of the coasts bays creeks harbors Of her
| sMajestys domnions in America.
ut owing to these determined on the part
of the colonies that the Imperial Government resolved
giving efficient assistance protect the North American fish
ees and this assistance offered, neighbors will
learn not with the view Of enforcing the rigid legal
strucon given to the convention but absolutely prevent
the colonial cruisers from carrying that very
vessels OF foreign but friendly Power 1t to the
OF peace and prevent the possibility Of hostile
counters that the Imperial Government has dispatched its
vessels to the shores OF North America"
Sir, there presumption which, it seems to me- we
ought to have admitted that would prevailed against
the sounding forth of these idle alarms For one
no evidence that England desires and is determined to
maintain her power wherever she and to fory and
extend the world wherever she may consistently
with the rights of other nations and perhaps without
very careful regard in all instances to those rights But
on the other hand, want evidence satisfy that
England desires peace with the United States.
The vast commerce of the world is practically divided
between these two capital maritime Powers and yet
largely in the hands of England The British nation is
mercantile one We also mercantile people, with
whom England deals largely and we are agents in carry
ing large portion Of the of England with
other countries The trade between the two countries
employs ten thousand American vessels, and nine thou
sand British vessels, with aggregate tonnage of three
millions of TONS The comfort and welfare and happiness
of the British nation depend do largely,
the preservation of that commerce War between the
nations would sweep it from the The Ministry
that should involve that nation in with the United
States would be driven from power by public indignation
arising out of universal calamity and distress
| England is manufacturer Her imports in all her do
mains valued by hundreds of millions annually, and
her exports equivalent. She needs raw materials
cotton and wool and other articles and breadstufs and
provisions And to get these while extending the markets
for her manufactures she bends all the policy Of her
mercal and fiscal systems We furnish those ndispensa-
BILE supplies lavishy and consume her fabrics Of IRON
cotton flax, WOOL silver gold every thing in preference
to manufacturing for ourselves. with the United
States would close these relations at once and the art
sans and laborers Of England would be involved in GALA
mites such as they have yet known.
England is creditor nation. We are debtors to her
Heaven knows how much capital is not accumulated in
England 1t capital that has been gathered through
thousand years, by nation Of wonderful and world
searching sagacy industry, and enterprise We employ
of that capital all that obtain for have need of
all to bring at into sudden development and perfec
ton vast and perpetuay extending regions, which for
near six thousand years by civilized unrodden
and unknown. large portion of public debt is
ed in England Large masses of State debts are
owned there In addition to that merchants in
debted TO England / know not how much; but have
known the time when the whole public and private
of the United States less than two hundred
fifty millions Of dollars. The interest on this debt con-
stitutes the support Of considerable portion Of the Brit
sh community
England, then wisely desire nor safely dare
with the United States She knows all this and more
that with the United States about these fisheries
would find the United States able to surround the British
colonies. She would find that the dream of conquest OF
those colonies which broke upon in the dawn
the revolution, when rendered them invitation to
join their fortunes with ours, and followed it with the
sword that dream which returned again in 1872, when
we attempted to subjugate them BY force would come
again. and that now, when have natured the
strength take them should find the Provinces will
lingy consentng captivity about these fisheries
would be which would result either in the indepen-
dence of the British Provinces in their annexation to
the United States. devoutly pray God that that
summation may come-the the better; but do
desire itat the of Of injustice am con-
tent TO wait for the ripened fruit which must fall.
know the wisdom Of England too well believe that she
would hazard shaking that fruit into our hands, for oil
that she could hope to gain by insisting or enforcing
with armed power the rigorous construction Of the
vention concerning the colonial fisheries.
Sir what is the condition Of England for war with the
United States at this moment Her power has been
tended the East and she employs nearly all her
mics in India, and in Africa to maintain herself against
the natives Of the continent and the savages the
other At this very moment, those who understand her
condition best say that her home defences inadequate
to protect her against invasion by France Wise and
able statesmen representing the ruling and prevail
ing interest Of the country demand Of the Parliament add
their defences by recognizing and increasing the mi
ta; and 1t Is great party question in that kingdom
whether the safety of England shall be secured by such
increase, whether il shall be left exposed in
vader.
What is the condition Of English power in Canada and
in the British Provinces They have never since the
war Of 1912, had small q military force in those Pro-
vinces The Imperial Government has maintain
ed heretofore show Of naval defence upon lakes
But within the last six months has broken up the whole
naval force there and whatever exists While
thus showing the supposed motives peace the part
Of Great Britain confess that peace is less the inter-
4 est and the instinct OF country. The United
States might aggrandze themselves by war; but they
to be aggrandzed by peace. thank God that the
peace Of the world largely subject to the control Of
these two great Powers and that while they have
dispositions toward harmony neither has need Of
to establish its character for frmness for courage