The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-25
From me Lonaoa Times Of August 10.
The Fisheries Question.

cas which We published yesterday that Ar. Webster has
now delivered himself OF opinions on the subject OF The
northeastern fisheries coineldng In almost all material
respects with the views which We expressed on Friday
last. Making allowance Tor the defamation In which
all statesmen OF the Union indulge, and for the empa
ions TO oatorica extravaganza which the political
luncture suggested We may acknowledge that MIR. Web
slers speech al Mashhed addressed itself with great
correctness 10 The true points al ISSUE though be-
meath The dignity OF such speaker expatlae
phacally upon the udlue of the privileges in dispute
and TO make his appeal rather 10 the than
the justice OF his countrymen. No doubts the
pofance pEoducllyeness of the fisheries in question
is this Tact, indeed which has given rise 10 the en-
broilment Neither is 1t denied that the fishing trade
employs vast number OF hands, and constitutes as air
Webster expressed H. . The very nursery OF the American
navy" But such arguments as these can no more Jus.
uiy the Americans In encToaching upon The tshng
grounds OF Others than they would warrant Englshmen
in seIzing the guano deposltes OF Peru II The adyan
ages recapiiuated with such junction. have been derived
from habua tTespass, they must either be surrendered
or made the subject OF fair negotiation. The waters OF
the Bay OF Fundy certainly do not become American
waters by reason OF their convenience or value.
II satisfactory. however. 10 observe that the frst
Impressions either side OF the Atlantic appear 10 be
subsidng into correct appreciation Of The question al
ISSUE and, though there is always considerable difficulty
in conveying popular ideas of international difficulties.
we believe the English public will soon be qualified TO
estimate this contest at lis true merits There are
chief points IN debaeone concerning the Interpretation
OF treaty and the other arising from the customs and
usages by which this treaty has been exemplihed. BY
the convention regulating these matters the Amer
cans excluded, on their own express renunciaion,
from certain bays and harbors the British coasts ex
cepng for purposes specially defined About this ex-
cuson there be doubt: but il has been maintained
in America that bays large include within
themselves were not contemplated by the spirit OF tile
treaty, however they might be comprised in its letter
The usage OF International law extends the territorial
sovereignty OF a coast 10 distance OF three marine
miles over the waters by which il is washed, but no
further; and il appears TO have been the American doc
trine that if bay inlet were spacious as to admit
OF vessels entering without coming within league of
either shore such bay should be considered open
yba-t If yt,a
than by the accepted law these Subjects entertain
doubt that the Americans wrong 1t is impossi-
ble with any semblance OF JUSTICE TO strain theiems OF
convention to sun the purpose OF one OF The contracting
parties. The Americans are excluded by their ac
and deed IRON all bays certain coasts, OF which the
Bay OF Fundy is one and il be permissible that
after such Remuneration they should be liberty de-
eide for themselves what bays should be considered bays
and what should not Moreover, the usage of law is
again In favor for has always been held that in
the of coast indenations the waters included by
line drawn from headland TO headand peraned 10 such
territories exclusively, and that the three marine miles of
ordinary jurisdiction TO be reckoned seaward Of
such line. On this point, therefore, il will be readily
comprehensive that The OF the Americans be
maintained; and we observe that while Mr. Webster, in
his latest remarks avoids alusion 10 H. It's validity
against the United States Is frankly admitted by OF
The next point is less clear Whatever may have been
the limitations imposed by the convention OF 1918, it is
certain that the Americans have commonly assumed the
privilege of fishing many OF the grounds from which
they nominally excluded. These encroachmens
have not indeed been so general or SO undisturbed
they represented, II they had been could
any legal rights have been thus acquired But il il ncon
estabe that great freedom has been exercised this
spec and with less resistance on our part than we should
have been justified opposing; that when, with
abrupt precipitation, and the very OF the fishing
season. powerful British squadron is all once des.
patched 10 enforce the strict observance OF the treaty OF
1885, the prophecies OF intercourse between two such
countries as England and America may be reasonably
thought 10 be hiringed. As IL seems TOO, that within
The last years the right Of fishing portion OF
the disputed conceded 10 the Americans by
British minister, and that such concession has not been
withdrawn the wisdom oil our recent proceedings appears
still more questionable, and Mr.. Webster accordingly,
though he could make little of the American e strictly
understood had evidently reason his side when he
observed that indulgence OF long continuance could
not be Withdrawn al the season when the fishermen
Just engaging in their business, without Just and seasona
bic notice."
The overbearing pretensions in which Americans are
sometimes wont to indulge themselves never be ad-
miited They divide The northern continent of America
with ourselves and the fisheries oil the coasts subject
a corresponding division. But while say thus much.
and while prepared TO MAINTAIN that the strict
rights OF the case so far from pertaining TO the Amer-
cans, reside wholly with ourselves, should be ds-
posed not only TO acknowledge The claim 10 consideration
which has been constituted by usage, but 10 put liberal
construction the treaty ITSELF There is some foundation
for the argument that bays OF large extent should not be
treated like smaller nlets, and may presume that Sir
Robert Pees government influenced by considera.
tons Of this nature in concedng TO the American fisher
the entrance 10 the Bay OF Fundy in ls45 In ap.
plying, for instance, the rules European States
1t would be clearly unreasonable, supposing France and
Spain under the government, that other ma.
lions should be excluded from the Bay OF Bscay by line
from Bres TO Feno, though the Bay OF Bsoay is IN.
doubtedly bay The opinions, however, hastily
pressed in the American Senate without justification
in fact for the wrong doing exclusively on the side
OF the States though they might have reasonably expect
ed that encoschmens long connived al would be de.
nounced at last with less abrupiness and adjusted with
consideration for the feelings OF people nearly
connected with ourselves The entire question
the liberties OF Americans in waters conessedly Brth
There no mention OF any American territory whatever
has any British vessel been despatched 10 American
waters The fishermen OF the States have been pursuing
their calling upon fishing grounds which pertain TO sub
jects of the British Crown Long usage, previous cor.
cessons, and arguments oil broader and gen
era kind suggest that the question should be treated
liberal and concilaiory spirit; but the law OF the
which the Americans have so Unexpectedly appealed is
decidedly against them and, while regret that
calculated to rritate sensitive nation should have
been so hastily adopted are constrained 10 observe
that their proceedings have been equally pecpise.
and that such views expressed IN the Senate
i'll. adapted TO promote settlement OF the dispute ID is
credit 10 either State that its first step an occasion
like this should have been equip warseamers for &C.
ton and trusi that the awakening OF both
countries may speedily despatch the affair by more
sonable appeal
TRIBUTE TO PRIsTrRs-Iu letter addressed TO the
printers OF Baltimore reply TO invitation 10 be pres
en al grand banquet gwen to the members OF the
ona convention Of printers held recently in that city,
Gov Lowe, OF Maryland, wrote the following:
"without wishing draw invidious distinctions msy
be permitted that II there Is class Of men who
claim my regard and admiration than another
hat large, INTEL gent, industrous and valuable bat
often least appreciated clsss the printers Day aud ngh
..l. ftA0F ntl ns.nN 10