The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-29

i
For years and years the poor British colonial
fisherman has been deprived and defraudsd Of his
| rights
Tho Same noble minded Admiral sevmor-. xyo
made such prompt reparaton for the outrage on tho
| firing into the American steamer Mt Greytoyn haa
tahcn mp the cause Of the colonial fishermen.
A moro hardy, generous hearted, industrious, md
high priDcipled set of mon. exist nowhere, Than
this very class. What they want, what makes them
poor, is the absence Of sufficient stimulous and
reward for their oxertions
Now we are coming to the point. In thus prais-
ing colonial fishermen, rest assured, we ofss
disparagement to the hardy and brave American
fishermen, who leave their homes to brave the Iers
OF the ocean, that their hearth. stones may shine
brighter welcome on their return They act from
natural impulses in prosecuting, far they car,
the object OF their avocatOn-to take fish. They
care for no treaty. Many of them know nothing "
! IL.
Now, the colonial and American modes Of fishing
| are entirely different The Americans prosecute
the deepsea fishing, in fact, staunch, sea- worthy
| vessels, backed by bounty from their government,
and profitable market for their fish.
The colonial fisherman lives the year round with
in sight OF the field of his lasors His fishing is from
open boats, or by nets within sight Of his dwelling
His net, his little boat, are in many cases, his al,
the only means Of his support.
His government offers him no bounty on his catch.
He has no market where bo can proftably sell. H0
is the prey Of all sorts Of traders.
How stands the case
At evening, along tho colonial fishing grounds,
tho for miles is dotted with these tiny bCsss,
and hardy fisherman setting their nets. r'
At night, q fleet of fast sailing foreign fishermen
brush the of his labors, destroying his
property his ncts the only of his subsistence,
and taking of it may be, his fish.
This is no exaggerated, overdrawn statement, bls,
a fact which has under the writer's personal
| observation Nor can the writer blame ex.rayI-
| ganty the American fishermen. They do net
know the injury they actually commit. They only
know that, thus trespnssing they may destroy metz
by sailing them; but they sail on, and sail
| away With provincial vessels thus destroying
nets the case is different The law compes them to
make full rcpararon, and is always strictly en-
| forced. Over The American craft the law has no
| opportunity for such jurisdiction.
Thus stands the case The colonial fisherman
| gets no bounty He ls shut out from the American
market, by high didcreutia duty in favor Of tho
| very American fisherman who trespasscs on ha
sgronnds, destroys his nets, and entices away from
shore the fish which would otherwise come into ais
] net. Now, this is another fact.
The American fishermen feed, and keep about
thor vessels schools Of fish, while they take them as
rapidly as they eau haul them into their vessel.
Thus, coming within the prescribed limits they do
| serious damage to shore fishermen.
But this question must he settled
How can il be done? By mode OF legislation
as just it is naturally cans which will aus-
tain the national honor of the Unitol Statos,
brighter than the most brilliant Victories tarnished
as they would BIO by violation of natural justice,
| il obtained by war growing out of this dispute.
But many say that the passage of the Reciprocal
| Trade bill with the North American colonies would
seem like fear OF British force. Not so it would
rather be vindication Of national integrity, and
| prevention of all further dispute. Open TO tna
colonial fisherman the markets Of the United States,
| and the American fisherman will DO welcomed %
| every privilege which the coonist himself enjoys
The friendly relations and mutual interests of me
| two countries will be strengthened more than ~
any other possible means
England will DO glad to be relieved of the coz.
slant cry of injustice coming before her from that
quarter, and will thereby virtually consentas fato
wills she some day must--to the extnguishment OK
her Gubernatorial influence and rule over these
| British North American possessions
New York, July rs, 1852 JAMES WHITMAN.
Our Washington Corr. spontacncc.
WASHINGTON, July "a, 1852.
Present Position of Mr. We6acy-His Altered
Sentiments si,icc the Cruise in the Devastation
icas first OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES EStinsats OF
the Colonial admiralty Contradictions. iss
-New York Previous to the Last WW-Pu6hc
Feeling at Present.
If the speech Of Mr.. Webster, at Marshfeld, has
been correctly reported, ms position and deciara-
tions only be accounted for by the suppositicn
that he has still eye to the Presidency, and that
the debate which previously took place in tie
Senate had decided his course In former letter,
| mentioned that tho first intmation which Mr..
Webster would receive of measures being in pro-
gress to place the Devastation steam frgate at his
DISPOSAL, would probably be through the columns Of
the HERALD; still it was understood that such an
offer would meet with bis acceptance, although no
must have Known Mt the time that largo naval
force was on its way FROM England, to carry cut
the intentions Of the British government; and also
must have been aware that the Devastation
had been placed under the orders of the Governor
Of Prince Edward Island for the purpose of prevent
ing American fishermen from freqsOnting, usual,
tho coasts of that island.
Mr.. Webster is also in error, with reference to
the nature Of the colonial tribunals, which are in-
sttuted to take cognzance Of any infraction the
law ofDations any alleged violation Of tho exist
ing treaties on tho high seas, and which he calls
municipal courts" These do not resemble SINH
lar courts in the United States where the admiralty
jurisdiction is vested, believe, in the Circuit and
District Courts Of the Unisn, but are branches Of
the Admiralty Court Of Great Britain-the Judges
holding their appointments directly from the British
Crown; and the humblest peace officer throughout
the British dominions who serves the Qneens writ,
exercises for tho time being, her authority, and
presents his sovereign
Perhaps there never wos period when the exer~
else Of great temper and prudence was more re-
quired to preserve peace between the two cour-
tries, than ut the present crisis. am old
enough to recollect tho events that preceded
the last short with Great Britain, and was in New
York soou after man Of the name Of Pierce, !
think, accidentally killed of Sandy Hook, by c
shot which passed over the vessel Mt which il was
fired by British cruiser, while ct the helm OF q
constng craft. X
No sooner was the event known in the city
than the population was seized with the most un-
goverpable fury and some British officers who wero
shore at the time would have been sacrificed hsd
they been found; but who were secreted and
promptly sent off to their ship. At the presen. mo-
ment there is, undoubtedly, great excitement pre-
vailing in this country the subject of the fisheries,
which the debate in the Senate and the declaration
Of Mr.. Webster both in his public dispatch and az
lorshfeld, win rather increase than moderate o.
alloy and should news arrive, which is not at all
improbable, that fishing vessel has been hged
into, attempt hns again been made TO
retake one which may have been captured, by which
one more lives shall have been lost. The cxss-
Grafton that existed at New York, on the occasion
lluded to, would, on the wings Of lightning, per-
wade the entire Union, aud the most depiorable re-
ults might follow.
u becomes, therefore tho duty Of the Executive