New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-28

a. in contempt Of the frequent and earnest repre-
SITUATIONS Of the merchants Of Great Britain and
the Commissioners Of Trade and Plantations" he,
Robert, Earl of Oxford, and Earl of Mortimer, had
advised his Sovereign that the subjects oil
France should have the liberty Of fishing, and dry
ing fish, in Newfoundland" had hoped that, IN
the advance of civilization and of the doctrine o.
human brotherhood, an act, which was hagran'
crime in his own age had become one honorable
TO his Lordship's memory.
Until thi, very hour, have chershed.the belief
that the great principle which he was the fret to
assert. and which he maintained IN disgrace, that
the seas of British America are not to be held by
British subjects as a monopoly, and to the exclu-
sion of all other people, would never be disre-
ysrded by any British Minister, but would ever
appear in British diplomacy to mark the progress OF
liberal principles since the reign of the last OF the
Stuarts, and TO show the extent Of mans hu-
mainly to man." from age to age.
If the ReU construction Of the Convention
Of 1918 be persisted in, and actually enforced,
we shall lose quite one-third part of our cod
and mackerel fisheries. Many practical men viii
CONSIDER tnB eSJlAlult lOO lO"' A|NN
Colonial b. sthren press us too far. oeh-con-
quest is the MODEST Of all achievements; anu ="
all kindness. let them be urged TO tubdne tneif
hatred IN "tbe Yankees" We, the children OF
,ba Wings of a former day, demand free access 10
N a.. seos of British America. We require the
.ro,or, bodv Of s.a.water six miles wide, all
.,o,nd tbe Colonial coast, not by courtesy, bat
of rigbt and we will be satisfied with notaihg
iess. If the Coonists persist IN their present
hostile attitude, who is wise enough to foreSes th0
end There was enough of collision and blood
shed on the fishing grounds now in dispute, when
they were claimed b, France. But for the people
of Ner England they would never have been nov
for the Crown Of Old England. They are the
legacy of our fathers and who shall dare to sur
render Them Fishermen are but poor interpret
ers of international law, and Of unreal and ne
titious distinctions. To them and to Others, by
the common sense Of mankind, the open sea -
but oDe--a continuous fishing ground and few OF
those who catch cod and macker5 will ever see or
seeing, respect the lines which Colonial ingenuity
and Il chncal gentlemen of the law have drawn
from headand to headand Of the great bays.
As these gentlemen drew their lines" | desire
TO know how an American vessel, under sail for
and quietly on her way to the grounds which are
mott dispute, can arrive at the end OF her voyage
without becoming liable to seizurel Have the
Crown lawyers ever con .idered that side of the
case With an abstractionlst" on board, the
slippers Of our fishing vessels might, possibly, be
able TO ascertain the difference bet~ee the
west and the southwest side ofa hal" and thus
escape cOnfscatiOn.
will pursue the matter no further at this mo-
ment. Circumstances may require me to ask for
the use of your columns again. My sole ann Is to
serve the side Of right and the friendly hand who
will point out and correct whatever mac
may be found in these communications, will be en-
titled to my thanks. | have addressed you in
the first person, for the sake of persplcuity aud
hope to be pardoned therefore, for the oiicnse
against good taste which such course involves.
At parting, allow me a single word to persons
engaged in the fisheries. BE calm and peaceful in
every act. Urge upon your masters the impera-
tive necessity under the present aspect OF affairs,
of retaining from every kind of aggression upon
the long and well understood rights Of the Colo
nists. We have the assurance OF the Secretary OF
State that the whole subject will engage the
immediate attention Of the Government" The
current mmor is, that the difficulty is to be con-
idered in connection with "reciprocty" with the
Canadas and other British possessions in this hem
sphere know nothing as to the truth of the
eport. Undoubtedly an arrangement can be made
that would serve the interests of all parties But
me "McLane arrangement" is quite sufficient
The restoration of the shore fisheries and of the
stipuatOns of the Treaty of 1873 generally, would
satisfactory basis.
Respectfully, LORENZO SABINE.