The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-21
IS By Authority"

There seems to be a difference in the esti-
mate put on the Importance of the Fishery diff
Guilty by the Secretary of State and the Presi
dent-if the suboined editorial from yesterdays
Republic be by authority of the latter
| From the Republic Of Tuesday.
| "BosToN, July ia special messenger ar
rived hero to day from franklin, New Hamp
shire, where Mr. Webster is, on his way to
Washington with dispatches for government
He left adpcument at the Boston Courier office
which thai paper will publish on Monday The
trouble is said to be about the fisheries treaty,
and of most serious nature-likely to disturb
the peaceful relations between England and
America; such is the rumor on State street."
The above despatch reached US by telegraph
on Sunday night, but was withheld under an
impression that it was calculated to excite ap.
prehensions not warranted by the circumstances
of the case. We insert it now in the form in
which it appears in other journals, for the pur
pose of remarkng that up to yesterday no in.
formation of the kind communicated in the de-
spatch had been received at the State Depart
ment, and that no known causes exist to justify
any anticipation of disruption of friendly feel
ing between this country and England
The existence of disputes between the lish-
men Of the lower British provinces, is not now
made known for the frat time. Such disputes
have existed for years in connexion with the
practices of our fishermen, especially on
the coasts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
and have, from time to time, furnished the advo-
Gates of reciprocity with reasons for pressing a
m, q ,ure that would embrace an extension Of our
fl shinQ grounds as one of its provisions. The
people of the lower provinces have complained
thst the terms of the exist treaty have been
violated by Maine and Boston boats with bola-
ness that has increased from year to year and
that the result of these infractions Of treaty sp-
uations has been exceedingly injurious to the
fishing interests of the provinces.
We believe that all Of them are anxious to
effect an arrangement for free reciprocal inter-
course with this country, and that they are pre-
AIRED 10 surrender the free use of their fishing
grounds as one of the advantages to be acquir-
ed by the United States. The failure of the
negotiations hitherto entered into by the pro-
vinces for the accomplishment of their object led
their governments early in the present summer
to adopt more stringent measures for protecting
the claimed privileges of their fishermen on the
coast of Nova Scotia, in the Bay of Fundy, and
in the Gulf of st. Lawrence; and the British gov
eminent has rendered them assistance tor the
accomplishment of their purpose. The presence
of two or three small vessels of war indicates
the character of these defensive measures, which
are reported to have led to the capture of one
American fishing boat, and will probably lead to
the capture of others.
This, in brief, is the nature of "the trouble
which the telegraph has manufactured into sucf
formidable dimensions. IA it stands, it involves
'itue more than police or cuGtOms regulation
wnich may and probably will form the subject
OF oego''auon, but can scarcely be supposed to
peril the peaceful relations that exist between
the Two countries. If it be found that the rights
exercised by boats sailing from New England
are sus'a'naoie under the treaty, the matter can
easily 90 settled. u, on the other hand, An Of
fetal examination of the subject leads to the con.
clusion that the pretensions of the provinces are
sustainable under treaty stipulations, albeit pre-.
Judicial to our people, that may form valid rea.
son for considering and determining the ques.
ton of reciprocity before the close of the pres.