The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-03
INTERESTING LETTERS.


Our Warrington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, July IS. 1862,
More Fish Trouble B,ewisg--A Dispute Aboat
Oysters, as WeH as Codfah and blckeret--d
British Custom House Officer ~ Ftr"-1ne
Litndy's Lane affair, &c
If the statements in the Canadian papers are cor
rect, occurrence has taken place at Ogdensburg,
similar to that in relation to Mcleod. who was tried
in the State New York. since for being,
as alleged concerned in she seizure sud destru,-
tion Of the Caroline, during the rebellion in the
British provinces; and although Of less Importance
in itself yet equally involving question Of inter
national Jaw.
1t appears from the statements which have been
published, that, some six months since, a
provincial custom house officer seized the horse
and wagon Of an American, Who found pedlline
oysters, without tho usual license required by law.
which were subsequently, sold by order OF the 90
vernment as having been forfeited aud which SUBJ
sequenty received its proportion Of he proceeds;
since which time, however, the officer, visiting
Ogdensburg, was arrested Oh the charge Of having
taken the property Of the other. and approprating
it to his own benefit; ard the magistrate who tried
the case held him to bail, and he was subsequently,
imprisoned for month. IL is further stated that
the provincial! government has taken up the SUBJ
,ject, and it probably will give some trouble TO
the authorities at Washington
The wing assemblage on tho frontier, 20 COM
memorate the battle OF Lundy,s Lane, has, as might
nave Deen expected, 0ttrdcLeu mucn aH1nauVelSlon
in Canada where it has awakened feeling Of hos
tility, which had slumbered, but had not been ex-
tnguished, probably, on either side. Allowing
that the issue of the engagement was all which Is
claimed and that the invading force was victorious
but which does not seem to have been the case,
from the relative position of the two armies after
the action--still, magnanmity and good TASTE an
Knight add. good feeling, should have counselle
General SCOTS party to have avoided such "a invi
dious display; and who, rs an officer and gentle
man, could not be present on such an occasion.
WASHINGTON, August 2, 1852
Contemplated offer of Reciwocity-Free Naviga
tiom of the 81. Laurence and the Riuer 81. john
Rigid Construction of the Ashburton Treaty
ProUinciQi Legislation ,cith reference to Maine.
seeit stated the Boston Courier Of Thursday
that project Ehe Committee on Commerce will
be offered to Congress this week, providing for
interchange free of duty between the United States
and the British Provinces of all articles being the
produce of tho seed, the field and the Forest upon
the following conditions THE free navigation Of
the ST. Lawrence, and that of the St. John, the
exemption from duty of lumber shipped through
New Brunswick, and the right, on the part Of Ame-
rcan citizens, in common with British subjects, to
take and cure fish on the shores and in the bays Of
the Provinces.
With regard to the navigation of the St. Law
renee, l find it is provided by the law of nations,
that "where q nation possesses the territory on
both sides Of river, SO far as such territory ex-
tends, it is to be deemed the Of the river it.
self; but other nations owning in like manner,
above or below the same river, may have right Of
passage, or other servitude.' Unfortunately for
the United States, its territory does not extend to
both sides OF the st. Lawrence and the navigation
OF the river below, does not come within this pro-
vision.
As to the free navigation of the st John, Amor
loan citizens already possess the right, under the
Ashburtcn treaty, Of conveying their produce to
the seab0ard and they might have nnyigated IN
stream, had it not been for an apprehension that it
would interfere with the local and sectional inter-
ests Of Maine
was at Augusta during the session of the Legis-
lature which was called for the purpose of author
izing the general government to negotiate treaty
with Great Britain in relation to the north eastern
boundary, and collected from the debates which
took place on that occasion, that the members did
not want the navigation upw ards lest establish
ments should be formed at the mouth of the st.
John for supplying the lumbermen, by which Ban
gor would be injured and in this manner the inter.
ests Of the United States sacrificed to promote
those of remote portion of the Union
The exemption Of lumber from daty, when shipped
from Maize down the ST John, is subject with
which few persons are acquainted, and an explana
ton will probably not be without interest BY tn
Ashburton treaty it was provided, tina. the produce
of Maine coming down the st John should be con
sidered and treated as British property, the objec
being to secure its Importation into England on the
same terms as colonial produce
AT that time il was the practice Of New Brunswick
and still is in Maine. to levy what is called stump
age duty, OF dollar on1 half per ton, all tim
Der when cut; but owing to the frauds that were
constantly pract!ccd, an act was passed by the Le
gslaure OF that Province, substituting duty to be
levied at the port Of shpment the consequence was
and still is, that the lumbercrin Maine, after paving
the stumpagc duty TO the State from which the Pro-
vincal lulnberer is exempt, has again to pay the
same duty when he ships 1t from the colonial port
thus giving the colonial lumberer decided advan.
tage over the other,
When the bill was before the House of Asse mbly
il was opposed on the ground that it might be con-
sidered, by the British government, infraction
OF the treaty, II lumber shipped from one part of
the Union to another were subjected TO this duty;
and clause was introduced, exempting that from
Maine when destined for an American market; and
the bill so framed, sent to England for the
Queens approval, but was Immediately returned,
with an intimaton that ii the exemption clause
were struck out, it woad receive the royal assent.
This. OF course was promptly done, aud the result
has been to fill the Provincial treasury
1t is not to be supposed that this grievance was
quietly submitted to by the people Of Maine On
the contrary. representations were made at Wash.
ipgton, and the American ambassador at the
British court called the attention of the govern
ment to the subject; but the Secretary for Foreign
Affairs at directed his attention to the treaty,
and insisted that as It was thereby declared that
American produce coming down the St John was to
DC eaJeuas bftlsn, HltnOuSh lor very uiereHb o.
ject. it thereby subject to the same Provincial
duty ON shipment as colonial timber, and the duty
continues to be exaced.
1t will thus be seen what is meant by the free
navigation of the St. John, which the United
States might have had, were it not for the inte-
rested and short-sighted policy of tho people of
Bangor; and as to the removal of duty on timber,
that the British government cannot grant, it being
levied under permanent law of the Province. w.
Our Lake Champiain Correspondence.