Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-05
OFFICIAL PAPER.
THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN FIsHEaIEs.
Nh Eceren 70 Mr.. Mgerson.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, DECEMBER A, 1852

Predecessor have prevented reply to Mr. Lawrence
DISPATCHES numbered 1877 and 200 and his short letter Of
the 18th August The two dispatches report IN detail
his conferences with Lord Mames5ury the subject of
the fisheries The latter contains copy of note from
his lordhip of the 18th Of August acquanng Mr. Law
renee with the substance Of the orders sent out to the
British Admiral ia command the fishing grounds Ny
attention has also been called despatch from Lord
Mamesbury to her Majestys Minister here the 10th
of August last copy of which furnished to Mr..
Webster by Mr.. Champion
These communications could not but allay the alarm
which had been generally excited in both countries in
the month of July last the subject of the fisheries
they conveyed the positive of the British Gov
eminent that it intended to capture American
fishing vessels except under precisely the circum
stances those which have been acted Of late years
Some progress made by Mr.. Webster before his
death in preparations 70 negotiate with Mr. Champion
the fisheries and on the subject which the colonies and
Great Britain DESTROYS of connecting with it. mean
commercial reciprocity between the United States and the
British Provinces The President is still DESTROYS that
this negotiation should proceed and it will be taken up
as possible He is, however of opinion, the
two subjects have natural necessary connection that
it will not be advisable to endeavor include them both
in treaty. Whatever agreement may be made on
either of these subjects by treaty will probably require
law to carry it into effect and the requisite legislation
is much likely be effected by keeping each sub
ject by ITSELF unembarrassed by the difficulties of the
other.
In this state of things it is worth while to
the general discussion of the Of last
There however, remarks in the despatch Of Lord
Mamesbury to Mr.. Champion which, in justice to this
Government to Mr. Webster, and may add to myself,
require reply
Lord Malmesbury expresses the sncerest regret that
such publication as Mr. Websters of the Goth july
ohn,l2h apa 1anp .l.nta
Maesty's Government sufficient inquiry into the crcum
stances Of the case and nmaes that this Government
hardly justified in supposng that any of
fensve to the United States could have been intended by
Great Britain must be recollected however that Mr.
Websters notice was designed solely warning to
fishermen not to incur risk which for the moment
supposed to be great and imminent This interest is
Of too much magnitude to be left exposed possible
danger of serious injury However great reliance
the friendly intentions of the English Government had
official notice. and that very short notice, that
efneen armed force ordered to the fishing grounds
to act ag~nst French and American fishermen. The
croachments complained of by the colonsts and which
caused hsstep to We TAKEN had been represented
to this Government nor their precise known.
Under these circumstances it quite natural believe
and it certainly believed that some new and decisive
of repression about adopted against
which twas important that fishermen should be warn
ed without a moments delay.
1t necessary bear in mind chief source Of IN
easness and occasional irritation this subject that
while the views of the Government in reference to
the fisheries have generally been liberal and founded on
comprehensive survey of the best interests the two
tries those views have been steadily and but
fully met, as shall show hereafter by colonial influence
Of an opposite character
Lord Malmesbury objects to a remark of Mr. Webster
that "wh the recent change of Ministry in England has
occurred entire change of policy in reference the
fisheries and he observes that the question of protect
ing British subjects in the exercise of their undoubed
rights under treaties which, in this country is not
materially affected by changes of Ministry Such is
quesonahy the case only in England but in all coun-
tries where the Government is wisely and honestly admin
issred But there is always for difference Of opin
lon what undoubted rights and what is the best mode
of asserting them. | am persuaded that Mr.. Webster
meant nothing more or not much more by his remark
than meant by Lord Malmesbury himself when he
observed to Mr. Lawrence that the only object of Minis
at the present time protect the rights Of the
coloniss in the fisheries which had been neglected by
their predecessors and hope show in the sequel of
this note that the predecessors of the present Ministry
had, as Lord Mamesbury assumes, been somewhat ndu
gent in this respect wise policy adopted for good
reasons.
Lord Malmesbury, having briefly alluded to the earlier
history Of the discussions between the Governments
says: In the year 1845 should be lS43] correspond
ence ensued between the British and United States
Governments which led the dispatch Of letter from
Mr. Everett the United States Minister in this country
to his Government dated London, 26h Of April, lS45
This letter has been published by Mr. Webster and is
fortunately calculated incorrect view to be
taken of the subject by the American public"
With respect to my letter. thus characterized by Lord
Malmesbury, will first observe that it furnished by
to Mr.. Webster (who, being then absent from the
seat Of government had to the public archives
and published by him for the purpose Of informing
the public Of what not generally known though
nounced the time in 1915 and well understood by the
fishermen viz that the Bay Of Fundy had been formally
opened to them in 1916, leaving the natural inference
be drawn that it not likely that it would be closed
without notice equally formal The publication Of my
note intended, in this way to calm the existing
element; and have doubt contributed materially
that end.
If the publication Of my letter alone, without the
Of the correspondence, was, Lord Mamesbury init
mates calculated incorrect view Of the sub
ect to be TAKEN it must have operated in that way for
very short time My letter appeared in Boston the
2ls Of July, and the I'd Of August the entire
spondence communicated to Congress by the Pres-
dent and Immediately transferred to the newspapers
may add that the only why Lord Aberdeens note
OF the 10th March, 1885, not furnished to Mr. Web
ster instead Of of the Goth of April giving
count Of it. was that my contained only my
own part OF the correspondence
Lord Mamesbury speci6es two points Z, which rs he