Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-03
THE FISHERY TREATY.

In tne supJolned communication an esteemed
friend takes exception to the satisfaction which we
indicated yesterday on copying the reported settle
mcnt by treaty of our Fishery difficulty with Eng
land. Our correspondent does US no more than
justice IN assembling our pleasure to the simple fact
OF an adjustment rather than to the particular terms
OF it, These, we confess, we hardly thought Of,
knowing that besides the fishery right, they in
volved questions Of navigation and commercial equi-
yalents with which we profess not to be very fami-
liar, and in arranging which VIC had no apprehen-
sion that we should be great losers in negotiation
conducted by an able Secretary of State American
in his feelings, and with that salutary sense of
Buncombe which he probably does not more en-
tirely discard than other public men, It was, there
FORE we repeat, not from any satisfaction with the
particular stpulations of the reported treaty that
our pleasure sprang, but simply from the fact Of
the adjustment Of a national difficulty, persuaded
as we are that it is good thing to settle long
standing and possibly threatening dispute, whether
between nations, families, or individuals, without
too misery regard to equivalents, 50 there be ge-
neral fairness and mutual concession.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 80.
Messrs. EDITORS In your issue Of this morning
you give on extract from the Washington CORE
spondent of the Baltimore Sun which states that
treaty has been agreed upon by Mr.. MARCY on the
subject OF the fisheries and reciprocity which you
designate as good news, if true" In calling this
good news | presume you merely considered it
in the light of an amicable settlement of trouble
some and vexed question, and that you had no re-
ference to the terms Of the supposed treaty as stated
by the letter-writer; for the country generally,
think will consider it any thing but good news"
if for the mere privilege of fishing on the coasts Of
the British Provinces the Government has given
to British colonial vessels the right of American
registry, and to the British flag generally full
participation in our coastng trade. 1t would indeed
be one-sided bargain, and an exchange of gold
against copper. 1t is impossible that person of
the talents and information of Mr. MARCY has
been guilty of such consummate folly, or, if such
an incredible concession as this has been made by
him for such consideration, that the Senate will
ever ratify treaty of that nature
1t is hardly possible to over.estimate, under OK
listing circumstances, the value of such boon to
commercial nation like Great Britain, and for
which there is nothing in her power to give us in
return, IN the way of commercial advantages and
privileges, which she ought not and which doubt
less she would not have given in exchange and if it
is really true that we have in making this bargain
with her, given her that privilege with nothing but
the fisheries In return, it act of the grossest
diplomatic faulty Of which the United States have
ever been guilty, and it becomes still more incred
bic if in addition, we have agreed to admit British
colonial vessels to American registry, concession
second in point of importance only to the coastng
trade.
The announcement was of so startling nature
that have mace inquiry on the subject, which In
duces me to believe that the writer in question has
been led astray by unreliable information on the
| subject and that no such terms have been or will
be accedcd to by cur Government. A proposition
for the settlement of the fishery question and re-
cprocal trale with the British Provinces, it is I'M
derstood has been submitted to the British Govern
ment, without it is presumed embracing the sub
Jects of the coasting trade and the registry BE
this as It may, however these two latter points are
of such vital consequence to the United States that
propose at an early date to submit some remarks
on them in your columns, if you can allow the
| space therefor, and in the mean time hope public
attention may be called to the subject in case there
should be The least idea of surrendering such pr-
yileges to our great commercial rival. A.