Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-10-09
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Coal and Cod Fish.-The lucid and able
opinion Of Attorney General Cushing as to the
of the Elgin-M Marcy treaty, ap-
pears to satisfy the public generally-even
those disposed to find fault We notice one
New York print now assails the President and
Secretary of State for the reference Of so plain
a question to the Attorney General; whom
fortnight since that identical print denounced
the Secretary of the Treasury for his circular
taking the same view that Mr.. Cushing does.
Rumor says that the Nova Scotians and New
Brunswickers are now asking of the Admins
tration, through Mr. Champion, the British
Envoy, for leave to enter their fish and coal in
the ports of the United States before the Pro-
vincial ports are closed by ice, without payment
of the duties an cash, as now required by law,
and upon their giving bonds payable in March
next in case the necessary laws are not passed
by the Legislatures of New Brunswick and
Nova Scotia, to give the reciprocity clauses
of the treaty full effect, and in case the Con-
gress of the United States does not release the
duties. The colony of Prince Edward Island,
it is understood, has enacted the necessary
laws. We presume the favor asked cannot be
granted by the Executive of the United States.
1t possesses no power to dispense with the rev.
enue laws, e1 nero motw, and without the
previous legislation of Congress giving such
authority. The colonists can now enter their
cod fish, mackerel, coal, &C., and place them
in warehouse till the treaty is fully consum-
mated. We imagine this is all that can be
done
1t is rumored also that the Blue. noses and
Nova Scotians desire that in case the duties
on their fish and coal cannot be released, the
duties on American fish of British catching
/. e., fish taken by colonists on our coasts, un-
der the privilege granted by the treaty-bs
relinquished. We presume this cannot be
done till the treaty is fully carried out by the
legislation of all the colonies, and of the Brit
ish Parliament, as stipulated in the treaty.
The question is one of revenue simply-the
modification of the tariff Of all the colonies
to conform to the treaty. The treaty, as
framed on this subject was agreed to, we learn,
in the terms proposed by the British negoti
ators. The colonies claimed that the power of
regulating their tariff devolved exclusively on
their own local legislatures. The Bri ish Gov
eminent conceded this point, subject to its
right of revision by general law and hence
the provision is coupled with the reservation
requiring the superadded legislation of the
Imperial Parliament. They should have look
ed to the difficulties now said to have arisen as
to the trouble and expense and delay of con-
vening all the local legislatures, and then
also waiting for the confrmatory action of the
British Parliament.
As to the cod and mackerel fisheries, we be.
lieve all loyal colonists freely concede that the
Colonial Governments, go long as the colonies
are subject TO and dependent upon the crown
of Great Britain, have no control over them.
The Imperial Government of Great Britain
has the exclusive sovereignty and control over
them, ana Gun dispose of them, nc ii seee fit
-ithout asking the consent of the colonies
The question as to the admission free q,
duty, of American fish of British CATCHING 10
we presume, decided by the opinion of the
Attorney General. This Government. is one Of
limited and restricted powers. The Executive
cannot dispense with or suspend any law or
treaty, unless authorized by Congress; and,
on the contrary, he is to see 6" the laws faith
fully executed" The whole matter is one of
law and of constitutional power, not of cona,tv.
If the case was different, we doubt not the in.
diligence and favor sought by our neighbors
would be freely granted, as we could afford it.
Our shrewd northern merchants have made
arrangements with respect to their trade and
fishing, founded upon the treaty and their
knowledge of what would occur. 1t would be
unjust to them to grant the indulgence sought
in violation of the plain terms of the treaty.
The New York Election.-The Herald, in
specializing over prospec IS in the coming New
York State election, estimates that the vote of
the State is now about $50, 900, of which 265.-
900 are of all the different wings of the Wing
party, including the Abolitionists of all de-
grees, and the balance-2s5, OOO-of all the diff
ferent wings of the Democratic party The same
journal says that 100, 900 of the lis 900 who
are, in New York, claimed to be identified with
the Know Nothing organization, are Wings.
The Herald urges the Know othings to drop
their regularly nominated candidate and raIly
on Bronson, on the ground that they cannot
possibly elect him, (Ullman,) even though he
should receive $4,000 Silver-Grey Wing votes,
not identified with the Nothings. Tho
editor argues that if the Know Nothines will
support Bronson, in whose behalf strenuous
efforts to secure their nomination were made,
the Hards will stick to him to man, and thus
elect him by their aid.
1t strikes US that the Herald cam t manage
the Know Nothings SO as to coax them to 20
for its candidate; and that even if it could do
so, Bronson cannot be elected. Nearly one half
of the Hard strength in the State was the
Irish, and portion of the German Democratic
vote. The fact that Bronson was notoriousIv