The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-10-10
From thr N. " Journal of Commerce.
THE RECIPROCITY TREATY.


No political aught with such vast and
tain consequences ever before received unanimous
prevail legislative and popular in all sections of this broad
land the treaty just negotiated for extending the right
of fishing and the freedom of commerce and navigation be
tween the United STATES and the British North American
colonies Wings and democrats siayeholGers and aboi
tons united in Congress in voting for its confirmation
aud in framing and adopting the legislation requisite for
carrying it into effect The opposition that announced
itself from various interests in different quarters when the
| measure originally proposed seems TO have been
either entirely Withdrawn, TO have dwndled~ino Il
whisper of doubt after the project maured by the
negoators and submitted to the action of the parties to
be affected by ito provisions The coal interest ceased TO
contend for continuance OF TIC duty on the provincial
product when it assured that Mr. CuBard, himself
proprietor of Nova Scotia colleries actually supplied
his own steamers Halifax with Pennsylvania coal. The
northern wheat; growers confident in their peculiar
advantages of soil and climate and in demand for bread
stus that tends the average to advance rather in anti
cipaion the supply if they appehcnded any immediate
injury in the fall of grain occasoned by Canadian compe
on looked for ample compensation in the use of the
various natural and artificial channels Of communication
in the provinces promised to their participation and above
all in the increased supply of fuel aud lumber to be de-
rived from the boundess forests of the North The only
serious opposition to the treaty in the Senate Of the United
States said to have been based upon its tendency pro-
annexation and thereby TO establish the preponder
ance of northern control the federal government
This consideration does not however, appear to have
huenced the southern generally The action of
Congress in this conncxon is approved throughout the
country and the public press North and South unies in
appaudng the administration and the negoliaors of the
treaty achieving result beneficial in its bearings
upon commerce and diplomacy, so accordant with
ghtened humanity and promotve of peaceful progress
The last number of the North American Review dovotes
able article to the consideration Of promi-
and obvious advantages and benefits that may be
from, tl,o
most important perhaps is its tendency restore and
establish forever the doctrine of the freedom Of he
The reviewer presents an interesting sketch of the pre-
tensions to supremacy the of successive ambi-
tous maritime States showing that their exclusive claims
were recognised by the law of nations and DEM
onstrating the conclusion expressed in the words of one
of the distinguished of British admiralty judges
Sir William Scott that the general inclination of the
law is against the claim of territory TO contiguous por-
tons OF The sea- ~ the sea- out of the reach of
shot universal use is presumed In decided contra
venon Of this just principle which restricts tie jurH-
dicton of nations bordering the to marine
league from the shore-such distance they
troll it by cannonshot prohtably il for nets and
in boats by getting she-fsh from its beaches rocks,
and fajsp-Great Britain enforced the odous head
land doctrine ~ our 9ortheasern Since the
practical claim the right to impress British seemeu from
American ships which provoked the war OF 1917 Great
Britain has pursued offensive TO the feelings and
so preucia TO the interests Of citizens that which
excluded people not only from participation in the
fisheries of the great bays and inlets Of the British Aue
coast but also from the hospitality aud shelter which
common humanity prescribes ip behalf Of siormdriyen
seamen The treaty just negotiated happily aside be
ahesdlandp doctrine cad The monsrous consequences
which it engendered. We viii not therefore follow the
reviewer in the mastery and convincing exposition of his
argument oppugning the British claim but join with him
in haing the settlement controversy, Gas reestab
a.. q.
powers who parties to it, the original and true pruc
pie Of the freedom Of The seas The writer concludes this