The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1854-12-14

a great naval power. Nor would TIL
country be better situated in war with ont
OF the secondary naval powers Thougt
the naval disparity would be less, the
greater extent, and more exposed condi
tion OF our wide spread commerce, would
give any Of them like advantage over
us. ....... .. ..
The proposition to enter into engage.
mentsto forgo resort 10 privateers, in case
this country should be forced into a war
with great naval power, is not entitled
TO more favorable consideration than
would be proposition not to accept the
services Of volunteers for operations on
land. When the honor or the rights oil
our country require it 10 assume a hos.
tile attitude, it confidently relies upon the
patriotism of its citizens, not ordinarily
devoted 10 the military profession, to aug.
ment the army and navy, so as 10 make
them fully adequate to the emergency
which calls them into action. The pro.
posal to surrenderlhe right to employ pr.
vateerS, is profeSSedy founded on the
principle that the private property Of un.
offending non.combatanlS, though enc.
mics, should be exemp, from the ravages
OF war; but the proposed surrender goes
but little way in carrying out that princi.
pie which equally requires that such pri.
vale property should not be seized or mo.
Tested by national ships of war. Should
the leading powers Of Europe concur in
proposing, as rule of international law,
TO exempt private property, upon the O.
cean,irom seizure by public armed crui.
sers, as well as by privateers, the United
States will readily meet them upon that
broad ground. .|
Since the adjournment OF Congress,
the notifications Of the treaty between
the United States and Great Britain, rel
alive TO coast fisheries, and 10 reciprocal
trade with the British North American
provinces, have been exchanged, and
some Of its anticipated advantages are
already eojoyed by us, although its full
execution was to abide certain acts OF
Legislation not yet fully performed. So
soon as it was ratified, Great Britain op.
ened 10 our commerce, the free naviga.
tion OF the river ST. Lawrence. and 10
our fishermen unmolested access 10 the
shores and bays, from which they had
been previously excluded, on the coasts
Of her North American provinces; in re-
turn for which. she asked for the ntroduc-
ton, free Of duty. into the ports of the
United States, Of the fish caught on the
same coast by the British fishermen
This being the compensation, stipulated
in the treaty, for privileges of the high.
est importance and value to the United
States, which were thus voluntarily yiel
ded before II became effective, the request
seemed TO me TO be reasonable one
but it could not be acceded to, from
want of authority 10 suspend our laws
imposing duties upon all foreign fish. In
the meantime, the Treaty Department
issued regulation, for ascertaining the
duties paid or secured by bonds on fish
caught on the coasts OF the British prov.
inces. and brought to our markets by
British subjects, after the fishing ground
had been made fully accessible to the U
nited States. recommend TO your ia.
vorable consideration, proposition which
will be submitted to you, for authority TO
refund the duties and cancel the bonds
thus received. The provinces Of Cana
da and New Brunswick have also antci
paled the full operation OF the treaty by
Legislative arrangements, respectively to
admit free OF duty. the products of the
United States mentioned in tie free list
of the treaty: and an arrangement simi.
lar TO that regarding British fish, has been
made tor duties now chargeable on the
products of those provinces enumerated
in the same free list, and introduced there
from into the United States; proposition
for reiunding, which will, in my judg.
ment, be in like manner entitled TO your
favorable consideration.
There is difference of opinion between
the United States and Great Britain, as
to the boundry line of the Territory oI
Washington, adjoining the British pos.
sessions on the Pacific, which has already
led to difficulties on the part of the cti'
zens and local authorities of the two Gov.
crnments. | recommend that provision
be made for commission, to be Joined by
one on the part of Her Britanic Majesty
for the purpose of running and establish.
ing the line in controversy. Certain
stipulations of the Sd and 4th articles oI
the treaty concluded by the United States
and Great Britain, in 1916, regarding the
possessory rights of the Hudson's Bay
Company, and property of the Puget
Sound Agricultural Company, have Civ.
en- rise to serious disputes, and it is i'm
portant to all concerned, that summary
means of settling them amicably should
be devised have reason to believe
that an arrangement can be made on just
terms for the extinguishment Of the rights
in question, embracing al'o, the right oI
the Hudson Bay Company to the navi
CATION of the river Columbia and
therefore suggest to your consideration
the expediency of making contingent
appropriation for that purpose.
France was the early and efficient ally
! of the United States in their struggle fol
independence. From that time to the
) present hour, with occasional slight inter
ruptions, cordial relations of friendship
have existed between the Governments
I and the people of the two Countries
+ The kindly sentiments, cherished alike by