The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-30

passed; but Notwithstanding that expression OF |
opinion. coming from those weghty bodies, there |
was ON the other hand an expression OF public feel
ing which more than counierbalanced It and Con. |
gress adhered 10 its re, olution.
Mr. Seward last year expressed to our Charge
d'Aiaires his WILLINGNESS 10 take INTO consideration
the question OF Reciprocity treaty. and when SIR
Fredenck Bruce went TO Washington as our Mn
istcr he was instructed to say that her Maestv's
Government we're prepared 70 treat on the subject
with the Government OF the United STATES. But on
his arrival he found that owing to the state of ell
ing, It would not only be imprudent, but almost i'm
possible, TO open NEGOTIATIONS. Mr.. Lincoln had re-
Gently been assasslnated Mr. Seward was himself
ill, and there was a strong feeling in the United
81 ates concequent on the proceedings of the Ala
bdnd ana other vessels.
Under these circumstances Sir Frederick Bruce
communicated TO her Majesty's Government that 1t
would be most imprudent to attempt open negoha-
tons, and her Majcsty's Government were bound to
accept the views of their Minister to the United
communicated with the Governor of Canada, and
he requested Mr.. CAT distinguished gentleman,
and one OF the Ministers OF the colony, TO come TO
Wa hin gton and unite with HIM IN asce tanning how
far 1t WIS practicable TO open negotiations for
a renewal of the treaty. Ar Cat did so
he arrived at the same conclusion as Sir
f. Bruce tnat It would be most unwlse at this time
to max any proposal Tor the prolongation or re.
newal of the treaty. Not merely po icll but other
reasons were put iorwarI by powerful p9rttes IN the
United States against the treaty. Mr. McCuloch
the Secretary of the Treasury, for instance, main
tanned that the renewal OF commercial relations be-
tween Canada and the United Estates should be
matter for lenslaton-a course which the British
Government themse YES general y preferred to re-
ciprocal tieatiesand those who shared his opinion
thought that until the confede ration OF the North
American co ones was brought about II would be
use ess to negotiate with view to separate recipro
cal legislation with each colony.
Moreover as the honorable gentleman was aware,
majority of two-thIrds OF the Senate requisite
to authorize the President to carry through treaty
OF this nature, and, the existing state of public
op niOn it was hopeless TO think of securing such
| majority It was then suggested bv the American
GOvernu ent that, though the pubic Op Mon of the
country was so strongly opposed to the renewal of
the treaty If might be ossbe to obtain its prolonga
Il fffu fnWo mud Gfr Arrfnn nrgnd
stTucted to ask the American Government TO endeR
TO induce CongIest e. assent TO that course Con-
press, however was mot disposed to do so, and the
Mr. Seward then suggested that as the negotiation
Of treaties rested entirely with Congress. and not
with the Executive, the best course be for the
| British Government to put themselves in communl
cation with the COMMITTEE OF FINANCE ana endeaVor
to get the Committee to report to the senate in favor
OF the renewal OF the treaty. Sir f. Bruce accord
I lnPy communicated with the Governors OF the North
American colonies, IN consequence of which dele
| gates from Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Bruins
| wick proceeded to Washington and entered INTO
| communication with the Committee OF Finance. His
honorable friend had described these gen lemen as
| amateur negotlators, who went to Washington to
negotiate on their own account
| Several interviews took place, and proposals and
couI ter.proposals were made but the claims OF the
| COMMITTEE were such as the delegates found IT inn
| pcs,ibIe to accede to- and after much negotiation
| ihe attempt al an understanding fell through. THIS
| b, ing the case, Mr. Seward advised her Majesty's
| Government that negotiations other than these
would be not only futile but prejudlcal 10 the cause
which, as he tMr. L2yard) believed, both Govern
| II
ance with his instructions, addressed a note to Mr.
~ ward, which, With the reply, he would read, and
ES%s lay The The & &peGs R Fe the table Sy
b uce wTt te the following letter to Mr.. Seward
wAsHNeToS, February le -sir-,As the Reciprocity
formal shape, The disposition Of the Government of the
United States with reference to the important question
It's renewal, and there submit for consideration
The TO lowing pIoPosa wh ich emoody the views OF her
government have seen with much satisfaction The in
|
under the treaty and the beneficial results OF The spu-
party enjoys the uninterrupted use OF the fact0s OF
participates side by side in the fisheries without restrlo
lion or nterfeience Her Majesty Government would
At The time they ready consider the treaty
S Rs &c to Them
so to modify its terms as % render IT, II possible more
Of The Und states should d
70 fSB hs 9F fqSIs B s 5og S
to afford time or fresh negotiations and should take
ernmen any proposal to that enect which might do
me the honorto communicate to me have, etc
What was the reply TO that note? He thought
! Lis honorable friend would find it complete answer
| TO all he accusations which he had preferred agans
| seward repLe ed thus TO SIR Bruce
DEPARTMENT OF STATE. WASHINGTON February H.
e,pt of note which you addressed 70 me the l6
procity Treaty Perhaps cou not oily in any other
| IA amer more satisiac orly than shall now 90 bY
had heretofore occasion I? make 70 you qpoa that sub
jcct The chaac er Of The constitutional dstrl2u don
Of public affairs among the different department. of
| the Gov ernment Is well known 1t conhdes commerce
expiring Reciprocity treaty constitutes almost the
only case In which the Executive Department has, by
| either commerce or hnance Even In that ease the
Executive Department did little more than 70 make
treaty The details which had been virtually matured
beforehand In the Congress OF the United states and
sanction was given to The treaty afterwards by express
ihe question Of continuing that treaty Involves
mainly subjects OF the special character which have
before described. Carefully inquiry made during the
re cess Of Congress induced the President 70 believe
that there then such harmony Of public seni-
ment in ayor Of TIE extension Of the treaty as would
encourage him In directing nego atons 10 be opened.
Inquiries made since the ssemblmg OF Congress
red the belief then adopted, that Congress
| teat the subject directly and not TO approach 1t
| ance ith this conviction. all communications verbal
and written upon the subject have been submitted TO
extending system reciprocal trade with the British
provinces on our ironuer awaits theT decision have
hIr. Seward therefore declined any diplomatic
nC goLatons beyond the authority OF the Secretary
OF state or Of Pres dent and he referred the British
thus failed II renamed for her MajestY's Govern
ment TO do their utmost TO prevent any evil con-
sequences which might arise from the abIo0ation of
the tire and here he might remark that although
the interests of the colonies had no doubt suffered
very greatly, he did not think they had suffered
more than those OF the United states themselves
| There were two very important questions VIZ, tue
| navigation of the ST. Lawrence and the fisheries
| which mIght have caused Misunderstanding.
OW, as regarded the st. La VIence and the canals
in connection with II, the Government had not eX.
| pressed any desire TO return 10 the state thugs
! existing prior TO the treatYi but as regarded the
! hsheues the matter was on an entirely d fer mt
| footing. When the Reciprocity tire tY was entered
INTO certain acts OF Parliament and of the colonial
Legislatures imposing heavy penalties on American
subjects who hshe0 within three miles Of the shore
| Weie suspended but the moment the treaty expired
these enactments came again In full force, and the
! Brush Government and the colonial Cove nOrs
| hnn nd 4 "a rPU mi ira