New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-24
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.
When the Dominion of the Canadas was
established, July 1, 1867 all the Provinces were
named as forming the government, but the
people of Prince Edward Island, as well as OF
Nova Scotia declare that their representatives
had no authority to commit them to this Union
and from that day to this they have protested
against the connection. When they found
themselves powerless they appealed to the
Parliament ,of the l0ld Country through ac-
credited agents, but it was decided that the
Union must be maintained, whether established
by their consent or no, and in response the
people declared that the Union thus established
ais an arbitrary and tyrannical attempt to
deprive them of their constitution, which they
care bound to resist by all constitutional and
practicable means "srhey simply ask a restora-
ton tof their rights; and while they claim to
have been always faithful to the Queen, they
wishl still so to be, nor will they make any
attempt to withdraw their allegiance until
"they find the Queen intends permanently to
deprive them of her protection"
The termination of the Reciprocity Treaty
with the Canadas seems by no means to have
been acceptable and perhaps the establishment
IL
n retaliatory measure--that is, the depression
and final destruction Of our fishing interests in
their waters OF Northwestern shores How
much the sympathy and hospitality which the
Canadians extended to the Rebels contributed
TO the termination of this treaty need not now
he considered; but the ultimate consequence
seems to be that the Dominion Government is
preparing, by stringent legislation and excess
sfye taxation, to drive our vessels from those
waters. AS we. understand it, the law
is that our vessels are not allowed
to catch fish within three marine
miles of the shore, and it has been interpreted
by the English lawyers that the line OF limita-
ton shall be drawn from headland TO head
land, which, of course, denies us an entrance
into the bays and indentations where the best
fishing is to be found. Still, the Provincial
Governments were permitted TO grant annual
license to our vessels. In 1856 this license was
80 cents tun; in 1857, 81 50; and in 1853 it was
raised to- S2 tun. AS the case now stands,
the new Government of the Dominion, seeking
in itself to exercise universal jurisdiction by
reason OF the Union, so called, propose to in
crease the license to 81 a ton, which only can
mean that our vessels are to be entirely driven
from these fishing grounds.
But the Government and people of Prince
Edward Island. forming province as distinct
as was formed by either Upper or Lower
Canada, have been, and are, opposed to any
measures of this kind. This island lies south
OF the Gulf of st. Lawrence 1t is $40 miles
long and from to 40 miles wide anu 10y
reason of the many ndentations of its shores,
it has excellent harbors every few miles, while
those of Charlottetown and Georgetown are
remarkably good The surface is level, the
soil rich, and much resembling the red shale of
New-Jesey; oats, barley. and potatoes grow
abundantly; il is unexcelled for grass, and, by
consequence, for fine fat cattle. Although
the shore waters abound with cod and other
fish, the people, who number about 5000, are
almost wholly engaged in agriculture. They
are friendly to the United States, for the
interests of both are in great measure identi-
cal and they obtain the greater part OF their
supplies from New-Engand. In brief, they
are disposed to permit our vessels to fish along
their shores on the most reasonable terms,
and the right to grant this they clam they
alone possess by virtue of their existence as .
separate colony for more than hundred
years, and they deny that the Dominion has
any right to exercise it in their stead. The
point ut issue is analogous to'such as arise in
questions of State Rights with us.
Owing to difficulties arising from the old
restrictions, and from the impending ones in
sepamble from the excessive license proposed
by the Dominion, our Congress- last year, APP
pointed Committee to make full inquiry with
regard to Prince Edward Island, and we have
now a report from this Committee the Chair
man whereof being Benjamin F. Butler. The
Committee, consisting Of l.. p. Poland and d.
b. Beck. in addition to Gen. Butler, visited
the island, and, being cordially received by
the authorities and the people, several meet
ings were held to consider such propositions
as were proper for discussion by the Govern
ment of Prince Edward Island and Congress,
but, being preliminary they could not be other
wise than strictly unofficial The following,
among other propositions, are given ms likely
TO be satisfactory: First, that Congress should
provide by law for free admission for all tho
products of agriculture fisheries, aud the
mines of said island and that tho Government
of Prince Edward admit similar productions