Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-12-09

l1CSc VlldIA OulS uuITICuuly duU NbcAd-
tious treatment was designed to
bear harshly upon the hardy fisher
men of the United States with a
view Of political effect upon this
government. The statutes of the
dominion Of Canada assume still
broader and more untenable juris-
diction over the vessels of the Unit
ed States. They authorize officers
or persons to bring vessels lowering
within three marine miles of any of
the coasts, bays, creeks or harbors
of Canada, into port, to search the
cargo, to examine the master on
oath touching the cargo and voyage
and to inflict on him a heavy pecun-
larry penalty if true answers are not
given. And if such a vessel is
found preparing to fish within three
marine miles of any such coasts,
bays, creeks or harbors, without
license, or after the expiration Of
the period named in the last license
granted to it, the vessel, with her
tackle, &c, &C., shall be forfeited.
1t is not known that any condemna-
tons have been made under this
statute. Should the authorities of
Canada attempt to enforce it, it will
become my duty to take such steps
as may be necessary to protect the
rights of the citizens CT the United
States. 1t has been claimed by her
Majesty's officers that the fishing
vessels of the United States have no
right to enter the ports of the Brit
fish possessions in North America,
except for the purposes of shelter
and repairing damages, of purchas-
ing wood and obtaining water; that
they have no right to enter at the
British custom houses, or to trade,
except to purchase wood and water;
and that they must depart within
twenty-four hours after notice to
leave. 1t is not known that any
seizures of fishing vessel carrying
the flag of the United States has
been made under this claim. So far
as the claim is founded on the al
legged construction of the convention
of 1918, it cannot be acquiesced in
by the United States. 1t is hoped
that it will not be insisted on by her
Iajesty's government.
During the conference which PRE-
cecded the negotiation of the con-
vention of 1918, the British commits
sioners proposed to expressly
exclude the fishermen of the United
States from the privilege of carry
ing on trade with any of his Britain
ic majesty's subjects residing within
the limits assigned for their use,
and also that it should not be lawful
for the vessels of The United States
engaged in such fishing to have on
board any goods, wares or merchan-
disc whatever except such as might
be necessary for the prosecution OF
their voyages to and front said fish
ing grounds, and that any vessel of
the United States which should
contravene he regulations might
be sliced, condemned and contiscat-
ed with her cargo. This PROPOSE
ton, which is identical with the
construction now put by the Cana
dian Dominion upon the language
of the convention, was emphatically
repudiated by the American com
missioner, and thercupon was aban-
doned by the British plenipotentia-
ries. Article l, as it stands in the
convention, was substituted. If,
however, it be said that this claim
is founded on provincial or colonial
statutes, and not upon the conven-
ton, this government cannot but re-
gard them as unfriendly, and in
contravention of the spirit, if not
of the letter, of the treaty, for the
faithful execution of which the I'M
perial government is alone respon-
sible. Anticipating that an attempt
may be made by the Canadian au-
thorities in the coming season to
repeat their unncighborly acts to-
wards our fishermen, l recommend
YOU to confer upon the Executive
! he power to suspend by proclama-
t;on lie operation Of the laws au-
thorizinc the transit of goods, wares
and merchandise in bond across
the territory of the United States
to the territory of Canada; and fur
ther-should such an extreme meas
ure become ncccssary-to suspend
the operation of any laws whereby
the vessels of the Dominion of Can
ada are permitted to enter the wa
tcrs of the United States.
! A like unfriendly disposition has
been manifested on the part Of Can
ada in the maintenance of a claim
or right to exclude the United
States from the navigation of the
St. Lawrence. This river consti-
tutcs a natural outlet to the ocean
for eight states of the Union, with
an aggregate population Of 17,60o,-
600 inhabitants and with an aggre-
gate tonnage of 66l, 1867 tons upon
the waters which discharge into it.
The foreign commerce oftheir ports
on these waters is open to British
competition, and the major part of
it is done in British bottoms. If
the American seamcn be excluded
from their natural avenue to the
ocean, the monopoly Of the direct
commerce of the lake ports with the
Atlantic would be in foreign hands,
their vessels on transatlantic voy-
ages having an access to our lake
ports, which would be denied to
American vessels on similar voya-
gcs. TO state such a proposition is
to rcfutc it. The practice during
the administration of Mr.. John
Quincy Adams and Mr.. Clay un-
qucstionably demonstrated the nat
ural rights of the citizens of the
United States to the navigation of
this river, claiming the act of the
Congress of Vienna Iii opening the
Rhine and other rivers to al! nations,
showed the judgment of European
jurists and statesmen that the inhac-
itants OF a country through which
navigable river passes have nat
ural right to enjoy the navigation of
that river to and into the sea, even
thourh passing through the territory