Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-12-16
DECEMBER Is, 1870.
TILE ALABAMA CLAWS.

! during the rebellion. The Cabinet OF
| London, so far rs its views have been cX.
pressed, does not appear To be willing To
confess that Her MajeSty's government
was guilty of negligence. or did, or per
mit,ed any act, during the war. by which
the United States has n Just cause oi COM
plant The ever firm and unaltcrable
convictions are directly the reverse. ]
therefore recommend to Congress Ia au-
th0rze the appointment OF commission,
to take proof of the accounts and the own
crshp oi The private claims. rs well rs
the responsible control OF all the demands
against Great Britain. 10 cannot bc nee.
essary to adj that whenever her Majesty's
government shall entertain desire for Il
full and friendly adjustment Of the claims,
the United States will enter upon their
consid ration with IN earnest desire for
conclusion, consistent with the honor
and dignity Of both nations.
THE FISHING TRoCBLEs.
The course pursued by the Canadian
au,horilic, toward the fishermen OF the
United States during the past season has
not been marked bY n friendly feeling
! Bv the first article of the convention ol
! 1918. between Great Britain aud the Uni
ted Sl;acs. it was agreed that the people
of the United States should have forever
/ i'm common with British subjects the right
of taking fish in the waters therein dclin-
ed. m the waters not included in the lin.
/ its named in the convention withi1 three
miles of the British coast. IL has been
/ the custom for many years 10 give the
/ intruling fishermen ot the United States
reasonable warning OF their violation ol
/ the technical rights of Great Britain. Tho
/ imperial government i understood to
have delegated the whole, or u share ol
/ its jurisdiction, or control, ol these nshorc
I fisheries To the colonial authority, known
rs the Dominion ofCanaia, and this semi
independent. but irresponsible, agent ha'
/ exercised its delegated powers in m un-
! friendly way. Vessels have been seized
without notice or warning in violation ol
the custom previously prevailing. and
taken iu,o the colonial ports. their voy-
ACES broken upand lhcirycsselS condemn
cd. There is reason 10 believe that this
unlricndly and vcXatious treatment was
/ designed to bear harshly upon the hardy
/ fishermen at the United States, with Il
/ view to a political effect upon this gov
/ crnmcut. The statutes uI the Dominion
OF Canada assume stilt broader and
moro un.cutble jurisdiction over the YES
sells ot the United States. ihcy author.
iZr officers ur persons 10 bring vessels
/ lowering within three marine miles OF
any of the coasts, bays, cree - or hlr1or'
( of Cmadl into ports, to- search The cargo
10 examine the master under oath, To-
change the cargo and the voyage, anil tn
I iullict upon him heavy pccunury penal
llY ii true answers are not gwen, AMI II
any such vessel is found preparing Ia
fish within three marine miles pi any such
coasts. BAYS, creek, or hor,lrrS without =
/ license, or after the expiration of the pc
Rod named in the last license granted 10
/ it. they provide that the vessel viii hcr
/ tackle Sr, Sc. Shall be- forfeited. II i
not known that any conli,raIioES have
been made under this statute. ShpuIl
the authorities of t'auIdr attempt il, It
will become my ,lu4y To take sueh steps
rs may be necessary To protect the rltl'
2cus OF the United States
Il ha, been cama by her majesty : Of
licers that the shiug vessels Of the UHi'
ted States have no light 10 enter the open
ports Of the British possessions in North
America. except Tor shelter and rapIilin%
damages, of pm chasing wood and obtain.
inc water; that they would have no righ,
ln enter the British custom houses or t.
trade there, except tor wood and water,
and that they must depalt within twenty.
tour hours alter notice to leave. Il i not
known that any seizure oi 4 fishing YES.
sci carving the United States flag has
been made under this claim. So tar as
the claim i foundec on an alleged con
,truclion of the convention of 1918 il can
not he acqnirsccd in by The Cnilcd States.
II i, hoped hat it will not hc insisted up
ON by Her MaicSty's Government.
Duriug the conference which preceded
the negotiation OF the convention ot 1918
the British Commissioners proposed to
expressly exclude The fishermen OF the
United States from the privilege oi carry
iny on trade with any OF her liritanic
Maic,ty'o subjects residing within he
limits assigned for their use, and also that
it should not be lawful for the vessels OF
the United STATES Engaged in The said Ii>h
cry to have on board any food, wares OF
merchandise Whatever, except sncll aS
might be necessary for the prosecution OF
their voyages TO and from said fishing
grounds; and any vessel of The United
States which shall contravenc this Iegula-
ton may be seized. condemned and con;i>-
Gated with her lago. This proposition,
which is Identical with the construction
now put upon the language ol the con
ycnton, was cmphaticaly rejected by The
American Commissioner. and hcraupon
was abandoned by the Brilish Plcnipuyen-
tiary, and article n il stands in the CON
vcnti0n was substituted. II, however, il
is said that this claim is founded on colo
niul OF provincial statutes, Hnd not upon
the convention, this Government. cannot
but regard it rs unlricndly, and in con-
traveuton of the spirit, ii not OF the let
ter %. the treaty, for the faithful execution
OF @hich the Imperial Government alone
i, responsible.
SOME GRAVE ISSUE PROPOSED.
Anticipating that IN attempt may posi-
by be made 10y the Canadian authorities
next season To repeat their unneighborly
act toward our fishermen, | recommend
youlo oconler upon the Executive rhepowcr
to suspend by proclamation the operation
of the laws authorizing the transit OF
goods, wares and merchandise in bond
across the territory Of the United States
and Canada. and further should such an
extreme measure become necessary, Ia
suspend the laws whereby the vessels OF
the Dominion Of Canada are permitted to
enter the writer's OF the United States.
THE NAVIGATION OF THE ST. LAWRENCE
SHARP IDEAS BY CALEB CUSHING AND BEN
BUTLER.
A like unlriendly disposition has been