The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-12-13

tatiVe ot Her MaJeSty at WaSnlngt0n.l
and that authority he given for the
settlement of thesevclaims by the United
States. SO that the Government shall
have the ownership of the private claims
as well as the responsible control of all
tie demands against Grnt Britain. 1t
can't be necessaryto add that whenever
Her Majesty's Government shall enter
tain desire for full and friendly ad-
justment of these claims, the United
States will enter upon their considera-
ton with an earnest desire for con-
clusion consistent with the honor and
dignity Of both nations. IS
THE FISHERIES.
The course pursued by the Canadian
authorities toward the fishermen of the
United States during the past season has
not been marked BY a friendly feeling
BY, the 6rst article of the covention Of
1878, between Great Britain and tile
United States, il was. agreed that the
inhabitants of the United States should
have forever in common with the Brit
ish subjects the right of. taking, fish in
certain waters therein defined in the wa.
ter pot including in these limits named
in the convention of three miles of the
ports of the British coast It has been
the custom for many years to give to
the intruding fishermen of the, United
States a. reasonable warning of their vi.
olaton of the technical rights of Great
Britain. The Imperial Government is
understood to have delegated the whole,
or share of its jurisdiction and control
of the sea shore fishing grounds to the
Colonial authority, known as the Do
mlnion Of Canada, and this semi-inde-
pendent but irresponsible agent has ex.
ercised its delegated power in an uns
friendly way. Vessels have been seized
without notice or warning, in violation
of the custom previously prevalent, and
have been taken into the colonial ports,
their voyages broken up, and their ves-
sells condemned.
THE VAIL OF THE FISHERMEN.
There is reason to believe that this
unfriendly and vexatious treatment was
designed to bear harshly upon Fthe har-
dy fishermen of the United States, with
view to political effect upon this GOV
eminent. The statutes of the Domin-
ion Of Canada assume a. still broader
and more. untenable jurisdiction over
the vessels of the United States. They
authorize officers or persons to bring
vessels .hoyeriBg within three marine
miles of nyof the coasts, bays, creeks
or harbors of Canada into port.to search
the cargo and examine the master on
oath touching the cargo and voyage,and
to inflict npon him a heavy pecuniary
penalty if a true answer be not given,
and if such vessel is found preparing
to fish within three marine miles of any
such coasts, bays, creeks or harbors
without a license, or after the expiration
of the period named in the last license
granted to it, this provides that the yes
sci, with her tackle, &c, de-, shall be
forfeited 1t is not known that any
condemnations have been made under
this statute, Should the authorities OF
Canada attempt to enforce it, it will bt
lmy duty to take such steps as may be
necessary to protect the rights of tht
citizens of 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 oper
Iports of the British possessions in Nortl
America, except for the purpose of shel
tier and repairing damages, of purcha
Using wood and obtaining water; thai
they have no right to enter at the Brit
1 ish custom houses, or to, trade, excep
for the purchase of wood and water
and that they must depart within twenty
fonr hours after notice to leave. 1t is
not known that any seizure of fishing
vessel carrying the flag of the United
States, has been made under this claim
So far as the claim is founded on any
lalleged construction of the Convention
of 1918 it cannot be acquiesced in by
the United States. It is hoped that il
will not be insisted on by Her Majesty
government. During the conference
which preceded the negotiation of the
Convention proposed to expressly ex
clude the, fishermen OF the United State;
from the privilege of carrying on trade
with any of Her British Majesty's sub
Ijects residing within the limits assigned
lfor their use, and also that it should moi
be lawful for the vessels of the United
States engaged in such fishing to have
on board any goods, wares or rnerchan
die whatever except such as may b
necessary for the prosecution of theil
voyage to and from said fishing grounds
and any vessel which shall contrayent
this regulation, may be seized, condemn
ed. and confscated with their cafgoes
This proposition, which is Identical witt
the construction now put upon the Ian
guage of the Convention, was emphat
IicaIly regretted by the Commissioners
and therenpon was abandoned by tht
British plenipotentiaries, and Article !
as it stands IN the Convention, was sub
stituted. If, however, it is said tha
this claim is founded on provincial OF
colonial statutes, and not upon the, Con
vention, this Government cannot but re
gard them as unfriendly and in contra
vention of the faithful execution o.
which the Imperial Government is alone
responsible. / anticipate that an at
tempt may possibly be made by tht
Canadian authorities in the coming sea
son 10 repeat these nheighborly acts
towards our fishermen.
BUTLER's NON INTERCOURSE PLAN.
recommend you to confer the power
Ito suspend, by proclamation, the opera
ton of the laws authorizing the transit
of goods, wares and merchandise in
bond across the territory of the United
States to Canada; and further should
such an extreme measure become neces1
sary, to suspend the operations of any
of the laws whereby the vessels of ths
Dominion of Canada are permitted to
enter the waters of the United States
A like unfriendly disposition has been
/ manifested on the part of Canada with
the maintenance of a claim of the right