Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-12-14

OF Engineers discovered that tnt
commonly received boundary line between the
United States and the British Possessions at that
place is about fifty hundred feet south OF the
true position of the zenith parallel and that the line
wheE run on what is now supposed to
be the true position of that parallel would
leave the fort of Hudsons Bay Company at Penn
bna within the territory of the United States This
information being communicated to the British Gov
ernment, was requested to consent, and l
did consent, that British occupation Of the
fort of the Hudson Bay Company should continue
for the present. deem it important, however, that
this part of the boundary lines should be definitely
fixed by joint Commission of the Governments,
and submit herewith estimates of the expense OF
such Commission the part of the United States,
and recommend that an appropriation for that pur-
pose be made. The land boundary is already fixed
| and marked down from the summit of the Rocky
Mountains to Georgian Bay. 1t should also be IN
| like manner marked from Lake of the Woods to
the summit of the Rocky Mountains.
! THE ALABAMA CLAIMS
/ regret very much to say that con-
clusion has been reached for the adjustment
of the claims against Great Britain growing out of
| the course adopted by that government during the
rebellion. The cabinet of London, far as it's views
have been expressed, does not appear to be willing
to concede that her majesys government was guilty
| of negligence, did permitted any act during
the by which the United States has just of
| complaint. Our firm and unalterable convic-
uons are'directly the reverse therefore recommend
to Congress to authorize the appointment of Com
missionerto take proof of the amounts and the
ershp and their claims, on notice to the representa-
tty be given for the settlement Of these claims by
the United States, that the Government shall have
the ownership of the private claims as well as re-
sponsble control of all the demands against Great
Britain It cannot be necessary to add that whenever
Her Majestys Government shall entertain desire
for a friendly adjustment Of these claims
the United States will enter upon their
consideration with earnest desire for conclusion
consistent with the honor and dignity of both ma
tions.
f. THE FISHERY QUESTION. 81
toward the fishermen Of the United States during
the past season has not been marked by friendly
feeling. By the first article of the Convention of
1878, between Great Britain and the United States,
it was agreed the inhabitants of the United States
should have forever in common the right of taking
fish in certain waters therein defined.
In the waters not included in the limits named in
common within three miles of parts of the British
coast it has been the custom for many years to give
to intruding fishermen of the United States a rea-
sonable warning of the violation OF the technical
rights of Great Britain.
The Imperial Government is understood to have
delegated the whole or share of its jurisdiction
control of these nshore fishing grounds to the cooni
al authority, known as the Dominion of Canada and
the sei-independent but irresponsible agent has
ercised its delegated powers in unfrendly way.
Vessels have been seized without notice warning,
in violation of custom previously prevailing, and
have been taken into Colonial ports their voyages
broken up and the vessels condemned. There is
to believe that this unfriendy and veXatious
treatment designed to bear harshly upon the
hardy fishermen Of the United States with view to
of the Dominion Of Canada assume still
broader and more untenable jurisdiction over the
vessels of the United States; they authorize officers
or persons to bring vessels lowering within three
marine mile of any of the coasts bays creeks har
bors of Canada into port to search the cargo, to
anime the master on oath touching the cargo and
voyage and to infict upon him heavy pecuniary
penalty if true answers are not given and if such
vessel is found pre- preparing to s, fish within within
nree 1asha miles b.rhors Of any s9an coasts
license after the expiration of the period named
in the last license granted to it, they provide that
vessel, with her tackle, &C., &C., shall be forfeited.
It is not known that any condemnations have been
made under this statute. Should the authorities OF
Canada attempt to enforce it it will become my du-
y to take such steps may be necessary to protect
the rights of the citizens of the United States. 1t
has been claimed by her Majestys officers that the
fishing vessels of the United States have no right
to enter the open ports of the British Possessions IN
North America except for purposes of shelter, and
repairing damages, and purchasing wood, and OBJ
tanning water; that they have no right to enter at
the British custom-houses, trade, except for the
purchase of wood and water, and that they must
depart within "a hours after notice to leave. is not
known that any seizure OF fishing vessel carry
ing the flag of the United States has been made
under this claim. So far the claim is founded on
the alleged construction of the Convention of 1918,
it cannot be acquiesced in by the United States.
tits hoped that it will not be insisted by Her Ma
jestys Government. During the conference wh1ch
preceded the negotiations Of the Convention of 1875
the British Commissioners proposed to expressly ex-
clude the fishermen of the United States from the
privilege of carrying trade with any of His Brit
signed for their USE and also that it should not be
lawful for the vessels of the United States engaged
in such fishery to have on board any goods wares or
merchandise whatever, except such as may be neces
for the prosecution Of their voyages to and from
said fishing grounds; and any vessel of the United
States which shall conravene this regulation may be
seized, condemned and confscated, with her cargo.
This poposition which is idenentcal with the con-
struction put upon the language of the Conven-
ton, emphatically objected to by the American
Commissioner, and thereupon was abandoned by the
British Penipotentaries, and Article /, as it stands
in the Convention was substituted.
If, however, it be said that this claim is founded
upon provincial or colonial statutes, and not upon
the convention, this Government cannot but regard
them as unfriendly, and in contravention of the
spirit, not of the letter. of the treaty for the faith
full execution of which the Imperial Government is
alone responsible. Anticipating that attempt
may possibly be made by the Canadian authorities
| in the coming season to repeat their unneighborly
act toward our fishermen, I recommend you to con-
fer upon the Executive the power 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 to
Canada; and further, should such an extreme meas
to suspend N the the operation of of
Canada are permitted to enter the waters of the
| United States.
/ NAVIGATION OF THE ST. LAWRENCE.
! like unfriendly disposition has been
manifestedi on the part of Canada in the
maintenance of a claim of the right to exclude
citizens of the United States from navigation of the
st. Lawrence. This river constitutes natural outlet
to the for eight states with aggregate popu-
lation of II 100000 inhabitants, with aggregate
tonnage of 661 367 tons, upon the waters which dis
charge into it. The foreign commerce of the ports
these waters is open to British competition, and
the major part of it is done in British bottoms
the American seamen be excluded from this natural
avenue to the ocean, the monopoly OF the direct COM
merce of the lake ports with the Atlantic would be in
foreign hands, their vessels transatlantic voy-
ages having access to lake ports which would be
denied to American vessels similar voyages. To
! state such proposition is to refute its justice
During the administration of Mr.. John
Quincy Adams Mr.. Clay unquestionably demonstra-
ted the natural rights of citizens of the United States
to navigation of this river, claiming thatthe act OF
the Congress of Vienna, in opening the Rhine and
other rivers to all nations showed the Judgment OF
European ursts and statesmen that the inhabitants
of country through which navigable river passes
have natural right to enjoy the navigation of that
river to and into the though passing through the
territory of another power This right does not ex
clude the coequa right of the sovergns possessing
the territory through which the river debouches into
the sea to make such regulations relative to the poll
cy Of the navigation may be reasonably necessary
but these regulations should be framed in liberia
spirit of comfy, and should not impose needless
burdens upon the commerce which has the right oi
transit 1t has been found in practice more advan
| tageous to arrange these regulations by mutua
| The United States are ready to make any reason.
able arrangement to the navigation of the St. Law
renee which may be suggested by Great Britain. II
the claim made by Mr.. Clay just when the popu
aton of States bordering the shores of the lakes
was Cny $500 900, it derives greater force and
equity from the increased population, wealth, pro
| anu tOiiuoSo Ol OCdCeS Oh LH6 CanduldI
frontier. Since Mr.. Clay advanced his argument
in behalf of our rights the principle for which he
contend has been frequently and by various nations
recognized by law by treaty and has been extended
several other great rivers By the treaty concluded
at Mayence in 1891 the Rhine declared free from
the point where it is first navigable into the BY
the Convention between Spain and Portugal, con
| cluded in 1885, the navigation of the Dourc
throughout its whole extent, made free for the
| subjects of both crowns
In 1853 the Argentine Confederacy by treaty. threw
open to free navigation the Parana and Uru
quay to the merchant vessels of all nations.
| In 1856 the Crimean closed by treaty
which provided for the free navigation of the Dan
ube.
In 1858, Bolivia, by treaty, declared it regarded
the rivers Amazon and La Plata, in accordance witt
! the fixed principles Of national law, as highways
or channels opened by nature for the commerce Of
all nations. In 1859 the Paraguay was
made free by treaty, and in
December 1862 the Emperor of Brazil, by imperia
decree, declared the Amazon to be open to all the
frontier of Brazil to merchant ships of all nations
The greatest living British authority this subject
while asserting the abstract right of the British
claim, says it difficult to deny that Great Brit
ain ground her refusal strict law. but it is