The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1870-12-13


commission on the part of the United
States, and recommend that an appro-
priation for that purpose be made. The
land boundary is already fixed and
marked from the summit of the Rocky
Mountains to the Georgian Bay. 1t
should now be in like manner marked
from the Lake of the Woods to the
summit of the Rocky Mountains.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
regret to say no conclusion has
been reached for the adjustment of the
claims against Great Britain, growing
out of the course adopted by that gov
ernment during the rebellion. The
Cabinet of London, so far as its views
have been expressed, does not appear
to be willing to concede that Her Maj.
esty's Government was guilty of negli-
gence, or permitted any act during the
war by which the United States has
any just cause of complaint Our firm
aud unalterable convictions are direct
ly the reverse, and therefore recon-
mend to Congress to authorize the ap-
pointment OF commission to take
proof Of the amounts and the owner
ship Of their claims on notice to the
representative of Her Majesty at
Washington, and that authority be
given for the settlement ofthese claims
by the United States, so that the Gov
ernment shall have the ownership of
the private claims, as we'll as the re-
sponsible control of all the demands
against Great Britain. 1t cannot be
necessary to add that whenever Her
Majesty's Government shall entertain
a desire for full and friendly adjust
ment of these claims, the United States
will enter upon their consideration
with an earnest desire for conclusion
consistent with the honor and dignity
of both nations.
UNFRIENDLY ACTION OF THE CANADI-
AN AUTHORITIES TOWARD AMERICA.
The course pursued by the Canadian
authorities towards the fishermen of
the United States during the past sea-
son, has not been marked by friendly
feeling. BY the first article of the
convention of 1918, between Great
Britain and the United States, it was
agreed that the inhabitants of the
United States should have forever, in
common with British subjects the right
of taking fish in certain waters therein
defined. In the waters not included in
the limits of the convention within
three miles Of ports of the British coast
it has been the custom for many years
to give to intruding fishermen of the
United States reasonable warning OF
their violation of the technical rights
of Great Britain. The Imperial Gov.
ernment is understood to have delega'
ted the whole or share of its jurisdic.
ton or control of these inshore fishery
grounds to the colonial authority known
as the Dominion of Canada, and thi:
semi-independent but irresponsible
agent has exercised its delegated power
in an unfriendly way. Vessels have
been seized without notice or warning
in violation of the custom generally
prevailing, and have been taken into
colonial ports, their voyages broker
up and the vessels condemned. There
is reason to believe that this unfriendly
ana vexatious treatment was designed
to bear harshly upon the hardy fisher
men of the United States, with view
to political effect upon this govern
ment. The statutes Of the Dominion
of Canada assume q still broader anC
more untenable jurisdiction over tn'
vessels of the United States. They
authorize officers or persons to bring
vessels lowering within three marine
miles ofany of the coasts, bays, creek
or harbors of Canada into port, Il
search the cargo, to examine the Mas
ter on oath touching the cargo anC
voyage, and to inAict upon him heav,
pecuniary penalty if true answers ar
not given f; and if such vessel is founC
preparing to fish within three marin
miles of any such coast, bays, creeks o
harbors without license, or after tn
expiration of the period named in tn
last license granted to it, they provid
that the vessel with her tackle, DC
&c, shall be forfeited. 1t is not know
that any condemnati0ns have beel
made under this statute. Should tn
,, authorities of Canada attempt to en-
force it, it will become my duty to tax
, such steps as may be necessary to pre-
tect the rights of the citizens of tn
, United States. II has been claime
by Her Majesty's officers that fsbin
vessels of the United States have N
right to enter the open ports of tn
British possessions in North Amer
= lea, except for the purposes c
r shelter and repairing damages, o
= of purchasing wood and obtainin
= water; that they have no righ
s to enter at the British Custom HOUSE
{ or TO trade, except the purchase c
I wood and water, and that they mus
b depart within twenty four hours afte
q notice to leave. 1t is not known tina
g any seizure of a fishing vessel carryin
e the flag of the United States has bee
Y made under this claim. So TAR as th
Q claim is founded on any alleged cor
2 struction of the convention of 1918,
: cannot be aoquiesced in by the Unite
a States. 1t is hoped that it will not b
# insisted upon by Her Majesty's Cover