Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-12-08

lant- however, tnat tnlS part vi TIE
boundary line should be definitely
fixed by joint commission OF the
governments, and submit herewith
estimates of the expense of such a
commission on the part of the Uni
ted States and recommend that an
appropriation for that purpose be
made. The land boundary is al
ready 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.
1regret to say no conclusion has
been reached for the adjustment OF
the claims against Great Britain,
growing out of the course adopted
by that Government during the re-
bellion. The Cabinet of London,
so far as its views have been ex-
pressed, does not appear to be will
ing to concede that Her Majesty's s
Government was guilty of negli-
gence, or did or permitted any act
during the war by which the United
States has any just cause of com
plant. Our firm and unalterable
convictions are directly the reverse,
and therefore recommend to Con
gress to authorize the appointment
of a commission to take proof of the
amounts and the ownership of their
claims on notice to the representa-
tive of Her Majesty at Washington,
and that authority be given for the
settlement of these claims by the
United States, so that the Govern
ment shall have the ownership Of
the private claims, as well as the
responsible control of all the de-
mands against Great Britain. L,
cannot be necessary to add that when
ever Her Majesty's Government
shall entertain a desire for a full and
friendly adjustment of these claims
the United States will enter upon
their consideration with an earnest
desire for a conclusion consistent
with the honor and dignity of both
nations.
UNFRIENDLY ACTION OF THE CANADIAN
AUTHORITIES TOWARD AMERICA.
The course pursued by the Cana
dian authorities toward the fisher
men of the United States during the
past season has not been marked by
a friendly feeling. BY the first arti-
Gle of the convention of 1918, be.
tween Great Britain and the United
States, it was agreed that the inhab-
itants of the United States should
have forever in common with Brit
ish subjects the right of taking fish
in certain waters therein defined.
In the waters not included in the
limit named in the convention with
in three miles of ports of the Brit
ish coast, it has been the custom fol
many years to give to intruding
fishermen Of the United States a
reasonable warning of their viola.
ton of the technical rights of Great
Britain. The Imperial Government
is understood to have delegated the
whole or a share of its jurisdiction
or control of these inshore fishery
grounds to the colonial authority
known as the Dominion Of Canada
and this semi-independent but ire
sponsible agent has exercised its
delegated powers in an unfriendly
way. Vessels have been seized with
out notice or warning, in violation
of the custom previously prevailing,
and have been taken into the coloni-
al ports, their voyages broken up
and the vessels condemned. There
is reason to believe that this un-
friendly and vexatious treatment
was designed to bear harshly upon
the hardy fishermen of the United
States, with view to political effect
upon this government. The stat
utes of the Dominion of Canada
assume a still broader and more un-
tenable jurisdiction over the vessels
of the United States. They author
ize officers or persons to bring ves-
sells lowering within three marine
miles of any of the coasts, bays,
creeks or harbors of Canada into
port, to search the cargo, to exam
inc the Master on oath touching the
cargo and voyage, and to infiict up
on him heavy pecuniary penalty
if true answers are not given; and
if such vessel is found preparing
to fish within three marine miles of
any such coast, bay, creeks, or har-
bors without license, or after the
expiration of the period named in
the last license granted to it, they
provide that the vessel with her
tackle, &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 duty to take, such steps as may
be necessary to protect the rights of
the citizens of the United States. It
has been claimed by Her Majesty's
officers that fishing vessels of the
United States have no right to en-
ter the open ports of the British
possessions in North America, ex-
cept for the purposes of shelter and
repairing damages, of purchasing
wood and obtaining water; that they
have no right to enter at the British
Custom Houses, or to trade, except
the purchase of wood and water,
and that they must depart within
twenty-four hours after notice to
leave. 1t is not known that any
seizure of a fishing vessel carrying
the flag of the United States has
been made under this claim. So far
as the claim is founded on any 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 upon by
Her Majesty's Government. Dur
ing the conferences which preceded
the negotiation of the convention of
1918, the British Commissioners
proposed to expressly exclude the
of the United States from
the privilege of carrying on trade
with any of Her Britannia Majesty's
subjects residing within the limits
assigned for their use, and also that
it should not be lawful for the YES
cole Of tho IT,;+od S+otn, o,-..- i