The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1870-12-24

for the present. deem it important however, tia.
this part of the boundary lines should 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 prr-
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.
i regret very much to say that no 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 its views
have been expressed, does not appear TO be willing
to concede that her Inaesys government was guilty
OF negligence, or did permitted any act during
the war by which the United States has Just cause Of
complaint. Our firm and unaerable convic-
tons aredirectly the reverse. therefore recommend
to Congress to authorize the appointment Of Com
mlsslonerto take proof of the amounts and the
ersp and their cIalns on notice to the representa-
tive of Her Majesty at Washington and that author
ity 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-
spOnsible control of all the demands against Great
Britain 1t cannot be necessary add that whenever
Her Majesty's Government shall entertain a desire
for a friendly adjustment OF these claims
the United States viii enter upon their
consideration with earnest desire for conclusion
consistent with the honor and dignity of both na-
| tions.
THE FISHERY QUESTION.
| The course pursued by the Canadian authorities
|
the past season has not been marked by a friendly
feeling. BY the first article Of the Convention Of
1918, between Great Britain and the United States,
it agreed the inhabitants of the United States
should have forever in common the right OF taking
| fish III certain wa,ers 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 for many years to give
! to intrudng fishermen Of the United States rca-
| 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 or
control OF these inshOre fishing grounds to the colon
al authority, known the Dominion of Canada and
the neutrality-suspicious. but irresponsible agent has
ercised its delegated powers in an unfrieudly way
Vessels have been seized without notice or warming
| IL violation OF custom previously prevailing and
have been taken into Colonial ports, their voyages
| broken up and the vessels condemned. There is
reason to believe that TINS unrlendy and veNatious
! treatment designed to bear harshly upon the
hardy fishermen of the United States with view TO
political effect upon the Government The statutes
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.
anime the master on oath touching the cargo and
voyage and to inlet upon him heavy pecuniary
penalty if true answers not given and if such
vessel is found preparing to fish within
| three marine miles of any such coasts,
bays creeks or harbors without
license, after the expiration the period named
in the last license granted to it, they provide that
|
1t Is not known that any condennations have been
made under this statute. Should the authorities of
Canada attempt to enforce it it viii become my du-
ty to take such steps may be necessary protect
the rights of the citizens of the United States 1t
has been claimed by her Maiestys officers that the
fishing vessels of the United States have no right
to enter the open paEts 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 right To enter at
the British custOn-hOuses, trade, eyceut for the
purchase of wood and water, and that they must
depart within "a hours after notice to leave II i
known that any seizure of a fishing vessel carry
ing the flag of the United States has been made
under this claim So far as the claim is founded on
the alleged construction of the Convention of 1918
it cannot be acquiesced in by the United States.
It's hoped that viii not be insisted By Her Ma
jestys Government. During the conference which
preceded the negotiations of the Convention of 1873
the British Commissioners proposed to expressly eX-
clude the fishermen Of the United States from the
privilege Of carrying on trade with any of His Brit
tanic Majesty's subjects residing within the limits
signed for their use and also that it should not lie
lawful for the vessels of the United States engaged
in such fishery to have board any goods wares or
merchandise, whatever, except such may be
sary for the prosecution of their voyages and from
said fishing grounds; and any vessel Of the United
States which shall cOnrayene this regulation may be
seized, condemned and cOniscated, with her cargo.
This opposition, which is idenentical with the con-
structiOn put upon the language of the COnven-
lon was eInphatlcaliy objected to by the American
| Commissioner, and thereupon abandoned by the
British Plenipotentaries, and Article l. it stands
| in the Convention, was substituted.
! | IT, however it be said that this claim is founded
upon provincial colonial statutes and not upon
the convention, this Government cannot but regard
= | them as unfrlendly, and in cOnlraYentOn Of the
spirit if not of the letter. of the treaty for the faith
ful execution of which the Imperial Government is
aIohe fespohsible- Anticipating tlat an attempt
may possibly be made by the Ganesiian authorities
IN the coming season to repeat their unneighborly
act toward 6rlresIuon, recommend You to
| Ter 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
ure become necessary, to suspend the operation of
t any laws whereby the vessels of the Dominion Of
Canada are permitted to enter the waters of the
r | United States.
NAVIGATION OF THE ST. LAWRENCE.
: like unfriendly disposition has been
manifested on the part of Canada in the
citizens of the United States from navigation of the
st. Lawrence. This river constitutes natural outlet
to the ocean for eight states with aggregate popu-
laton of l7,6OQO00 inhabitants, with an aggregate
tonnage of G6E367 tons, upon the waters which dis
charge into it. The foreign commerce Of the ports
on these waters Is open to British competition, and
the major part Of it is done in British bottoms. If
the American seamen be excluded from this natural
avenue to the ocean, the monopoly of the direct
of the lake ports with the Atlantic would in
fOrsign hands, their vessels transatlantic voy-
ages having to our lake ports which would be
] denied to American vessels similar voyages. To
state such proposltlon Is to refute It's Justice.
| During the administration of Mr.. John
Quincy Adams Mr. Clay unquestionably demonstra-
ted the natural rights OF citizens OF the United States
navigation of this river, claiming thattle act of
the Congress of Vienna in opening the Rhine and
other rivers all nations, showed the judgment of
European iurists and statesmen that the Inhabitants
of a country through which naVlgabe river passes
have a natural right to enjoy the navigation OF that
river to and into the sea- though passing through the
| territory Of another power This right does not
cIude the co-equal right of the sJVergns possessing
the territory through which the river Gebouches
the to make such regulations relative TO the poll
Cy of the navigation may be reasonably necessary
but these regulations should be framed IN a liberal
! spirit of comfy, and should not impose needless
| burdens upon the commerce which has the right Of
transit. 1t has been found in practice adyan-
tageous to arrange these regulations by mutual
agreement
The United States ready to make any reason
able arrangement to the navigation OF the ST. Law
renee which may be suggested 10y Great Britain. If
the claim made by Mr. Clay just, when the pOpu-
ation of States bordering the shores OF the lakes
was only 3,600000, it derives greater force and
equity from the increased population, wealth. pro-
ductiOn and tonnage of the States on the Canadian
frontier Since MIR. 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 1881 the Rhine declared free from
the point where it is first navgabe into the BY
the Convention between Spain and Portugal, con-
cluded in 1885, the navigation of the Douro
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 Paraua and UrU-
quay to the merchant vessels Of all nations
Ia 1856 the Crimean was closed by treaty
which provided for the free navigation Of the Dan
ube.
In 1885, Bolivia, by treaty, declared IL regarded
the rivers Amazon and La Plata in accordance with
the fixed principles of national law, as highways
or channels opened by nature for the commerce OF
all nations. In 1889 the Paraguay was
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