Litchfield enquirer., 1870-12-15

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 as ss1 h1ass so q abRoss b hissfoa '
 negotiate treaty with the authorities o
 San Domingo for the acquisition of tha l island, and that an appropriation be- mad l to defray the expenses of such commis
 sion. The question may then be deter
 Congress upon g resolution of annexatio, ] as in the case of the annexation of Texas So convinced am I of inc advantages f. and of the great disadvantages, I migh l quisition.. that believe the subject is on ly 10 be investigated 70 be approved.
 THE PEKIN MAssAcRE s E. Eq The massacre of French and Russian
 residents at Tien Tsin, under circumstan
 ces of great barbarity, were supposed by some to have been prenleditated, and tt
 indicate a purpose among the populace tt exterminate foreigners iu the Chinese em pire. The evidence fails to establish sucL
 q supposition, but shows complicity o
 the local authorities with the mob. The government at Pekin, however, seems tc
 have been disposed to fulfilits treaty obi
 gations so far as it was able to do so. Un. fortunately the news of the war between
 the German States and France reached China soon after. the massacre. It would
 appear that the popular mind became pos
 sessed with the idea that this contest, ex
 tending to Chinese waters, would neutral lze the Christian influence and power, and that thu timg was coming when the super stitions, mass might .expelsrall foreieoers and restore mandarin IIhdence. Antlci pating trouble, Invited France and NortI, Germany to make all authogized suspan
 sion of hostilities in the East, where they were temporarily suspended by act of the commanders, and to act together for the future protection in China,of the lives and property of Americans and Europeans.
 ...- THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
 I regret to say that 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 rebellion. The Cabinet of Lon don, so far as it's views have been express ed. does not appear to be willing to con- cede that her Majesty's government was guilty of negligence, or did, or permitted any act during the war for which the Uni ted States has just cause of complaint
 therefore recommend to Congress to authorize the appointment of commits sion to take proof of the amounts and the ownership of the claims on notice to the representatives of her Majesty at Wash ington, and that authority be given for the settlement of these claims by the United States. so that the government shall have the ownership of the private claims, as we'll as the responsible coutrol of all the demands against Great Britain. It cannot be necessary to add that whenever her Ma
 su Sea f9hd h 6 thgss claims, the United States will enter upon their consideration with an earnest desire for d conclusion consistent with the honor and dignity of both nations.
 THE CANADIAN FISHERIES.
 ' The course pursued by the Canadian au- thorlties towards the fishermen of the Uni ted States durin g the past season, has not been marked by a friendly feeling. By the first article of the Convention of 1918 be- tween Great Britain and the United States it was agreed that the inhabitants of the United Stales should have forever, in com mou with British subjects. the right of ta- king fish in certain waters therein defined. In the waters not included in the limits named by the convention (within three miles of parts of the British coast) it has been the custom for twenty years to give to intruding fishermen of the United States 8 reasonable warning of their violation of the technical rights of Great Britain. The imperial government is understood to have delegated the whole or share of it's juris- diction or control of these inshore fishing grounds to the colonial authority known as the Dominion of Canada; and thls se- mi mlindependent but irresponsible agent has exercised it's power in an unfriendly way. Vessels have been seized without notice or warning in violation of the GUS tom previously prevailing, and have been taken into colonial ports. their voyages broken up and the vessels condemned. There IS reason to believe that this un- friendly and vexatious treatment was de- signed to bear harshly upon the hardy fish ermen of the United States, with 8 view to political effect upon this government. The statutes of the Dominion of Canada assume 8 still broader, more untenable lurisdic- tiOn over the vessels of tue United States They authorize officers or persons to bring vessels lowering within three marine miles of any of the coasts. baysy creeks or har bors of Canada into port, to search the cargo, to examine the master on oath touch ing the cargo and voyage, and to inflicl upon him a heavy pecuniary penalty If true answers are not gwen; and if such yes, sel 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 nam ed.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 tue authorities of Canada enforce it. it will become my duty to take such steps as may be necessa
 " to protect the rights of the citizens ol the United Statesssd 9dt ,el Eesn >aI Bs It has been claimed by her Majesty's of ficials that the fishing vessels of the Uni ted States have no right to enter the opel ports of the British possessions in Nortl
 America, except for the purpose of shelte
 and repairing damages; for purchasini wood and obtaining water; that they hay no right to enter at the British Custon
 Houses, or to trade there except for tn
 purchase of wood and water, and that the
 must depart within twenty four hours al
 ter notice to leave. It is not known tha
 any seizure of fishing vessel carrying tn
 flag of the United States has been mad
 on this claima So far as the claim is found ed on an alleged construction of the Con lyention of ISIS, it cannot be acquiesced i
 by the United States. h l It is hoped that it will not be insisted o 4 4hw shnvs M .Sfca<w sa srfrv nFn m ami ss