The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-12-08
ciples always contended for by the United
BOUNDARY LINE NORTH OF US.

ciples always commenced Tor Dy the United
States.
BOUNDARY LINE NORTH OF US.
In April last we engaged in locating
military reserve near Pembina. A corps
of engineers discovered that the common.
ly received boundary line between the
United States and the British possessions,
at that place, is about S, 700 feet south Of
the true position Of the zenith parallel,
and that the line, when run on what is
now supposed to be the true position of
that parallel, would leave the fort of the
Hudson Bay Company in the United States.
Nevertheless it may be expedient that the
old line should continue for the present.
deem it important, however, that this part
of the boundary lines should be definitely
fixed by a joint commission of the Govern
ments, and submit herewith estimates of
the expense Of such a commission on the
part of the United States, and recommend
an appropriation for that purpose: The
land boundary is already fixed and marked
from the summit Of the Rocky Mountains
to the Georgian Bay; it should now be in
! like manner marked from the Lake Of the
Woods 10 the summit Of the Rocky Noun.
! tains.
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 its views have been expressed
does not appear to be willing to concede
that Her Majesty's government was guilt:
of negligence, or did or permitted any act
during the war by which the United
States has just cause of complaint. Our
firm aud unaltered convictions are directly
the reverse. l therefore recommend 10
Congress to authorize the appointment OF
a commissioner to take proof of the
amounts and ownership of these claims, on
notice to the representatives Of Her Ma.
jesty at Washington, 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 well as the responsible control
of all demands against Great Britain. It
cannot be necessary to add that whenever
Her Majesty's government shall entertain
desire for full and friendly adjustment
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.
THE FISHERIES.
The course pursued by the Canadian au.
thorities toward the fishermen of the Uni
? ted States during a part of the past
/ season has not been marked by friendly
, feeling. By the first article Of the converl-
ton of 1918, between Great Britain and
} the United States, it was agreed that the
, inhabitants of the United States should
, have forever in common the right Of CATCH
ing fish in certain waters therein defined,
, in waters not included In the limits named
in the convention, within three miles of
: ports on the British coast. 1t has been
8 the custom for many years to give to in
, truding fishermen Of the United States a
: reasonable warning of a violation of the
f technical rights of Great Britain. The
. imperial government is understood to have
q delegated the whole, or share of its ju.
. risdiction or control Of those in shore fish.
Q cry grounds, to the colonial authority
known as the Dominion Of Canada, and
the semi-independent but irresponsible
agent has exercised its delegated powers
in an unfriendly way. Vessels have beel,
seized without notice or warning, in viola.
. ton Of the Custom previously prevailing,
- and have been taken into colonial ports
:, and their voyage broken up, and the yes
= sci condemned.
There is reason to believe this uufriendly
- and ve1atious treatment was designed to
bear harshly upon the hardy fishermen o.
=, the United States, with view to political
!. effect upon the government. The statutes
: Of the Dominion of Canada assume 8
broader and still more untenable jurisdic.
8 ton over vessels Of the United States
:. They authorize officers or persons to bring
4 vessels lowering within three miles of any
- coasts, bays, creeks or harbors of Canada
Is into port, to search the cargo, to examine
y. the master on oath touching the cargo
and voyage, and to inflict on him leav,
pecuniary penalty if true answers are no
given; and if such vessel is found prepar
iug fish within three marine miles of an,
Is such coasts, bays, creeks or harbors with.
y out license, or after expiration OF the pc
Is Rod named in the last license granted Il
i. it, they provide that the vessel, with be-
), tackle, etc., ETC., shall be forfeited. It il
1t not known that any condemnations hay,
j. been made under this statute. Should tn.
= authorities of Canada attempt to enforce
l. it, it will become my duty to take sucl
steps as may be necessary to protect tn,
rights of citizens Of the United States.
N CLAIMS OF THE DOMINION.
- 1t has been claimed by Her Majesty
Ie officers that the fishing vessels of the Unit
Ia ed States have no right to enter open port
r Of the British possessions in North Amer
3 lea, except for purposes Of shelter and re-
,. pairing damages, of purchasing wood an
N obtaining water; that they have no RICH
Ie to enter at British custom houses, or trade
to except for the purpose of wood and waite,
b. and they must depart within twenty. fou
D. hours after notice to leave. 1t is moi
,e known that any seizure of fishing vesse
IA carrying the flag of the United States, ha
ar been made under this claim: So far a. th
ID claim is founded on an alleged constructor
70 Of the convention of 1918, il cannot be &C
ze guessed in by the United States 1t j
"a hoped that it will not oe insisted on b
"a Her MaJesty's Government. During tn
,e conference which preceded the negotlatio
le Of the convention of 1918, the British Com
ii missioners proposed to expressly exclud