Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-12-15

: Z SSC uSSlIe IOT cOucluSlOu cOnSlSteUC VIII
the honor and dignity Of both nations. q.
: The course pursued by the Canadian au
; thorities toward the fishermen of the Uni
ted States during the present season, has
not been marked by friendly feeling
BY the first article of the convention OF
1913 between Great Britain and the Uni
ted States, it was agreed that the inhabit-
ants of the United States should have for
ever in common with the British subjects
the right of taking fish in certain waters
therein defined; inwaters not included in
the limits named in .coEvention-within
three miles of the ports of the British
coast. It has been the custom for many
4 years TO give to the trading fishermen Of
the United States reasonable warning of
their violation of the technical rights of
Great Britain.
| The Imperial Government is understood
to have delegated the whole or a share of
its jurisdiction to the control of these fish
ing grounds, to the colonial authority
known as the Dominion of Canada, and
this same independent but irresponsible
agent has exercised its delegated powers
III an unfriendly way. Vessels have been
seized without notice or warning, in viola
ton C. the custom previously prevailing,
/ and have been taken into olonial ports.
their voyages broken up, and vessels con-
| demned. and there is reason to believe that
this untriendly and vexatious treatment
was designed to bear harshly upon the har-
dy fishermen of the United States. With
view to political effect upon the Govern
ment, the Statutes Of the Dominion of Can
ada assume still broader and more untena-
| Bile jurisdiction over vessels of the United
! States. They authorize the officers or per-
SONS to bring the vessels lowering within
three marine miles of any of the coasts,
bays, creeks or harbcrs OF Canada, into
port to search the cargo, aud examine the
master on oath touching the cargo and voy-
age, and to indiet upon him heavy pecun-
larry penalty If true answers are not Civ
en-, AID if sach a vessel be found prepar-
ing to fish within three marine miles of
any such coast, bays, creeks or harbors,
without license, or after the expiration OF
period named in the license granted to
it, they provide that the vessel and her
tackle shall be forfeited. Is ..
1t is not known that any condemnation
have been made under this statute. Should
the authorities of Canada attempt to en-
force it, 1t will become my duty to take
such steps as may be necessary to protect
the rights of citizens Of the United States.
Anticipating that an attempt may possibly
he made by the Canadian authorities IN
the coming season TO repeat these unnelgh-
body acts toward our fishermen, i recon-
mend you to confer upon the Executive
the power to suspend by proclamation the
operation Of 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 ex-
treme measure become necessary, 70 sus-
pend the operations of any laws whereby
vessels Of the dominion of Canada are per-
mitted to enter the waters of the United
States. -'
Our depressed commerce is subject to
which | called especial attention at the last
session, and suggested that we will III fu-
ture have to look more to countries south
Of Us and to China and Japan. Our rep
resentatives to all those Governments have
exerted their influence to encourage trade
between the United States and the coun-
tries to which they are accredited, but the
fact exists that the carrying is done almost
entirely in foreign bottoms, and while this
state OF. affairs exist we can not control our
due share of the commerce of the world. |
That between the Pacific States and China
and Japan is about all the carrying trade
now conducted in American vessels. L |
would recommend liberal policy toward
that line of American ships, one that VIII |
insure its success, and even increase its
usefulness. The cost of building iron YES
sells. the ones that viii compete with for
eign ships in the carrying trade, is so much |
greater in the United States than in for
eion countries that, without some assis-
tance from the Government, they can not
be successfully built. There will be sew
eral propositions laid before Congress in
the course Of the present session looking to
a remedy for this evil. Even if it should
be at some cost to the national treasury, I
hone such encouragement viii be given as
will secure American shipping on the high
seas and American ship building at home.
The estimates for the expenses of the
Government for the fiscal year are 81 ,824,-
443. .6O1. less than for the current one, but
exceed. the appropriations for the present
year, for the same items, SS97,2i2,736.
In this estimate, however, is included S22,-
8,278, 81 for public works heretofore
begun under Congressional provisions, and
of which only 50 much is asked as Con-
eress may choose to give. The appropri-
ations for the same works for the present
fiscal year was $lI,9Sf,5l8 O8. /
The average value of gold, as compared
with national currency. for the whole OF
the year 1863, was about 134, and for ele-
months of 1870 the same relative value
has been about 115. The approach to a
specie basis is very gratifying, but the fact
can not be denied that the instability of
the value of our currency is prejudicial to
our prosperity tends to keep up pri-
ces. to the detriment of trade, and the
evils ofa deprecated and fuctuating cur
rency are SO great that now when the pre-
MUM on gold has fallen 50 much it would
seem the time had arrived when when, by !
wise and prudent legislation, Congress
should look to policy which would place
our currency at par with gold at no dis
ant day. The revenue collected from
he people has been reduced more than
s5O, 100000 per annum. BY steadiness
n our present course there is no reason
Why, in few short years, the national tax
,atherer may not disappear from the door
# the citizens almost entirely. With the
eyenue stamps dispensed by the postmas
or IN every cornnurlity n fax uDOn LIQUORS |
# all sorts and tobacco in all its forms by
wise adjustment of tariff which viii ,
,ut a duty only on those articles