The New York herald., 1871-01-03

our conduct has been IN the highest degree friendly
ana generous and we have great right 10 complain
OF its being represented under different light by
50 high ofciai as the chief OF the republic HIM
SELF II he proposes TO bind together all sections or
American people In one common American senti-
ment by such course II seems TO US, to say tho
least OF It, that he VIII not succeed.
HERALD COxMlssIoNER--The President In his
Message intimates that your legislation OF late has
been both uniriendy and novel In enforcement OF
DoMINIoN STlrEsMAN-The President is m!sin-
formed, and II Is greatly to be wished that he would
whsse studies he depends upon. Our legislation
has been no more than Transcript or that older
never complaned OF on the ground OF right during
the whole period between 1878 and 1854. Nor have
we ever attempted a 70 enforce our municipal iegisa,
the shore. But allow me TO state what has hap
pened. At the beginning OF the year 1870 we noti-
selves obliged now strictly to enforce the rule
OF exclusion from the shore line OF three miles;
not, be IT observed, from headlands During the
year 1870 we nave enforced that exclusion. There
have been few seizures within the three
as M been one aSl ran
Sir, pray notice this part OF the transaction. After
our notice TO the American government that we now
meant to take this line 1t became the duty Of the
American Executive TO warn, these people. And
they did Their duty. Secretary Boutwell, issue d two
these circulars ne notifies to the proper American
officials that tho Canadian government are now
complaint was made TO us. Indeed no complaint
could be; for we were about To stand on rights
after a long course OF indulgence and even then
not on our strict rights according to old treaty
structon, as have more than once said. President
Grant complains IN his Message that now we give
no netce. In Secretary Boutwell's circular 1t was
notified to the Americans that no notice was
hereafter to be given. Why should we give
well enough, ana when they break II they break
1t with their eyes very wide open indeed Our notice
and our warnings were all part OF system of ndul
gence and OF sef.sacritce which we find Will not do
at all We persevered In 1t because thought that
our generosity would lead the American government
raaJ Dran nollxr
them 10 q share In our priceless fisheries we hoped
tnat the spirit we showed would lead them to recon-
slder our exclusion from their c0astlng trade and
from the DEMENT'S OF the American register OF ship
pug. Re-; y, sir, we gave up everything Tor sea-
sSa @ m IN the none o. our getting g ars n return e n
President for simply reentering into possession OF
our own.
HERALD CoMMIssIoNER-Do ! understand you
that there Is positively foundation for the sugges-
tion that your late legislation Is noves
DOMINION NSTArE5MAS--Distlnctly. We have done
nothing hut adopt the provisions Of the imperial act
OF 1879 and the old law Of Nova Scotia. There Is
nothing new al all. Our late act like the imperial
act Of 1S19 has no clause giving twentyour hours
notice to the trespassing fishermen. II was found
that such clause defeated the purpose OF the law,
remember that our legislation applies and our
seizures are exclusively effected withln the three
mile limit which belongs to us. What the President
means by suggesting that our legislation Is novel
We cannot at all understand.
HERALD COMPASSIONATE President also sug-
regard to the trading OF fishing vessels.
DOMINION STATEsAAN-There is absolutely no
foundation for this lnsinuation. have clearly ex-
planned to you that the treaties limit most carefully
American fishing vessels 10 Gshing purposes, and
also the reasons for such limitation We cannot
have vessels shing under the pretence OF trading,
for that would be to give up the fisheries; we cam
have them trading under pretence OF fishing, for
that means smuggling. Fishing vessels may come
10 for shelter for repairs, for wood and for water.
Why, sir, In the whole history OF the discussion Of
these questions between the two countries no Ame-
rican statesman has ever yentured before President
Grant to Claim any right Tor fsning vessels TO enter
named In the treaty. SO just are the grounds on
winch we maintain the distinction between the
maintain it. President Grant takes quite new
statesman in a responsible position has ever dreamed
or taking. IL Is quite untenabe. But what we want
dressed Automatically TO us We Should be ioatn to
regard the message OF the President as mere elec-
tioneering manifesto 10 catch votes. 1t Is quite
certain however that an eiectioneering address can
contain matter al cdptdfduna Dutgus which can hnd
no place in diplomacy. You have an eminent Amerl.
can person named Buucombe, with great influence
among you None OF his family have settled at pre-.
sent within British domlnions. But 10 speak serl-
ousy. we are deeply shocked and panied at these
imputatlons, which a little pains and good faith
would have spared Us. Nor can we understand their
policy. WHAT can be tn. the use Of making statements
vessels, which WILL not bear momenps inves-
ns gaon or 9ne reneagnf For y Years
treaty. The clear r2ht OF preventing fishing vessels
from trading has been enforced without COM
President says that far the claim is founded
alleged construction OF the Treaty OF 1918 it
cannot be acquiesced in by the United States" and
ut IS hoped IL will not be insisted Oh b. her ajestys
government But, sir, SO long we are compelled
by this exclusve policy OF the American govern
ment to stand upon our rights-and yoi have
already been shown In what mitigated form
now do thls-we must maintain the exclusion OF
fishing vessels from trade. We cannoG maintain the
fishing property without II. And this will now
certainly not surrender beJ ond what have done
without a just equivalent.
HERALD CoMMIssiONER-You on have certainly stated
matter for much serious reflection.
DOMINION STArEsMAN-Now. sir, here is point to
which we should ike to draw yonr attention for 1t
shows IN what spirit OF anxious, considerate
friendship we have dealt win the fishermen OF the
United States. Under the first article OF the Treaty
OF 1918 United States citizens may take FISH tine
shores of the Magdaien Islands, but cannot tho
land for fishing operations. But we have year after
year allowed them to land their boass and maui Their
selnes and ENJOY all facilities, like Canadians. This
causes us no small damage and trouble, we assure
you. They come IL great numbers. They are q
deal OF animal spirit. fney damage British fisher.
able Inhabitants considerably. The Cana
dian government has had much trouble and
expense In maintaining customs laws and
navigation and fishery laws among these people.
We might simply exclude them according to treaty
law. But we let them come TO the Magdalen Islands,
and bear the extra expense and dangers. Ia that
unfriendly Then again, by the treaty American
fishermen may dry and cure dsh on certain OF the
unsettled parts OF the Labrador coast. After they
have been settled, provides the treay the Ameri-
can fishermen must come to agreement with the
beIlleTS NOW, WHab0dVe we uOuef W @ nave DOSl.
lively gone beyond the treaty by assuming the
guardianship OF this temporary and provisional
right OF American hshermen, for we have only per.
mitted settlement Of the Labrador coast subject to
this right OF the American fishermen. We have not
left these, as we might have done, to tho
mercy or option OF the inhabitants, proprietOrs
and p0ssessors OF the ground the treaty proyides
but we have not allowed settlement except on cou-
dItiOn that the ,nshermel OF the States should be
allowed to use the ground as before. In fact we
have turned provisional and temporary right into
q permanent one. And yet we are charged in the
face OF the civilized world by the foremost man In
the United States With being unfrlendly. Really 1t
Is too bad We could have done no more than we
have done. We have all but surrendered our fish,
ing rights altogether but we must now MAINTAIN
our property 1t is our only basis for acquiring lust
reciprocal rights OF commerce and trading with the
United States. Why was the Reciprocity treaty de-
stroyed by the Staes' Under they shared our fish.
cries with us equally everywhere. II IL was done to
punish Great Britain for the sympathy OF
OF her sections OF society with the
Southern cause 1t was in effect much more njuri-
GUS to American interests both In the States aud IN
Canada, and principally. we are firmly convinced. 10