The semi-weekly Republican. (St. Francisville, La.) 1872-1872, 1872-03-29
W'ACIS|lLLE, LOUISIANA, FRIDAY, NlRoH ~, 1872.
The Treaty Of Waslsi,.gt.,u.


The Treaty Of Wasl.ingt.m.
The Canadians arc not vet done
talking about the Treaty of Washing.
ton and the cool indifference Will,
which Canadian interests were ignor-
ed by the High Joints when the more
pressing claims of the other contract
ing parties We're involved. Canada
at the conference occupied the posi-
ton OF tho small boy at Il frolic, while
the Commissioners on behalf Of Enc
land and the United States claimed
all honor and authority and con-
cluaed that thoy could, with inpuni-
ty, not only ignore the Dominion
and its rights, but dispose Of them
III any way that they thought proper.
Thus, in tho settlement Of questions
III Which Great Britain and the
United Gtctcs were alone concerned
the Dominion fisheries were more
hase!y barterea away than was Esau' s
bnthrlght' and while tie so-called
Alabana claims were fully consider
et, Canadian claims for damages.
arising from the Tenian raids, were
entirely overlooked. For his assent
to this treaty Cir John Macdonald is
still severely heratea by tho Canadian
press, especially by the Toronto
Globe. The defence set up by Sir
johns partisans is, that though nom
ina!'y Canadian Commissioner, he
was acting solely as the agent Of the
Imperial Government, under in
stractions from Lord Granville, and
that neither he nor his colleagues in
the Canadian Privy Council are min
isterialiy responsible ior the !oings
OF the High Joints in the premises.
This position the Giob' regards as
constitutionally unso,snd and dan
s,erous to the maintenance Of good
feelings between Canada aud the
mother country. From statements
made in this connection il wou,l ap-
pear that the Governor General is
tho sole official appointed hy the
Imperial Government within Tie
limits Of tie Dominion, and though
he takes rank as the chief executive
officer OF The confederation, he can
not control the expenditure OF u
shilling from the public chest, veto
single bill, make Il single appoint
n2cnt, Or even issi.e an official order
without having first consulted his
ministerial advisers and obtained
,hcir full consent. Tor whatever the
Governor General does the Ministers
are responsible, and when not sus-
tanned by the Commons, they are
obliged to resign, and go again be-
fore the people. Thus it is that the
entire constitutional f.bric OF the
Dominion is, i'll theory at least, based
on the popular will, and as the pop
ular will is dissatisfied with the trea-
ty, it demands that the responsible
ty for it's defects shall attach to the
Cabinet Ministers from whom Sir
John was elected, and on whose be-
half he acted.
Before the Joint High Commission
was appointed, the Governor Gener-
II, in speech from the throne, an
nounccd that Canada was to be rep
On the Commission, and in
re.j!y to this speech the Hon. Nh.
Campbell, in the Dominion Senate,
said, cit is q source of qualification
to Canada to he represented on COM
mission for the settlement of the
alabama claims and the fisheries dis
pute. We were protected doably,
by being represented and by the
TACT that the report Of the Commits
,ioners must be unanimous" It is
or singing this report that Sir John
IS complained Of. He is charged
with having willingly assented to the
surrender of Canadian interests,
which it was his special duty to pro-
:ect, and to have proved recreant to
lis obligation, not only as a citizen