Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-03-06
THE BRITISH NORTH.AMERICAN
FISHERIES.
Message from President Grant ON the
Subject.

Message from President Grant ON the
Subject.
TIE President sent tho following
message to the Senate and House Of
Representatives on Monday:
In my annual message to Congress at the
opening OF the second session OF the present
Congress, in December, 1871, I recommended
legislation necessary on the part OF the United
States TO bring in operation the articles OF the
treaty OF Washfngton, Of May 9th, 1874, rela.
tive to the fisheries and other matters touch.
ing the relations Of the United States towards
the British North-American possessions, to
become operative as soon as the proper lcgie.
lationg should be had On the part Of Great
Britain and its possessions. The legislation on
the part Of Great Britain and its Possessions
.dt;o had not then been had. Having, prior to the
received official Information Of the con.
slderation by Great Britain and its
possessions Of the legislation neces-
sary. on their part 70 bring these
articles into operation, communicated the
tacts to Congress in my annual message at the
the recommendation for IN early adoption OF
legislation in the same direction necessary on
the part OF this government. The near ap-
PrOach OF the end of the session induces me
again to urgently call your attention to the
Importance Of this legislation on the part OF
Congress: It must he remembered that the
treaty OF Washington resulted from an over
ture on the part Of Great Britain to treat with
reference to the fisheries ON the coast OF Her
Majesty's possessions in North America, and
other questions between them affecting
the relations Of the United States to-
wards these possessions. To this overture
reply was made on the part OF this Govern
OF friendly and complete understanding be-
tween the two Governments with reference to
the subjects specially suggested by the British
Government, it is thought that the removal of
the dlaerences growing out OF what were gen.
orally known as tho Alabama claims was essen
relations between. the two Governments, and
the assent of this Government to treat on tho
subject of the fisheries were made dependent
on the assent Of Great Britain to allow the
Joint Commissioo, which it had proposed on
the questions suggested by that Government,
to treat also, and settle the differences grow
ing .as. ont Of the Alabama claims; Great Britain
Washington proposed settlement Of both
classes OF questions. Those relating to the
Alabama claims and to the Northwestern wa
ter boundary, commonly known a. tho San
Juan question, have been disposed of in pur.
suance OF the terms of the treaty. Those re.
iAtlng to the fisheries were made, by the
terms Of the treaty, to depend upon legisla.
tion which the constitutionssof the respective
governments made necessary to carry those
provisions into effect. Great Britain and her
possessions have, on their part, enacted the
necessary legislation. This government is
now enjoying the advantages Of those provis-
ions of the treaty, which were the result of a
condition Of its assent to treat upon the
questions which Great Britain had submitted.
The Tribunal Of Gene "a has made m award in
favor OF the United States on the Alabama
claims, and His Majesty tho Emperor Of Ger
many has decided in favor OF the contention
OF the United States on the Northwestern
boundary-line. l cannot urge too strongly the
Importance Of your early consideration OF the
legislation that may be necessary on the part
OF this Government. In addition to the claim
that Great Britain may have upon the good
faith of this Government to consider the
legislation necessary in connection with the
question which that Government presented as
= subject Of negotiation which has resulted 60
favorably to this Government upon other
questions in which the United States felt some
degree Of interest, it is OF importance that the
rights Of American fishermen, ~ provided for
under the treaty, should be determined be.
fore the now approaching fishing season opens,
and that the serious difficulties to the fishing
interest and the gravo questions between the
two Governments that may arise therefrom be
averted. iSigned.) q. s. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Washington Feb. "a.