National Republican., 1880-05-18
CURRENT CAPITAL TOPICS.
Presidents Message on the Fishery
Question.
EDGland's Refusal to Garry Out The washing.
ton Treaty-Local Regulations Made
Paramount to Treaty Obligations
Rotaiiatory Measures Recon-
mendod-The Postoffico
Appropriation bill.
The Controversy over The Fisheries.

just DCiOTc lne VI tlc scuuNc
house yesterday the respective presiding officers
laid before tile two bodies q message from the
president, inelosng aud concurring in n report
from the secretary OF war In relation TO British
evasion OF the treaty Of Washington aud the treat
ment OF American fshormen at Fortune bay. With
the message to the house were copies of the CORE
spondenco on the subject, commencing March 2,
1873, and running up TO April g. 1880. The follow
ing Is the
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT:
To hc House Of Reprcsentd,tres; 80
In compliance with the resoiftioirof the housc
of representatives of the 9th utimo, calling for
copies of the correspondence with the government
Of Great Britain In regard to the alleged outrage
upon American fishermen at Fortune bay, in the
province of New Foundland, transmit herewith
the correspondence called for and a report from
the secretary of state on the subject.
In transmitting this correspondence and the re-
port respectfully ask the immediate and careful
attention Of congress to the failure of accord be
tween the two governments as to the interpreta-
tion and execution of the fishery articles of the
treaty of Washington, as disclosed in this CORE
spondence and elucidated by the exposition of the
subject by the secretary Of state.
concur in the opinions of this report as to the
measures proper TO be taken by this government in
maintenance of the rights accorded TO our fisher
men by the British concession of the treaty and in
providing for suitable action toward securing
indemnity for the injury these interests have
Accordingly recommend to congress the adop-
tion of these measures. with such attendant de-
tails OF legislation as in the wisdom of congress
shall seem eXpedient X, Is. HAYES
WASHINGTON, May IL, 1880.
SECRETARY EvARTs REPORTS.
The secretary OF state, in compliance with the
resolution of the house, lays before the president
the correspondence called for, and proceeds 10
review the from the treaty of Washington 10
the present date, showing failure TO reach by
diplomatic correspondence n satisfactory settle
ment of tho difficulty The report closes with the
following important suggeSlions:
THE experience OF our Fortune bay fishermen
in their first attempt, in the sixth year OF the rum
ming of tho treaty, to exercise on tile coast of New
foundland the full freedom to pursue their ad-
venturous calling which her majcstys govern
ment said had been honorably acquired for them
by their own government is exhibited in the
their grievance and this governments prescntaton
oft accorded by her majesty's government
at will be observed that under the British view
OF the exposure of our fishermen at Fortune bay to
the penalties OF infrnctons Of the provincial laws
while they were enjoying in their own opinion and
that of this government the full freedom OF the
fishery accorded bv the treaty. there is no pretese
that the violence offered them, and the wanton
destruction their fishing property and spoliaton
of their draught of fishes, find any warrant IN
the supremacy OF violated law under color of which
the British government has refused them any in
mcnt, as taken in the correspondence, the violent
expulsion Of our fishermen from their fishery on
the 9th of January, 1875 by the coast fishermen of
Newfoundland seems TO be justified. If not es-
poused. This position, too, of that government
necessarily carries warning that any future ut
tempt by our fishermen to exercise their treaty
privileges except in conformity 10 the local fish
ing regulations VIII De resisted 10y the authority of
the British government as well exposed to the vio
lence of the coast fishermen. Under this unhappy
and unexpected failure of accord between the Two
governments rs to the measure of the inshOre fish
lug privilege secured TO our fishermen by the treaty
of Washington as developed in this correspond
ence. II becomes the imperative duty of this gov-
ernment to consider what measures should be
taken TO maintain tile rights OF our people under
the treaty as we understand them, and to obtain
redress for their expulsion from tho enjoyment of
their rights
80 fur as this diminution of these privileges calls
for reconsideration of the treaty equivalents al
ready parted with by this government and received
by Great Britain as suitable to tho failure of the
privileges thus purchased and paid for, by this de-
nial of their exercise 10 be valuable deSira-
bic to our people, that subject necessarily must be
remltted to diplomatic correspondence
"The only continuing consideration the United
States is paying for the treaty period, for tho ex-
pected enjoyment the treaty concession, is the
remission Of our customs duties upon the fish
products of the provincial share in these fisheries
] respectfully advise that II be recommended to
congress to Ic-enforcc the duties upon fish and fish
oil, the products of the provincial fisheries, they
existed before the treaty of Washington came Into
operation, to so continue until the two governments
shall bc in accord as to the Interpretation aud cX-
eeutlon of the fishery articles of the treaty of
Washington, and in the adjustment OF the griev.
ance ofour fishermen from the inlIacton of their
rights under that treaty.
"This measure Will give 10 our fishermen, while
excluded from the enjoyment of The inshOre fisher
les under the continued enforcement of the British
Interpretation of the treaty, restoration Of the
domestic market for the products of their own fish
ing industry, as il stood before its freedom was
thrown open to the provincial fishermen in ex-
change for the free fishery opened to our fishermen
II respectfully advise, also, submitting TO the
consideration of congress the proprcty of author
i2ng the examination and auditing of the claims of
our fishermen for injuries suffered by the inirac-
ton or denial Of their laeaty privileges with the
view of some ultimate provision by convention
with Great Britain or by this government for their
indemnify W. NJ. EvARIs."