The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-05-29
unofficial.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, NAV 90, 1886.

WASHINGTON, NAV 20, 1886.
Hon I'm. p. Frye, United States Senate.
DEAR SIR-Before your note OF to- day was
received a telegram of similar purport in
relation to the refusal to allow the American
schooner Jennie and Julia to purchase
herring for smoking at Dlgby had been re.
ceived, and steps had been taken by me to
ascertain all the facts and instant rep
reservations had been made to the British
Minister to call to account the collector at
Digby for what consider a gross breach of
the commercial rights OF accession OF the
United States
The late reprehensible action of the Cana.
dian officials IN relation to American fishing
vi sSelS has occurred in remote localities
without facilities for postal communca.
ton, and consequently there has been de-
lay, regrettable, but unavoidable, in re.
ceiving consular reports. But your as.
sumption that this department is giving
| the matter such consideration as It's inn
| portance demands" will, | believe, be fully
sustained when the proper time arr YES
| for publication of Its action. | trust am
| conscious of my duty as an official charged
! with the execution OF delicate and import.
! ant public functions, and that the interests
and honor of my country and the rights OF
| its citizens will not be found to have suf-
! fered at my hands.
Very respectfully yours,
T. +. BAYARD.
A gentleman who has talked with Sec.
rotary Bayard upon this subject within a
day or two says that he is as much inter-
ested in the matter as either of the
Maine Senators can be, and that he has
great regard for the fishermen. He eX-
presses himself very forcibly as to the
conduct of the Canadian officials. He
looks at the question rs an American, and
not from Il party standpoint, and says
that there is no politics in it, that the
action of the department can not yet be
made public, but that he can assure any
Congressional friend of the fishermen
that everything that is possible is being
done to protect their interests. With re-
gard to the refusal of the collector of
customs at Digby to permit the captain
of the Jennie and Julia to buy herring
there to smoke, he said that he had in
structed Consul Phelan to 90 at once to
Digby and investigate. Secretary Bay
ard deprecated any attempt on the part
of the fishermen to coerce the Canadian
Government by force of arms, and said
that every step in that direction would
weaken the United States and strengthen
Canada. He hoped also that the Ameri-
can fishermen would strictly observe the
local customs regulations in Canada.
BADDECK, c. B., May 24.-On his re-
turn here Consul-G General Phelan said
that the law under which permits are
granted dates prior to 1880, but that in
1880 President Andrew Jackson issued a
proclamation granting certain CONNER
cial rights to English vessels and sim.
liar proclamation was issued by the min
lister IN power at the time in Great
Britain. This British proclamation was
in the same spirit as that issued by Pres
ident jackson, and it is claimed that the
, Joint action of the two governments Sc.
cured to all vessels sailing under the
United States flag the same rights as
those enjoyed by English vessels in the
ports of the colonies, subject of course
to the customs law. 1t is understood
that this will be the argument used by
Consul Phelan throughout the progress.
of the two cases of seizure. 1t is though
that he will be able to prove the right o
American vessels to procure bait in The
| British waters. 1t is not yet decided
whether the seized vessels will be brough
70 Baddeck.
| TORONTO, Ont, May 23.-RefeTing {,
he report that the American fshm!
schooner Augusta IIeITick had sailet
from Boston for the fishing grounds
; armed with cannon and determined to re
+ sist should any Canadian vessel attemp
20 seize her, the Giobe says "This ma
prove a very serious matter. The Unite
a States Government neglected its dut
= when it allowed this vessel to arm in on
of her ports, and to proceed when ame
: to waters in which no vessel honestl
u pursuing a legitimate business require,
such an armament. If permission wa
n obtained from the Government its re
s sponsibility is all the greater. Shout
this vessel attempt forcible resistanc
r When a British or Canadian cruiser, dull
= commissioned, attempts to seize it i
n Canadian waters on a charge of havin
IL acted illegally, it may be treated as q D
rate. To allow its vessels to 20 fort
A armed to trespasS upon neighbours tel
ritory is unworthy of great country, e.
pecially free people. Canada will NJ
be deferred by any danger of a p0ssibI
collision, and its possible consequence
from asserting its rights and enforcing Il
laws"