Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-24

from is own limitations or TO save the
art'cle itself am entirely satisfied that


from is own limitations or TO save the
aytscIe itself. am entirely satisfied that
the intention miscauied.
Bus the statutes granting 10 the pco-
pie OF canada valuable privileges OF tran
sit for their goods from our ports and
over our soil. when had been passed
prior 10 the making OF the treaty OF 1871,
and independently OF 1t, remained in
force and ever since the abrogation OF
the treaty, and Notwithstanding the re-
fusal of Canada TO permit our fishermen
to send their fish TO their home market
through her territory in bond. the peo'
| pie OF that Dominion have enjoyed with
out diminution the advantages Of our
liberal and generous laws.
Without basing orr complaint upon
the violation Of the treaty obligations, 1t
is nevertheless true that such refusal OF
transit and other injurious acts which
have been reciied constitute provoking
insistance upon the rights neither
mitigated by the amenities OF national
intercourse nor modified by the recogni-
ton OF our liberalty and generous con-
siderations.
Tho history of the events connected
with this subject makes it manifest that
the Canadian Government can if 80 dis
posed administer its laws and protect the
interests of its people without the mani
festation OF unfriendliness and without
unneiehborly treatment OF our fishing
vessels, OF which We have justly com
planned; and whatever is done on our
part should be done in the hope that the
disposition OF the Canadian Government
may remove the occasion of resort TO the
additional executive power now sought
! through Legislative action.
] am satisfied that upon the principles
which should govern retaliation our in
tercourse and relations with the Do
minion OF Canada furnish no better-op-
portunity for its application than is sug-
eested by the conditions herein pre-
scented, and that it could not be more
effectively inaugurated than under the
power OF the suspension recommended.
While | have expressed my clear con-
viction upon the question OF continu.
ance of section 20 Of the treaty Of
1871, Of course fully cOncede the power
aud duty OF Congress in contemplating
| legislative action to construe the terms
OF any treaty stipulation which might
upon any possible consideration OF good
faith limit such action, and likewise
the peculiar propriety id the case here
presented OF it's Interpretation Of it's own
language, as contained in the laws OF
1873 putting in operation said treaty, and
of 1883 directing the termination thereof /;
and if in the deliberate judgment of Con
gress any restraiDtto the proposed lepisla-
ton exists it is to be hoped that the ex-
pediency OF its early removal will be
| recognized.
desire also to call the attention OF Con-
gress to another subject involving such
wrongs and unfair treatment to our
citizens as in my opinion require prompt
action.
The navigation Of the great lakes and
the immense business aud carrying trade
growing out of the same have been treated
broadly and Literally by the United
States Government and made free to all
mankind, while the Canadian railroads
and navigation companies share in our
country's transportation upon terms rs
favorable as are accorded our own citi-
zens
The canals snd other public works
built and maintained by the Government
along the line OF the lakes are made free
to all. In contrast to this condition and
eyincing narrow and ungenerous
commercial spirit every lock aud canal
which is a public work Of the Dominion
of Canada is subject to tolls and charges.
By Article XVII. of the treaty of 1871
a provision was made to secure TO the
citizens of the United States the use OF
the Wells and st. Lawrence and other
canals in the Dominion of Canada on
terms Of equality with tue inhabi-
tants of the Dominion, aud also to
secure to the subjects OF Great Bri-
tain the use of the st. Clair Flats
Canal on terms OF equality with the in-
habitanis of the United States. Equality
with the inhabitants of the Dominion
which We were promised in the use Of
tho canals of Canada did not secure to
us the freedom from tolls in their navi-
CATION, hut we had right TO expect that
webbing Americans and interested IN
American commerce-would be no more
burdened in regard 10 the same than
the Canadians engaged in their own
trade: and the whole spirit of the
concession made was or should
have been that merchandise and
property transported to an American
market through these canals should not
be enhanced in its cost by tolls many
times higher than such as were car
RED TO an adjoining Canadian mar
ket. All our citizens, producers, and
consumers, as well as vessel owners, were
to enjoy the equality promised And
vet the evidence has for some time been
before Congress, furnished by the Secre-
tsry Of the Treasury, showing that while
the tolls charged in the fret instance are
the ssme to ell, such vessels and cnrgoes
as are destined to certain Canadian ports
are allowed refund Of nearly the entire
tolls, while those bound for American
ports are not allowed any such advantage.
TO promise equality aud then in practice
make it conditional upon our vessels
doing Canadian business instead OF their
OWN III w iuhtl fiVA4iTo wiz - oii'@S"
of performance. Irecommend that such
Legislative action be taken as vail give the
Canadian vessels navigating our canals
and their cargoes precisely the advan-
tages granted to our vessels and cargoes
upon the Canadian canals, and that the
same be measured by exactly the same
rule OF discrimination. The course
which | have outlined and the recon-
mendations made relate to the honor and
dignity of our country and the protec-
ton and preservation OF the rights and
interests OF all our people. The Govern
ment does but half its duty when 1t pro-
tects it's citizens ct home and permits
them to be imposed upon and
Inundated by an unfair and over-reach-
ing disposition of other nations. If we
invite our people to rely upon arrange