The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-09-01

sage 10 COngresS ON une HeJectiOny "
the Senate, Of the FisherIes Treaty-He
Asks for Immediate Legislation TO En-
able Him to Put Into Erect, at His Dis
erection, Policy Of Retaliation Against
Canada-The Senate Takes Occasion to
snub the Exeoutive--A Bill in Accord
ance with the Presidents Recommends
tions Introduced in tho House.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24.--The President
yesterday afternoon sent q long message
to Congress in regard to the rejected
fisheries treaty, and recommending that
power be given the Executive to sus-
pend the laws allowing the transit in
bond across United States territory
Of goods going to or coming from Canada.
The President, after referring TO the in
juries and annoyances which led up to the
negotiation Of the treaty, and expressing
his belief that the rejected treaty was ad
equate for the settlement Of the difficulty
without sacrificing our National dignity,
SAYS:
"Iam quite conscious tn at neither my opin.
ion of the value OF the rejected treaty nor the
motives which prompted its negotiation are OF
importance In the light OF the judgment of the
Senate thereupon. But 1t Is OF Importance to
note that this treaty has been rejected with
out any apparent disposition on the part Of
the Senate to alter or amend its provisions,
and with the evident intention, not wanting
expression, that no negotiation should at pres
ent be concluded touching the matter at issue.
1.-THE cooperation necessary for the adjust
ment of the long standing National differences
with which we have to deal, by methods Of con-
ference and agreement, having thus been de-
ciined, am by no means disposed to abandon
the interests and the rights OF our people In the
premises or to neglect their grievances, and
therefore turn to the contemplation Of a plan Of
retaliation as q mode which still remains Of
treating the situation. lam not unmindful OF
the gravity OF the responsibility assumed In
adopting this line Of conduct, nor do fail in
the least to appreciate its serious conse-
quences. 1t will be impossible to injure our
Canadian neighbors by retaliatory measures
without infiicting some damage upon our own
citizens
"Plainly stated, the policy Of National retail
iation manifestly embraces the infiiction OF the
greatest harm upon those who have injured US
with the least possible damage to ourselves.
There is also IN evident propriety as well as an
invitation to moral support, found In visiting
upon the offending party the same measure or
KIND of treatment of which we complain and
as far as possible within the same lines. And
above oil things, the plan Of retaliation, II en-
tered upon, should be thorough and vigorous.
"These considerations lead me at this time
to invoke the aid and counsel OF the Congress
and its support in such further grant OF
power as seems to me necessary and desirable
to render effective the policy have indi-
Gated"
The President then refers to the Retail
alton act passed in March, 1887, and argues
that its enforcement in such manner as
would result in the least possible injury
to our own people would prove inadequate
for the accomplishment of the purpose de-
sired. The message says:
"While shall not hesitate upon proper occa-
sions to enforce this act, it would seem to be
hat npfn
ment Is limited In such o manner as shall re.
suit in the least possible injury to our own peo.
pie, the effect would probably be entirely mad.
equate to the accomplishment of the purpose
desired.
~ deem it my duty, therefore, to call the at
tention Of Congress to certain particulars In
the action of the authorities of the dominion OF
Canada, in addition to the general allegations
already made, which appear to be In such
marked contrast to the liberal and friendly po-
sit,on Of our country as, in my opinion, to call
for such legislation as will, upon the principles
already stated, properly supplement the power
to inaugurate retaliation, already vested IN the
Executive"
The message quotes the twenty-ninth
article of the treaty of 1871, allowing the
passage in bond across the United States
territory Of goods destined for Canada,
and comforting like privilege upon goods
passing through Canada and des-
tined for the United States. Since
1885, the President says, this privi-
lege rhas been denied to American
fishermen, and since then they have not
through Canadian territory to this coun-
try. After stating that the value Of
British Canadian exports and imports car
ried across American territory during the
last six years was s27O, 600 600 (nearly all
of which was dutiable goods), the Presi
dent says:
~ recommend immediate legislative action
comforting upon the Executive power to sus-
pend by proclamation the operation of all laws
and regulations permitting the transit of goods,
wares and merchandise in bond across or over
the territory of the United States to or from
Canada.
i"There need be no hesitation in suspending
these laws arising from the suppositon that
their continuation is secured by treaty oblga-
tions, for 1t seems quite plain that article 30 OF
the treaty OF 1871, which was the only article
Incorporating such laws, terminated the 1st Of
July 1885. The article itself declares that
its provisions shall be In force for the term
OF years mentioned In article 3S OF this treaty..
Turning to article 80 we find no mention Of the
twenty-ninth article, but only provision that
articles 1s to 25, inclusive, and article 80
shall take effect as soon as the laws re-
Quired to carry them into operation shall be
passed by the legislative bodies of the different
countries concerned, and that they shall re-
main in force for ten years from the date at
which they may come INTO operation, and
further until the expiration Of two years after
either of the high contracting parties shall
have given notice to the other Of Its wish to
terminate the same.
~ am of the opinion that the term of years.
mentioned in article SO referred to in article 20
as the limit Of its duration means the period
during which articles IS TO 25, inclusive, and
article 30, commonly called the fishery arti-
cles,' shall continue in force under the Ian
guage OF said article a."
The President also quotes to the same ef-
feet from the law passed by Congress to
carry the treaty into effect, And continues: /:
"In any event, and whether the law of 1878
construes the treaty or governs it. section 20
OF such treaty, have no doubt, terminated
with the proceedings taken by our Govern
ment to terminate articles IS to 25, inclusive,
and article 80 o. the treaty. These
joint resolution of Congress- passed May 8,
1883. declaring that in the judgment OF Con-
gress these articles ought to be terminated, and
directing the President to give the notice to
the Government OF Great Britain provided for
in article S3 OF the treaty. Such notice having
been given two years prior to the 1st day OF
July, 1885, the articles mentioned were sbso.
lutely terminated on the last-named day. Aud
with them article 20 was also terminated.
" But statutes granting to the people OF Can
ada the valuable privileges Of transit for their
goods from our ports and over our soil,
which had been passed prior TO the
making OF the treaty Of 1871 and indepen-
IDENTIFY OF II, remained In force and ever
since the abrogation OF the treaty, and,
Notwithstanding the refusal OF Canada to per.
init our fishermen % send their fish to their