Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-08-30
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Special Message to Congress on the
Fisheries Question.

A Vigorous RetaIiatory Policy Proposed.
and Aid and Authority Asked to
Garry the Same Into Prao-
tical Effect.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2l-The Pres ident
sent to Congress yesterday q message in
reference to the rejection OF the
Fisheries treaty by the Senate.
He recommends immediate legisla-
ton comforting upon the Executive
the power to suspend 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 Legislation is also recon-
mended that will give Canadian vessels
navigating our canals precisely the same
advantages granted to American vessels
In Canada, and that both be measured
by the same rule of discrimination. The
same communication in its full text Is as
follows:
To TEE CoNGREss OF THE UNITED STATES:
The rejection by the Senate of the treaty late
ly negotiated for the settlement and adjust
ment of the differences existing between the
United States and Great Britain concerning
the rights and privileges of American fisher
men In the ports and waters Of British North
America seems to justify a survey OF the con-
dition to which the pending question is thus
RENTED. The treaty upon this subject con-
Guided IN 1918 through disagreements as to the
meaning Of its terms, has been q fruitful source
OF irritation and trouble. Our citizens en-
gagged in fishing enterprises in waters adjacent
to Canada have been subjected to numerous
vexations, interferences and annoyances.
Their vessels have been seized upon protests
which appeared to be entirely inadmissable.
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Canadian authorities and oficials in a manner
Unnecessarily harsh and oppressive. This con-
duct has been justified by Great Britain and
Canada by the claim that the treaty
Of 1913 permitted 1t, and upon
the ground that it was necessary to
We deny that treaty agreements justify
these acts, and we further maintain that aside
from any treaty restraints, or disputed inter
pretations, the relative positions of the United
States and Canada as near neighbors, the
growth OF our joint commerce, the develop
ment and prosperity Of both countries, which
amicable relations surely guarantee, and
above all, the liberality always extended by
the United States to the people
of Canada, furnished motives for
kindness and consideration higher and bet
ter than treaty covenants. While keenly
sensitive to all that was exasperating in the
condition, and by no means indisposed to sup
port the just complaints of our injured citizens,
still deemed 1t my duty for the preservation
of important American interests which were
directly involved, and IN view OF all the details
Of the situation, to attempt by negotiation
to remedy existing wrongs and to
finally terminate by fair and
just treaty these ever-recurring causes OF DIM
Guilty. fully believe that the treaty just re-
jected by the Senate was we'll suited to the
exigency, and that its provisions were adequate
for our security in the future from vexatious
incidents. and for the promotion OF friendly
neighborhood and intimacy, without sacrificing
in the least our National pride dignity. 1
am quite conscious that neither my opinion 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
it is OF importance to note that this treaty has
been rejected without any apparent disposition
on the part OF the Senate to alter or amend
its provisions, and with the evident intention,
Rot wanting expression, that no negotiation
should at present be concluded touching the
matter. The cooperation necessary for the
adjustment of the long-standing National
differences with which we have to deal by
methods of conference and agreement having
thus been declined, 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 con-
temptation of a plan Of retaliation as mode
which still remains of treating the situation,
i
sponsibility assumed in adopting this lin e Of
conduct; nor do fail in the least to appreci-
ate its serious consequ ences. It
will be impossible to injure our Canadian
neighbors by retaliation measures without in
flicting some damage upon our own citizens.
This results from our proximity, our commu-
nifty of interests and the inevitable comingling
of the business enterprises which have been
developed by mutual activity. Plainly stated,
the policy of National retaliation manifestly
embraces the infection OF the greatest harm
upon those who have injured US, with the least
possible damage to ourselves. There
is also an evident propriety as we'll
as an invitation to moral support
found in visiting upon the offending party taR
same measure or kind OF treatment OF which
we complain. and as far as possible within the
same lines, and above all things the plan of
retaliation, if entered upon, should be thorough
and vigorous These considerations lead me at
this time to invoke the aid and council of the
Congress and its support in such further
grant of power as seems to me necessary and
desirable to render effective the policy I have
indicated. The Congress has already
passed a law which received execu-
tive assent on the third day
of March. 1887, providing that in case Ameri-
can fishing vessels, being or visiting in the
waters or at any OF the ports OF the British do
mnions of North America, should be, or lately
had been, deprived of these rights, to which
were denied certain other privileges therein
specified or vexed and harrassed in the enjoy
ment Of the same, the President might deny
to vessels and their masters and crews OF tho
British dominions Of North America any en-
trance into the waters. ports or harbors
Of the United States. and also deny entry in to
any port or place of the United States OF any
product of said Dominion or other goods COM
ing from said Dominion to the United States.
While shall not hesitate, upon proper occa-
sion, to enforce this act, it would seem to be
unnecessary to suggest that II such enforce
ment is limited In such manner as shall re-
suit in the least possible injury to our own
people, the effect would probably
be entirely inadequate to the
accomplishment of the purpose desired. I
ton of the Congress to certail particulars in
the action of the authorities of the Dominion
OF Canada in addition to the general allega-
tons already made, which appeared to be in
such marked contrast to the liberal and friend
ly DISPOSITION Of our country as. in my opinion,
to call for such legislation as will, upon the
principles already stated, properly supplement
the power to fnaugurate retaliation already
vested in the Executive.
Actuated by the generous and neighborly
spirit which has characterized our legislation,
our tariff laws have, since 1885, been so far
" a:ved in favor OF Canada as to allow free Of
duty the transit across the territory OF the
United States of property arriving at our
ports and destined to Canada, or exported
from Canada to other foreign countries. When
the treaty of Washington was negotiated in
1871, between the United States and Great Brit
ain, having for its object very largely the
modification OF the treaty of 1918, the privileges
above referred to were reciprocal and given IN
return by Canada to the United States in the
following language contained in the Twenty
ninth article Of said treaty:
sTt Is agreed that for the term of years men,
toned in Article 33 of this treaty, goods, wares
or merchandise arriving ut the ports OF New