The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-24
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
From the President to Congress
on the Fisheries Treaty,
AND ITS FINAL REJECTION
BY the scnate-He Asks That His
Powers of Retaliation Against
Canada be Extended, and
Hedges All Round.

!. The rejection by the Senate of tn
4 treaty lately negotiated for the settle
i ment and adjustment OF the difference
p existing between the United States ant
e Great Britain concerning the rights ant
b privileges Of American fishermen in til,
G ports and waters OF British North Amer
lea, seems TO Justify q survey OF the con
dition to which the pending question il
thus committed.
The treaty upon this subject, con
ciuded in 1918, through disagreement
us to the meaning OF its terms, has beer
9 u fruitful source OF irritation and trouble
I Onr citizens, engaged in fishing enter
, prises in waters adjacent TO Canada
have been subjected TO numerous veXa
tious interference and annoyances theil
: vessels have been seized upon pretexts
, which appeared TO be entirely inadmis'
sable, aud they have been otherwise
treated by the Canadian authorities and
officials in manner ineXcusably harsh
and oppressive.
WHILE EEEHLY SENSITIVE
to all that was exnsperatipg in the con.
dition, and by no means indisposed to
support the just complaints of our in
jured citizens, still deemed it my duty
Tor the preservation OF important Ameri-
can interests, which were directly in
yolved, and III 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 difficulty.
fully believe that the treaty Just re-
jected by the Senate was well suited to
the exigencies and that its provisions
were adequate for our securities in the
future from veXatious incidents and for
the promotion OF friendly neighborhood
and intimacy, without sacrificing in the
least our national pride or dignity. ]
am by no means disposed to abandon
the efforts and the rights N our people
in tho premises, or to neglect their
grievances; and | therefore turn 10 the
contemplation oil
PLAN of RETALIATION
as mode which still remains OF treat
ing the situation.
1t will be impossible to injure our Ca
madam neighboB by retaliation meas
ures without inilicting some damage
upon our own citizens. This results
from our proximity, our community OF
interests and the enevitable Comming-
ling OF the business enterprises which
have been developed by mutual activity.
Plainly stated, the policy OF national re-
taiiatiOn manlfestly enhances the intlic-
ton of the greatest harm upon those
who have Injured US with the least pos
gtl In Il IN nINH
The Congress has already passed law
which received Executive assent, on the
third day OF March, 1887, providing that
in case American fishing vessels being
or visiting in the waters, or atany Of the
ports Of the British dominions Of North
America should be or lately have been
deprived OF the rights TO which they
were entitled by treaty or law, or if they
were denied certain other privileges
therein specified, or vexcd and harrasSed
in the enjoyment Of the same, the Pres
ident might deny to vessels and their
masters and crews of the British domin-
ions OF North American, any entrance
into the waters, ports or harbors OF the
United States, and also deny entry into
any port or place OF the United States Of
any product OF said dominion or other
goods coming from said dominion to the
i United States.
| While shall not hesitate upon proper
occasions
TO ENFORCE THIS ACT,
IL would Seem TO be unnecessary TO sug-
gcst that, il such enforcement is limited
in such manner MS shall result in the
least possible injury to our own people,
the effect would probably be entirely in
adequate to the accomplishment OF the
purpose desired. / deem it my duty,
therefore, TO call the attention OF Con-
gress to certain particulars in the action
OF the authorities Of the dominion Of
Canada, in addition to the general alle-
cations already made, which appear to
| be in such marked contrast to the lib.
eral and friendly disposition ofour coun-
try, as in my opinion to call for such
legislation us will, upon the principles
already stated, properly supplement the
power to inaugurate retaliation already
invested in the Executive.
AGGRESSIVE MEASURES ASKED FOR.
Actuated by the generous and neigh
borly spirit which has characterized our
legislation, ourtarilr laws have since 1868
been so waived in favor OF Canada us TO
allow free OF duty the transit across the
territory OF the United States OF proper
ty arriving ut our ports and destined TO
Canada or exported from Canada 10
other countries. During the last six
years the imports and exports OF British
Canadian Provinces carried across our
territory under the privileges granted
by our laws amounted in value to about
$40, 900, nearly all OF which were
goods dutiable under our tariff laws, by
far the larger part OF this tariff consisting
OF exchanges OF goods between Great
Britain and her American provinces,
brought to and carried from our ports in
their own vessels. The treaty stipula-
ton entered into by our Government
was in harmony with laws which were
then on our statute book and are still in
force. recommend immediate lcgisla-
J tive action comforting upon the EXecu-
tive the power TO suspend by proClama-
ton the operation OF all laws and regu-
lations permitting the transit of goods,
wares and merchandise in and across, or
over the territory OF the United States to
or from Canada.
The message here went into long
legal argument relative to thepower OF
Congress to enact such law.
ONE GOOD gcoMMENDATION.
The message concludes US follows:
also recommend'that such legislation be
had rs will give Canadian vessels navi,
0ntinV mir rnnals and their rnrOoog nr1,
cisely the advantages granted to our YES,
sells and cargoes upon Canadian
canals, and that the same be meas.
/. ured by exactly the same rule oi
discrimination. The course which
| have outlined, and'th recommends
: tions made, relate TO the honor and dig
nifty Of our country and the protection
and preservation OF the rights and in
terests OF all our people. A government
. does but half its duty when il protects
3 its citizens at home and permits them tc
d be imposed upon and humiliatcd by the
a IL