New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-19
NEWFOUNDLAND'S PROTEST.
JOINT ADDRESS OF THE LEGISLATURE TO
THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
PARLIAMENT URGED NOT TO RE-ENACT THE
FISHERIES LEGISLATION OF GEORGE
IV-OTHER GRIEVANCES OF
THE COLONY.

N-OIHEk OfhENA NOEo w
THE COLONY.
Halifax, n. s., April 1.-THE following is the
Joint address of the Newfoundland Legislature TO
the Imperial Parliament, passed by both branches
of the Colonial Legislature on April 8:
We, the Legislative Council and House OF Assembly
of NewfOunda land in session converted, beg leave 10
approach your honorable House 10 appeal 10 you lo
hlled the minds OF all classes in this country with
profound anxiety and dsmay. Your honorable HOUSE
the treaties between Great Britain and France Oh inc
subject OF Newfoundland fisheries nave OF Itte !eaLs
assumed even unaccustomed gravity, producing pam
ful and ccaselcss agitation among our people a
delegation proceeded from here during the last season
orbtant growth Of the claims OF the French under
the alleged sanction of the treaties ana tne iHIte
Injustice wrought to tine community OF Newi0unolah1
Their efforts FOR redress so far have been nnsaG
cessu, and we arc now confronted WIN new tb
which experience has rendered us but 100 familiar We
refer the pG S now Oefo er pa5@en
20 government r5leeaet the act Of George W chapt
10 for the better conduct Of the treaties between Great
1rt aG and France respecting the Newfoundland fish
cries which act expired IN me year le34' Ils az az,
Character wholly repugnant Of those principles Of
liberty and justice witch are held 10 ne IIe nSl' U
modern british legislation; They conferred upon te
PROTECTION service who were entrusted with the settle
nent Of treaty disputes, powers Of summary adIndGa
which British law has devised for the defence 81 te
tended 70 most severe penal infections and were De Gnu
all appeal and, when 1t is remembered Iat tey WeIe
exercised bv persons unacquaintcd with legal Pro,
cednre and whose peculiar training habits 0i ihougLI
and action dictated unqnesoning submission 10 Ir
decrses IL must be manifest that extreme htLushP
and niusfce were frequent aud inevitable results
1t may be alleged that while yet the act OF Pa Sls
fnent In question the stature book II had Oeeu
allowed lapse comparative quieipde SO neon
patible with modern civilization would haEe 3G t The
record of the years 1887, 1888 and 1889 gives N
stances of its enforcement under assumed n6 ;1
dustry of of Her Majestys subjects engaged IN
We submit that this law could not now possibly be
rendered applicable to the circumstances which II Is
in SewfoHndland. and particularly those parts Of
the coast Affected by the treaties have undergone
have elapsed since the law under consdern4h "S
enacted. There was then no resident popnatom IA
there in considerable numbers and various sources ~
employment have become developed and yield theF
aro Her Maiesty's Government confirmed the occupa-
lion Of the coast BIZ accedng TO the desire Of the resi-
dents for representation in the onse OF Assembly, ana
fo. tho appointment OF q magistrate and police. The
residents are periodically visited by the supreme Court
the rest of The country and with Canada by mail and
passenger st amers. In a, word, they have all the
the means of the colony enable to provide them.
The permancnce Of their position being thus con
necessary point out with what cruel severity with
what distinctive Effect the proposed law would Sp
interest Of this section OF our people II must be
clear beyond reach of doubt that to recall this in
sirnmcnt Of coercion in their would he tn outrage
The feelings ard rights Of the lawabidng and LOYAL
Inhabitants of this whole dependency OF the British
Crown We would therefore, most earnestly i'm
plore your honorable House, by all your honored
and rvered traditions. to desist from the infection
Inon tAe peOD,c Of this country the calamity Ot such
an enactment as that which Is in contemplation.
we would remind your honorable House that Her
Majestv's Government and that of France have lately
agreed on arbitration respecting the Newfoundland
fisheries suCh tribunal. however. proposing TO deal
with one question only and this the recent question Of
lobster fishing.
This partial proceeding has been decided upon not
Inent Int against their emphatic protest. We too,
ON fbe mart Of this colony, bog ta present emphatic
protest against the adopted in direct violation
of tie principles of Che constitutional form Of the gov
eminent which it is our privilege to possess We
Goud in conclusion. respectfully invoke the aid of
vonr honorable House for the protection Of the treaty
rights ~ Newfoundland against the demand Of the
French for exclusive fishery, including lobster fishing
in these horizons of the coast where they hold acnow
edged privileges The rights OF the british subjects
have been on several occasions declared and the pre-
tensions Of the French dsaOwed BY some Of the abes
of tbe statesmen of Great Britain notably 10y Lord
PalmerstOn and only last year by the Marquis OF
eslishnry We feel that your honorable Honse VIII
rcocniz the utice OF our prayer and that the defni
ion ~ these high authorities shall not continue TO be
mere thcoretic pronouncemens, which France Is per-
,nied to ccntravenc but shall be carried ont In their
frue Significance and TO their full piactcM erect
We beg 10 inform your h0noranic HOUSE uat we
have appointed the Hon Sir william V. NmlGNdy'
HnonsfIrs " Harvey Moses Monroe. George Hem
,nerson and Albert D. Morine delegation to present
This remonstrance and pray that they may be eaIu
nj the lar of your honorable House