279 



American provinces, nnd also the recommendation of the President of 

 the United States, in his official message to Congi-ess, to negotiate a 

 treaty for a participation by the citizens of the United States in the 

 said fisheries, irrespective of any question ot reciprocal intercourse be- 

 tween the United States and the North American colonies. 



" Resolved, That a committee be now appointed to prepare an hum- 

 ble address, praying that her Majesty will be eraciously pleased to re- 

 fuse to entertain any proposition from the United States government for 

 any modification or alteration of the treaty of IS 18, unless such a pro|> 

 osition embraces the full and entire question of reciprocal intercourse in 

 commerce and navigation upon terms that will be just and reasonable, 

 inasmuch as the value of a participation, in our fisheries b}^ the citizens 

 of the United States would greatly exceed any concessions that the 

 United States crovernment can offer to the inhabitants of the British colo- 

 nies, and that, before any treaty affecting the fisheries is agreed upon, 

 her Majesty will be graciously pleased to afford her Majesty's loyal and 

 faithful subjects, in the provinces, an opportunity of becoming ac- 

 quainted with the terms proposed in said treaty, and of lajang their case 

 at the foot of the throne." 



The lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, in his speech to the Assem- 

 bly of that colony, January, 1S53, observes: 



" I shall direct to be laid before you certain papers, connected with 

 the important subject of an efficient protection of the fisheries, including 

 correspondence between the executive and his excellency the naval 

 commander-in-chief on this station, with respect to the best mode 

 in which this service should be carried out. To the zeal and experi- 

 ence of that distinguished officer, and to the active and cordial co-ope- 

 ration of the officers of the squadron employed under his command, we 

 are much indebted for the viirllance with which our national rifrhts have 

 been guarded, without, at the same time, any diminution of the friendly 

 relations which ought to subsist between those whose common origin 

 and mutual interests offer so many pledges for the preservation of peace. 



"You will be pleased to learn that the government of the United States 

 has at length consented to negotiate on the subject of their commercial 

 relations with the British empire. I shall rejoice if these negotiations 

 result in the opening of more extended markets for the productions of 

 British America, and the adjustment of questions on which the legisla- 

 tures of all the provinces have hitherto evinced a lively interest." 



The Assembly, in their reply to his excellency, deprecate "any con- 

 cession of territorial advantages to the citizens of the United States, 

 without these are purchased by the most full and ample equivalents." 



EXAMIXTATION OF THE BRITISH PRETEKSTOXS, AND OF THE DOCUMENTS 

 WHICH SUPPORT THEM. 



Having now completed a rapid historical view of the controversy 

 between the two governments as to the intent and meaning of the first 

 article of the convention of 1818, I propose to examine the principal 

 papers which are rehed on to maintain the British side of the case. 



In answer to Lord Falkland's first query, the crown lawyers say: 

 "In obedience to yom- lordship's commands, we have taken these papers 



