20 
ditions, so as to make them applicable, or possible of applicatio 
to the circumstances of a British colony struggling for its 
proper place in the civilisation of the age. eee: T 
SINCE THE TREATIES WERE MADE. 
A very brief glance at a few facts in the history of the a | 
since the making of these treaties is necessary to a correc 
understanding of this “ question.” By slow degrees the colony 
(in which we do not at present include the “ French shore”) has. 
emerged from barbarism into civilisation, and its present position 
(subject to this exception) is that of a British colony in the full 
enjoyment of responsible government, just and equal laws—the 
law of England modified only to suit local ia | 
an honest and capable judiciary. 
As regards the “French shore,” the facts are unique | 
whatever point of view they may be regarded. On the one hand,’ . 
the transient or migratory fisherman from England, to whose 
case, and to whose case alone, the old treaties were intended 
to apply, has long ago entirely disappeared. On the other 
hand, in spite of the overshadowing and adverse influence 
of these old treaties and of their disputed interpretation, 
and in spite also of the English “policy” already referred to, 
settlement by British subjects has taken place, and population) 
has grown up over the whole extent of coast covered by these 
treaties. At first this settlement or occupation was regarded 
by the English Government, as well as by the French, “4 
merely that of “squatters;” their possession of the land was 
mildly “protested” against by the French from time to timall| 
and that protest they still continue formally to assert unde | 
their interpretation of the treaties. For many years the. statu 
or position of these settlers, even as British subjects, was f 
the most vague and uncertain character. It was doubtful as: 
to how far they were supposed to enjoy the most ordinary, 
natural rights, or to be amenable to the most ordinary duties 
of British subjects, and still more doubtful how far they — were 
subject to the local laws of the colony. The most common anil 
rudimentary conditions of civilisation—we may almost say of life, 
itself—did not, even in name, exist in their case. They did not, 
contribute to the ordinary public revenues, the revenue or cus- 
toms laws not being made applicable to that part of the colony. 
