The Fishery Question. 83 



Great Britain and the Dominion of Canada. 

 The whole sio^nificance of laws affecting the 

 commercial intercourse of the two nations is 

 in doubt, and the assessment of damages for 

 recent ex parte interference must be consid- 

 ered. 



The solicitude in some quarters, lest no 

 representatives on the part of the United 

 States would be sufficiently competent or de- 

 voted to maintain the best interests of their 

 country, is unworthy. It is not warranted by 

 the history of our diplomacy, or generally 

 believed. Its reiteration is a trifle suspicious. 

 Even the Halifax award had its Alabama sur- 

 plus. 



Canada will not be expected to voluntarily 

 submit to become an inland State by the 

 seces.sion of her maritime provinces. The 

 idea of a peaceable annexation of all Canada 

 might find its realization in the fullest reci- 

 procity, — and reciprocity on the condition 

 that Canada adopt our tariff against the rest 

 of the world, is distinctly annexation. The 

 Fishery Question, always annoying, becomes 

 occasionally intolerable and forces an adjust- 

 ment. It is to be hoped, in reason, that we 

 are to have one this year. If possible, one 



