BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHEE CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 433 



attacking the people. The motto of the United States is: " United 

 we stand, divided we fall," hence when you make war on the special 

 interests you have all the other interests against you. The American 

 policy is a policy of special interests and they harmonize as a 

 whole, making the policy of advantage to themselves; when, there- 

 fore, you make war on one you make war on the whole. The passage 

 of this bill, he said, would close the last page in the negotiations for 

 the Bond-Hay treaty and the treaty would never again come before 

 the Senate. Gloucester would say: Look at this measure, look at 

 this legislative declaration of war, the seizure and sale of our vessels. 

 After the passing of such a measure there would never again be any 

 hope for the Bond-Hay treaty. The Premier referred to Canada 

 having no reciprocity with the United States, but he apparently did 

 not know the reason. It was because the Legislature of Canada 

 had shown antagonism against the United States. That was the 

 reason Canada had no treaty with her. A bitter feeling had been 

 stirred up in Canada and now the Premier proposed to embark on 

 the same policy. He thought that if the Premier did not see the cir- 

 cumstances of the bill then there was no longer need for him, Mr. 

 Morine, to be surprised at the bill himself. There was a vast differ- 

 ence in the embarkation on this policy and that of the policy pre- 

 viously adhered to, and if one wanted to comprehend it all that was 

 necessary to do was to look at the terms of tne bill itself. It was a 

 denial of common rights, a declaration of war and a measure most 

 unjust and unfair, that any nation might be expected to make a stand 

 against. He was aware of how it was made. It was copied from a 

 bill of some years ago drawn up under vastly different circumstances. 

 That it was unjust was shown in the very first clause which read: 



1. Any Justice of the Peace, Sub-Collector, Preventive Officers, 

 Fishery Warden or Constable may go on board any foreign fishing 

 vessel being within any port on the coasts of this Island or hovering 

 in British waters within three marine miles of any of the coasts, 

 bays, creeks or harbors in this Island and may bring such foreign 

 vessels into port, may search her cargo and may examine the master 

 upon oath touching the cargo and voyage; and the master or person 

 in command shall answer truly such questions as shall be put to him 

 under a penalty not exceeding $500. And if such foreign fishing 

 vessel has on board any herring, caplin, squid or other bait fishes, 

 ice, lines, seines or other outfits or supplies for the fishery purchased 

 within any port on the coasts of this Island or within the distance of 

 three marine miles from any of the coasts, bays, creeks or harbors of 

 this Island, or if the master of the said vessel shall have engaged 

 or attempted to engage any person to form part of the crew of the 

 said vessel in any port on any part of the coasts of this island or has 

 entered such waters for any purpose not permitted by treaty or con- 

 vention for the time being in force, such vessel and the tackle, rig- 

 ging, apparel, furniture, stores and cargo thereof shall be forfeited. 



That is, any constable may board any American vessel and if bait 

 was found aboard and she was within three miles of the coast, it 

 must be proved that it was not purchased or taken on the coast fail- 

 ing, which, the ship might be confiscated. The measure, he said, was 

 unjustifiable and would not be carried out, being a policy unfair 

 between nations and men. He felt sure that the bill would not be 



