our fishermen to send
their fish to their home market through her territory in bond, the
people of that Dominion have enjoyed without diminution the advantages
of our liberal and generous laws.

Without basing our complaint upon a violation of treaty obligations,
it is nevertheless true that such refusal of transit and the other
injurious acts which have been recited constitute a provoking insistence
upon rights neither mitigated by the amenities of national intercourse
nor modified by the recognition of our liberality and generous
considerations.

The history of events connected with this subject makes it manifest
that the Canadian government can, if so disposed administer its laws
and protect the interests of its people without manifestation of
unfriendliness and without the unneighborly treatment of our fishing
vessels of which we have justly complained, and whatever is done on our
part should be done in the hope that the disposition of the Canadian
government may remove the occasion of a resort to the additional
executive power now sought through legislative action.

I am satisfied that upon the principles which should govern retaliation
our intercourse and relations with the Dominion of Canada furnish no
better opportunity for its application than is suggested by the
conditions herein presented, and that it could not be more effectively
inaugurated than under the power of suspension recommended.

While I have expressed my clear conviction upon the question of the
continuance of section 29 of the treaty of 1871, I of course fully
concede the power and the duty of the Congress, in contemplating
legislative action, to construe the terms of any treaty stipulation
which might upon any possible consideration of good faith limit such
action, and likewise the peculiar propriety in the case here presented
of its interpretation of its own language, as contained in the laws
of 1873 putting in operation said treaty and of 1883 directing the
termination thereof; and if in the deliberate judgment of Congress any
restraint to the proposed legislation exists, it is to be hoped that the
expediency of its early removal will be recognized. I desire also to
call the attention of the Congress to another subject involving such
wrongs and unfair treatment to our citizens as, in my opinion, require
prompt action.

The navigation of the Great Lakes and the immense business and carrying
trade growing out of the same have been treated