No. 250.
Mr. Bayard to Mr. Jordan.

Sir: Your letter of the 4th instant was received yesterday, and that portion of it which relates to the refusal of the collector of the port of St. Andrews, New Brunswick, to sell bait to the captain of the Annie H. Jordan has already been made the subject of a letter from this Department to George Steele, esq., president of the American Fishery Union, of which you sign yourself the secretary.

It is impossible to meet all the rumors of proposed unfriendly action by the Canadian authorities towards the fishing vessels of the United States. Each ease will be properly treated as it actually occurs.

But it is very clear that as the United States expect and require implicit obedience to their own laws within their jurisdiction, and severely reprehend and punish forcible resistance by individuals to their execution, [Page 505] in like manner they expect their citizens and counsel them, when within foreign jurisdiction, to obey strictly the laws and regulations there in force, and. to abstain from any resort to force as a remedy for supposed injustice or irregularity.

It is the purpose and intention of those charged with the execution of the law of the United States to see that law-abiding American citizens are secure in the enjoyment of their rights everywhere on land and sea, and when such rights are invaded under public authority to obtain redress.

I am, &c.,

T. F. BAYARD.