Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-09-03

proving generally, as he did, OF his primer
pies and views on this subject. His OBJ
lection was not to abolishing the bountes,
but as to The time of doing it. Mr.. Cal
houn assigned similar reasons for his vote.
So that every member in favor of Mr.. Van
! Buren's administration except one, declars
ed himselfby his vote or by words, in fall
vor of abolshing the fishing bounties, anu
leaving the fisherman to get along as h
can. The administration party thu
stand pledged to carry out Mr. Benton
measure.
MIR. B. having leave to bring in his bill
of repeal, it was referred to committee |;
majority Of whom were administration Sen.
ators, and of which Mr.. WR1GHT was
Chairman. 1t should be recollected thai
Mr. Wright and Mr.. Benton are two ofthe
most influential members Of the party, and
Mr. Van Buren's particular and confden-
tiaI friends. They are emphatically, party
leaders.
Mr.. Wright, after examining the sub
ject ofthe bill, instead of reporting against
il and in favor of the fishermen, reported
it to the Senate without any objection and
without amendment, in which he had the
concurrence of the administration part of
the committee.
1t was then placed on the calender to be
taken up in its turn but no convenient OPP
porunity occurring it was laid over to the
then next session.
Proceedings in Congress in 1910,
AT the late session of ls39-40 this bill
of repeal was again brought forward and re-
ferred to the committee on Finance, ma
jority of which were Of the Van Buren, par
ty and the same Mr. Wright was chairman.
He again reported in behalf of the Van
Buren, majority Of the committee, not a
gainst it, but without objection or ammend-
ment. 1t was then before the Senate for
discussion. 1t was opposed by Mr. Web
ster and Davis of Massachusetts and 9TH
ers of the wing party as before, and sup
ported by the friends Of Mr. Van Buren,;
Mr. Benton taking the lead, to whom with
Mr. Wright we have always looked for the
opinions and doctrines of MIR Van Buren,
and the Democratic party
In this discussion the most ungenerous and
unjust imputations were thrown out against
the cod fishermen and all Of us who are con-
nected with them in carrying on cod fisher
les. Mr. Benton made comparison between
the Whalemen and the cod fishermen, de-
grading to the latter. He sneerngly call
ed them "these hook and line men," des-
crbing them as creeping about near the
shore, scarcely daring to venture out of
harbor. And he who thus sneers at the
shook and line men," is called leader of
the Democratic party, and aspires to their
support for the Presidency after the next
four years. These are matters worthy oil
our consideration.
Charge of enormous frauds against
the Fishermen.
In addition to this, the fishermen were ac-
cused of committing most extensive frauds
on the Government. II was stated as be-
ing susceptible of PROOF, that "out of
three hundred and tue,.ty thousand dollars
drawn annually by the fishermen for boun-
ties and allowances, three hundred thou
sand dollars was illegally and unduly
drawn from the treasury every year,
This bold and reckless charge OF commit
ting such stupendous frauds on the gov
eminent, was repeated over and over again
IN the Senate by an administration Senator
and one of the leaders Of the democratic
party $50 salled.) 1t was reported and
published over the whole union. Mr.
Benton said he could prove it by sundry
documents from the Treasury Department,
and other documents which he had col
lected together; and moved that 10000
ovtr, ,on;es IF those documents be printed
for circulation. This extraordinary mo-
ton for printing 10000 ISLANDERS upon the
fishermen, was opposed by the whig party !;
but the Van Buren, party being IN ma
iority, carried the motion; and they were
printed and circulated in every part OF the
country!
What could be the object Of this, but to
create prejudice in the public mind against
US and induce belief that the fishermen as
a body were practising frauds on the Gov
eminent TO an enormous extent. ooO ,oOO
dollars illegally and fraudulently taken in
bounties, out of every $500, 900 paid 10
them! which is in the proportion $50 fraud
ulently and wickedly obtained, for every
SIS honestly and legally received This
was charged generally on the whole class
of fishermen, necessarily including all who
engaged in the business with them. A
more infamous SANDER never was uttered.
II was an insult to the State whose citizens
they are. Ought we to submit to it in si-
lence and continue our support to party
that treats us with so much injustice?-
Were we to do SO should we not deserve TO
be thus treated?-We are not yet such alb