The Columbian fountain., 1846-03-25
TwENrY-NINTH ooNGREss,
SENATE.
TUESDAY, MARCH "a, 1876.

are udily expected.
No prayer this morning; the; journal was
read, and
Mr.. Dickinson presented two remonstrances
against the extension OF Jelhro Woods plough
patent
Mr.. Dix presented remonstrance against
the plough patent, and petition for reimburs-
ment Of duties illegally exacted.
Mr.. Hannegan, one for port of entry and
marine hospital in Indiana. S8S6
Mr.. Davis presented petition of 3l2 own
ers of fishing vessels of Marblehead, Mass,
against the repeal of duties on salt, and op-
posed to the repeal Of the bounties paid by 60
vernment to the said vessels, and on dry salt
iish. These bounties were given originally on
account of the fishermen being liable TO pay
taxes for the salt they used. They wish the
bounties to be continued and the taxes also,
the bounties proving more than compensatory
Tor the tax, II is supposed, or they would not
oppose the abrogation Of the tax. Mr.. Davis
advocated the claims of the mernoralists, and
stated that the COD fishery was first established
in this country, al Marblehead, more than 200
years ago, and received the encouragement OF
bounties from the British government. He
moved the petition be printed.
Mr.. Benton answered the arguments addu-
ced by the senator from Massachusetts, though
he had introduced the bill, and Mr.. d. had al
luded to him in his remarks.
During the early organization of our Gov
ernment, these fishermen applied for bounties.
Alexander Hamilton recommended that boun-
ties be paid to them out of the general treasury.
Mr. Jefferson took directly opposite ground
Thus, fifty years ago, the two most eminent
statesmen of the country, differed on this very
. point. Jefferson finally agreed to give them
bounlies, so far only as to balance the tax on
salt, which bore heavily on the fisherman; but
when the bill was passed, drawback was al
lowed on the salt when exported in the state
Of salt fish. The drawback went to the ship
ping merchant, though it was said not to the
fisherman. This drawback on salt also used
to be allowed in shipping salt beef and salt
pork. II was allowed, originally, to all these.
Hogs and cattle are as deserving of these sort
Of favors as cod or mackerel but the shipping
merchants get the benefit of il, not the farmers
or fishermen.
There has been paid out Of the Treasury as
bounties to the cod and mackere fisheries over
nine millions of dollars. Whalemen get no
bounties, because they pay no extraordinary
duties on salt in prosecution OF their business,
vet they are quite as serviceable and necessary
for the obec,s said by Mr.. D. to be attained by
the salt Ash fisheries, in forming nursery for
seamen, &c. Mr.. B. then read from Hunts
Merchants Magazine TO the effect and shew-
ing that the only declining branches of COM
merce are exaciy those 10 which Government
disburse bounlies TO sustain them.
Nine millions taken out Of the common
Treasury to sustain them, and yet the cod and
mackerel fisheries in declining state
w ffSr. ss.... 90 supTose ruar ne was
not so well informed on this subject as he
thought. He had referred to the mackerel fish
cry as river fishing, whereas it was as much
open sea fishing as was the cod fishery; but he
expressed himself grati6ed that the Senator
from Missouri had admitted that the said fish
cries were in declining state. They therefore
needed the bounties more; and so thought
Mr.. Fairfield, who rose to let it be known
that he should vote against the abrogation Of
the bounties. He knew, and ably stated the
services, hardships, and necessities of these
fishing interests, and their effects in nurturng
and maturing seamen for our navy and com
mercial marine. Mr.. Benton was right as to
his statement Of the origin of these bounlies
They were intended as a compensation for the
excessive amount of salt used by these fisher
men, and the consequent duties they paid 10
Government; but he, Mr.. f., urged the con-
tnuance OF the bounties, irrespective Of this
as Democratic measure--fosterng our sea-
men for naval purposes-the same as West
Point fosters our army, and our colleges foster
our statesmen They were equally Democra-
tic in their principles and objects. The fisher
men did receive the bountles themselves, be-
cause they always fshed on shares Mr.. f.
also corrected Mr. Benton as to his calling the
mackerel fisheries "river fishing"
The motion 10 print Mr.. Dsyis's memorial
was carried, the memorial to lie on the table.
MIR. Allen asked the attention of the Senate
as 10 what day should be fixed for vote on
the Oregon question. He made no motion,
but wished that there should be some informal
understanding in the minds Of Senators when
the debate should terminate. II was forty five |
days since the debate commenced He. him |
self, he said, had consumed two days, but the |
length of time consumed altogether made il |
the more desirable that we should by this time
know when the debate was TO stop. He, him
self, should be in favor of taking vote on
next Saturday. Senators could make their ar
engagements for attending TO their private affairs
which require their temporary absence, when
vote might be suddenly taken. He named
these circumstances independent Of the mo-
mentous nature of the question to the country
and various interests. He knew there was no
previous question in this body, but there was
naolt that had almost become a practice, 10
havea genera, conversation and understanding, |
anG was IN that way he wished the time 10
be fXed so far as II could H.