The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-06
TwENTY-NINTH CONGRESS,
First session.
MospAT, March 6, 1886.
IN SENATE.

The PRESIDENT laia peioie VIC oona'e u ooni-
nouneation from the Department OF War, 10 relation
40 nm, relative capabilities Of the harbors between
Ers and Buffalo, on Lake Erie, fbeing made ports
Of entry; which was referred TO the Committee on
Commerce.
PETITIONS.
Mr. DAVIS presented the petition of Johnson
Courts q Co., merchants in Boston, MassaC b u
sets, praying the reimbursement Of duties illegally
exacled by the collector oftha port; which
ferred TO the Committee Finance.
Mr.. CAMERON presented several petitions,
praying an alteration Of the constitution, so to
abolish slavery which were laid on the table.
Mr. LEWIS presented the memorial of Jos. Il.
Barclay, proposing plan for preventing fraudulent
reductions in the coinage, and its depreciation by
abrasion; which was referred to the Committee on
Finance.
Mr.. DIX presented remonstance Of citizens Of
onondaga county, New York, against the renewal
of patent heretofore granted to Jethro Wood;
which was laid on the table.
Mr.. ID. also presented petition Of citizens Of Or.
leans county, New York, praying the abrogation Of
certain treaties made with the Seneca Indians
which was referred to the Committee on Indian AZ.
fairs. rtrr ~
Mr. HUNTINGTON presented ihs-.neiaoEisi Of
the Connecticut Academy OF Arts and Sciences,
praying the publication by Congress Of additional
copies Of the scientific works OF the late exploring
expedition, for the benefit of literary institutions;
which was referred TO the Committee on the Ii.
brary. .r ...r.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
Mr.. BREESE, from the Committee on the Public
Lands, to whom was referred the ball 10 attach TO
the Fort Wayne land district, certain tracts Of land
lying within the limits Of that district which not
now attached to any district; reported Il with an
Mr. FAIRFIELD, from the Committee on Naval
Affairs, reported bill for the relief Of Harriet
Ward; which was read a first time, and the report
ordered TO be printed
GENERAL ORDERS or THE DAY.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration Of the
act TO change the distribution OF duties among the
several naval bureaus; which was read third
time. ...F....... .......
Mr.. j. NJ. CLAYTON inquired Of the chairman
Of the Committee on Naval Affairs, whether any
change Of any Of the chiefs Of the bureaus in
tended, or any transfer Of them contemplated by
the billi .....
Mr.. FAIRFIELD, in reply, said that he did not
that the subject Of inquiry by the senator from
Delaware, had aught TO do with the object Of the
BILL and explained that il provided simply for ar
rangement or subuton Of the duties, in such man
ncr to connect those subjects which properly and
naturally come under the same class, which was not
the case under the present arrangement.
Mr.. J. M. CLAYTON submitted some further
remarks Directing to any coarse by whcha civilian,
any other than an individual practically acquaint-
ed with the nature and extent Of the necessities OF
the naval service should be placed the head of any
Of the bureaus in question; further, that would
impose upon Commodore Morris, the present able
chief Of the bureau Of Construction Equipment and
Repairs, additional and more onerous duties than
those now performed by him, without adequate
increase of salary. Mr.. C. was under the impress
sion that 1t was intended TO transfer the above gen.
teman 10 the hood of the boreaa Of Ordnance under
the proposed change Of the d stribution Of duties
placing him in situation in which he would be
compelled to perform not only his present duties but
all, or nearly all, Of those performed by the late
Commodore Crane IL So he objected to the bill, and
called for the ayes and noes on its passage.
SPECIAL ORDER.
Mr.. CRlTTENDEN moved that the prior orders
be postponed and that the Senate proceed to the
alteration of the special order; which was agreed
A message in writing was received from the
President Of the United Staies.l .....
THE WASHINGTON TREATY.
Mr.. WEBSTER then rose and said: 1t is alto
gether unexpected to me, Mr.. President, to find il
my duty here, and at this time, to defend the treaty
Of Washington of 1912, and the correspondence
accompanying tho negotiation of that treaty. II is
u past transaction. Four years have almost elapsed
since that treaty received the sanction Of the Senate
and became the law of the land. While before the
Senate, it was discussed with much earnestness,
and very great ability. For its ratification it re.
ceived the votes of fvesixths Of the whole Senate
"a greater majority, believe may say, than was
ever before found for any disputed treaty. From
that day to this-havng had hand in the negotia.
ton Of that treaty, and feeling it to be measure
with which my own reputation was intimately con-
nected, have been willing to leave it to the judg-
ment of the nation. There were, 1t is true, sir some
things Of which have not complained, and do not
complain, but which, nevertheless were subjects of
regret The documents accompanying the treaty
were voluminous. They were not published to any
great extent The treaty itself got before the public
improperly and by piece-menl. We know that it is
" frtle hat frop
cial cities of the Atlantic coast there are few OF the
public prints Of the country that publish documents
on such an occasion to any great extent. | might
have felt natural DESIRE that the treaty much spo-
go much complained Of, and the correspondence 50
ken against, could have been known and read
by every one of my fellow-citizens from East to
West, and from North to South But il was mpossi-
ble Nevertheless, in returning to the Senate again.
nothing was farther from my purpose than to renew
the discussion Of any of the topics discussed and set
tied atthat time; and nothing farther from my ex
pectation than to be called upon by any sense Of du
ty to my own reputation, and to TRUTH to make an
observations upon the treaty with the correspon.
dence II has now happened thatin the debate on
the Oregon question: the treaty, and believe, eve
ny article of it, and the correspondence accompany.
ing the negotiation of that treaty, and believe ev-
cry part Of it, have been the subject Of dsparaging
disappearing, sometimes contumclious remarks in
one OF the other houses OF Congress. Now, with
all my lndIsposton to revive past transactions and
L
that it could hardly have been expected by anybody
that should sit here from day to day, through the
debate, and through the session, hearing erroneous
statements, entirely erroneous to matters of fact
ana deductions from these supposed facts quite az
erroneous. all tending to produce unfavorabe inn
pressons respecting the treaty, and the correspon-
dence, and everybody who had hand in the treaty.
say II could hardly have besn expected by anybody
that should sit here and hear all this, and keep mi
peace. The country knows that am here They
know what have heard, again and again, from day
TO day, and IL statements Of fact wholly incorrect are
made here, IN my hearing, and in my presence,
and no reply and no answer from me, why, shall we
not hear in all the contests Of party and elections
that this is fact because il has been stated where
and when answer could be given and no answer
was giveni II is my purpose to give an answer.
Mr.. President in the negotiation Of ls42, and in the
correspondence, acted AZ Secretary of State under
the direction, Of course, of the President of the
United States. But, sir, ! shrink not from the
responsibility Of anything have ever done under
ma aufhor,tv nd