Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-21

it. the British Minister here on the 9Th Of July last in
formed the President Of its coming and its Objects IN the
following communication:
have been directed by her Majestys Government to
bring to the knowledge Of the Government OF the united
States which has been adopted oy her Maesys
Government to prevent repeuon q ne ~
belonging citizens the United States and OF France upon
the fishing grounds reserved to Great Britain by the convsn
ton Of 1918. :, :,
rrent having been addressed to her Ma
iesy by the Governors Of the British North
American Provinces regard these encroachmen where
by the colonial fisheries are seriously preudced dec
tons have given by the Lords OF her Maje Admiral
ty for statonng off New Brunswick Nova Scotia Prince Ed
wards Island and in the Gulf Of ST. Lawrence such force
of small sailing vessels and shall be deemed su
Gent to prevent the nfracton Of the treaty II the
mand Of the Queen the officers employed upon this
vice should be especially enoned to avoid all interference
with the vessels of friendly Powers except ~here they
he act Of eioiaa0 Ms treaty. and on all occasions to avoid
proceedings when circumstances compel their arrest
seizure"
Let us what force it is that has been into
the field Of dispute There is the Buzzard steamer of
six guns the Sappho, soop of twelve guns and the
Bermuda schooner Of three guns sent to the Straits of
Belle IAe and the coast of Newfoundland, where
have unquestoned right of fishing, and where there is
controversy Then there is the Devastation, steamer
of six guns the Arrow and the Telegraph, of gun
EACH and the Nettley of two guns in the Gulf Of St.
Lawrence making in the whole, seven vessels, with
total Of thryone guns sent by the Government
into those waters If you add to this force the ship
of Vice-Admiral Seymour the Cumberland, with her
seventy guns there are altogether hundred and
guns This is the naval force which has been sent into
the northeastern seas.
Now desire the Senate to take notice what force was
there before this great naval force Last year
there the flag ship, the Cumberland, commanded by
the Sir Charles Seymour. with seventy guns fri
gate of twentyx guns two sloops of sixteen guns and
steamer Of six guns making in the whole sxyour
guns without the Cumberland, and including the Cum
berand one hundred and thrty-four guns.
Then this mighty naval demonstration, which has so
oyc;ted the Senate and roused its indignation. and
brought down its upon the Administration con-
ssts in reduction Of the naval force which Great Britain
had in those waters year ago from one hundred and
thirty-four to hundred and one guns. What the
British Government has done has been to withdraw
large steamers because they not useful in
plshing the objects designed because they would be
more useful elsewhere and substitute in their place
large number of inferior vessels either efficient
there, or less useful elsewhere.
The Senate will understand me- do not say this is
the whole force which is in those waters There is an in
crease think on the whole which is furnished by small
vessels the different Provinces Canada having sent one
Nova Scotia one and Newfoundland But the ques-
ton am upon, and the real question now is, what the
Imperial Government has DONE and SO say the British
Government has reduced the number of guns employed
Now, when this force approaching, a letter from
Sir John Pakington bearing somewhat the tone of a
proclamation, appeared, and at the moment magni-
fed and appauded by the colonial newspapers in most
becose manner, and before the letter of the British
Minister could have been read received by the Pres
dent of the United States alarm went abroad through
the fisheries and along the northeastern coasts 1t
was exactly at the when the fishermen going
to the ocean fields to gather their autumna haryests
The President it seems took pains to obtain information
informally, and he caused it to be published in notice
issued by the Secretary of State and dated at the De-
partment of State, July 6, 1852, and which has been
called here the proclamation of the Secretary. The
Senate will that the Secretary of State forth such
unofficial information had been obtained, land all the
information unofficial and stated the popular infer
then prevalent saying that the Imperial Govern
ment appeared" to be willing to adopt the
sructon of the convention insisted by the colonies
1nferng from circumstances the hazards and dangers
which would arise he set forth the precisely it
seemed to stand. He adverted to the question under
stood likely to be put in issue, and admitting that
technically the convention of 1918 would bear the rgor
construction insisted by the colonies he declared
the dissent of the Government of the United States from
it and then communicated the to the persons en-
gagged in this hard and hazardous trade that they might
be " on their guard"
am surprised that any doubts should be raised as to
the proclamation being the act Of the Government do
not understand how Senator citizen officially
know that the Secretary of State is Marshe else
where, when the seal and date Of the Department affirm
that he is at the capital would like to know where
when this Government this Administration has disa-
vowed this proclamation?
In issuing this notice, the Secretary of State did just
what the Secretary of State had been in the habit of
ing such from the foundation of the Government
viz He issued notice to the citizens Of the United States
to put them their guard in Of apparent danger
sultng from threatened embarrassment of relations
have found in history is notice issued by Thomas JEFF
ferson Secretary of State under George Washington
the merchants of the United States informing them of
the British orders in Council and Of the DEGREES of the
French Directory and Of the apprehended seizure and
conscaon of American vessels under them and assuring
the American merchants that for whatever they might
lawfully lose the Government of the United States would
take that they should be Unidentified brought that
to the notice of the Senate heretofore and upon that
ground among Others they have twice sanctioned bill
providing for the payment of losses by French spoatons
The notice published by Mr. Webster was Of the same
character and effect Since that time the Mississippi,
wargate Of the United States has been ordered
to those waters cruise there for the protection Of Anne
rcan fishermen in the enjoyment of their just rights Thus
ends the whole story Of these transactions about the she
res. The difficulties the fishing grounds have "this
extent more they the wonder Of day. and
longer.
No negotiation has been had between the President Of
the United States and the English Government No
goaton is in progress between the
No negotiation has been instituted between the Gov
ernments for any purpose whatever No OF
goaton has been made by the British Government since
The last year. and overture has been made by the Ame
rcan to the British Government So then il appears
that nothing has been negotiated away the cannon
mouth because there has been negotiation ALL either
at the lannon's mouth elsewhere There has been no
negotiation under duress because there has been no
tence Of design by the Imperial Government TO enforce
its rigorous construction of the convention Of 1873 or to
depart from the position Of neutrality If may so call it.
always heretofore maintained All the change is that in
August 1861 the British Government had one hundred
and thirtyfour guns that station and now August
1882 1t has one hundred and guns and this famous
Sir Charles Seymour, who sweeps away, only fisher
mems smacks but also the cebergs coming down from
Hudsons Bay and off the coast Of Labrador with his
"broom is the Admiral Of the whole station Of British