The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-24
Mr.. BoRLAND complained that the President

Mr.. BORLAND complained that the President
had not sent any communication or information tn
the Senate on this subject, while in the meantime
the Secretary OF State carrying on a discus
sion Of The matter through the newspapers.
Mr.. ADAMS thought the discussion on this sub
ject ought 10 be deferred till after the information
sought for was obtained.
Mr.. SEW ARD said he would vote for the rcso-
luton with pleasure. He cav no objections to the
information il proposed to obtain These fisherics
were, il was conceded by all, of vast importance,
and no one State had deeper interest in this sub
ject thai another. lie was opposed to oil excite
ment in this matter. Whether il was 10 be dec
dcd by negotiation or by the sterner arbitrament
of war il obviously proper that all should keep
cool He thought that there was nothing to be
feared from the fact that the Secretary OF State was
now, was usual with him at this season, breath
ing the air Of his native climate. There was no.
thing unproptious in the locality. IL was there,
he believed, that the great reply to Hulsemann was
written.
naval force to the fishing was to bring about
cprocity trade, he would not, no matter how much
he might be disposed under other circumstances
to favor such proposition, consent to negotiate
under the duress OF British cannon on our shores
He thought this domineering spirit, bic had been
repeatedly exhibited by Great Britain to other ma
tons, should be met promptly, and decisiveiy re
buked.
Mr.. MASON did not desire by this proposition to
substitute war for negotiation, but that this send
ing some twenty vessels Of war on our coast should
not pass unnoticed and that If any negotiations
were commenced, he would stop them. de would
not exchange one word or write one line on the sob
jec in the way OF negotiation until that force was
Withdrawn. He knew not what was the object OF
MIR. Webster in going to Marshhed, nor the ob
jet of the British Minister, il he had gone there
but he would say that if the Secretary OF State
| shall exchange a word or write line OF negotia.
ton this subject before that force is Withdrawn,
| he will greatly dsappoint his countrymen
| Mr.. TOUCEY thought il very strange initiative
10 negotiation TO send naval force TO our shores
to coerce the fishermen to abandon their rights.
He discussed the relative rights Of the parties, un
der the treaty Of 1878. to fishery privileges,
and denied the va Idly OF the construction Of that
| treaty by Great Britain
Mr. DAWSON followed, denying that there was
the least cause for anticipating war, and opposing
would be time enough to debate the su6iec, when
the resolution was answered. In reply to a re-
| mark by Mr. ToucEY, he contended that there was
no just ground for surprising that the President
| would in this case, he had not done In any
! other, chow himself Negligent in the full and
prompt discharge Of all his duties. He also thought
| there could be as much reliance placed on the Sec
| rotary of State dscharging his duty towards the
nights and honor OF his country as ON any other
person.
Mr. BORLAND thought that the President was
| already fully informed on this subject, as the Sec
| rotary of State in his newspaper publications had
gone into minute statement Of fac Is and particu-
| lars.
Mr.. SEWARD renewed his support of the reso
luton, and opposed all agitation or excitement
| on the subject.
| Mr. BELL did not believe this matter would
lead to war; he would be very sorry to suppose
that, at this day, the people of Great Britain and
the United States could engage in a war. or could
! not settle all difficulties without the necessity OF
| that last resort. Believing that no war would be
the result. this matter, he thought, would be bene
fetal in one point of vicw-it would call public at
tcnon 10 the miserable state of the detences Of the
country the Atlantic well as the Pacific
shores.
Mr.. BORLAND replied He also answered the
question a. to Mr.. Webser's competency in such
an emergency to defend the interests OF The coun
try, by referring to his course when in the House
of Representatives during the lost war, when, in
speaking Of that war, commenced for the rights OF
these fishermen, he used terms Of condemnation
! too disgusting to be mentioned; and to the fact
that after the the party Vi which that Sena tor
was the leader in Congress, declared that 1t was
unworthy of Christian people to rejoice over vic
| tories gained in such a war.
! Mr. PEAkCE thought that, as it was assumed
! in the resolution that the Senate desired iniorna-
| ton this subject, il was premature TO discuse
the subject till that information YVES received. lie
| did not agree with gentlemen in the proprety OF
| aseuming a fact that THE force sent to its
! rendesvou3 by Great Britain for any particular
purpose. He thought it likely that the British
| government would disavoW any such intention.
Tie leo thought it altogether out OF place in nd
vance Of the Information to charge the President
With being derel!ct in his duty. Several Senators
said they would send naval force at once. For
what pdrposei lie would like to know what in
strnctlons would be given to the naval comma nder
Mr.. MASON said, if the object OF the British
force was to negotiation, he would not
negotiate till tho force was withdrawn. He would
| instruct the American commander to naintain the
American fisher in statu quo.
Nj. PRATT thought there was danger of q war
growing OCT o. this matter-much more 80 than
there was in the 81 ~ difficulty. The English
| government has placed a construoti2n on the
treaty, and does not seek negotiation, for she has
| cent naval force there to enforce that construc.
ton. If uaya! force be sent there by the United
States, he thought there ought 70 be, to main
tain the rights OF the Americans under a Copstruc-
| ton of that treaty which our Government has told
them to be the rig int one, collision must ensue il
the British commander undertakes to execute his
| orders. The one force will be ordered to exclude
| the Americans, the other to protect them.
| The resolution wac then agreed to.
! And, on motion