Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-21
SPEECH OF Mr.. SEWARD,
OF NEW YORK

i n,
| I'm referring TO The Committee on Foyeiqn Afaiy
The Presidents Message on the Fisheries
| In SENATE AUGUST IA 1852
The Senate having resumed the consideration of tn.
Presidents message concerning the North American
fisheries, the pending question being the motion to
refer II TO the Committee on Foreign Relations
Mr.. SEWARD said Mr. President. when this debate
was arrested on Thursday last question had just arisen
whether the Executive administration had been censured
here Tor It's conduct in regard to the subject
The honorable Senator from Virginia, MIR MASON J
chairman OF the Committee Foreign Relations, when
addressing the Senate remarked that the President had
done his duty the whole naval force of the country had
already sent into the northeastern protect
the rights OF American fishermen against British
The honorable Senator from Maine, mr. HALIs the
honorable and distinguished Senator from Michigan r
CAss,) and the honorable Senator from Arkansas mr.
boRLASp declared that they fully concurred in all that
had been said by the honorable Senator from Virginia
Now it is quite certain that the whole naval force Of
the country has not yet been into those seas
and suppose IT equally certain that at that time
had been sent there.
The honorable Senator from Arkansas Mr. BoRLAsD)
expressed establishment and regret that the President
had not, without CALL sent here all the information
which he possessed He complained that the Secretary
OF State had treated the subject wrongly in what has
been called his proclamation, that it doubts
the rights of the shermen Abiding to rumored nego-
haton at Mr. Websters country residence, he declared
his opinion that the pace was chosen and indeed that
negotiation there here under the circumstances
ought to be reprobated altogether The honorable Sena
tor from Connecticut Mr. ToucEYl asked what was the
meaning of the notice published by the Secretary of
Statewas it designed to induce fishermen to retire
from their pursuits to invite surrender the rights
secured to by the convention of 1873 The honorable
Senator pleased to express His that he could
not have confidence in the Administration and also nm
opinion that it needed to be prompted The honorable
and esteemed Senator from Louisiana (Mr. SouLE) was
more cautious but he complained that Of our
rights in the fisheries had brutay been away Sin
mi mo and u
land was necessarily receiving most prouse tokens and
manifestations of condescenson and allowed to turn
to her own advantage and profit the good will INDUCED
towards us by Nicaragua, and had been allowed to in
roduce her bankers into Treasury agents in the
payment OF our debt to Mexico These said the Sena-
tor, repeat it again, are strange times indeed. !"
Again. that Senator argued that Mr. Webster had erred
when he said in the notice published by him. that it was
" an oversight in the American Government to have
made so large concession to Great Britain in the con-
vention of 1882 Further the honorable Senator said
we may, for aught we know have negotiated away BY
treaty branch of revenue, with the hope that would
silence the roaring lion but the lion still roar seems and
will roar until he rghtens out of those bounds the par
cpaton in which acquired by original occupation if not
otherwise which retained consutive element our
separate existence a nation which itself could
west from us; which hold under grace favor from
but under the suerance of God alone and the
highest sanctions of the laws of naons for in the language
of the redeemed negoators who signed the convention
OF 1878, is right which exclusively belong to
or be granted by nation Sir ask it of YOU would thai
be attitude becoming this great country But believe
IN these 1t cannot have escaped that wise and clear
sighted person who holds the seals of the State
whose great mind and exalted patriotism equal any
emergencies that to negotiate under such circumstances and
ign treaty, whatever its merits in other respects be,
sink in the dust what of PRIDE what of dignity of honor
we have grown to in the rapid which we had been
ming since we became nation"
dsclam the idea that these restrictions impute want
of patriotism Of fidelity to the Administration but
when taken together with the facts which they
they to me to import Of this effect and
extent viz: That her Britannia Maestys Government
has recently up construction of the convention
of 1873 by which it proposes draw lines from
chief headand to chief headand and thus to exclude
American fishermen from the Bays of Fundy, Chaleur
and Mrimach and also from the Straits of Northumber
land and the Gut of Canso all Of which have hitherto
been enjoyed by fshermen and that her Britannia
Maestys Government has sent large naval force into
those waters to enforce that construction and has
attempted to bring to negotiate for maintaining
tonal rights at the cannons mouth that the Executive
has not acted with sufficient promptness and decision has
not properly resented insult and ndgnty received
and has already negotiated may be negotiating, or
about to negotiate In the presence of that naval force
in derogaton from the interest dignity honor of the
United States and that Great Britain has been emboden
ed and rendered thus insolent by previous diplomatic
triumphs over the present Administration.
Sir take leave to say that there is presumption
violent presumption, against the soundness and the Just
ness Of all such censures There is of frmness
Of boldness in asserting American rights here;
the House of Representatives Experience has shown
that the Executive Department has generally been quite
as firm and as bold Congress Sir the fisheries are
commercial interest By peculiar fidelity in guarding
such interests this Administration has deservedy gained
the confidence of the commercial classes the conservative
classes Of the country The fisheries practically and
peculiarly Northern interest In the geographical bal
ance they were weighed against the free navigation
Of the Mississippi The President of the United States
and the Secretary of State Northern men Each be-
gan, and, when he shall have closed his public career
each will rest in the associations Of the North.
More than this the fisheries interest Of the
States Of Massachusetts, and Maine which practically are
undivided and nseparabe in commercial fortunes The
Secretary Of State in whose Department this subject pro-
pery belongs is Of it too much to
say the MAN OF MASSACHUSETTS The ocean, with its
fisheries washes the shore Of the farm which he dwes
Nay sir, he is angler himself told and Of course
he is good one for he is half and half in any thing
He tis the sea, and fear his principal harvests are
gathered upon it; gathered with the line and not
with the sickle. There is strong presumption that the
Secretary will be faithful to interest so near to him
self and the constituency to whom he chiefly owes the
long public life which he has enjoyed distinguished
artist Of country has enriched academies with
national painting 1t represents the Secretary of in
debate defending the honor and fame Of Massachusetts,
against the eoqence of eminent of South Caro-
lima, Mr.. Hayne That is heroic piece let honorable
Senators here take that they do provoke the
st TO produce comic counterpart in which the Senators
from Arkansas and Louisiana (Mr. BoRLAND and Mr..
SoULE may be presented in the Of rescung Massachu
setts from desolaon brought through the timdiy Of
her own, her chosen and honored statesman. Such
picture might enter into new and interesting series of
political illustrations, to be entitled The vagaries Of
Presidential Election"
Mr. President the statesman thus mpeached for want
OF holiness and rmness in defending his countrys mari
time rights is he who replied to Great Britain, when
claiming for the last time the right to search Ameri