Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-08-20
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH.
THE FISHERIES.
q SPEECH OF WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
TIE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
ia August Ia, 1852.


THE SENATE OF TIE UNITED STATES,
August IA, 1882.
CONTINUED.
The Colonial fishermen continually COM
plain to the Imperial Government of the COM
petition of the American fishermen, and they
claimed of the new Ministry as they had
been in the habit of claiming of the old Min.
istry, the assent of the Royal Government to
the granting of bounties; and they complain
ed to the new Ministry, as they had been
IN the habit Of complaining to the old one, of
the encroachments of the American fishermen
The Colonial authorities last year, by reports
and resolutions, threatened retaliation against
the United States in some form if these claims
and complaints should be disregarded
Under these circumstances, the Imperial
Government in 1851, proposed to the Press dent
ofAxhe United States to negotiate concerning
the questions raised by the British Colonies,
and submitted, through Sir Henry Bulwer. n
schedule OF the terms OF principles upon which
that Government would negotiate, for the pur-
pose of settling what they were pleased to call
the commercial intercourse between the Prov
inces and the United States Now, desire it
to be especially remembered that the President
of the United States altogether declined to ne
gotiate; that he referred the subject to the
Congress of the United States in his annual
message Of December last, in these words
Your attention is again invited to the question of
reciprocal trade between the United States and Can
ada and other British possessions near our frontier
Overtures for convention upon this subject have
been received from her Britannia Maiestys Minister
Psnipoentiary, but it to be in many respccts
preferable that the matter should he regulated dv ~.
ca2ocnl legislation. Documents are laid before YOU
showing the terms which the British Government is
willing to offer, and the measures uhich ii uay anopt,
u same arrangement 7pon this Subject shall not be
7ande."
Thus, in December last, was Congress invited
by the President to consider the subject out of
which all the present difficulties have arisen
and we then had this notice from the British
Ministry viz:
Her Majesty's Government arc prepared, on GER
tain conditions and with certain reservations TO
mako the concession to which much Importance
seems to have been attached by Mr.. Clayton, name.
ly-to throw open to the fishermen of the United
states the fisheries in the waters Of the British North
American Colonies with permission to those fisher.
men to land on the COASTS of those colonies for the
purpose of drying their nets and curing their fish
provided that, in SO doing, they do not interfere with
tho owners OF private property with tho operations
Of British fishermen
Congress did nothing, said nothing, thought
nothing on the subject. The Colonies, in the
mean time, continued to complain of encroach-
ments, and continued to demand the consent
OF the Imperial Government to the granting of
bounties. The Imperial Government stated
that, to remove the complaints of the Colonies,
they would not object to measures being taken
by tho Colonies themselves for the granting of
bounties, and that they would send an addi.
tiopal force to protect them against encroach-
ments. Such force was sent, and, simulta-
M xrtfh thn NJ
here, on the 5th of July last informed the
President of its coming and its objects, in the
following communication
Il have been directed by her AIajestys Gov
ernment to bring TO the knowledge OF the Govern
mont of the United States measure which has been
adopted by her Majesty's Government to prevent
repetition Of the complaints which have frequently
been made of the encroachments of vessels belonging
to citizens of the United States and of France upon
tho fishing grounds reserved to Great Britain by the
convention of 1918.
"Urgcnt representations having been addressed to
her Majestys Government, by the Governors of the
British North American Provinces in0gard to these
encroachments whereby tho Colonial fisheries are
most seriously prejudced directions havo been given
by the Lords of her Maesys Admiralty for station
ing off New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edwards
Island and in the Gulf of st. Lawrence such forco
of small sailing vessels and steamers as shall be
deemed sufficient to prevent the infraction of the
treaty. II is the command of the Queen that the
officers employed upon this service should be cspc-
cially enoincd to avoid all interference with tho
sells of friendly powers, eccrR qchSrc Uey III hr
act ~ riOiafIng fhr tTe0ty, and on NIL occasions to
avoid giving ground Of complaint by tho adoption Of
harsh unnecessary proceedings when circumstances
compel their arrest or seizure
Let us now SEQ what force it is that has
been sent into the field Of the dispute. There
is the BuSzaTd, a steamer of six guns; the
Sappho, sloop of twelve guns and the Ber-
1ltla. a schooner Of three guns sent to the
Straits of Belleisle, and on the coast of New.
foundlaud, where we have an unouostioned
right of fishing and where there in no contro-
yersy. Then there is the Devastation n steam
er of six guns; the Arrow and the Telegraph.
of one gun each and the Ncttley, of two guns,
in the Gulf of st. Lawrence: making, in the
whole, seven vessels, with total Of thirty.one
guns, sent by the Imperial Government into
these waters. Ifyou add to this force the flag
ship of Vice Admiral Seymour, the Cumberland,
with seventy guns there are, altogether one
hundred and one 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
was sent. Last year there was the flagship,
the Cumberland, commanded by the same Sir
Charles Seymour, with seventy guns; frigate,
of twenty-six guns two sloops Of sixteen guns;
and one steamer, of six guns; making. in the
whole, sixty-four guns, without the Cumberland,
and, including the Cumberland, one hundred
and thirty-four guns
Then thiSmighty naval demonstration, which
has 80 excited the Senate, and roused its indg-
nation, and brought down its censures upon the
Administration consists ina reduction of the
naval force which Great Britain had in those
waters year ago from one hundred and thir.
( four to one hnndred and ono uuna What