Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-24
FRIDAY, july %, 1852.
IN SENATE.

IN SENATE
Mr. HUNTER, from the Committee Finance, to
which referred the bill from the House of Represen
tatves making appropriation for the support of the Mill
tary Academy for the fiscal year ending the Both june
1858, reported it back with certain amendments.
The amendments having been considered in Committee
of the Whole, were ordered to be engrossed
Mr.. DOUGLAS, from the Committee on the Terrific
res to which recommitted the bill for the protection
Of the emigran route and telegraphc line and for
overland mail between the Missouri river and the settle
ments in California and Oregon with the proposed amend
mens, reported substitute for the original bill and
amendments which ordered to be printed and the
further consideration of the subject postponed to We'd
nesday next.
The bill from the House of Representatives to grant
the right OF way to all rail and plank roads and maca
damized turnpkes passing through public lands belong
ing to the United States read and referred to the
Committee on Public Lands.
BILLS PASSED.
The bill allowing exchanges of and granting additional
school lands in the several States which contain public
lands and for other purposes read third time and
passed.
THE FISHERIES
Mr.. MASON submitted the following resolution for
consideration:
Resolrcd That the President of the United States be re-
quested communicate to the Senate if in his opinion
incompatible with the public interests all correspondence
file in the Executive Departments with the Government of
England its diplomatic representatives since tho
ton between the United States and Great Britain October
90 1915 touching the fisheries coasts of the British pos
sessions in North America and the right of citizens the
United States engaged in such fisheries secured by said
convention And that the President be also under
like limitation inform the Senate whether of the naval
forces of the United States have been ordered the
acen to the British possessions in North America protect
the rights of American fishermen under said convention
1915 the receipt of the intelligence large and un
usual British naval force had been ordered there enforce
certain alleged rights of Great Britain under said
Mr.. Nj. said Mr. President, have thought it my duty
considering the present aspect of affairs far they
communicated to us by the public journals to SUBJ
nit this resolution and ask that it be considered imme
diately We informed unoficially but in manner
clearly indicating that is correct that the British Gov
has recently asserted rights under the conyen
ton of 1918 in relation to the fisheries of the North
which, whether they exist not they suffered from 1918
to lS4l to pass without question, and after S41 when
the question was mooted to the respective rights of
British subjects and American citizens under the treaty
of 1918, they still suffered to remain in statu quo
Sir, the British Government know well that very large
and important interests embarked by citizens of the
United States in these fisheries They know that the
harbors and coasts and off their possessions in North
America at stated seasons of the year. and this
as informed, is of those seasons with these
fishing vessels yet suddenly, without notice of any kind
informed frsm the public journals and semi-o-
ciay by sort Of proclamation from the Secretary Of
State that very large British naval force has been or
dered into those for the purpose enforcing at the
mouth of the the construction which Great Br
tain has now recently determined place on that con-
yention. Now, sir, had supposed in this civilized age
and between two such countries those Of Great Britain
and the United States that il the purpose Of Eng
land revive her construction Of this convention and
require that it should be enforced comfy ordinary conf
y, national courtesy would have required that notice
should have been given Of that determination the part
Of Great Britain But sir when such notice given
when the contrary the first information which reaches
is that Great Britain has ordered into those seas
large naval force for the purpose Of enforcing this aeg
ed right know not in what light it may strike other
Senator's but it strikes me as far higher offence than
breach of national eourtesy-as of insult and ndp
nifty to the whole American people.
This morning, in the first paper | took up from the
North see extracted from OF the British colonial
newspapers printed at St. Johns, in New Brunswick
formal statement Of the actual naval force ordered by
Great Britain into those Ii consists Of the Cum
berland, a seyenty-gu ship commanded by Sir G. F.
Seymour, who, believe, is British admiral command
ing the West India station And then follows an emu
meraton Of steam vessels soops Of war; and schooners
the number Of nineteen ordered to rendezvous there
Immediately, and with the utmost dispatch. For what
purpose To enforce at once and without notice to this
Government, far / informed land vet we have
some information through the quasi proclamation Of the
Secretary OF Stae at the mouth of the cannon the
strucnon which the British Government places on that
convention do not know what view has been taken by
the President Of this extraordinary movement but think
do know what the American people would demand OF
the Executive under such circumstances II there be
official satisfactory information to the Executive that
this extraordinary naval has been ordered by
Great Britain into the North American seas for the pur
pose Of executing nstanter the construction which Great
Britain places the convention say the American peo
pie will demand Of their Executive that all the naval
force Of the home station shall be ordered there INSTANTLY
to protect the American fishermen
Sir, we have been told by the poet who most deeply
read the human heart that from the nete danger W,
pluck the flower safety and if may be told that there
danger Of collision would at once there Is M
danger But If there it becomes the Executive i'm
medatsy TO resent that which only be looked on
an indignty and insult to the nation have no fears
Mr. President, that Is TO follow the apparent COLI
sion which has taken place between the two Govern
ments but confess feel deeply the indgnity that ha
been put upon the American people in ordering the Br
fish squadron into those without notice and il rea
the feelings Of people right, they will demand that
like force shall instantly be sent there in order that tn
rights Of our people may be protected
Sir do not profess the power construe the purpos
on the part Of the British Government but was YER
much impressed by despatch which in Of til
nte papers but which unfortunately have not at hand
Within the last few days despatch from the Foreig
Office Of Great Britain to the Colonial Office advising
Of this movement advising 1t that il requirin
CELEBRITY and Dispatch and requiring that shoul
be taken by the Colonial Office procure betwee
the British naval force and the Colonial authorities Tn
reason assigned that this measure was taken on IN
part Of Great Britain as preliminary certain negota
tons. Now, what does this mean? | know not wha
these negotiations are; but IL il means any thing,
means that we are TO negotiate under duress: aye sir
this day. that this great people, covering continer
numbering FIVE and twenty millions are to negotiate wit
n foreign feet coast know not what the Pres
dent has done | claim to know what the American nee
pie expect OF him. know that If he has done his dut
. the reply to the resolution Of inquiry will be have Of
the whole naval force Of the country into those
TO protect the rights Of American fishermen against r
fish cannon hope il will be the pleasure of the Sena
Ito consider the resolution Immediately.