The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-26
REMARKS OF MIR. BELL,

MIR. BELL. MIR. President, do not wish to con-
tinue this discussion by going into any expression
have been thrown out. but l wish to say word or
two upon one point. have listened with great
deal of interest, with more than common interest,
to all that has been suggested on this subject on
both sides Of the Chamber. have listened with
great deal of pleasure to much that has been said
Iaccord with much of it; but there is one view,
one suggestion-and the whole debate ia very sug-
gestive to my mind-whch has not yet been
thrown out. b. y.
l do not think there ia any real cause to appre-
bend war between the two countries, growing out
OF this transaction, whatever 1t may be; and i
has been very we'll said that we do not know all
the facts bearing upon it. Certainly, cir, some
portion Of the discussion might very well have
been postponed But there have been certain sen-
timens announced which think worthy of
passing attention from the Senate, and from the
country.
Understood the honorable chairman of the Com.
mittee on Foreign Relations to say that, from some
information within his reach, he is satisfied not
only that some few vessels Of of Great Britain
have been ordered 10 those grounds for the protec
ton Of the alleged rights Of British fishermen, but
that the extraordinary armamentof twenty vessels
of war has been ordered into those waters for the
protection of British interests.
MIR. MASON. have no other information than
that contained in the public journals of the day.
stated that obtained that information as to the
extent of the British armament from newspaper
of st. Johns, New Brunswick, setting out the mr.
mament, and stating it's objects, which took to be
authentic. ".
Mr. BELL. That was very good foundation
upon which to base the remark. There must be
no great to Doubt believe II is not doubted
at all-that unusual force has been ordered to
that station-some armament beyond the usual
extent hnted at the amount of it for the special
purpose of calling the attention of the Senate to it.
The honorable Senator has also announced tho
sentiment, that if it be true that any armament
has been sent to those waters, all negotiations
ought TO cease, If there has been any projected ne
gotiation.
Mr. mason. Not at all. announced this, that
the presence OF an unusual armed force almost in
our own waters, sent there with despatch and c.
ierity, as preliminary to negotiations, had been
stated in the public journals; and If that were
true in my estimate OF the spirit Of the American
people. they would require that armament to be
Withdrawn before any negotiations were entered
into.
Mr.. BELL. Understood the honorable Senator,
perhaps, not exactly as he has stated it now; but
understood him to announce that there seemed to
be authentic informa ton that il was in connection
with negotiation-not that the British govern
ment had sent this armament there premna-
ry TO negotiation, but that, in their instructions
to their officers, it was expressly stated that IT was
in connection with pending negotiation. Upon
the ption that this true, Understood the
Senator from Virginia to announce that all nego.
tation ought to cease.
If il be that that force ia ordered there as pro.
lrninary to a negotiation, ! will not say what
would be the soundness Of the policy Of the British
government in commencing negotiation by such
an order issuing from her Admiralty, or from any
other department Of her government; but will
ator from Virginia. his sentiment was q correct
one If it was for the purpose of intmidatng and
overawing this country by the superiority Of the
British force, and thus commencing q negotiation
with an armed battery Of thousand or two thou
sand guns, then it would be question whether ne
gotiation ought not to be terminated until they
were withdrawn.
did not rise, Mr.. President, for the purpose Of
going into the particular details Of this business;
Tor we are really somewhat in the dark az regards
what they are. But there are some, which seem
to me of sufficient authority to base some action Of
this body upon them. ! rose merely for the pur.
pose of expressing this sentiment: that II Great
Britain has thought proper to array this force upon
those waters in connexion with negotiation, and
which she has so much desire) between her North
American Provinces and the United States; and if
she has, whether wisely or unwisely, thought
proper to order these ornaments into those waters
for that purpose, then rejoice that she has done
Not that think war will grow out of it; for be-
iieye there 10 too much good and intelligence
in the two countries to suffer war to grow out
even of q menacing and insulting attitude-such
as that taken by Great Britain, She will find
some way, consistent with her honor, to recede
from her position, if she has taken il. But ! re.
peat the sentiment-if she has done 90, / rejoice
at il.
Honorable Senators have said they feared the Ex-,
ecutive of the United States had not met this ques
ton with the true national spirit with which he
ought to have met it; that he should have ordered
an adequate force Immediately for the protection
of our interest in those waters. Honorable Sena.
tors on the other sideo the Chamber particularly
have spoken with that spirit Of resoluteness and
determination that indicated that they were ready
to meet Great Britain at in this controversy,
with guns and with naval ornaments, If it were
proper in that way to maintain the honor and dig
nifty of the country.
say again, sir, that l rejoice. or ohalI rejoice,
If Great Britain has taken this position, trusting
that it will not lead to any serious difficulties be
tween the two countries. ! rejoice at 1t because
trust that il will serve to wake up this country to
its true position, that we are not in condition
either Ia regard to the fisheries our interests in
the States south Of us, in regard to the islands
on the Pacific coast to negotiate or precisely equal
terms with such power as Great Britain. Sir,
floating batteries TO back her diplomatic agents,
when she sends them abroad. She has great ad-
vantages over US. Still, great as they are, know
the American spirit is ready to maintain the honor
of this country against all odds. am rejoiced to
see even the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Boa
LANp) waking up upon this subject, and ready to
meet Great Britain. have understood that there
has been q proposition made in another Hall to
curtail the appropriations for the Navy, from the
very moderate estimates sent in by the Executive
Government. fully one third. And would like
to know of the honorable Senator from Connect.
cut (Mr. TouosY) where are our twenty ships OF
war, TO meet the twenty British ships Of war on
those waters? We may have greater number
than that do not know exactly how many-on
our various commercial posts on the Atlantic coast,
on the Mediterranean, in the East Indies, or on the
Pacific coaet. ! do not know how many of these
are in proper condition for service. question whe.
Their we have altogether in our navy more than
twenty or thirty vessels in proper condition to be
sent out to meet this squadron of twenty ships,
which il not one-twentieth part Of the British navy
fit for service. call the attention Of honorable
Senators on the other side of the Chamber particp
darby to this question. j wish them to remember II
when we come to the subject Of making appropria-
lions for the navy
On a former day threw out the intimation
that, if | had the power, would vote five millions
extra for making experiments in regard to the
force on the Pacific coast; though such force
would not be equal to half or one-tenth that o.
Great Britain or France, yet, with good force
there, you would DO in position, without the
probability of absolute and shameful disaster, TO
meet any power from abroad that might think
proper to insult I'd.
repeat again, that l apprehend no war with
Grcat Britain in regard to this question; but
think this fit occasion. not only to call the
attention of the Senate, but, 40 far as ] can, to
call the attention of the country to our miseraby
deenceiess condition.; to call attention to the con-
ls-L. L. k~,n