Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-07

attention OF this Mt
cular time when without notice. and in deroeation II
right England had taken upon herself to Cypress some Of
our citizens engaged in the fisheries That Government
seemed to have forgotten that had given them certain
privileges OF which could any time DEPRIVE them
by way of retaliation His object in Offering this amend
men force the English Government to bear the x
pense of her Lighthouse system He desired 10 put
their vessels upon the footing in our waters that
our vessels held in their waters.
Mr. BAYLY, of Virginia, remarked that while he con-
CURED with nearly all the gentleman from Maryland had
said, he desired TO call his attention to point two
that he confessed he not prepared to give definite
opinion upon the committees because the proposition
was to him. lie desired the gentleman to say
TO what extent this amendment would interfere with
treaties with Great Britain His impression that
| it would conflict with them some extent.
Mr.. EVANS replied that Mr.. Lawrence in the CORE
spondence expressly said that it would conflict with
any treaty stipuations.
Mr.. BATLf said that in our treaty-obligations with
Great Britain that Government placed upon footing
with the favored nations Now, the amendment Of
the gentleman from Maryland provided that Govern
ment should levy lighthouse duty upon those nations
which collected similar duty from aud he entertain
ed some doubt whether such provision precisely in
accordance with treaties Although he opposed
to the amendment yet he approved its object and had
long been OF the opinion that it would be proper mode
of supporting the liahth4aa4 systsa,-
mr.. STANr0N, of Tennessee said that the objections
urged by the gentleman from Virginia well founded
Great Britain might justly complain, should the amend
be passed. that Government had according
to treaty spuations placed her upon footing with the
|
general law leyying lighthouse duties, applicable all
vessels then there could be such objection the part
Of any Government he concurred in all that had been
said by the gentleman from Maryland but opposed
TO that particular part of the amendment which proposed
to make different charges upon different nations.
Mr.. WALSH understood to say that all these
tiers should first be examined into by committee Of the
House before acted 1t ought to be done under the
direction Of Congress- that all the facts of the
might be ascerained If they should adopt this provision
it would be said that they did because of the in
reference of England with vessels engaged in the
fisheries and 1T would be inferred that this would be
acknowledgment part Of its being sufficient salts
faction for all the injury England had done this country
Mr.. STANTON, of Tennessee, was understood to say
the subject in negotiation before the late difficulties
in relation to the fisheries arose
| Dir. WALSH replied that il had been said that they
desired to pass this Of the action taken
by the English Government against our vessels on the
Northern coasts lie hoped that that Government would
be called to for that iny in another way and
that the committee would no pass this provision now tie
meaning of which the wor would see Before they ted
upon this subject they s9ud examine it, He hope.Con-
gress would take the er under charge and it
the President ally at this moment beca.se he
one of those men his as he who trused that the
Secretary of ST. not at this time carrying on nego-
tations III was Mr.. WALSH Understood TO say
that that off should not occupy the Office he held.
Mr. BR oKS was in favor of the principle of the
amendnt OF the gentleman from Maryland, but il
his pre- ut impression that it inconsistent with
treat Of commerce with Great Britain The treaty Of
1917 and reciprocal navigation acts placed Great
upon footing with the favored nations
upon par with our American bottoms II was
Necessary therefore, If levied lighthouse duty upon
Great Britain, to levy the duty upon
merce as well upon that Of all foreign nations. In
order TO carry out the principles oS the treaty of 1875
and these navigation acts il struck him just at this
moment that should be obliged levy duty only
upon all European vessels but upon American vessels,
because all duties be uniform. Great Britain in
his opinion deserved this retaliation from us for the
wrongs she had inflicted upon people, and only
upon our people but all other nations Of the earth
in her enormous lighthouse duties Although il was his
impression that the amendment inconsistent with the
treaty Of $50 ne did not see Il bssmea
law Il would be wen considered in the Senate, and
by the Finance Committee Of the Senate
In reply to a remark by Mr. SrAsroN, Of Tennessee,
(which the Reporter could not hear ~
Mr.. BROOKS said the British navigation act OF 1892
and our prior reciprocal acts established perfect re-
cprocity law in ports for British vessels ana IN br
tish ports for vessels All entered and cleared on
equal terms Ii his impression that II would not no.
however desirable it might be- to violate their principles
BY discriminating lighthouse laws.
Mr. MEADE moved to amend the amendment OF MIR.
EVANS by adding thereto proviso that such duties shall
not conflict with existing treaties He explained his
reasons for Offering this amendment, and remarked that
this was important step taken in the commercial! regu-
laons Of the country. He was opposed to dong TINS
without mature consideration The remarks which had
fallen from his colleague Mr. BAYLY) showed that they
ought to consider the subject maturely before adopting
the amendment of the gentleman from Maryland
Mr.. EVANS accepted the amendment OF Mr. MEADE as
o part of his own proposition.
Mr. SEYMOUR, of New York. said that when the
amendment WAS first read he favorably impressed
with It, but the discussion which had ensued had satisfied
him that it would not be proper to adopt IT, He under
stood the gentleman from Maryland to say that this mat
ter had been the subject Of negotiation, at least OF COR
respondence between the British Government and our
Minister That correspondence had not been laid before
the House that he aware Of and he was therefore
unprepared this time to say whether or not this pro-
position should be adopted bearing it did upon our
stipuatons with foreign nations and particularly
with Great Britain. If the correspondence which had
taken place upon subject admitted the proposition
which he understood had been hnted at by the gentle
man from Maryland mr. Eyass) that il they should pass
this provision they would not interfere with the treaty
stpuatons between this country and Great Britain then
a great objection might be removed.
Mr. EVANS referred to the letter OF Mr.. Lawrence on
the subject the effect that would not interfere with
the treaty stipulations between the two countries
Mr. SEYMOUR thought it would be imprudent TO adopt
this general proposition without its examination by Of
the committees Of the House
Mr. DEAN moved 10 strike out the word president,
stating that he did for the that he way
in which this law could be executed If they should authb
rze the President levy this duty lie would have TO
direct some one to perform this duty for him. If this
proposition one il should be brought in in
special act
Mr. CAMPBELL, of illinois, expressed himself opposed
both TO the amendment Of the gentleman from New York
and the original amendment This Che remarked) was
very important question and the more Il was discussed
the more they convinced Of its Importance Our
relations with Great Britain the present time very
delicate and il was necessary that they should under
stand this whole before they adopted the principles
Of the amendment submitted by the gentleman from Mary
land He hoped that the whole matter would be voted
down and il was be acted upon that the Committee