The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-24
sruclion put upon from iha, day to this is without

sructon put upon from that day to this is wilhou,
| contradiction. .aH as45f1 ,rl ~.
Now in the midst Of the fishing season. what does the
ton to remove the difficulty but sir, they draw the
sword and cut the Gordian knot Instead OF adjusting the
difficulties existing between US BY open negotiations they
resort to force and send armed vessels TO our c
zens trust Mr. President, that this government will
stand up to ils just rights. cannot but express the
deep regret felt that word has been published ia
the public journals upon this subec, BY way Of warn-
Ing to sur fishermen. understand that article has
appeared 10 one OF our most popular papers having
il saying the fishermen there Is great doubt as 10
your night TO ish there, and you nns take how
you 60 there. les. you Be rendered liable 2 seizure"
ter should be treated 10 not wise 10 throw doubts
the country and the world We should stand npon our
position until we shall have made fair negotiations, and
express any great doubt upon this point Ia wheher
our fishermen suffered 70 fish in tkose waters, by
telling them 10 take how they 10 thas. There -
tons for nearly half cenisry. aud We have right 10
say TO the British government, I" Don't you draw the
sword and cut The knot" again express my full con
in what has been said by the senator from Vr
ginia.
Mr. DAVIS. Mr. President, have heard it rumored
and speak only from rumor that this matter is
inform that the British minister has gone 10 Boston,
and, letter cwrers sayand suppose they always tell
the truththey have gone there to CONSIDER this very
matter. Well sir, hope, il there is really any diff
Guilty, they will find some mode Of adjusting il. But
must confess = t Mt rdesaen mat although na nay %
ccpon which belongs to gentlemen this place, really
have felt no alarm upon this subjec-none whatever
feel none sir, Tor the that think comprehend 10
my own satisfaction what lies at the bottom of it.
think my friend from Maine [Mr. HAMLIN] has got hold
Of the key to the whole matter. There has been for
mined effort made to open between these colonial gov
ernmens and the government OF the United States what
y I Ssas
been bills reported to each Of these houses, called bs
of reciprocity"
am very frank to say sir, whenever see bill that
has any claim on its face to this te-a bill that 10
equally reciprocal in its chaTacer-l shall give 1t very
careful consideration. Hitherto have seen none.
have seen pretty strong and strenuous effort made oy
these colonies open what they call q reciprocal trade
with this country But that reciprocal trade if you will
examine the bills which have been brought forward. will
be generally found 10 be for such articles and under such
conditions that the advantage all in their own favor
while the reciprocity is not extended to U.S. Now, when
ever this is extended shall be disposed TO treat with
great respect but, sir have earnest desire any
gentleman upon this floor TO give the most ample and the
most complete protection TO the fishing interest and
declare with the greatest sincerity that DO not believe
that in all the great interests OF this country there 10 one
that deserves and merits protection more. know OF no
interest where the dollars which earned earned
with more labor more toll Or more sacrlncs Yes or;
all the hardshps which belong to that angular employ
ment, all the pvaons, and all the suerings and after
all, obtaining nothing but common living. Well, sir,
that is their choice 81 Ns
Blu, there national point OF view in this matter that
deeply interesting TO These men that 20 upon ths
Grand banks ano upon .'e Labrador coas. ana nsn are
ton They navebor citizens And, sir from that
nursery springs this great body Of navGatos, and
of enterprise, who have adorned and embelished your
country. And say it here fearless Of contradiction that
you take away this protecting Of the government.
you take away that which is more essential to you in
the defence oil the country than thing that be
named Why, sir the enterprise and the nautical skill
and courage of these found in every part OF the
world They carry your comnerce everywhere en- and
il. should sink down to about the condition of
France, and of those other countries which have never
found themselves capable Of contending with other naval
powers upon the ocean This s the nursery Of the skin
and strength which indispensable for them. A
money making business. will say that II s very true. in
anayzng this subject that it is comparatively unmpor-
ianl but looking a, the question as maritime subject.
il is clothed with interest in every point OF view Them
let give TO them heartily cordially and under all cir
cumstances, the protection which they deserve.
While desire this, sir, it is fitting and proper that
should say what has been admitted by the senator from
Mane that these fisheries have more or less been at
tended with controversy and difficulty al all times There
are, the senator from Virginia justly observed, fishing
grounds lying within the exclusive jurisdiction OF those
colonies, that valuable There desire TO partic
pate in them. From accident or Intention our fishermen
20 upon those grounds. They seized. They are
lawfully seized. Sometimes, is said, they unlaw-
fully condemned but the seizures have taken place, We
all know very well, from time to time. At what time
Great Britain put the construction upon the treaty which
raised this state OF things existing. am not at
this moment informed. lDe COnStruCuOn De-
eve do not claim, and never have claimed the right
TO 6sh within the limits Of her urisdlcioD-hst 10, with
in three miles OF her coasunless by special agreement
But she puts in claim OF this sor There being on that
coast large bays ne,s from the sea- that very extern
sve she says in giving Interpretation to this treaty,
that where the headlands OF these bays are within ak
miles of each other, she claiming jurisdiction three miles
from each coast, you enter 10 hsh That 10 mat
ter Of controversy and suppose the controversy hangs
mainly and chiefly upon that point
Now it is said that unusual force land believe
is an unusual force-has been ordered there 10 unu-
sua in numbers and unusual ID strength for The proec
ton OF its own fisheries; but see nothing more than
purpose to protect ITSELF But find solution OF
that matter the suggestion OF the senator from Mane
[Mr HAMLIsl have the line o the ST. Lawrence
little more closely tied up than usual. There
time when courtesy would pass vessel OF the United
States through those canals. am told that Of late il
cannot be done. We hear the matter OF the free navsa-
lion OF the ST. Johns much discussed These are
10 some extent important to us-perhaps the latter
more important than the former but still there are
conference.-the senator from Illinois. for Instance
who esteem the free navigation OF the ST. Lawrence as
of very high Importance. That may be the case, though
believe the tendency OF the internal Improvements OF
the United States has been TO divert very large portion
OF the trade OF the ST. Lawrence 10 New York. and to
turn the sporiaon through New York. Still, that
great highway, and IL is desirable that IT should be
opened Well, sir, these colonial gentlemen are ear
nestly favor OF all this and s it not very natural that
in this earnestness they should esteem Il advisable to
straghten the lines le and to abolish or 10 depart
from The conteses that have heretofoe been exiended
And II the fishery laws have been loosely administered
is it not natural that they should now go 10 The very
Al. lltfle can 6nd