The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-16


amended He was not in the Senate in IS4s, and
knew nothing of the inquiry then made; hut Il was
probable that. had he been here, he would have
voted for it, He would never hesitate to vote for
the fullest inquiry into the public accounts and
tervices Of any one connected with the Govern
ment. He desired, by his amendment, to show
what were the services for which General Scott
was paid, and the extent and nature Ut the inju-
ries for which allowances for medical attendance
were made, As neittcr Generals Scott nor Pierce
were at West Point, he modified his amendme
by striking that part out relative to West Point.
Mr.. CLEMENS said he would vote against the
mendment, particularly that part relating to
cost Of medical attendance, because it was impos
bic to estimate the vaioc and cost Of the medical
attendance received by either one. Surgeons Of
the army we're not paid according to the medical
attenda nee rendered; they were paid regular an
nual allowance. as officers were He cared but lit.
tie about the whole matter. lie thought General
Scott never received any more than he was emit.
tied to, indeed half az much as he deserved.
MIR. SOuLE said he hoped that what had taken
place TO day would serve lesson rs u the dan
ger oil establishing precedents In ls4S an inquiry
tinguished citizen for long and faithful public SER
vices. He had yet to learn that the Wing party
had ever entered any protest against that inquiry
II was answered, and the information spread like
wildire to every town and hamlet in the country,
poisoning every mind to which it was acceptable
The public mind had to some extent been thus de
praved and the morbid appetite thus created
sought for this kind Of Information He would not
Wing candidate alone been contained in the resolu-
ton; nc would have done 80 reluctantly with both;
but since the amendment was proposed by the other
side, no Democratic Senator wouli decline respond
ing the fullest inquiry. He would vote Tor the
amendment.
Mr.. STOCKTON opposed the whole subject ia
unworthy of the high chara Of the Senate; and
he called upon all parties to lay the resout'"n on
| the table. He made motion TO that effect, which
was not agreed to-yeas 20, nays 23-as follows:
| YEAS.-Messrs. Adams, Bayard, Bell, Brooke,
Butler, Chase, Davis. Dssaussure,l Foot. Geyer,
Hunter, James. Mallory, Pearce, Smith. ockton,
NAYS.-Messrs. Atchison, Borland, Bradbury,
Bright, Cas-. Charlton, Clemens, Dodge OF Wis
cousin, Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Downs, Fetch,
Jones of Tennessee MeEn wether, Norris, Sebastian
Seward, Soule, Spruance, Toucey, Walker, and
Weer-23.
Af,er come further debate
The question was ken on the ameniurnt and
il was rejected-yeas IL. nays l9-as fo)Io~1:
YEAs-Messrs Adams. Bell. Bro H., Il .,lrr
Charlton. Davis, Desaussur., Doug Is. r Ut,
Geyer, Jones o! Tennessee, Seward, SmI'n, N,'l =,
Spruance. Underwood, UphaIn and Wadr-lo.
NAYS.-Messrs Atchison, Bayard Borland
Bradbury. Bright, Cas-, Clemens, Dodge Of Wis
consin, Djdge Of Iowa, Downs, Fech, Hainlin.
Merriwether, Norris. Sebastian, Stockton, Toucey,
Walker. and Weler-l9.
The question was tai en- on the resolution, and II
was agreed oyeas %, nays las follows:
YEAS.-Nessrs. A,chson, Badger, Borland,
Bradbury, Bright, Cass, Charlton, Clemens
Dodge Of Wisconsin, Dodge Of Iowa, Douglas,
Downs, Felch. Hamlin, Jones of Tennessee, Mer-
riwether Norris Sebastian, Seward, Sonie. Spru
ance, Toucey, Underwood, Wade, Walker, and
Weller-26.
Dcsaussure. Foot, Geyer, Smith, Stockton. Sum-
ner, and Upham-l.
THE FIsHsRIEs.
The Senate then proceeded to consider the no
ton to refer the message Of the President on the
subject of the northeastern fisheries
MIR. SEWARD said that when the subject was
before the Senate q former occasion, the chair
man of the Committee Foreign Relations eaid
that il the Prcsiden. had done his duty in the mat
ter the whole nava! force Of the United States had
been sent TO the fishing grounds; and as no force
had been stn', he supposed there was an implied
COMPLIANT shinst the President Of having failed
to do his duty. The Senator from Arkansas and
the Senator from Connecticut also preferred com.
plants against the course OF the Adminlstr Ltion:
and 30 had the Senator from louisiana. He did
not understan nd that, by any et these remarks, SEN
ators meant to impute to the Administration any
want of patriotism.
The substance of their complaints was that
Great Britain had recently set up new cOnstruc.
ton Of the treaty OF ISIS, by which n line WIS
drawn from headland to headland, and Anne rican
fishermen were to be excluded from the Bay of
Fundy, and other large bays; that a large naval
force had BEEN without notice, placed there to en-
u.ce this constructions; and that the President had
not properly resented this insult, but has negota
ted is Negotiating or may negotiate on the subject
Ce,
a manner detrimental to the honor of the country
Il was further suggested that England might bave
been emboldened by the success which has ntten
ded her movements with respect to Cuba, Ncara.
qua, Mexico, sc and, presuming on the want Of
tirmnees dis payed by the Administration in these
PARTICULARS, had attempted this outrage. The was
the amount c: the Censure 10 be implied for the
remarks OF Senators.
He thought there was No ground for any pre-
sumption that the Administration would be want
ing in frInness in this question The Senate had
tisplsyed no want OF frnness; and it was but lust
to presume that the Executive Department would
be equally firm and patriotic as tho Legislature
Moreover this question was o! great moment to the
commercial interests OF the country, and the present
Administration in q pee uliar manner enjoys the
confidence of those engaged in the commerce OF
the country 1t was question also ae cting inter-
ests in the northern section Of the country and
the President and Secretary OF State had always
been identified with the interests OF that portion Of
the country.
1t was also question of deep interest to Massa.
chusetts; and the Secretary Of State was Massa-
chusetts man, and one not apt to neglect, on any
occasion, to neglect whatever might pertain to her
interest and advantage. There was nothing then
in the artceedents OF the President Secretary Of
State TO warrant the presumption that they would
be wanting in firmness on this question.
He referred to the fact that Mr.. Webster's de-
fence of Massachusetts, had become more than his
torica owing 10 the fact of his reply to Senator
from South Carolina having been portrayed upon
canvass; and he warned Senators of the probability
Of O counter picture Ee1nS necessary, representing
the Senators from Arkansas and Louisiana defend.
ing Massachusetts, and her interests from the want
OF frmness of the Secretary Of State. Mr.. 8. then
referred in terms Of high encominm to the services
and character OF the Secretary of State.
He then explained the provisions Of the treaty of
1918, and the points in controversy as to the pro.
per construction Of that treaty. He referred to and
cited the legislation Of Great Britain and the pro.
vincia authorities, showing that the colonies al.
ways held that the rigid and legal construction Of
that treaty was the same Is said TO have
bee newly set up. The legislation of the colonies
led IL ? ,emonsrance by Mr. Everett, the result Of
which was that the British government, while ad
herring TO the construction placed the treaty by
the colonies. relaxed that construction 80 far as Il
applied to the Bay Of Fundy. TIE Canadian au.
thcritcs resisted this course, and urged strict
constr ction and enforcement of the treaty; but
the government, while it adopted the constr ton
of the colonies declined to emf rec it. That policy
Laa continued ever since. Great Britain always
has had az armed force in those waters for the
purpose Of protecting the fisheries from encroach
ments.
The colonists have renewed their complaints OF
ncroachments within the last two years; and
since the ministry, which was supposed 70 be
in favor Of protection, came into power. they have
renewed their prayers for bo mites to their fisher.
men, the rigid enforceIaent OF the treaty.
Sir Henry Bulwer in 1851 propaacd to the Presi.
dent Of the United States to open negotiations
tue -nbiect Of reciprocity with the colonies; the