The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-21

WASHINGTON, Feb. IL, 1858.
Excitement in the House-Repo,t of the Secretary Of
Siate--Statc Of the Negotiation rih England
Counting the roies Of States, and Proclamation o)
| tie President and Vice President Curious Coin
| Proceedings in the Maine Legislature
connected ,cith The Ashbutow Tfeo,y.
The morning set apart under the rules for moving
resolutions, is usually Of much excitement but
on Monday this exceeded anything / have before wit.
ncssed-a dozen or twenty members at time vocife-
rating "Mr. Speaker at the top OF their voices,
rendering the chair perfectly inaudible amid this
babel of tongues. II is much to be regretted that
these unseemy exhibitions take place in the presence
Of persons from various parts Of the Union it can
not fail to reduce the body in the estimation of the
people generally.
When the committees came to be called upon, that
for Pennsylvania was the first in order and the adop
ton of an uRusual by the delegates from that
body, materially interrupted the business of the day.
and prevented the House from getting through the
remaining States-n the opinion of the Speaker-the
consequence being protmcted discussion upon
points Of order.
As PENNSYLVANIA was the birth place of the first
regularly organized American Congress- these gentle
men Thought It was their privilege to stand godfather
to every State in the Union This was considered
unfair by those members who had not condcscended
to adopt this rnse and being appealed against, the
Speaker decided that the rule being imperative, he
could exercise no discretion, but considered it
in which the House should interfere. Things went
on however until resolution to grant pension to
the mother Of lad who lost his life in the Mexican
war, brought matters to u stand until the House
adjournment took place.
/, The morning sitting OF Tuesday was remarkable
for nothing except the reception OF the message from
the President, accompanied by report from the
Secretary of State in relation to the pending nego-
tiation with England with reference to reciprocity
and the fisheries, which, after being read. was sent
to the Committee on Foreign Relations; from which
it appears that no progress has been made the Bri-
tsh government having gone no farther than to ex-
press willingness to allow the free use OF the ishc
ries with the exception of those Of Newfoundland,
provided British cured fish shall be admitted into
the United States free of duty and British fishermen
be allowed the same privilege on the American coast
land is owing TO the existing treaty between Great
Britain and France, which would have to be abro-
gated if the fishermen Of any other foreign nation
should possess rights that had not been conceded to
those Of that country.
The Secretary of State is prepared to throw rec
procity overheard for the present, and recommends
legislation separately on the fishery question, in the
expectation that Great Britain will In that event
adopt similar course. But as Canada is deeply in.
terested in the fishery in the Bay Of Chaleur and
prevailing sentiment in Nova Scotia aud New Bruins.
wick it becomes very evident that the settlement OF
both questions must 90 hand in hand; and am
rather disposed to think that the passage OF tne o
which the Committee of Commerce Is prepared 10
report to the House, If they ever nave an Oppor-
by Mr.. Davis, of Massachusetts, evidently IN accord
ance with the views Of the Secretary Of State.
have no doubt, and have the best reason for be-
| eviug that treaty was sent to England, cut and