The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-09

constitutional difficulties and political dangers at
tending this great enterPrise. Does the constitu-
oceanic communication through Mexico, and in
hibit the opening for passage over our own domain
and through our own territoryf IL there less DO.
iitical danger attending the opening of a passage
through foreign country, exposed to the hostility
OF rival nations, than in making one altorether
through our own country, beyond the reach of
other nations and practically understood by them?
but grant that you are allowed in peace to open
communication through the Isthmus of Tehuan-
tepec, can you secure such control and manage.
mentof it as you will require without securing
also, the annexation Of the States of Vera Cruz and
Oaxaca to the United States? Can you take those
states and leave the other Mexican States? Will
those other Mexican States consent to remain out
81 the Unionl Can you keep them out of the Union?
If more Of the Mexican States are to be brought
into the Union, have you settled and arrangedt the
States or free States! Can you admit them as
slave States; can you admit them as free States!
Can you adjust balance between slavery and
freedom! II you cannot adjust that balance, can
you save the Union itself from convulsion? These,
sir, are questions which must and will be forced
upon you, when Mexico, exhausted, whether by
faction, or in defending herself against your own
violence, shall implore to be admitted into this
come
without your Fastening it. Is there necessity for
fastening it now! Have you not more passages
from the Mississippi and the Gulf to the Pacific
than you can open with all your present capital
and enterprise in aquarter of century, and more
land already than you can cover with inhabitants
In half century, and more gold and silver than
you can extract from the earth in whole century?
These dangers are the only real dangers if pre-
cipltated Time will speedily fill the regions you
already possess with homogeneous population
and homogeneous States, and yet even long before
that time the nation will have taken on such ag-
nltude, such consistency, such unity, that Mexi-
co, with her one million of Spaniards, her two mil
| lions of Creoles, and her five millions of Aztecs,
can be received and absorbed in the Union without
disturbing the national harmony or disturbing the
national vigor, wisdom, justice, and magnanmty
combine in recommending to US the moderation
to which Mexico, exhausted in her Efforts at once
initiate our political virtues and to defend herself
| against our aggressions, so touchingly appeals,
and which our faith, plighted over the ruin of
her most precious hopes, 30 solemnly enjoins.
He offered the following amendment to the reso.
| buttons:
Strike out all after the word "Resolved,'' aud
| insert, 'sThat the United States cannot suspend
diplomatic negotiations with Mexico without ten
| dering to that power, or awaiting.a reasonable
time to receive from it, an offer of arbitration
cording to the terms of the treaty ofGuadalupe
/ Mr. UNDERWOOD briefly replied.
Mr.. HALE obtained the floor, and the subject
was postponed till Monday next.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
NAVY REFORM BILL.
Mr.. FLORENCE asked, but did not obtain, con-
sent to introduce the following resolution:
"Resolued, That the Senate bill, No. STA, to
organize the navy of the United States, be made
the special order for Saturday next, at twelve
O'Clock, M"
TERRITORIAL BUSINESS.
hiah cip Of DO, IL.
sderation of Territorial business, the House took
up the House bill, as returned froca the Senate
with amendments, to amend an act entitled ssAn
act to create the Office Of surveyor general of the
pubic lands In Oregon, and to provide for the
survey and make donations to the settlers of said
lands,' approved September 81, 1850.
Mr.. HALL briefly explained the character of the
amendments; and as the subject had been suff-
GENTLY discussed heretofore, and deeming any
further debate to be unnecessary, moved the pre-
vlous question, which was seconded.
The amendments we're referred to the Commit.
tee OF the Whole on the state of the Union, where
(Mr. HIBBARD in the chair) they were subse-
quently considered; and. at later period of the
day, concurred in.
THE FISHERIES auEsTIoN-PREsIDFNT's MESSAGE
The committee took up the bill to establish the
territorial government of Columbia; and was
proceeding to its consideration, when
message was received from the President of
the United States
Mr.. BAYLY said he was informed that the mes
sage was OF such character as to require the i'm
mediate attention of Congress-; and he therefore
moved that the committee rise.
The motion was agreed to, when, by unanimous
consent, the message and the accompanying doc.
ument were read, as follows:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
Having in my message to Congress at the open
ing of the session adverted to the pending nego-
tiations between this Government and that of
Great Britain relative to the fisheries and com.
mercial reciprocity with the British American
Provinces, transmit, for the info rmation of Con-
gress, the accompanying report from the Depart
mentof State state the negotiations
and respectfully invite the attention of the two
Houses to the suggestion in the latter part of the
report. WILLARD FILLMORE.
WAsHIssTos, February 4, 1858.
To the President of the United States,
The Secretary of State has the honor to submit
to the President the following report relative to the
negotiation pending between this Government and
that OF Great Britain the subject of the fisheries
OF reciprocal intercourse with the British North
American provinces, and the navigation of the ST.
Lawrence and the canals connected with it.
The prospects of the negotiation, at the COM
of the session, were alluded to in a
general way in the Presidents message. The at
tention of this Department was given to the subject
at the earliest day possible, and it has been pur.
sued with diligence. 1t has been perceived with
satisfaction that the Government of Her Britannia
Majesty is prepared to enter into an arrangement
for the admission of the fishing vessels of the uni
ted States to full participation in the public fish
cries on the coasts and shores of the provinces
with the exception, perhaps, at present, of New
foundland,) and in the right Of drying and curing
fish on shore, on condition of the admission duty
free, into the markets of the United States of the
products of the colonial fisheries; similar privi-
leges on the like condition to be reciprocally en-
joyed by British subjects the coasts and shores
of the United States Such arrangement the
Secretary has reason to believe would be accept
able to the fishing interest of the United States
1t is also understood that the British government
is DESTROYS, in concert with the provinces to come
to an agreement vii the United States for recip-
rocal free trade with the provinces in certain natu
raj productions; and that the free navigation of the
river st. Lawrence and of the Welland and Rideau
canals would be conceded as part of the arrange
ment.
An agreement of this kind has for several years
received the attention of Congress- and bill pro-