The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-10-10

part of the discussion with the following eloquent and
triotic language
"The sanctity OF our flag maintained and vindi-
Gated by the late Daniel Webster with his usual ability IN
reference 10 vessels bearing their masthead, even UNI
der the suspicious circumstances the coast OF
Africa Surely that flag ought to afford as eectua pro
lection to the brave and patriotic fisherman pursuing his
manly and honorable ayocatonS II must and II shall pro-
tect him If this treaty fail TO be ratified we shall call
upon to restore to fishermen the proec
ton Of their flag No foreign official shall tread the deck
which that flag If British cruisers find our yes
sells fishing within the forbidden lines they may capture
sink them but while the and stripes floating al
their peak the voice of the country forbid the ntru
der approach for purposes of search We protest against
either imperial colonial cruisers sezng and searching
vessels while under way the open No coun-
try of the least pretenson TO independence nationality
suferi it, The that be asked of American
sailor is to suffer his vessel to be ordered TO- and his
deck invaded by authority emanatng from his own
flag To the reyenuecutter the man-owar of his own
nation he viii submit but never without the deepest
sentiment and Indignation a foreign official. domestic
police the free American is willing endure but
foreign police the open The protoundest passions
Of the human breastall the peculiar sentiments of the
American hearare sensitive and hostile such high
handed procedures Great Britain has been suffered to
practise upon fishermen The slumberng fires have
been kndng and spreading in the bosoms OF our people
along the northern seashore II such state of things
had been continued the last extremity would have
been reached.
The historian will find it difficult to believe that such
things could have been borne for such length OF time by
fishermen or by their government When he collects
and reviews the provocations aggravations insults and
outraseS 10 winch they have been suoeceddrNeu IRON
shelter AID compelled keep the sea- the approach OF
storms the dangerous of the North Allan
corbdden to enter ports in quest of relief for sick and
dying menpursued and boarded the slightest pre-
tenccstheir decks invaded and deecrated by nsolent
foreign subordinate officials their quarters searched their
shipping seized and scutnized with evil eyes and
comments and then reckessly botted
or crumpled up thrown down and then rodden upon
captured frivolous chargesares broken up, whole
lost and vessels and cargoe forfeited pafte and
mock trals-such outrages could not indeed have been
endured much longer. We the of collision
violent resistance bloodshed and From all this the
treaty 1t rescues the gallant fisherman from
wrongs and abuses most difficult for his heroic spirit to
bear and him the unassailable sanctty of his
hag and that freedom of the which is his right and
which every instinct OF his soul and every habit of his life
demands"
Next in importance TO this great result in the estimation
of the writer is the freedom Of the fisheries which the
treaty Their aggregate produce is estimated at
S30000000 annually, distributed between the United
States the British colonies, and France and this vast
treasure they will continue yield after the gold fields of
California shall have become exhausted But their pecu-
MARY value great tits ofsma moment when compared
with their influence in promoting naval strength and
the various other elements of national power