Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-01-30
Congressional.


SENArr.-Mr Clay introduced a bill re-
pcaling all laws or parts of laws. allowing .
bountes to vessels employed on the Banks.
or othor Cod Fisheries. Mr. Clay said that
twenty-five States arc made TO pay tribute to
the Goldfish arstocracy of six States.
Mr.. Seward said the object Of these boun-
ties must have been to promote commerco,and
fortiy the navigating interests Of the United /
States, so as to enable successful competition
with the navigating interests of Great Brit |
ain and other European countries. More
than hundred years very vigorous opposi-
ton was made to the treaty of peace between
France and England, ON the ground that the
treaty permitted the citizens OF the latter
country 10 participate in the cod fisheries
within three leagues Of the coast, and more
or less the same policy was continued through
out, as long as this country was under the
government of Great Britain. lie would say
to the Senator from Alabama that it was no
aristocracy that was engaged in taking fish
If either class was especially interested in this
measure. it was probably the democracy of
New England. and it was therefore, Goldfish
democracy. instead of goldfish aristocracy.
Il was not the aristocracy of society that
was chiefly concerned in the chcapnoss of this
article but it enters, like tea, coffee, sugar,
and salt, into the consumption of the poor,
rather than the rich. He regarded the at
tcmpts TO raise prejudice against the fishing
bountics, on such grounds. as unjust. There
might be grounds Tor the charge that the con-
tnuanco of these bpuntes encouraged frauds
on the revenue, but the moment any govern
mont began TO raise revenue in any manner,
either by direct or Indirect taxation, the mo-
mcnt that it began TO tax any branch OF indus
trv that moment 1lts door was open for Jobs
mud frauds of various kinds But since this
was not measure of revenue but one rcla-
ting to commerce. nc moved its reference to
the Committee on Commerce.
Mr. Clay had no objection to such refer
oncc, and when the bill again came mp, he
would enter fully into the subject i'm reply to
the Senator from New York, and produce
proof
Mr. Fessondcn referred to the yitupcratiyo
strain of remark not only against the laws
granting bountios. but TO the operation of
those laws, in which Mr. Clay had seen prop
or to indulge. lie ,Fcsscndcn) was of opin-
ion that there must be some good reason why
these laws passed in the first place, aud con-
tinuod ON the statute books more than 60
years. lie believed that when the subject
was again discussed, there would be found
two sides to the question There might be
wrong in the NATTER but he believed the good
had ovcrbalanccd the evil.
Mr.. Clay said if he had used harsh lam
guage it was fully Justified 10y the constitu-
cnts of the Senator tom Maine When the
law of 792 was brought forward, it was con-
dcmnod 10y Mr. Jefferson in report as UNI
constitutional, and ho Mr. Clay would, at a
future time show how the passage of the law
was effected.
He could not be just or generous towards
tyranny, and he knew of no greater tyranny
than taking the money out of the pockets of
one class and puttingi into the pockets of
another class, not n consideration of any
public service, but mciely for doing their own
business.
The bill was then referred to the Commit
tee on Commerce
The bill to cstablisha naval depot at Bruins
wick Ga, was discussed for two hours, but
without coming to any conclusion upon it, the
Senate adjourned.
HoUsE.--The bill extending the Land
Laws to the lands lying east of the Cascade
Mountains, was passed.
The House then took up the adverse report
on the petition of the Inhabitants Of Arizona,
praying for the establishment of territorial
government: and other business, in accord
ancc with the special order, relative to Terri
tories
llills we've f.----4- ss1 '.sfn-, '7oo,0U0- nor
Penitentiary at Nebraska, establishing three
additional land distric' in that Territory, and
for completing and OPP sing roads in Oregon,
Washington and Minnesota Territories.
Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY,, Jan. 81
NTr To- al
ator from Missouri, in place Of Mr. Atchison,
appeared, and was qualified
Mr.. Seward presented petition from the
| Geographical Society of the city Of New
/ York, protesting against the coinage Of three
| dollar and three cent pieces, and PRAYING that
/ none but decimal coins may be issued from
the Mint Referred TO the Committee on
/ Finance.
The Sub-Marne Telegraph bill was then
/ taken up.
Mr.. Hunter thought the bill required some
amendment, as it left the whole matter to the
/ discretion of the President. He was in ia
yor of inserting some limitation in the bill as
he feared the United States might 90 beyond
| what was originally designed unless this pre-
caution was taken.
Mr. Collamer replied, there was this limita-
]
company no more aid .han was afforded by
the British governments
Mr. Hunter contended that such project
should be carried out by private company.
If the government desired to send messages
over the line it should pay for them, just as
private citizen would, and no more.
Mr. Collamer stated that the Company de-
sired to have some kind of security, before
/ they hazarded such an immese outlay. All
that was now proposed was, that this govern
ment should put itself upon the same terms
as the British government
Mr.. BENJAMIN suggested that this bill did
not limit this government to the same aid
that the British government had already af-
forded, but to what they might afford in flu
| turo, which was very indefinite.
Mr.. Seward moved to amend the bill, to
obyiate objections with the provso-that the
contract to be made by the British govern
ment shall not be different from that already
/ proposed by that government to the New
York and Newfoundland Telegraph Com
/ pany.
Mr. Stewards amendment was adopted
Mr. Hunter remarked that both termini of
the line were within British dominions. and
he would like to know what guaranty we
would have in time of wa that we could then