Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-05-28
The Fisheries senator Bamlin's
Speech

following synopsis OF Senator llamlin's
speech on the Fisheries. The South strike
at the fisheries as an in,crc., in which New
England il alone interested. This able
speech shows conclusiyely the Importance OF
the fisheries as National Institution and
the authorize. ritcd prove that some Of the
most gallant achievements OF our Navy have
been accomplished by vessels manned by
New England fishermen.
"In opening hi, reply to Mr.. Clay, Mr..
lIamlin declared that the relations Of the
fisheries 20 the commercial and naval pros.
perity Of the country were intimate and i'm.
ror,aut Though the scene Of them was
Local, they were national in their Importance
-iully as much - as the sugar cane fields
Of Louisiana which the government, protect
el by it, revenue laws. All countries from
IN" earliest periods, had relied on their fish
cris- as a nursery cor scAmcn TO supply both
their commerce and their navy.
d" IL regard to the bounty laws being in
tended a. drawback upon the duty Of salt,
Mr. lIamlin admitted that such might have
been the case at tr-i. bu, denied tina, the
.y,isr which exist. to-day aas any eonncc.
tom with duiic. or drawbacks upon ALT.
The la., law On the subject, passed in 1913,
gave the allowance expressly asa bounty
and regulated i, according 70 the sire u the
vessel, and the sane bill granted draw.
back Al.o. The bounty was in no way de.
pendent On the amount Of sal, used. on the
duty imposed on ,ha; article. The speaker
agreed with Mr.. Clay thA, it is not the
policy Of government TO pay a dircc, bounty
on every branch Of industry. Bat It there
were peculiar reason. which made any elias.
Of the industry Of the country deserving Of
special proteciion-he was rraiy 20 examine
the question out Of the general rule.
"Mr llamlin proceeded to show that f-om
the period Of the revelation the question Of
The fisheries had been vital one They had
been the subject Of long contests between
France and England on account Of their i'm.
rortance a. school. Tor sc,mcn. Mr. Ou,
had declared that they formed one Of the
main Gauss II the revolutionary war. and
thu. assertion WAS confirmed by a citation Of
historical fact. The frrc enpym.n, fthcm
hy tia. country was made an uliimatum OF
pace a, the clos, OF the war In thr neso-
ta,,uu. consequent On the war Of lsl2 the
British pretended that our right To the fish
erie. had become forfeited by the war, bot
the .uhrc, was no, even allowed to hc dis
eas,ri. On this point our Ministers were
ina.Hiblc.
MIR. llAmln entered into detailed state
mrni. 10 show the importance and efficiency
OF the scamen educated ia these fisheries, IN
all our naval conflicts. lie read letters from
Commodore Stewart aud Shubrick, 10 show
tho high estimate they 81; upon these men
whom Mr. Clay had declared TO be unfit for
regular ssamen. lie denied tia, the bountir-
bad proved failure when conferred by
England, France and Holland, quoting au.
thori,i,s to prove the estimation in which
these governments naye always held the
fisheries.
"a large proportion Of our 'eamen in the
navy are foreigners, and We oueh, not to he
deprnicn, on such in case Of war. We
should 30 all We can TO supply their places
with American citizens. The same was the
case with the commercial marine. But
those engaged in the fisheries were American
citizens IN the best sense OF the term. They
remain aud reside a, home; they have homc-.
They fish Tor some eight or nine months IN
the year, though the law only requires four
months fishing to obtain the bounty {; ard
then they return to spend III, remaining
three or four months with their families.
Their number was not TO be estimated mere
ly by those actually engaged on board the
fishing vessels to-day. lie had not the
''ishte'' doubt that there are MY thousand
ahle-bOaied seamen for the naval service IN
the States Of Maine and Massachusetts, THIS
day, who have been trained in the fisheries.
II 'eamCn could be educated cheaper !" any
other way he was In favor OF rep''I'"s inc
b'an''e'' but no d,d not ''''c's '"'' SOu,'
o. "'e'npn''eu' 10 Vo""'y "'' ~
eu' the n'ner''s "O''' 'n''" ~