Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-22

alisy the anlmoslties OF these contiguous peoples
Sir, believe to-day that the sentiment Of the author
ties 10 the British provinces for ng their duty 10
regard to this country regret much any body the
things that have occurred feel indignant any body
and have felt for long times but think the time has
gone by for TO get angry without The time was
when could have got mad with grace and dignity and
it when the insolent demand was made by Great Br
tain upon nsoent manner for the surrender OF
Mason and Sidell. Then we could have stood before
and EARTH and ought to have stood there That
my opinion then, it is my opinion now Great Britain
demanded the surrender of Mason and Sde and in the
same breath which she made the demand she sent her
troops in threatening aspect into her provinces here
ready to back by force of the demand which she
had made We ought to have resisted that and ought
to have resisted the for the in which it
made If we had etood up then should have had with
US the sympathies of the civilized world.
Mr., President let say any thing lightly that will
tendency to provoke between these two great
countries let aud no body of mon do any thing
lightly that shall have tendency disturb the relations
of peace between this country and Great Britain should
look upon it of the greatest calamtes that could
befall the civilized world But sir we are now at war,
in the desperate contingencies OF naOnsl life or
death and say that if national life cannot DO preserved
with national honor then national deaths the loss OF
national honor be retrieved say therefore,
We should not hastily, by any words of debate say
any thing which shall have tendency to excite such feel
ing and to provoke such result / believe that by wise
counses and by prudent and by firm counsels do
every thing that the emergencies of the time require
hope that in such hour and such time as this while
take counsel of that patriotic Indignation which burns
every American breast at this great outrage, will
still take counsel of prudence well frmuess be-
eve that this feeling of Indignation at the treatment we
have received from Canada although unofficial s not
fined to this country; believe it is the universal express
sou of the public mind of the best classes and of the lead
ing classes in the Canadas and hope, to the least
that this Government the Senate any official OF this
Government will not commit itself to any action until
have heard from the Imperial Government and what
they the other side of the water in regard to the
wrongs that have been inflicted upon u.s. Let us not put
ourselves in any position that be construed offensive
to Great Britain until we know how Great Britain herself
looks upon the transaction Of which We complain.
Mr.. FAREWELL. did not propose to take any part in
this discussion but az the Senator from New Hampshire
has called upon will state Tor the information of that
Senator and Of the Senate that my impression ia that the
fishermen of New England would DO well content to
have the reciprocity treaty repealed. To be the
ciprocity treaty gives them privileges which were
denied them under former treaties for instance the prv
ege OF fishing within three miles of the coast OF The pro-
vnces but upon the other hand the duty salt which
fishermen have to pay at this time very heavy Salt
coats board fishing vessels this year dollar bushe
Then they obliged to go the cosst of the provinces
TO get their fares Of fish with considerable loss of time
and expense The provincial fishermen put their salt
about onethd the cost of ours they out from
own harbors upon the coast and catch their fares
fish they bring hem duty free into marketto compete
with fishermen Therefore think that our fishermen
would be the last to complain OF the repeal of the
ciprocliy treaty.
Mr. SUMNER having sent TO the library and obtained
Gen. Hsllecks book international law be read there
from the words OF Mr. Philmore the English authority
sad the opposite opinions of Gen. Haleck, which had
III
jet in doing simply to call attention to the words
OF this learned writer without himself expressing any
opinion upon the point in question.
Mr.. JOHNSON. Mr.. President, as supposed the fact
to be- from recollection authority is cited by Hsllsck
10 support OF his criticism Phimore And, in truth
it will be that be differs with Phimore to the
character Of the right rather than to the right ITSELF
its proper designation rather than its existence Phl
considers it peaceful remedy peaceful right
Of which the Government whose territory is invaded
not Justly complain. Gen. Halleck considers it bell-
he rich be
just subec of complaint Whether therefore, it be called
beigerent right peaceful right perfectly imms
terIaL All that maintained and all that Gen. DIX EVIL
IDENTIFY thought when he issued bis order, that there
existed right in the United States to taAe the
which he directed his officers to take.
word in relation TO what fell from the honorable
member from New Hampshire, (Mr HALE 1t is very
desirable, Of course, that while we are determined TO
exact justice of all nations should that
doing injustice ourselves IN the particular of which
may complain. The honorable member says that our
Government wrong i'll surrenderiog Slde and Mason
Perhaps The general tenment Of the people OF the United
states ct that time in accordance with that opinion
He tuppoSes that the surrender was not justified that
England had right to demand it, because had been
before With her Of 1872 the habit of taking
from the protection Of flag those whom she
claimed to allegiance TO her. Ii is true that she made
such claim and acted upon it, but admitted it
the contrary from The fret denied it, and finally we
went to because Of and although the asserted
not formally surrendered by her the termination OF
that war; yet point OF fact shs has since exercised
it. IL is indeed ss ehectualy exlinguhed if it had
Deen EcuOuuCtu tue HONORABLE mem
Der will fnd, If he will read the correspondence that
passed between and tho United States 10 relation
TO her assorted right that the fixed opinion OF the
American people and Government that such right
entirely without foundation
word 1t has been and again asserted
by the press and by many of public men, that England
did great wrong in recognising the Confederate Gov
eminent at alias an existing government and such
titled TO begerent rights that she did this too speedily
Now should remember that the doctrine is perfectly
we'll settled with that, 10 the Of civil revolution,
tha haTn the
having government in fact and evincing determination
maintain it intact aud apparently ability to maintain
it, its stence is 10 be admitted by all foreign nations
and s the consequent begerent rights recognised. We
did il the Of South America We have done it,
aud are doing it, the Precedent tells us in his NEE
sage 10 much recent instance. Msxamilan put
upon the throne attempted to be put upon the throne
OF Mexico by Napoleon, and civil wagng between
him and the former republic the President tells that be
recognises and observes strict neutrality between the two
This precisely what England has done in our civil war
and it done at the earliest moment too by US Now,
submit that under all the circumstances can we Justly
complain that England acted too speedily We should
/ not forget what we have done ourselves.
But what have done in war This instruction
began In April 1861 In July, 1861 the Congress Of the
United States by legislation recognised the existence Of
the war and the Supreme Court ia their decision in the
prize at December term 1862 relied upon that act
as conclusive that the Confederate Government was
Government de acto and that had the right to pro-
coed against by embargo by blockade any other
way known the laws Of nations the that we would
have against foreign nation with whom might any
time be at And from that day TO this, and indeed
before the 18th Of July, 1861 when your first act
was passed. have recognised the Confederate Govern
a Government de factO giving for the time be-