The New York herald., 1868-05-08
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

-
- WASHINGTON May T. 1868.
In the opening prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. Mr..
Boynton, he alluded to the impeachment question in
the following terms:- .,,.
Draw near to the Senators OF the Cnited States.
Give them due sense OF the solemn responsibility
resting on them May they feel inclined to ask God
Tor wisdom. Give them clear perception OF
sound and unbiased judgments courage and incli-
nation to decide for the right Thou shalt reveal it
unto them. And through the issue of that solemn
question may the country have rest peace and pros.
perity again.
CORRECTION OF fnE JOURNAL.
Mr. FARNswoRrH, (rep.) OF H.. rose to correction
of the journal The resolutions presented yesterday
by Mr.. Beck were described on the journal as reso.
luton OF the Central Committee Of the State of South
Carolina whereas they should be described as reso.
iutons OF the Democratic Central Committee OF
South Carolina. = -
Mr.. BECK, (dem.) OF KY, remarked that they were
not SO styled in the papers, but the fact was stated
by Mr.. Farnsworth
The journal was amended accordingly
EXPENSES OF RECONSTRUCTION.
Mr.. WAsHBURNE, (rep.) OF ILL.,, presented estimates
nom the War Department in reference to deficiency
o 100 f9T the of
printed and referred to the Committee on Appropria
tons.
MORE WORK FOR THE PRINTER.
Mr.. LAFLlN (rep.) OF N. y, from the Committee on
Printing, reported resolution for printing five hun
stutions and five thousand extra copies of the re-
port Of the Committee on Freedmen's Affairs, 1900
copies OF the report OF j. n Taylor on the mineral
resources Of the country east Of the Rocky Noun
tains, to be bound with ]. Ross Browns report
which was adopted.
PROTECTION OF AMERICAN FISHERMEN IN THE GULF
OF ST. LAWRENCE.
Mr.. PIKE, (rep) OF Me-, from the Committee on
Naval Affairs, reported joint resolution requesting
the President of the United States to send sufficient
number Of vessels of war to the fishing grounds in
the Gulf of st. Lawrence adjacent to the British
vessels in the exercise OF their rights as recognized
in the treaty OF 1so3 outside Of one marine league Of
linda Tho
that valuable, valuable property in ,sa,ippng shall mo not
Snc tights n ne aescS nns spoands
that whatever punishment for trespass is inflicted
shall be IN m proportion to the pRSecunay injury
explain and advocate the resolution. He stated; in
the OF his remarks that the government of the
Dominion of Canada was proposing to impose tax
Of "a ton on American fishing vessels and to send
vessels Of war to enforce that tax. 1t therefore,
proper that the American government should send
vessels of war there to protect American interests
Mr.: BENJAMIN, lrep.l of Mo-, inquired whether the
President had not that authority aready'
Mr.. PIKE said he had, and this was but request
for him to use 1t.
Mr.. BENJAMIN inquired whether that should be
ready.
Mr. PIKE replied that it was, because. it would not
be done unless Congress requested it.
Mr.. BENJAMIN inquired why the President should
not be directed instead Of requested?
Mr. PIKE replied that it was because Congress
that the third article OF the Treaty of Paris recog
nzed certain rights OF American fishermen to iish
where they had been accustomed to exercise those
rights till the Convention OF 1918; that at that Con-
vention the American government, for certain rea-
sons, yielded the right to fish within three miles of
certain coasts, and that the question whether that
limit OF three miles should be from headland to
headand as contended for by the Provincial
authorities, should follow the indentations OF the
coast, as contended for by the American ii3hermen
MI WAsHBURNE, of Ill., remarked that this was
for 1t certainly implied that if the government should
get into difficulty on the subject 1t might be
very seElops one. The last part Of the reso-
Should be allowed than was proportionate to
the pecuniary damages occasoned. Who was
to be the Judge OF thatg To whom was that great
power to be cOnhded? These were questions wnch
should be very carefully considered before such
resolution was passed. lie doubted very much the
proprety OF passing it without knowing more on the
Mr.. CHANLER, tdem.) of n. Y, opposed the resolu.
ton. The fishing along the coast OF New England
and had fallen into the hands Of monoposts who,
by organizing large steam vessels, were absorbing
tile fishing interests. That was the case around Cape
Cod and It extended also to the Gulf of ST. Lawrence.
This resolution, therefore, was intended to protect
peared be to give increased value to those small
iron-clad vessels which the government had been
selling, and make 1t necessary to repgrchase them.
In support OF the resolution. 1t was simply that
American fishermen in those waters should have fair
be no trouble arising out Of It, The President did
propose to interfere unless there some express
the usual course adopted by Great Britain and other
nations to protect the interests Of their citizens
Mr.. WAsHBuRNE, OF Ill., inquired what tribunal
was to decide on the amount Of pecuniary damage
Mr.. BUTLER replied that when an American vessel
was carried in by the provincial authorities there
would be naval officer representing the United
States, and that when an American vessel-of-war
would sec colonial cutter coming up to carry In
three miles Of the shore the American oficer would
say, "You cannot take that vessel for conscaton;
WIZ accompany you in ana be responsible for her
Ia m arc ny xtlnf fvxvrnv 10 diana
Mr.. BENJAMIN expressed the opinion that il would
be inexpedient to pass the resolution. II neces-
the fishing banks the authority was ample
In the President to do it, If the Presi-
direct 1t TO be done, instead OF simply requesting
him. The effect OF passing the resolution would
simply be to allow the Secretary OF the Navy If any
difficulty grew out Of it, to shield himself behind the
Mr.. PIKE made some further observations on the
subject of the resolution In the course of them he
said the small fishermen cannot fight the anthorfv
OF Great Britain. The American government should
do it. War; Who Is afraid Of warY The resolution
asks nothing but that your own laws shall be en-.
forced. Are you afraid to enforce hemf Ii you are
hope you viii vote down the resolution.
MIR. Chanler desired 10 make some remarks in re.
sponsc to Mr. Pike but the latter gentleman declined
to yield the floor for that purpose and moved the
previous question.
Mr.. FARNswOGrH asked Mr.. Pike whether ne
thought it fair TO force through the House with half
an hours debate resolution which involved the
constitution Of treaties and might involve the coun-
try in war;
Mr.. LAWRENCE, (rep.) Of Ohio, asked Mr. Pike
whether the resolution had been considered by the
Committee On Foreign AfIairsf
Mr. PIRE-It had not.
Mr.. LAwRENcE-The resolution undoubtedly in.
wolves foreign relations and 1t seems to me that
the subject Is OF sufficient importance to be con-
sidered by the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
dr. PIKE-And in that way the resolution would
be killed.
Mr. wAsHBuRYE OF nl.-why SOP
Mr.. PIKE-Because the Committee on Foreign AZ
fairs could not report IT,
Mr.. WAsuDuRNE-Why not?
Mr.. PfKE-Because II cannot be reached for n long
time, and the Committee has other important maj,
ters on hand.
Mr.. SCoFIELD, (rep.) OF Pa-How long has this
wrong existed which the gentleman from Maine asks
US TO right in five mnutes2
Mr.. PIKE-The Reciprocity treaty was repealed in
1865. The Provinces imposed duty then on Ameri.
can fishing vessels OF half q dollar ton, and now
the government OF ottawa Is proposing bill-which
Is perhaps already passed-imposing duty Of four
dollars ton.
Mr.. SpALDING, trep.) Of Ohio inquired whether the
resolution might not be 50 modified as to omit the
latter portion OF It, and simply direct vessels to be