Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-05-15
Fortieth Congress.

Fortieth Congress.
SECOND SESSION.
WASHINGTON, May 9TH.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Wnshburne of Illinois presented
climates from the War Department in
reference to the deficiency OF SS7'Oo0 for
administration of reconstruction acts III the
Third Military District. Ordered to be
printed and referred to the Committee on
Rec.nstruc ion.
! Mr.. Pike. FROM the Committee on Naval
| Afairs reported IL .jnint resolution request
lug the President of the United States to
send IL sufficient number Of vessels of war
to the ii ,hiug grounds IN the & Gnlf OF st.
Lawrence, adjacent to the British possess
ions. for the pnrposr OF protecting Ameri
can vessels in the exercise of their rights,
as recognized in the treaty of 1893. out
sid. of one marine league of the shore
linr it folows the intention of the coast,
and also for the purpose of taking care
that the valuable property in fishing shall
not be cri!iseat-d for alleged intractions
of Pro, incial rights on the fishing grounds;
and that whatever punishment tor trespass
is inflicted shall be in proportion to The
pecumary injury occasinned by the offence
Mr.. Pike proceeded to explain and ad-
.octte the rcsnafion. lie stated IN the
course OF his remarks. that the Govern
,urnt If the d, iinon ut Canada were
pfupnsins 10 inp,se il tax ot 81 ton on
American tisilin. vessels and to send ves
srl. of War TO enforce that tax; therefore
i. was proper that the \ Am-rican Govtra
ncnt siiO ii.l send vessels of war to protect
American interests.
A lar q running debate ensned on the
resolution.
Mr.. Rrnj,min inquired whether the
President had not that thoritv already.
Mr.. Pike s.ul he had, aad this was but
II request for hm to use it.
Nc. Pike went on to explain that the
third article of the treaty OF = - recos
uizrd certain rights OF Amrric II Goy, r'l-
,irnt for certain reasons yielded sle fiSi'S
of American ii4hrr'n,n to fish where they
!ila been accus.n nrd to exercise those
rights,lll the Convention OF 1918. Ihat
at that Convention the Amrrican Govern
ment for certain reasons yie,drd the right
to fish within three miles of certain coasts,
and ,has the question was whether taat
limit of three miles should be from head
land to hcadland. hS contended Tor hv inc
Provincial authorities, or should follow
the imIcntations Of the coast us c0ntendrd
for by the American fishermen.
Mr. Washburne of Illinois remarked
that this was one Of those matters that
should be fully considered, for it certainly
implied thatit the Government should get
into diff :ulty on tn su j 'ct it might be a
serious one. The last part of the resoln-
| tion provided that no greater punishment
should be allowed than was roporti"nate
to the pecuniary damages nccas'onea'-
Who was to be the Judge of that, to whom
was that great pow to be c"nhaeu
These were questions which should be very
carefully considered before such reso'u-
ton was passed. He doubted very much
the propricty Of passing it without know
| ing more on the subject
Mr.. Chanler opposed the resolution
The fishing along the coast OF New EhS'aha
had ceased to be in the hands of tishertnen
and had fallen into the hands OF monoPo-
lists. who by organizing large steam ves
sells were absorbing the fishing interests;
That was the case around Cape Cod, and
it extended also to the Gulf OF st. Law
rcace. This resolution therefore was in-
tended to protect such fishing monopoles
Another object to & iye increased val
ne to those small iron clad vessels which
tire Government hal been selling, anu
make it necessary to re purchase them
Mr.. Butler spoke five minutes IN support
Of the resolution. 1t was simply tat
American fishermen in those waters should
have fair play hut it was not declaration
of war; there would be no trouble arising
out of it, The President did not propose
to Interfere unless there was SON. express
ion of opinion on the paN OF C"aeress, IL
was but the usual cnurse adopted by Great
Britain aud other nations to protect the
interests OF their citizens.
| Mr.. Washhurne, of Illinois, inquired
what tribunal was to decide on the amount
Of pecnniary damages.
Mr.. Butler replied that when an Ameri-
can vessel was carried in by the provision
Al authorities there would he a naval 9TH
Ger representing the United States, and
when an American vessel Of War ana a
colonial cutter coming up to carry 10 ilsh-
ing vessel because she has caught fl 'h with
in three miles of the shore. the American
officer would sly. you cannot take that
vessel for canfseation; will accompany
YOU in and he responsible for her damage
or what wrong has been done.
Mr.. Benjamin expressed the opinion tha'
it would be inexpedient to pass the resou-
ton; if a necessity exists for sendin, more
naval vessels to the fishing bnks, the au
,hori,y was ample to do it; if the Presi
dent refused to 10 it, Congress should ny
law. direct it to he do le instead of request
Inv him: the fleet of passing the re'olu
tim wonll simply he tn allow the Secretary
Of the Navy. if any difficulty grew out OF
Iit. to shield himself behind the resou
tiOn.
tions on the subject Of the resolution n
,hc course of them he said: The small
fishermen cannot fight the authority OF
Great B,itaiu; the American Government
shoull do it. War, who is afraid OF war
The resolution asks nothing but that oul
laws shall be enforced; are You afraid t.
rnlnrce tn M If you are hope yon VII
yote down the resolution. Mr.. Pike final
" mov ed the previous question.
" Mr.. spauldipg moved an amendment t'