265 



the land we have before mentioned, including the intejior of the hays and 

 the indents of the coast. ' 



"It is this construction of the intent and meaning of the convention 

 of 1818 for which the colonies have contended since 1841, and which 

 they have desired should be enforced. This the English government 

 has now, it would appear, consented to do, and the immediate effect 

 will be the loss of the valuable fall fishing to American fishermen ; a 

 complete interruption of the extensive fishing business of New Eng- 

 land, attended by constant collisions of the most unpleasant and exci- 

 ting character, which may end in the destruction of human life, in 

 the involvement of the government in questions of a very serious 

 nature, threatening the peace of the two countries. Not agreeing that 

 the construction thus put upon the treaty is conformable to the inten- 

 tions of the contracting parties, this information is, however, made 

 public to the end that those concerned in the American fisheries may 

 perceive how the case at present stands, and be upon their guard. 

 The whole subject will engage the immediate attention of the gov- 

 ernment. 



"DANIEL WEBSTER, 



" Secretary of Stated 



This paper atti-acted immediate and universal attention. On the 

 23d of July Mr. Mason, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Rela- 

 tions, oflisred a resolution in the Senate of the United States, requesting 

 the President to communicate to that body, " if not incompatible with 

 the public interest, all correspondence on file in the executive depart- 

 ment, with the government of England or the diplomatic representa- 

 tive, since the convention between the United Stales and Great Britain 

 of October 20, 1818, touching the fisheries on the coast of British 

 possessions in North America, and the rights of citizens of the United 

 States engaged in such fisheries secured by the said convention; 

 and that the President be also requested to inform the Senate whether 

 any of the naval forces of the United States have been ordered to the 

 seas adjacent to the British possessions of North America, to protect 

 the rights of American fishermen, under the convention, since the 

 receipt of the intelligence that a large and unusual British naval force 

 has been ordered there to enforce certain alles^ed rio^hts of Great 

 Britain under said convention. " 



This resolution was agreed to unanimously. The debate which 

 preceded its passage was highly animated. Mr. Mason is reported to 

 have said, that " he had thought it his duty, considering the present aspect 

 of affairs, so far as they are communicated to us by the public journals, 

 to submit this resolution, and ask that it be considered immediately. 

 We are informed, (he said,) unofficially, but yet in a manner clearly indi- 

 cating that it is correct, that the British government has recently asserted 

 rights under the convention of 1818 in relation to the fisheries of the 

 North, which, w^hether they exist or not, they suffered from 1818 to 

 1841 ; and when the question was moved as to the respective rights of 

 British subjects and American citizens under the treaty of 1818, they stiU 

 suffered to remain in statu quo. The British government knew well that 

 very large and important interests are embarked by citizens of the United 



