267 



insult to the nation. I have no fears, Mr. President, that war is to 

 follow the apparent colhsion which has taken place between the two 

 governments. I confess I feel deeply the indignity that has been put 

 upon the American people in the ordering of the British squadron into 

 those seas without notice ; and if I read the feelings of our people aright, 

 they will demand that a like force shall be instantly sent there in order 

 that the rights of our people may be protected. 



" Sir, I do not profess the power to construe the purposes on the part 

 of the British government. I was very much impressed by a despatch 

 which I saw in one of the late papers, but which unfortunately 1 have 

 not at hand. Within the last few days a despatch has been received 

 from the foreign office of Great Britain to the colonial office, advising 

 it of this movement, and advising that it was one requiring celerity and 

 despatch, and requiring that measures should be taken by the colonial 

 office to procure concert between the British naval forces and the 

 colonial authorities. The reason assigned was, that this measure was 

 taken on the part of Great Britain as preliminary to certain negotia- 

 tions. Now, what does this mean? I know not what these negotia- 

 tions are ; but if it means anything, it means that we are to negotiate 

 under duresse. 



"Aye, sir, at this day this great people, covering a continent number- 

 ing thirty millions, are to negotiate with a foreign fleet on our coast. I 

 know not what the President has done, but I claim to know what the 

 American people expect of him. 1 know that if he has done his duty, 

 the reply to this resolution of inquiry will be — I have ordered the 

 whole naval force of the country into those seas, to protect the rights 

 of American fishermen against British cruisers! I hope it will be the 

 pleasure of the Senate to consider the resolution immediately." 



Several senators followed Mr. Mason, and spoke in similar terms. 



" Mr. Hamlin agieed to every word uttered by the chairman of the 

 Committee on Foreign Relations, and he was grateful to the senator for 

 having introduced the resolution. What the object of the British arma- 

 ment sent to the fishing shores was, he could not say ; but that it had 

 some ulterior object, was certain. It had been whispered that it was 

 connected with certain negotiations with respect to a reciprocity trade 

 with the colonies. If this were so, it was nothing more nor less than 

 to compel the United States to legislate under duresse, and to this he, 

 for one, was unwilling to submit. 



"Mr. Cass gave his full concurrence to all that had fallen from Mr. 

 Mason, and he heartily approved of the resolution. He was gratified 

 at hearing that senator's remarks, which were equally statesmanlike 

 and patriotic. He had never before heard of such proceeding as that 

 now adopted by England. No matter what the object of the force was, 

 there was one thing certain — the American people would not submit to 

 surrender their rights. This treaty was now over thirty years old, and 

 it recognised clearly the right of Americans to fish within three miles of 

 any shore. This had been conceded for thirty years. If there was 

 any doubt about it, it could be settled by negotiations. 



"Mr. Pratt said this appeared to him more hkely to result in war than 

 did the late difficulty. The English government has decided upon a 

 ti'eaty construction. England don't want to negotiate, for she has sent 



