269 



tion of the pursuits of our citizens, which had been carried on more 

 than thirty years, without interruption or molestation, can hardly be 

 justified by any principle or consideration ^vhatever. It is now more 

 than thirty years that they have pursued the fisheries in the same waters 

 and on the same coast, in which, and along which, notice has now come 

 that they shall be no longer allowed these privileges. Now, such a 

 thing cannot be justified without previous notice having been given. A 

 mere indulgence of long continuance, even if the privilege were hut an 

 indulgence, cannot be withdrawn at this season of the year, when our 

 people, according to the custom, have engaged in the business, without 

 notice — without just and seasonable notice. 



"I cannot but think the late despatches from the colonial office had 

 not attracted, to a sufficient degree, the attention of the principal min- 

 ister of the crown ; for I see matter in them quite inconsistent with the 

 arrangement made in 1845 by the Earl of Aberdeen and Edward Ever- 

 ett. At that time, the Earl of Derb}'', the present fh'st minister, was 

 colonial secretary. It could not well have taken place without his 

 knowledge, and, in fact, without his concurrence and sanction. I can- 

 not but think, therefore, that its being overlooked is an inadvertence. 



"The treaty of 1818 was made with the crown of England. If a 

 fishing vessel is captured by one of her vessels of war, and carried to a 

 British port for adjudication, the crown of England is answerable ; and 

 then we know whom we have to deal with. But it is not to be expect- 

 ed that the United States will submit their rights to be adjudicated upon 

 in the petty tribunals o^ t\ie p-oviiices ; or that we shall allow our vessels 

 to be seized on by constables, or other petty officers, and condemned by 

 the municipal courts of Quebec and Newfoundland, New Brunswick or 

 Canada. No, no, no! (Great cheering.) 



" Further than this, gentlemen, I do not think it expedient to remark 

 upon this topic at present. But you may be assured, it is a subject 

 upon which no one sleeps at Wasliington. I regret that the state of 

 my health caused my absence from Washington when the news came 

 of this sudden change in the interpretation of the treaties." 



The President answered the resolution of the Senate on the 5th of 

 August, and, in transmitting the documents* requested by that body, he 

 observed that the steam-frigate Mississippi, Commodore M. C. Perr}^, 

 had been despatched to the coasts of the British possessions " for the 

 purpose of protecting the rights of American fishermen under the con- 

 vention of 1818." These documents were speedily published. Many 

 of them are of great value. Soon after their publication, debates upon 

 the subject of the fisheries were renewed. Our limits allow us to notice 

 the speech of Mr. Seward alone, delivered on the 14th of August. 



He is supposed to have expressed the views of the government, or to 

 have made authorized explanations, upon several important points which 

 he discussed. To correct whatever misapprehension existed relative to 

 the British naval force on the fishing grounds, he said: 



"Let us now see what force it is that has been sent into the field of 

 the dispute. There is the Buzzard, a steamer of six guns, and the Ber- 

 muda, a schooner of three guns, sent to the straits of Belleisle and on 



* Executive Document No. 100. 



