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THE UNITED STATES. 

 From the Declaration of Independence to tie year 1S52. 



We open upon a new era. Every fact and circamstance known to 

 the whigs of the Revolution indicated that, at the close of the contest, 

 England was prepared to insist that, as one of the penalties of "rebel- 

 lion," the interdictions of Lord North's bill should be perpetual. We 

 had fought for, had won, and had enjoyed the fishing grounds as British 

 subjects. As tliese grounds were east of the easterly boundary of the 

 thirteen colonies, and within the possessions acquired of France, they 

 were not of necessity connected with the question of independence. 

 Yet many of the prominent whigs of New England considered the fisli- 

 eries so intimately connected with our commercial prosperity and suc- 

 cess in maritime affairs, as to determine that our rights should be dis- 

 tinctly recognised and stipulated in the treaty of peace. 



Though finally successful, these statesmen were doomed to encounter 

 serious obslacles; for, to allow that their suspicion that France secretly 

 gave countenance to the views of England was unfounded, they were 

 still opposed by the representations and infiuence of the leading loyal- 

 ists, or "tories," who, during the war, tied to the mother country; and 

 were compelled, besides, to meet the arguments of the whigs of the 

 South, who having no particular knowledge of, or interest in, the sub- 

 ject, were never able to understand the importance attached to it. 



Having stated, in another connexion, that a plan was submitted to 

 the French court, previous to the treaty of alliance of 1778, to conquer 

 Newfoundland, Canada, and Nova Scotia, wilh the design of dividing 

 these colonies between France and the United States, and thus, as tl)e 

 projectors considered, to ruin the British fisheries, and, of direct conse- 

 quence, the British marine, and that the measure was submitted to 

 Washington, was disapproved by him, and finally abandoned, we pass 

 to nittice the course of Congress, and of their ministers abroad, subse- 

 quently, and to the conclusion of the treaty with Great Britain in 1783, 

 by which our independence was secured and acknowledged. 



Whoever examines the records of Congress will find that between 

 February and August, 1779, the various questions connected with the 

 fisheries were matters of the most earnest and continued debates, and 

 of the most anxious solicitude. During the discussions upon a prop- 

 osition to open a negotiation for peace, Mr. Geiry introduced the fol- 

 lowing resolutions. First: "That it is essential to the welfare of these 

 United States that the inhabitants thereof, at the expiration of the war, 

 should continue to enjoy thefiee and undisturbed exercise of their com- 

 mon right to fish on the Banks of Newfoundland, and the other fishing 

 banks and seas ot North America, preserving inviolate the treaties 

 between France and the said States." Second: "That an explana- 

 tory article be prepared and sent to our minister plenipotentiary at the 

 court of Versailles, to be by him presented to his Most Christian Majesty, 

 whereby the said common right to the fisheries shall be more explicitly 

 guarantied to the inhabitants of these States than it already is by the 

 treaties aforesaid." Third: "That in the treaty of peace with Great 



