8 



America, as sufficiently secured by the possession of 

 them, which had always been enjoyed by them previ 

 ous to the Revolution, and by the recognition of them, 

 in the Treaty of Peace, in 1783.&quot; Mr, Adams, also 

 contended, for the non-abrogation of the Treaty of 

 Peace, in 1783, by the war of 1812, and the right of 

 fishing as being co-equal to, and co-existent with the 

 right to independence, and that it could not be surren 

 dered, without a virtual surrender of independence, &c. 



He then says, &quot; There were also considerations of 

 policy and expediency, to which I hoped, they would 

 give suitable attention, before they should come to a 

 final decision on this point. I thought it my duty to 

 suggest them, that they might not be overlooked. The 

 subject was viewed by my countrymen, as highly im 

 portant, and I was anxious to omit no effort, which 

 might, possibly, have an influence in promoting friendly 

 sentiments, between the two nations, or in guarding 

 against the excitement of others. These fisheries 

 afforded the means of subsistence, to multitudes, of 

 people, who were destitute of any other. They also 

 &ffarded the means of remittance to Great Britain, 

 in payment FOR ARTICLES OF HER MANUFACTURES, 

 EXPORTED TO AMERICA. It was well understood to 

 be the policy of Great Britain, that no unnecessary 

 stimulus, should be given to the manufactures of the 

 United States, which would diminish the importation 

 from those of Great Britain. But by depriving the 

 fishermen of the United States, of this source of subsis* 

 temce&amp;gt; the result must be, to throw them back upon the 

 tmmtry, and drive them to resort to manufacturing 

 for themselves, while on the other hand, it would cut 

 off the means of making remittances in payment for 

 the manufactures of Great Britain&quot; 



Mr. Adams, also urged upon the British minister, 

 considerations of humanity, such as the multiplication of 

 the means of subsistence by the fisheries, and adverted 

 to the indulgence granted to the Dutch, who were per- 

 mitted even in a time of war, to fish upon the coasts of 

 the island of Great Britain, and inferring from the 



