8 COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



On the 24th June, the first of these resolutions was adopted by 

 Congress. Various amendments were proposed, but no one suggested 

 the expansion of the words " fishing banks and seas " so as to include 

 either coasts or bays. (App., p. 17.) 



On the 1st July, the second of Mr. Gerry's resolutions was 

 adopted. (App., p. 18.) 



Instead of Mr. Gerry's fourth resolution, Congress, com- 

 11 mencing a series of disclaimers of any right to British coast- 

 fisheries, adopted (22nd July) the following resolution (App.. 

 p. 18) : 



That the faith of Congress be pledged to the several states, that 

 without their unanimous consent, no treaty of commerce shall be 

 entered into, or any trade or commerce whatever carried on with 

 Great Britain, without an explicit stipulation on her part not to 

 molest or disturb the inhabitants of the United States of America 

 in taking fish on the banks of Newfoundland and other fisheries 

 in the American seas anywhere, excepting within the distance of 

 three leagues of the shores of the territories remaining to Great 

 Britain at the close of the war, if a nearer distance cannot be ob- 

 tained by negotiation. 



As an addition to Mr. Gerry's resolutions, Congress adopted (29th 

 July) the following (App., p. 19) : 



Resolved, That, if after a treaty of peace with Great Britain, 

 she shall molest the citizens or inhabitants of any of the United 

 States in taking fish on the banks and places described in the resolu- 

 tion passed the 22d day of July, instant, such molestation (being 

 in the opinion of Congress a direct violation and breach of the 

 peace) shall be a common cause of the said states; and the force of 

 the union be exerted to obtain redress for the parties injured. 



Mr. Garry's third and fifth resolutions were not agreed to. 



It will be observed that the final demand of Congress is limited 

 to fishing on the banks and seas and that the coast fisheries are ex- 

 cluded. Indeed, the proposal to claim a right of fishing on British 

 coasts and British bays was expressly rejected after full discussion. 



Having adopted the foregoing resolutions, Congress proceeded 

 to the consideration of " instructions to the Minister to be appointed 

 for negotiating a peace." Among those instructions was the fol- 

 lowing (App., p. 23) : 



Although it is of the utmost importance to the peace and Com- 

 merce of the United States that Canada and Nova Scotia should be 

 ceded, and raore particularly that their equal common right to the 

 Fisheries should be guaranteed to them, yet a desire of terminating 

 the war hath induced us not to make the acquisition of these objects 

 an ultimatum on the present occasion. 



