149 



THE UNITED STATES. 

 From (he Declaration of hidcpendence to the year 1S52» 



We open upon n, new (Ta. Every fact and circumstance known to 

 the whiles of the Revolution iudicatcd that, at the close of the contest, 

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

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

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

 subjects. As these 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 fish- 

 eries so intimately connected with our commercial prosperity and suc- 

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

 tinctly recognised and stipulated in the treaty of peace. 



Though finallv successtul, these statesmen were doomed to encounter 

 serious obstacles; 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 inliuence of the leading loyal- 

 ists, or "toj-ies," who, during the war, fled 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, werenev^er able to understand the importance attached to it. 



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

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

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

 these colonies between France and the United States, and thus, as the 

 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 

 tx) notice the course of Congress, and of their ministers abrond, subse- 

 qucntlv, and to the conclusion of the treaty with Great Britain in 17S-3, 

 by wliich our independence was secured and acknowledged. 



Whoever exammes the records of Congress will find that between 

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

 fislieries were matters of the most earnest and continu(xl debates, and 

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

 osition to op(ni a negotiation for peace, Mr. (Jerrv introduced the fol- 

 lowing resolutions. i-"irsi : "'JMiat it is cssi ntial to iIk; wcHiire of these 

 United States that the inhabitants thereof, at the ex[)iration of the war, 

 shfmld continue to enjoy the free and undisturbed exercise of their com- 

 nKM) right to fish on the Banks of Newfoinulland, and the other fishing 

 banks and seas of Norlh America, preserving inviolate the tn^aties 

 bet\\'een 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 th(^ said common right to the fisheries shall be more explicitly 

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

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



