157 



" We exchange for molasses those fish that it is impossible to dispose 

 of anywhere else; we have no market within our reach but the islands 

 from whence we get molnsses in return, which again we manufacture into 

 rum. It is scarcely possible to maint;iin our fisheries with advantage, 

 if the commerce for summer fish is injured, which I conceive it would 

 be very materially, if a liigh duty is impos(>d upon this article; nay, it 

 would carry devastation throughout all the New England States: it 

 ^vould ultimately affect all throughout the Union. * * * "p^e 

 taking of fish on the Banks is a very momentous concern ; it forms a 

 nursery for seamen, and this will be the source from which we are to 

 derive maritime importance. It is the policy of some nations to drive 

 us from this prolific source of wealth and strength; but what their de- 

 testable efforts have in vain endeavored to do, you will accomplish by 

 a high duty on this article." 



Again he said : " / conceive, sir, that the present constitution was dictated 

 by commercial necessity/ more than any other cause. The icant of a.n evident 

 government to secure the majii/factuting interests, and to advance our com- 

 merce, was lono; seen by men of judgment, a7ul jjointed out by patriots solici- 

 tous to promote 'the general welfare. If the duty which we contend 

 against is found to defeat these objects, I am convinced the represent- 

 atives of the people will give it up. I trust that gentlemen are well 

 satisfied that the support of our agriculture, manufactures, navigation 

 and fisheries, are objects of very great moment. When gentlemen con- 

 template the fishery, they admit its importcmce, and the necessity we are 

 under of encouraging and protecting it, especially if they consider its declin- 

 ing situation; that it is excluded fom those advantages ichich it formerly 

 obtained in British ports, and participates but in a small degree of the ben- 

 efits arising from our Europ'an allies, whose markets are visited under severe 

 restrictions: yet, with all the-bc discouragements, it maintains an extent which 

 entitles it to the fostering care of government. ^^ ****** uj^^ 

 short, unless some extraordinary measures are taken to support our fisheries, 

 I do not see what is to prevent their inevitable ruin. It is a fact, that 

 near one-third of our fishermen are taken from their profession — not for 

 want of skill and abililics in the art, f>r here they take the rank of every 

 nation on earth — but from the local, chilling policy of foreign nations, 

 who shut us out from the avenues to market. If instead of protection 

 from the governmnit, we extend to them oppression, I shudder for the conse- 

 quences.''^ Still further: "It is supposed that the fishermen must be 

 poor, if they are not able to bear the tax proposed. I contend tiny are 

 very poor: they are in a sinking stale; they carry on the business in despair. 

 But gentlemen will ask us, ' Why, then, do they not quit the profession?^ 

 I answer, in the words that are fften used in the eastern country respecting 

 the inhabitants of Cape Cod — they are ton poor to live there, and are too 

 poor to remove." The remarkal)le coincicleiice, in many parti<-ulars, 

 Dctween 1789 and 1852, as indical(Ml in the passages which I lia\c 

 placed in italics, cannot escape the altcniion of persons at([u;iiiited 

 ■with the subject. 



ant <incNtii)n. His Rpcpfh (in tlio IJririsli treaty in 17!)l was lii>i ijrofitcflt cftort. Eminent 

 alike liir hi.s talenln an<t hiH purity of chanictcr, ho was an iirnnniont ti» his conntrv IL; died 

 in loJd. 



