1704 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



\vhich I leave tbe case. The state of things that was developed was a 

 surprise to many ; the small value of the extension of the geographical 

 line of fishing to our vessels I mean, to vessels such as we have to 

 use to tbe people of the United States, and the certain value that at- 

 taches to the provinces in getting rid of duties, has given this subject 

 an entirelv new aspect, and has brought my mind very decidedly to a 

 certain opinion ; and I am not instructed by my government to present 

 anv case that I do not believe in, or to risk anything that we do not think 

 is perfectly right; and the counsel for the United States are of one opin- 

 ion, that when we ask this Commission to decide that there is no balance 

 due to Great Britain, in our judgment, whatever that judgment may be 

 worth, it is what justice requires the Commission should do. 



I have finished what is my argument within the time which I intended 

 last night ; but, Mr. President and gentlemen, I cannot take leave of 

 this occasion, and within a few days, as I must, of this tribunal, without 

 a word more. We have been fortunate, as I have had the honor to say 

 already, in all our circumstances. A vulgar and prejudiced mind might 

 say that the Americans came down into the enemy's camp to try their 

 case. Why, gentlemen, it could not have been tried more free from out- 

 side influence in favor of Great Britain had it been tried in Switzerland 

 or in Germany. This city and all its neighborhood opened their arms, 

 their hearts, to the Americans, and they have not, to our knowledge, 

 uttered a word which could have any effect against the free, and full, 

 and fair decision of our case. The counsel on the other side have met 

 us with a cordiality which has begun friendships that, I trust, will con- 

 tinue to the last. I say here and now, on behalf of my country, that we 

 have had a trial under circumstances perfectly equal. We have had 

 the utmost freedom. We have had the utmost kindness everywhere. 

 I can say, in respect to my associates in this case (leaving myself out), 

 that America has no cause to complain that her case has not been 

 thoroughly investigated by her Agent and counsel, and fully and with 

 great ability presented to the court ; and I am certain that Great Britain 

 and the Dominion, represented here by an Agent from the Foreign Office, 

 devoted to the work before him, assisted by the constant presence of a 

 member of the Dominion parliament largely acquainted with this whole 

 subject, and with five counsel, one from each province of the Dominion, 

 all capable, all indefatigable, with knowledge and skill, cannot complain 

 that they have not been fully and ably represented. But, after all, the 

 decision, the result, depends upon you three gentlemen who have under- 

 taken, two of you at the request of your respective countries, and his 

 excellency at the request of both countries, to decide this question 

 between us. 



It has been said I have heard it that your decision will be made 

 upon some general feeling of what, on the whole, would be best for the 

 l>eace of the two countries, without much reference to the evidence or 

 to the reasoning. Mr. President and gentlemen, we repudiate any such 

 aspersion upon the character of the court. We know, and we say it 

 in advance, not that we hope this tribunal will proceed according to the 

 evidence, and decide iu accordance with the evidence and the weight 

 of reasoning, lut it must be so, and we congratulate your honors and 

 your excellency In advance, that when this decision shall have gone 

 out, wietuer it be for the one side or the other, whether it be a pleas- 

 ure or a pain to the one side or the other or both, that it will be decided 

 ii|M)ii those principles which it is manifest the treaty determined it should 

 be decided upon, not from some local or national view of policy for the 

 present or future, not upon something which some hope may by-aud-by 



