149 



THE UNITED STATES. 



From the Declaration of Independence to the year 1852. 



We open upon a new era. Every fact and circumstance known to 

 the whigs of the Revolution indicated that, at the close of the contest, 

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

 fion," the interdictions of Lord North's bill should be perpetual. We 

 had fought foj-, had won, and had enjoyed the fishing grounds as British 

 subjects. As these grounds were east of the easterly boundp-ry of the 

 tjbirteen 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 affairs, as to determine that our rights should be di§^ 

 rinctly recognised and stipulated in the treaty of peace. 



Though finally successful, 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 influence of the leading loyal- 

 ists, or "tories," who, during the war, fled to the mother country; and 

 were compelled, besides, to meet the arguments of the whigs of the 

 Souih, who having no particular knowledge of, or interest in, the sub- 

 ject, were never able to understand the importance attached to it. 



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

 the French court, previous to the treaty of alHance of 1778, to conquei 

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

 these colonies between France and the United States, and thus, as th6 

 projectors considered, to ruin the British fisheries, and, of direct conse^- 

 guence, the British marine, and that the measure was submitted to 

 Washington, was disapproved by him, and finally abandoned, we pass 

 to mitice the course of Congress, and of their ministers iabroad, subse- 

 quently, and to the conclusion of the treaty with Great Britain in 1783, 

 by which our independence was secured and acknowledged. 



Whoever examines the records of Congress will find that between 

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

 feheries were matters of the most earnest and continued debates, and 

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

 osition to open a negotiation for peace, Mr. Gerry introduced the fol- 

 lowing resolutions. First: "That it is essential to the welfare of tbes6 

 iJnited States that the inhabitants thereof, at the expiration of the war^ 

 should continue to enjoy. the free and undisturbed exercise of their com^ 

 mon right to fish on the Banks of Newfoundland, and the other fishing 

 banks and seas of North America, preserving inviolate the treatiel 

 between France and the said States." Second: " That an explanaf 

 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 the said common right to the fisheries shall be more explicitly 

 guarantied to the inhabitants of these States than it already is'py'the 

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



