Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1814-11-14

Although it might feem at frff blush that
fifheries on the wide ocean fuch as the banks
of Newfoundland were common TO all na,ionsp
yet France and England havs conGdered them
as appertenant TO the Island OF Newfoundland
and accordingly united to exclude all other
European nations. This has been (ubnit'ed
to and may be COW conGdered public law
having been recognized in many treaties
When peace was made with US in 1888
France Itrenuouny commended that America
had no right to them. This will appear by
the Hon. Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Jays commu-
ncations to Congrefs. They molly contends
ed for our rights and Britain willing to con-
cilia;e US admitted our claim.
TO the ifheries on the Grand bank we may
be faid to have natural right and therefore
the treaty of 1888 is not the foundation of
that right.
On the other hand by the universally acs
know ledged law Of nations the fifheries in the
bays, and on the COATS and in the rivers Of a.
ny country, appertain excluively TO the ma
ticn which own the adjacent territory Buzz
| Britain knowing her colonies to be fhinly
peopled, and wilhing to lay the foundation of
table peace and friendfhipla peace and friend
fhip which if Warrington had lived would
never nave been interrupted, but which b,efs-
| ings Mr. MadiloG in an evil hour rashly gave
up and abandoned J Great Britain voluntarily
granted US the right of hsning in her peculiar
ljurifdidon, her bays and rivers. This we
might have enjoyed for centuries But re-
gardlefs of New England intcrett Mr. Madi-
fon renowned this privilege by declaring war.
It's gone If it is ever 10 be revived it mutt
be by bargain. 1t is as much gone as the
privileges granted by jays treaty.
The British article therefore on this head
fimpy declares what we knew to be the pub
lie law before. She was under no necefGty of
mentioning it. The effect would have been
the fame. The privilege ihe granted US was
extinct. fhe adds eve may grant it to
you for an equivalent"
What that equivalent would have been we
cannot fay becaufe our Commillioners full OF
fight (as fuppofe they would be) refufed even
to liAen to her terms.
1t is probable however she would have re-
ftored this privileges in exchange for the read
she wants through our uninhabted and wild
parts of the Diltrld of Maine.
1t cannot be conGdered therefore Liberal
tina: she will not regrant to US privilege to
which we had no legal claim without fome
equivalent.
he only remaining condition or rather
propoftion, for it amounted only to that, was,
ceilion of 70 much of the mcA extreme part
of Maine as would be necehary to give her
road from Halifax and New Brunfw,ck to
Quebeck.
How exten(ive this would be we can never
know for owing to the hate to make war a.
gain, and the fear that peace might grow out
of the negociation if her demands should be
moderate, it was deemed proper TO Lief: the
negotiation and to hurry eff the Mtaenger
that he might arrive in feafon to forward
Mr.. Madison's war views.
There are lome reflections however. on this
fubjea very important. This is the only
fpot, Whatever faifehocds may be told on
the fubjeet,) this is the only ipot where any
territory is afked to be coded.
And what is this ? We know not.-But we
know fome important things which it is ufe.
full to prefent.
If any body is intereRed in this quetion it
is our fate. Is it any injury to US! We
think none, 1T, Because we know, and Gsv-
ernour Sullivan who underitood this topick
better than any man, as he was the agent of
the government in profecuting our claims,
tells US that the Northeaft corner of the fate
was underlined and of courfe great part of
the saft line.
A treaty was made in uSo3 by Mr. King to
define it or rather to provide CommiAioncrs
to fe,tle it. This Jefferfon rejected without
reafon or apology.
OF courie we never knew, and do NOT now
know by many miles, perhaps even degree
of longitude, where the line from the St.
Croix will itrke the highlands. The boun.
dairy is unfe,tled
The fate canno. fafely fell. Purchafers
cannot safely buy This treaty and the pro-
pofed ceiion would fetle that claim or DIFF
pute, and it is commonly better 10 give up
part of difputed territory to make the title