Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-07

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and entered into negotiations with England for It's
milton, the question of the fisheries was 81 o
important whose adjustment required by the rela
lions existing between the two countries England
tended that we were in the condition of any other foreign
Power and that consequently had rights but such
as every nation possessed by virtue Of its sovereignty
Our revolutionary patriots contended, and Justly and
successfully that the coonists among the first t.
carry on the fisheries that they did their full share and
more, too, in defending and acquiring them from the
French; and that, portion Of the common empire
which possessed them they had right TO enjoy their
just proportion, well when separated while united
And we learn, both from the traditional accounts and
from diplomatic and historical documents that in the very
darkest period of the struggle there wayering
upon this point but that conscript fathers held
1t with as much tenacity their Roman predecessors
held on to the rights and honor of Rome when the enemy
at the gates OF the capital The sturdy patriot John
Adams told the story in his old ageand eventfu
1t is--yaluable both encouragement and
ample 1t is contained in letter to William Thomas
dated
MoSrEzILLo August TO- 1922
DEAR SIR The grounds and principles which the third
article Of the treaty of 1888 contended for part and
finally yielded the part of the British these First
that the Americans and the Adventures America the
first discoveries and the first pracsers of the fisheries
eondy that New England and especially Massachusetts, had
done more in defence of them than all the of the British
mpre that the various projected expeditions to Canada
which they defeated by British
of Lonisburg in 45the subsequent conquest of Nova Scotia
in which New England had expended blood and
than all the of the British empirewere principally
the fhees thirdly that the inhabitants of the United States
had clear right to branch Of the fisheries and
cure fish land as the inhabitants Of Canada Nova SEQ
tia that the citizens of Boston, New York. Phadopaia
had clear right to those fisheries fish land
the inhabitants Of London, Liverpool Bristol Glasgow,
Dublin; fouhly that the third article demanded
uratu and it declared that treaty peace should
ever be made without that article And when the British mi
that peace could not be made without that ar
Gle they consenedfor Britain wanted peace If possible
more than did, filthy we asked favor requested
grant and would accept We demanded it right
md Ia1o
indispensable condition of peace.
The of 1872 and the peace that followed it. left
this important right disputed and precarous condition
No arrangement could be made at Client relation to it.
and the effort was closed by the peremptory declaration
made the 10th of November 1914 by the American to
the British commissioners that they were not authorz
ed to bring into discussion any of the rights or liberties
which the United States have heretofore enjoyed in rea
ton thereto, the fisheries From their nature and from
the peculiar character Of the treaty of 1888 by which
they recognised further stipulation has been deem
ed necessary by the Government of the United States to
entte them to the full enjoyment of all Of them"
After the peace, during some years, difficulties and
troubles arose, threatening serious consequences from
the almost hostile pretensons of the parties that finally
led to the negotiations Of Messrs Gallatn and Rush
which terminated in the existing convention of 1878
There were strange claims in those days well as
now. An effort was made to exclude from coming
within twenty leagues of the colonial coasts though the
act finally disavowed by the British Government
wherever the design may have originated
And Mr.. Monroe said, in his instructions to the COM
mssioners at Ghent that the Administration had nfor
nation, from quarter deserving attention. that de-
mand would be made TO surrender right to the she
res to abandon all trade beyond the Cape of Good Hope
and to cede Louisiana to Spain
These rights said the Secretary bv order of the
firm and patriotic Madison ssmust not be brought into
discussion finsisted on your negotiation will cease"
And even after the convention a claim was made to
run line from Cape CRANKY to Cape North across the
whole northeast coast of Cape Breton not less than one
hundred gies, including within the tabooed region nu
merous bays and harbors.
The history of that period preenson teaches lessons
that no independent State mindful Of its sefrespec
soctous of the respect of the world should ofge or
disregard Those were the days of impressment when
British officers took whom they pleased from American
ships and when two great belligerents animated with
the spirit of the highwayman robbed us of property
wherever they could find the ocean, each alleging
its justification that the other had set the example
Hereafter let the first intentional insult or in
jury-hy intentional mean directed justified by
foreign Powerlet meet it, il should be met by
the armed hand, and by the whole force Of the nation
Submission and acquiescence will conduct only to con-
tempt and dishonor.
We learn from the report Of the Commissioners of 1918
that the important provisions in the present convention
the result Of ulmatum submitted by them and
which was followed by an arrangement That arrange
ment was in some respects different from the treaty of
1888 BY that treaty the American fishermen were ac-
knowedged have the right 10 fish on the Grand Banks
and all the other banks Of Newfoundland and also in
the Gulf Of ST. Lawrence and at all other places in the
sea where the inhabitants OF both countries
time before used to fish and also the coast of New
oundland and the coasts bays and creeks of all the
other colonial possessions and the right to cure and dry
fish on all the colonial coasts except Newfoundland
The convention restricted the right to fsh--that
IS to fish within three marine miles Of the coasts-to the
lines and points enumerated in that instrument and the
right to dry FISH the coast Of Labrador and to por
ton Of the coast Of Newfoundland which was substituted
for extended recognition in the original treaty
The consideration the part Of the United States for
entering into this convention the amcabe arrange
ment of perple$ing and dangerous question which
while it open, at any time liable to lead to war;
and the security of large portion of the rights claimed
by them which placed this great fishing interest in
prosperous condition The consideration on the part Of
England was the permanent establishment Of the
amcabe relations Of the two countries and the reinauish
by the United States OF part Of what they had
previously claimed Each party therefore, surrendered
something to the otherrghs and claims arising Of
the relations they had previously occupied portions Of
one common empire But their rights as sovereign
States having reference previous connection were
neither touched designed to be touched by this
yenton We did not ask Of England nor did she ask Of
us the privilege Of fishing in the ocean three marine
miles from each others coasts No treaty was needed
for that purpose did either Government dream Of It.
What we wanted the enjoyment Of a right we had
possessed since the settlement of the country fish
TO the coast when necessary without reference the
question Of jurisdiction and to dry the fish in proper
places; and what England wanted TO reduce these
claims within the limits she could induce
accept and the result the existing arrangement
We did not get the right to fish the ocean from Eng
land from any other earthly power We got IL from
Almighty God, and mean to hold it, through the
whole extent Of the great Deep in the days Of
strength fathers held IL in the days Of
weakness. Should abandon this attribute Of indie
pendence, even in any extremity which human sagaciy