The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-11-29

OTOtN TlVfT 10 e'~'S WV
said highlands which divide those rivers
that empty themselves into the rlver 1t.
Lawrence from those which fall into the
Atlantic Ocean, TO the northwesterDmost
head OF Connecticut river; thonce down a
long the middle Of that river to the forty
sft6 derree OF north latitude from thence,
by line due west IN said latitude. until il
strikes the river Iroquois, or Catauaquy.
&c.---(yide Art. 2 ofTrealy OF Paris, of
Sept. 3. 1888.
Commencing ot the source Of st. Croix
myer, az we find il laid down in our most
authentic maps, and r1nning limo direct
ly north TO the highlands described in the
above article, there is a very considerable
abu:ment Of territory which runs between
New Brunswick ON It's Fast side, and Low
er Canada on the West, and IN this tract
OF country is the area described by the pc
titoners as claimed by the United States,
whose pretensions have arrested the inca
surcs Of the establishment Of this part Of
the province"
In the infancy Of our government, we
were, perhaps OF necessity, 50 occupied III
the establishment of our institutions upon
basis Of permanence, and IN adopting mea-
sures TO extricate ourselves from the bur.
dens which long contest had thrown up
on MS, and to secure the full blessings Of
our newly gained independence, that the
settlement of the boundary thus described
by actual survey, was not made - Somo
disputes arose, however, which, IN the pro
gress Of events, brought the subject under
The notice Of our government, and the at
tanment Of Joint commission Tor the pnr.
pose of removing the difficulty was charged
gpon our Commissioners who were sent To
negotiate with Great Britain at Client. We
accordingly tind 10 the fifth article of the
Treaty Of Ghent, the following provision
Art. ). Whereas neither that point OF
the highlands lying due north from tho
source Of the River st. CroiY, and designn-
ted in the former treaty of poaee between
the two Powers, as the northwest angle Of
Nova Scotia, nor the northwosternmost
head Of Connecticut river, has yei been as
cortained &c. &c. il ia agreed that, fOr
these several purposes, two Commissioners
shall be appointed, sworn, and authorized
10 act, &c.
And again
"Tbc said Commissioners shall have
power 10 ascertain and determine the points
above mentioned, in conformity with the
provisions Of the said treaty OF peace of
ono thousand seven hundred and eighty
three, &c.
Now, it appears TO us perfectly obvious
that no subsequent claim sctup by the Brit
ish government, nor complaint ol British
occupants, can, for moment, be- permitted
to interfere with the plain stipulation con
tanned in the article Of the Treaty OF l1S3.
which we have quoted, and which is con
frmod in our second extract from the trea
~ Of Ghcnt.
The effects which might result, in time
ofwar. from the interposition of so large q
tract of American territory between the
Provinces of Lower Canada and New
Brunswick. if it is apprehended that they
might be injurious to Great Britain, ought
10 have been weighed before the stipulation
for tho boundary line was introduced into,
and made part Of the dejintivo treaty. IL
il not now the time to correct tho errors Of
that day. And if tho occupants Of that
part of the country, which is justly claimed
by the United States, shall derive injury
from such claim, il is to their own govern
ment that they ought to look for remuncr
alton for such injury, instead Of requiring
from the United States any concessions
which are incompatible with their inter.
ess.
Tho question which has been submitted
80 Commissioners, in compliance with the
article above quoted from the Treaty of
Client, have not yet settled the difference
which oxists. The British government mt
claim all tho territory north of Mars Hill,
aud tho range Of laud from thence which
divides tho waters flowing into tho St John
from thence flowing into the Pcnobscot ;
II, ,ho l., q
claim is the insecurity Of Canada and New
Brunswick, and the impossiblity of trans
porting the mail in direct route from ~.
Brunswick TO Quebec, If we arc to pos
sess that tract. We stand on the treaty
itself. and the course of boundary line
run in obedience to its specification. As
we understand that the British government
contemplatcs the forthwith conveyance of
tho mail over land from iialifaxto Quebec.
we trus, that they have determined to re.
fran from any longer pressing claim
which cannot be supported either by the
terms OF the treaty, or on any other ground
of equity.
II, as is argued. tho face Of the country
presents SO different an aspect at this time,
from what il exhibited when the treaty Of
1883 was made, that il is found that tho
description in the treaty is obviously at
variance with the intention Of the British
Government, we ought to pause, and re.
fleet seriously, before we admit tho force
of an argument, which May be drawn into
a very dangerous precedent in the future
construction Of treaties. Il is hardly 10 be
presumed that the knowledge possessed By
the American ncgoiiators could have been
more acute OF enlarged than that Of the
British government: and it is improbable
that, if a mistake had been made by the