The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-01-04

rivers, whose mouths and courses were
within the actual provinces of the respec-
tive claimants. Thus the party posses.
sessing the mouth of any stream, would
possess also It's whole course TO the toun-
tain head. This was obviously the most
equitable adjustment. and the most natur-
al boundary. The entire course of the
Penobscot, the kennebec, and other riv-
ers, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean,
would be thus secured to the United States,
and reciprocal advantage afforded to us
! IN the possession of the Chaudiere, and
other streams, that discharged their wa
ters within our territories Between two
nations, no separation is so distinct, no
barrier so etiectuah as mountainous
frontier; and as rivers, in new countries,
IRE the great highways of nature, and al
most the only means of communication
aud transport, aud other division must
give 10 one party most unequal advan-
tage Tor invasion in war, and TO both, con-
tinual disputes i'm trade and navigation in
time fpeace. The line of separation was
therefore, to be drawn from the north
west angle of Nova Scotia, that is. the an
gle formed bya due north line drawn from
the source Of the st. Croix TO the High
Lands, along the said High Lands, diyid-
ing the waters that fall into the Atlantic,
form those that fall into the ST. Lawrence,
10 the north western head Of the Connec
ticut river Now, as no party of the Brit
lsh possessions, in this quarter their wes
tern boundary being the st. Croix,) touch
ed the Atlantic, nor Of the American the
st. Lawrence, the principle and object of
hn NP0 ntF las a. L..
the heads Of the rivers that flowed TO the
Ocean into and through their territory
aud us, of those that flowed into and
through ours. Indeed, the description M
the treaty, coupled with this fac just stat
ed, must be considered as quite synoni
nous with this interpretation.
Perhaps the fairest aud most intelig-
bic manner Of stating the difference be
tween the two Governments is this The
source Of the st. Croix is ascertaiued
the north hne surveyed; there are some.
where high lands that divide the streams
TO the Atlantic from those Of the st. Law
renee, because the Kennebec and the
ChaudieTe, rivers Of respectable msgnit-
ndc, How in the contrary directions, from
neighhoring sources, on opposite sides Of
he sumo heights, the latter TO the St.
Lawrence. the former to the ocean. So
Tar are both parties agreed. The descrip-
lion. OF lhes treaty az an t,cse points fully
Ianswered, according to the Interpretation
u both countries. Bot the difficulty is,
the North Line, in which both parties ac-
qulesce, does not lntersect those high
lands upoa which both are agreed. II
was in this light, perhaps, that the ques.
tion presented itself TO the Russian Gov
ernment, who seem TO have considered
this circumstance as an omitted case,
which wqs most proper (or most expedi
ont) To be settled by further treaty. Re
garding IL IN the same view, Just and
prudent arbitrator perhaps, who could
venture 10 apply to n political dispute the
reasoning of private conduct, had not
found it so impossible to terminate the
controversy under the existing treaty and
reference. 'Gentlemen,' be might have
said, the points in this question which
are undcnled, may lead TO an easy solu
ton Of the matters in debate. Produce
your North Line. Place me on that point
Of the boundary whore you are both
agreed for example, that part Of the high
lands that separate the waters Of the
Chaudiere from those Of the Pcnobscot or
the Kennebec and | shall thence follow
those high lands down, easterly, till meet
your North Line, and mark out your boun-
dary taking care, IL ] cannot always OBJ
serve the precise letter, To pursue the
strict principle Of the treaty, and adhere,
at least, to its abstract description that
is. | shall include within the u. States,
the heads Of all those rivers whose cours-
es flow through their territories TO the At
antic Ocean the rest OF the country be-
longs still to its ancient Sovereign
While the question is still pending, the
States OF Massachusetts and Maine have
thought proper TO proceed to exercise acts
Of ownership and sovereignty over a val
liable district Of the province of N. Bruins
wick, included within tho line which they
claim, but which has always been IN the
possession of the British local authorities.
Upon a representation 10 the General Gov
ernment Of the United States, these sg-
gressions were directed TO be suspended
Till June next.--Tbe nature OF these pro-
ceedings. and the consequences which
would result from the cession OF the dis
trict in dispute, are well set forth in late
Address 20 the King, from the Council
and Assembly Of New Brunswick but
the consequences alluded TO are still more
precisely and cornprebersively stated IN
the following extract from the pamphlet
before mentioned.
"First. A tract Of Land, highly ynlua.
bic for is extent, quality, and sltuation.--
It comprises upwards Of 10000 square
miles: Is covered with a thick and lofty
growth of the finest timber, (the r,tiye
beau,y Of the country has no, escaped the
observation and praise Of the American
Agents > Il is watercd by frequent lakes
ard rivers, the ST. Johns. aud ~ numer-
ous branches, communicating with the sea,
by safe and uninterrupted navigation with
The s;ngie exception OF the Grand Falls.