Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1838-08-09

enStCin boundary, ana these ResolutlonS,
and one copy of the same TO each of the
Heads of Departments at Washington, one
copy TO each OF our Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress, and one copy TO the
Governor of Massachusetts.
During the late session of Congress, a
bill was accordingly introduced into both
branches of that body, providing for the
survey of the boundary according 10 the
terms of the treaty.
In the Senate, the bill gave rise to con-
siderable debate. Mr. Webster explained
in the clearest and distnCtes, manner the
claims Of the State of Maine; and it was
agreed on all hands, that there was the
highest property and expedency, before
going any further with the matter of con-
yentional bonndary,in favor of asceuaining
whether in fact, it was not perfectly easy to
run the boundary according to the treaty.
It appeared however, that subsequently
to the passage of the above resolutions by
the State ofMaine, the Federal Executive,
perceiving the pass to which things were
coming, had applied to the British Ainbas-
sador to enter into a convention Cor APP
pointing commissioners for joint explora-
ton aud survey of the Treaty boundary
The British Ambassador had declined to
power, but had promised to apply imme-
dIately to his own government for tie re-
quisite authority. Until this negotiation
could be terminated, it was thought best
not to pass a law for an ca parte survey;
and accordingly the bill was laid upon the
table, accompanied by report from the
Committee on Foreign Relations, setting
forth the validity of the claims of Maine,
and by the following resolutions, which
were adopted:
Resolved, That after careful examna-
ton and deliberate consideration of the
whole controversy between the United
North Eastern Boundary of the former, the
Senate does not entertain doubt of the
entire practicability drumming and marking
that boundary in strict conformity with the
stipuatiohs ofthc defnitive treaty of peace
of seventeen hundred and eighty-three;
and enteuains perfect conviction of the
justice and validity of the title of the Unit
ed States to the full extent of all the terri
tory in dispute between the two powers.
Resolved, further, That, considering
that more than half century has elapsed
since tile conclusion of that treaty; con-
sldering the extraordinary delay which
has hitherto marked the negotiations and
proceedings of the Governments of the two
count: les, in their endeavor amicabIy to set
tie The controversy; and considering the
danger of mutual irritation and collisions
upon the border of kindred and friendly
nations from further procrastination, the
Senate cannot forbear to express an earnest
desire that the pending negotiation should
be brought TO close, and the final decis-
ion of the dispute be made as early as prac-
ticable. IA
Resolved. That, as it would be inexped-
cnt for the United States to proceed, upon
their separate authority, to survey and
mark the North Eastern Boundary. until
all reasonable me ans of effecting that OBJ
ject by the consent and concurrence of both
parties shall have been exhausted The chill
to provide for surveying the North Eastern
Boundary Line ofthe United States accor-
ding to the treaty of seventeen hundred and
eighty-three" ought not 10 pass; and it is
therefore ordered that il be laid upon the
table.
A similar bill for the survey of the bonn
dairy, was also introduced into the House,
where on the recommendation of the Conn
mittce ON Foreign Afiails, it was laid upon
the table, and resolutions were adopted in
the very words of the two first of those
adopted in the Senate.
Thus this matter now stands. If the
British government consent to a Joint com
mission of survey, so far so good; but if it
declines or neglects to come into that ar
rangement, nothing remains but for Cover
nor Kent to carry into effect the resolution
of the Maine Legislature, and prosecute
the survey under his own authority.
The following just observations upon this
SUBJECT are from the Boltimore Ameriran:
We are now among those. if any such
there be. who in reality believe that Name
has assumed more than is proper in refer
ence to the Boundary question. Being the
citizens of a free and independent State
which had its existence prior to the Con-
federative compact under which the Gener-
al Government was created, we can well
appreciatesthe patriotic feeling which would
rise in opposition to any thing like an alb
straction of her territory Although the
State OF Maine is not one of the original
thirteen, the extent of its soil as a portion of
Massachusetts has been as well defined and
marked out as that of any member of the