Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-03-23
THE BOUNDARY QUESTION.

We have already referred to this subject with
!, view of showing the weakness of the claim on
the part of Great Britain, to exclusive iurisdic
ton over the disputed territory. during the pen
dency of negotiate 10 settle the line
of division between the two nations. We
now take up the subject in order 10 show our
right 20 tho whole of the territory in dispute, nd
for tins purpose have obtained a map OF The
territory IN question.
For period Of upwards OF one hundred years
previous to 1863, the province of Nova Scotia or
Acadia, of which the province Of New Bruins
wick forms part. was alternately IN possession
of France and England. The Province of Low
err Canada was IN possession of France until
1868. In the year 1921 James l. of England
made grant to Sir William Alexander of the
district of country which he called Nova Scotia,
and thus described the Western boundary.
"Commencing at Cape Sable and crossing the
Bay of Fundy Ito the river Holy Cross or st.
Croir and TO the turherest source spring up
On the western branch of the same thence bv
an imaginary direct line, to be drawn or run
through the country or over the land, to The north,
TO the first bay, river or spring, emptying itself
into tho great river of Canada, [the st. Lascrcncel
and from thence running to the along the
shores OF the said river to Canada
Ia 1868, by the treaty of Paris France ceded
all her possessions IN this region TO England, and
gave up all further claims to any territory north
of Florida. Immediately forwards, Great Bri-
tain went to work to define the boundaries be-
tween .
ton of one might not extend over the territory
of another. George III, by his proclamation of
the 7ih of October, 1863, declared that the south
easterly boundary of Lower Canada, Quebec,
as it was then called, should run .taroueh the
Lake ChampIain an forty. fire degrees Of north
latitude, along the highlands ohich bride the rir
ers that empty Themselves into the said Rirer st.
from those which fall into the sea-
All east of that boundary belonged to Massachu- ,
setts and Nova Scotia. The mountains were men ,
toned, being natural boundaries and therefore
he best to be referred to in the settlement ofany
that might arise. By referring to ,
ne map. the reader will once perceive the ,
boundary of New Brunswick, which was
orrnerlv part Of Nova Scotia. The procIama-
ion of 1853 did not change her boundary, but :
,nly defined the south eastern boundary of Low :
,r Canada :
In the same year. 1863. Montague Wilnot !
vas appointed Governor of Nova Scotia. and the |
boundaries Of the Province described, and
n this occasion the North Westermost angle Of I
IOWA Scotia and its western boundary were per- b
nanenty fixed, in the following words: n
.sAcross the entrance of the Bay of Fundy, to d
the mouth of the River St. Croix, by the said r
Riper to It's source, and by line draTn north O
from thence to the southern boundary Of our Col
ony of Quebec; TO the northward, by said boun-
dairy" 6
And the same language used in the :
mission of William Campbell in 1867, and of !
francis Legeee IN Ifl, ana me bounoary was
bv the act of Parliament in 1774. 1t ,
must then follow that up TO the commencement
f the war Of the Revolution, the western boun-
arv Of Nova Scotia extended only to the ina 7
mary direct ine from the source of the river q
IT, Croix .over the land of the north to first bay,
iver spring., emptying itself into the ST. .
of that line must have be- I
onped either to Lower Canada or Massachusetts. |
Z has never been asserted that the territory be-
onged 10 Canada, consequently II formed a part
{ the then Colony of Massachusetts,.
The war OF the Revolution then followed, and
t its conclusion Great Britain acknowledged the
United States to be free, sovereign and Indepen-
ent This of course includes all the territory
belonging 10 the several States previous to the
,omne ncement of the War; but to proven, all
ispute controversy about the matter, the fol-
owing inserted as defining the western boun-
larry Of Nova Scotia and the South and South :.
,asier;y boundary Of Quebec. y