Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-03-22
NORTH EASTERN BOUNDARY.
MIR. pucnANAN's REPORT.


visions Of The treaty Of peace Of secentecn
hundred and eighty Mree," hare hdd The
same under consideration, and noW report:
That the first section Of this bill directs
.the President the United States to cause
tho boundary limo between Tho United
States and the adj accent British provinces,
from the source of the st. Croix river d.
rectiy north to the highlands which divide
the waters that fall into the Atlantic ocean
from those which fall into the river s..
Lawrence, thence along said highlands
from the northwest angle of Nova Scolio
to the northwes, crnmost head Of Connect
cut river, as particularly defined in the
treaty surveyed and marked, and suitable
monuments to be erected thereon, at such
points as may be deemed necessary md
important"
The second section provides for tho up
poiniment OF q commissioner and surveyo!
by the Presinont, by nud with the ADVICE
and consent of The Senate, "who may EN-.
plov such assistants, under tho direction of
tho President. rs shol be necessary, md
VINO shall make an exact return Of their
proceedings to the President, with cor
rect map OF the country over which said
line passes, exhibiting the prominent points
Of its topography and the location Of the
marks and monuments by them made aud
erected
Tho third and last section merely pro.
vdes for the compensation Of the com
missioner and surveyor.
This bill, then, proposes that Consrc ss
shall create commission, independently Of
Great Britain, to run and mark tho north
eastern boundary Of the United States, con-
terminous with that OF New Brunswick
and Canada, provinces Of the British en-.
pire. Ii asks no previous consent from
Great Britain; it does not require that
Great Britain should become party to the
survey, and yet tina, country has a con-
mon interest with the United States 10
the correct establishment of this boundary,
according to tho treaty. 1t would be
premature and luexpedlcnt, the committee
believe, to resort to such a course Of scpa-
rate action towards neighborng and
friendly power, between which and the
United States there is reciprocal desire
TO maintain the most friendly relations
until every other means ofamica5y adjust.
ing the dispute shal be exhausted. Before
the committee could recommend the adop.
ton ofsuch measure to the Senate, they
ought to be satisfied, beyond reasonable
doubt, FIRST. that the United States have
clear title to the disputed territory which
would be embraced within their Imits by
the proposed survey: and. secondly, thai
no other and more friendly expedient re.
mains vntred Of bringing this long pend
ing controversy TO 4 conclusion.
The committee will, therefore, proceed
to consider the question under this two.
fold aspect. And, first, in regard 10 ou
title.
This title depends altogether upon the
correct construction ofthe defntive treat,
Of penco between the United States ant
his Britannia Majesty, concluded at Par
on lie u. ID day Of September, one thous
and seven hundred and thirty. three.
By the first article Of this treaty, "hi
Britannia Majesty Acknowledges the sail
United States, wv: New Hampshire. Mas
eachuset,s Bay, Rhoie Island and Provl
dence Plantations, Connecticut, New Yor
Now Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware
MARYLAND, Virginia, North CaroIinn ,Sout
Carolina. and Georgia, to be free severe Z
and independent States; that he treat
with them ns such; and for himself, hi
heirs, and SUCCESSORS, relnQushcs Il claim
TO the Government property, and terrific
rial rights Of the same, and every pal
thereof"
The United States had declared the
independence almost seven years prevou
TO the date oflhe treaty. They had mar
tanned this declaration before the world
and the treaty is not only solemn recoG
milton of that independence by Great Br
tain, but on express acknowledge tn,
fr1o -.
and independent States. We were oqua
treating with an equal. Great Britain WI
not Superior assigning territory to an i,
feror. No superiority was claimed on II
one sidc,or would have been acknowledge
on the other. Great Britain then elaine
no such prerogstlve as she now asserts,
assigning an appropriate boundary to Il
United States, as new power, former
under her dominion. The treaty mus
therefore, be construed as solemn agre
ment entered into by one sovereign al
independent nation with another, equal
sovereign and independent.
1t was not necessary expressly TO ha'
prescribed The limits Of the United Stat
by the treaty. AT its date, The boundari
Of each Of the thirteen States were W.
known. The first article acknowledg,
each Of them to be sovereign and indepc
dent, and relinqulshed "all claim on Il
part of the British King to tho Goveri
ment, propre,y, and territorial rights
the same, and every part thereof, Il" and til
would have been sufficient.
The commissioners who framed Il
treaty were, however. not content wi
such general recognition. It's sccol
article proves their desire to prescribe Il
limits Of our boundary in manner so pr
else and specific, MS forever to prevent {
disputes upon The subject This secor
article ia as follows:
ART. Q. Sand that all disputes chi
inighk ariSe in GLkMre. on he SuLicck Of L