Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-03-22

tic ocean," The whole argument OF the |
British Government. it will be perceived,
rests upon the assumption TINT the ST.
John is not q river falling into the Atlantic
ocean, because ii has its mouth 10 the Bay
Of Fundy,
Now what arc the objections TO this extra
ordinary pretension, as the committee are
constrained TO call il?
And, first, what is the Bay Of Fundy, if il
be not a part Of the Atlantic ocean? bay
is a mere opening Of tho main ocean into the
land--a mere interruption OF the uniformity
of the seacoast by an indcntation Of water.
These portions of the ocean have received the
name of bays, solely to distinguish them from
the remainder OF he vast deep, to which they
belong. Would it rot be the mcrcs, special
pleading to contend that The Bay Of Naples
was not II portion Of the mediterranean. or
that the Bay Of Biscay was not part Of the
Atlantic ocean?
Again: the description Of the treaty is,
drivers which fail into tho Atlantic Ocean,"
Can il be said, with any proprety, that
river does not fall into the Atlantic, because,
in reaching the main ocean, it may pass thro'
bay' And yet this isihc British argument
The Delaware does not fall into the Atlantic,
because it flows into it through the Bay of
Delaware; and, for the same reason, the 81.
John does not fall into the Atlantic, because
il flows into it through the Bay Of Furdy.
The committee know not how to give n
serious answer TO such an argument. The
bare statement Of it is lis hes: rciutation.
But, like all such arguments, it proves too
much. If 1t be correct. this portion of the
treaty of 1883 is rendered absurd and suicidal;
and the wise and distinguished statesmen,
BY whom it was framed must be condemned
by postcrty, for alIixing their names TO an
instrument in this particular, at least, abso.
lutcly void. Although they believed they
would prevent call disputes which might
arise, in future, on the subject of the bounda. ,
rics Of the United Sta,cs,' by fixing their
commencement at "ihc northwest angle of
Nova Scotia" and running from thence along
"lho highlands which divide those rivers
which empty themselves into tho river St.
Lawrence, from those which fall into
the Atlantic ocean, yet it is absolutely GER"
tain, that there was not single river in that
whole region Of country which, according TO
the British construction, did fall into the
Atlantic ocean. They all fall into bays, with
out ono exception. Nc,,hc: can we plead
ignorance as an excuse for these commission
crs; because it is fully in proof, that they had
Milchell's map before them, from which the
fact clearly appears. The Ristigouche does
not fall into the Atlantic, because it has its
mouth in tho Bay Of Chaleuis; nor does the
Penobscot, because It's mouth is in the Bay OF
Pcnobscot nor do the KcnnebcCk and Andres.
coggin, because, after their junction, they fall
into the Bay of Sagadahock. The same is
true. even Of the Connecticut, because il
emptics itself into Long Island sound AL
the rivers in that region are in the same con-
dilion with the ST. John. Thus it appears, il
the British argument be well founded, that the
l.l
described highlands, whence streams proceed
falling into the Atlantic, as portion of tht
boundary of the United States, when, from
the very face of the map before them, it j.
apparent no such streams exist.
There is another objection to the British
clam, which is conclusive. Wherever tn,
highlands of the treaty exist, they must BIZ
highlands from which on the north sid
streams proceed falling into the 81. Law
renee. This portion of The description is a
essential as that from their south sid
streams should issue falling into the AT
lanlic. Now the British claim abandons tn
former part Of the description altogether
Their line of highlands commencing at Mar
hill is al least hundred miles south Of tn
highlands whence the tributaries Of the ST
Lawrence flow. Between these highland
and those claimed by the British Govcrnmen
the broad valley Of The ST John spreads itsel
watered by the river of that name, aud tn
streams which empty into it from the nor,
and from the south. The two points on ,h
western line of New Brunswick are distar
from each other more than a hundred miles
and when you arrive at the British Highlands
YOU find that they divide the sources Of tn
81. John and the Pcnobscot, and not tn
sources of streams falling into the ST. Law
renee and the Atlantic ocean. according
the description Of the treaty.
But, even suppose It were possible
prove that neither the ST. John nor an
other river in that region falls into The A
lantic ocean, would this fact esseNtaII
benefit the British Government? If thj
portion of the description should eptrcl
fail, would it render tie other portion voit
Certainly not. 1t nigh, be said that I'll
commissioners were mistaken as to whel
the streams emptied themselves whC
flowed from the southern side Of the treat
highland; as TO the existence of these big
lands, there could be no mistake, The
are the boundary; and the streams flown
from them are mere matters of descrlpto
Can they be sufficiently identified, indcpcI
IDENTITY Of this mistaken If they can, Il
question IL settled. Now, fortunately
inns sOpJeCl, no uohot can EXIT Wo CT
cumstances concur to identity them, ubo
which it is not possible there can be
mistake. According to the act OF Parlr
ment Of VIA, they constitute the southe
line OF the province OF Quebec, bctwc,
the western extremity OF the Bay of Gu
leurs, in lat tude 48, and tho eastern bar
of the Connecticut river, in latitude A.
and i, is equally certain that from tbcr
all along IN regular succession, strear
proceed falling INTO The 81, Lawrence.
mistake in one part Of description
boundary has never been held 10 vita
the whole, provided sufficient renal
clearly TO designate the intentIon Of