Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-06-21
PesEE'E'
DOCUM

/ AS'Ss
/! DOCUMENTS
Submitted 20 British Parliament and printed In London
MAINE BOUNDARY
:! FIRST MISSION OF EBENEZER GREELi.
[CoscLUDED,
NO lO-piscOunt PaImsrst0n 10 A Serenson, Esq
FoREIGS OFFICE. a ril 10. 1888
The undersgne her Mnjestys Principal Secretary
OF State Tor Foreign Affairs has the honor TO acknow
ledge The receipt Of the Note of Mr. Stevenson, Minister
npoten,iary of the United Ga,es g .erIca, dated
The 2Olh ntmo in reply 10 the OF The undersigned
d,ed the 18th utmo relative 10 tie proceedings Of the
authorities OF New Brgns%isk yaSiayds Mr-E"'"''"'
In answer to The argument which is employed by Mr..
Stevenson, with respect the bnund1rfs brtween The
British Possessions and the U. The undo gned begs
leave 10 observe, that the treaty of 1903 laid down the
boundary between the y S. and the British Posse ssions
not by reference TO The then existing 10 the previously
existing boundaries Of the British Provinces hose in.
dependence was then acknowledged but nth reference
to The geographical description contained in The treaty
itself; and therefore The question: her any partcu
lar district s or is not comprised within The limits OF the
United States, cannot be determined By reference to
what was or was not The extent of any particular State
WHEN That State British Pfovnce bnt only he
decided by reference 10 The phica description of
The boundary confined The treaty; and
the argument used in Lord Aberdeens note Of the 4h
oil August lS-, appears 10 the undersigned 10 Stand
good aud conclusive.
With respect also 10 MIR Sevenson's statement as TO
The origin Of The claim OF right exercise, pending the
negotiations between The Two countries jurisdiction over
lH' CtuHIy Whettu ny lHe nuuawaSkl aud The A.oUS
tick the undersigned must beg eave peat what has
been already stated IN Lord Abedeen's note Just re.
TERED 10, that until very recent period he right of
Great Britain 10 exercise acts I'll sovereignty within The
disputed Territory. had never been called in question BY
the Government of the U. S that the representation
which was addressed by Mr. Clay the British Charge
dAtfiires al Washington, the 9Th of March, 1926
was the first occasion when Objection Of any kind
advanced by The Government Of the s. 10 The
proceedings of the British in The District Jointly clamed
by the two Governments; and that even the objection
then made directed against the exercise of u
rIsdct!on on The part Of Great Britain winch them
and had long been notorious. but against The deprda
tons committed by individuals, who, by cutting wood
and by other acts, rendering this District OF less
value to the party whom it should finally BE- assigned
The undersigned &c,
(signed) PALMERSTON
9ndre,o Stevenson, &c &c
No. III. Stevenson. Esq 10 discount Pnimerson
%, PoRrLASD PLACE, Ap5 81 1898
The undersigned, Minister Penlpoten,iary Of Tie IT,
S. has the honor acknowledge receipt of the Mole
OF Lord Pamerslon, her Majesys Principal Secretary
OF Stale for Foreign Affairs. under date Of III. I6
slant in 10 that OF The undersigned Of The 2Oh
umo relative 10 The proceedings Of the authorities of
New Brunswick towards MIR. Eaenezst Greedy,
tzcn of The U. S.
The undersigned not aware hat il is necessary for
him make any reply The observation cunlaine in
Lord PaImerson note, further Than the mis-
apprehension into which his Lordshp seems to hive
fallen, in relation 10 of The arguments which the
undersigned has heretofore had The honor Of submitting,
and TO add snch explanatory observations have been
suggested by his Lordship 8 last note.
In The first place II is proper TO remark, that Lord
Palme rson misopprebends entirely that part of the
gumen, int ndet reply TO the Earl Of Aberdeen's
role 10 Mr. Lawrence Of the 18th OF August, ls25
In discussing the propos,tios NIL forth hv ord asr
as denying that the treay OF 1853 provided Tor tns SCI
Element of the question of Territorial Boundaries be
tween Great Britain and the United States by reference
to acknowledgement The fact is readily admit
ted as Lord Pamerslon states IT, but 1t IS not perceived
how the admission can IN any manner be made to DIM
nsh the force of the argument which the undersigned
has had the honor Of Offering strengthen that OF the
Earl Of Aberdeen which Lord Pa'merslon re atirns.
By the treaty Of 1888. Great Britain not only
dyed The several States 10 be Sovereign and In.
dependent but relneushed all claim TO their Govern.
prOpriy and territorial rights md ersry part there
Of Now the enquiry which naturally suggests itself in
connection with this provision this what territorial
ryhts were intended TO be renqushed but those
which had previously existed and enjoyed by the
respective States at the time OF the adoption OF The
Treaty.
The United States described srvrrally, and by
name and Massachusetts Maine al that time not hur.
inc been created separate State) was OF course The
sole propreio one party IN sfveray OF her own
soil and territory 1t must evidently, then have been
the intention Of the contracting parties 10 the treaty 10
conform the territorial limits OF the States TO those
which existed before, at the time The treaty was
made With this view, doubtless the geogra Phical de
scrinon was agreed upon the best means Of effect.
inc it, and fixing the limits OF their respective posses
sons The treaty accordingly declares. that the point OF
commencement shall be " from Me n"rfi-arest Gnge ~
S,rn Scotia and then calls iur :" that angle Uh.ch IS
f,rmed by Inc droscn due north trOm the source OF
"hs S. CfO1 rirer 10 lie Mghands; along HE SAID high.
lands ,rieh diridc those ftrcrS that empty hemsttUts
;pto me yirer 81 Laurence. from those nhch ta into
Hc 4taatic OCEAN to The north-mcscrnmoSt head Of
Connecticut rirer The ensernly part Of The line
contested then declared 10 be east ny lane 10 DC
dracn along e middle Of Me rircr 81. Croz, rom ats
mouth The Buy IF Fundy to as source and from as
In the HiUHIDndS rHtcH
bride The rirfrs irhich fur into the hnfie Ocean from
those uhieA fnli into the rirer 81 LG"renes
Now the boundaries thus settled aud fixed by the
,ren,v are 10 be regarded they are not Ii the geo.
nb;cai lines which j, describes laid down, and the
pge which il describes be found the RICH, OF the w.
States 10 the whole territory within Ills limits 70 Inds'
nn,oble and not denied by Great Britain, hut she now
cunends that The geographical line Of the treaty IL I'M
accnbIe and cannot be found that the description
iu,perrrc that there is north west angle oil Nova
Scotia and no highlands conforming 10 the terms OF the
treaty The reore that nothing can be done but 10 esa
bish another Goundary agreement OF The two nations
h. v;nu mn reference u that supposed have been fixed
in l7S3 IT, then the provisions OF the treaty are 10
he disregard, d. and The two Governments are TO nego
,ne and adjust their boundaries whence does her ma
issys Government derive The right OF jurisdiction anu
soysreonIv papdnp the negotiation Until the 9ues.
,lu seiiiad either according to the lines OF The eay
or otherwise neither Government has tho right OF e2
cusively Judging Such po~erin either G"vefnment'
The undersigned mus, again repeat would be wholly IN
compatible with The just rights oil the oiher
In favor OF this claim of jurisdiction on The part of
Great Britain, the doctrine asserted by Lord abefoeen
and Lord Pume rslon 10 this, that the whole OF
Massachusetts belonged to the British Crown prior 10
the treaty of 1863, and part of her possessions:
that as treaty called for certain geographical lines or
boundaries which have been defined, hn remained
uusdjustsd the sovereignty and jursdction over The
whole Territory necessarily remains with Great Britain,
until the portion designated by the treaty spna'i"ns
shall be SCI apnrtrom The British aud assign.
ed 10 The u s. and that consequently. some other act
OF setting part the Territories Of The from Hose
of Great Broin must be performed 10 divest her Of
sovereignty and Jurisdiction.
Now if this doctrine he tested by lis consequences, 10
what would il lead: 1.-THE right yielded 10 Great
Rrain ia il not appare that The claim asserted The
part OF her Majesys Government, instead Of being IL
m,ediu its operation 10 the territory in dispute might,
upou the principle assumed he made TO reach 10 'he