Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1839-05-23
THE TELEGRAPH.
B AT H NJ E:
THURSDAY MORNING. MAY 20.
THE BOUNDARY QUESTION.

On the first page, the reader will find the
correspondence recently held between MIR.
Stevenson and Lcrd Palmerston, respect
ing our N. Il. Boundary, TO which we al
luded, in our last. From this correspond
ence, il may be learned, that Mr.. Van Blu
rem had instructed Mr.. Stevenson, to ask
the British Government, whether, in hdr
opinion, it would be necessary to send
special minister TO that Court, az directed
by Congress! Perhaps this step may be
considered perfectly right, and quite indie
pendent withal we should suppose, how
ever, that "tbe party" after finding so
much fault with Gov Kent, for simply no
Jying Sir John Harvey, that he should do
so and so, would be rather al loss 10 JUS
tify the President, for humbly asking her
Majesty's government, i he might tit a
mounts to ,his) do thus and TO- We could
very readily have made allowance, if Coy.
Fairfield, had in the first instance made
some proposition to Sir John, for his CO.
operation, in respect to the trespassers, al
though this was by no means necessary, in
in our opinion; but after having heard SO
much Of patriotic Indignation, and preiend-
ed jealousy for honor, from the tory press,
in this State, we cannot Disguise our NOR
LITIGATION and surprise, n, this unexpected
and cringing act of servity, On the pnr Of
the President.
We do not pretend, THAI any necessity
existed for he appointment Of n Special
Minister MIR Van Buren, was anthoriz-
ed by Congress, TO decide that question, in
his own mind, not to submit the matte 10
the British Government, (wlose interests,
on this subject, are directly adverse to ours
for their decision. 1t is By no means like
ly, that they would readily acquiesco in, or
recommend any measures, TINT would ;erd
to deprive them Of the whole, or AIRY parl
Of an extensive and important claim, 20
which, they pretend to have "A just r'ehl!
But instead of this, as if doubtful Of his
own Judgment, or fearful Of affronting her
Majesty, Mr.. Van Buren,, as we view the
matter, throws off the whole responsibility
from his own shoulders, course perfectly
in keeping with his past history, and SUBJ
mlls the question, he alone should decide,
to the party, that above all should MT be
consulted, in measure of this character
But tchat method do the British Govern
ment propose, in order to facilitate the fin
al adjustment Of this long-standing and i'm
portant controversy? Why,"lhe only course
left open," says Lord Palmerston, "lor
the two governments, with view TO arrive
at a solution of the CONTROVERSY, is to cause
a fresh survey of the territory to be made,
for the purpose of endeavoring to trace up
on the ground itself the line of the treaty
of 1888; and the undersigned is sending
to Mr.. Fox, for the consideration OF the
President, a draft of a convention for
the purpose Of regulating the pro-
ceedngs of the commissioners to be ap-
pointed by the two Governments for this
end; and her Majesty's Government hope
that The report Of these commissioners wiil
either settle the question at issue, or furnish
to the taoo Governments such Information as
may lead directly to settlement. And here
we have q rehearsal of the British policy
cunningly devised plan, to put off, and
procrasinae for years longer, to an indefi-
mite extent, question, that has already
engrossed more than fifty years partial con-
sideraion. Here we have the secret, mhy
the British Government, see no necessity
for our government to send a special envoy,
and why tie seat Of negotiations should
not be changed They very well know.