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

PARSONS have been made between the
height of Mars hil md that of different
parts OF the highlands which divide the
streams OF the ST. Lawrence from those OF
the Atlantic. Even in this they have tail.
ed because il has been shown that The
SUBMITS Of the more elevated portions OF
the treaty highlands are considerably above
that Of Mars hill, the highest point on the
ridge claimed by Great Britain. The com
mttec, however, deem such n question TO
be wholly immatcria. When highlands
are spoken Of as dividing waters flowing in
different directions, the meaning is pla n
From the very nature OF things, they
must exist and slope off in opposite d..
reclions; but whether they consist OF Ia
Bile land, of mountains or even OF swamp,
still II there be a height Of land, from which
streams flow down ~ d fhrent directions,
this is sufficient ii is not tholr elevation,
but their capacity to divide, which gives
them their character.
IT is strange that The mere incidental mention OF
the Bay of Fundy in the treaty, though not at all
in connection with The 81. John, which is not even
named, should have been the foundation of The
Whole supeisIructure of the British argument. The
reason why it was mentioned AZ all is obvious. II
class Of rivers, flowing into that bay, distinct from
those flowing into the ST. Lawrence and the At
lanlc, rs the British government contend: but
merely tpr the purpose Of specifying win greater
precision, the commencement OF the eastern boun-
dairy Of the w. States. Several rivers in that por-
tion Of the country had borne the name Of ST. Crox;
from the fact that the early French navgalors, &C.
tuaed by motives Of pety bad planted Il cross at
their mouth when they were first discCvered.-
Hence it was necessary in specify ing the beginning
OF our eastern boundary. TO state that II was W
the middle Of that st Croix, which had its mouth
IN the Bay Of Fundy. Notwithstanding this de-
scrpion it has been seen, that which was the true
st. Croix became subject Of dispute between the
! two governments. Still both parties were prevent
ed from claiming that any river which did not flow
into that bay was the ST. Crox Of the treaty.
| Inc Bay OF Fundy has been twice mentioned ~
/ the treaty. Ailer starting at the northwest angle
Of Nova Scotia, and thence sweeping round the
| boundaries Of the United States to this Bay, il was
necessary oiiX, precisely possible, the toint
at which our eastern boundary commenced. This
was essential for "A double purpose. In the first
place 1t was the extreme northern point from which
a line was 10 he run due east twenty leagues into
the ocean, according to the treaty; within which
space the United States were entitled to all the
islands along their coast, except such as were
within the limits Of Nova Scotia ; and in the second
place il was the point from which Our eastern line
gle Of Nova Scotia.
Had the commissioners ommitted 10 fix this point
with as great precision as they could, they would
have been guilty ofcu lpahle neglect. Having done
50 and having mentioned the Bay ofFundy as that
part OF the ocean in which the st CroX has itr
mouth the British government have used it, not
merely as it was intended, to mark the eastern
boundary Of the United States, but to render the
whole treaty, so far rs the northeastern boundary
is concerned, absurd, uncertain, and void. Surely
the commissioners never could have loreseen sucl
. result. The language Of this portion Of the treat!
is as follows
; ''East by line TO be drawn along the middle 0
| the river ST. CroiX from its mouth in the Bay o
Funhy to It's source, and from its source, directl,
north 10 the aforesaid highlands, which divide thu
, rivers that fail INTO the Atlantic ocean, from los
which fall into the river S Lawrence, comprehend
ing all islands within twenty leagues Of any par,
the shores Of the United States, and lying between
l lines to be drawn due east from the points wher
the a, Oresaid boundaries between Nova Scotia o.
g the one part, and East Florida on the other, sha
O respectively touch the Bay Of Fundy and tho Aa"
tic ocean excepting suoi, Islands as are now
G heretofore have been within the limits OF said pro
vince of Nova Scotia"
Upon the whole the conmite do not entertain
doubt Of the tile OF the United States TO tn
whole of the disputed territory. They go further
:. and state lhat if the general government be nc
s both able and willing TO protect The territory OF eac
C Safe nviolale then it will have proved itself IL
!. capable of performing of its frs, and hghe
S duties. They feel an abiding reliance, however,
4 the inherent sense of justice of the British Cover
g ment. As soon as that Government shall becom
- convinced that the disputed territory belongs TO tt
!, United States, which they persuade themselves WI
II be the case at no distant day, mpelled by a desi'
c Of preserving inviolate the faith Of treaties, il W
II hasten to reInquish its pretensions In that even
The committee entertain not doubt but that III
5, long contested and dangerous question may be Sc
C tied to the mutual satisfaction Of both Government