The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-31

,v;,h Tho treaty. that the King oil the Neither
lands could not be brought 10 adopt u, lie, IN
the exercise OF his wisdom, came TO the conclu-
sion that he could not find the line OF the treaty;
in other words that line could not he run d.
rectly north from the monument, and recon-
mended compromise by giving TO Great Brl-
tain the territory she so much desired But ms
| nroceedinrs have as they ought 10 be, been set
aside for he had no authority TO divide the terri
tory or to do more than ascertain me iine Oh tue
treaty Great Britain next assumed his ground,
that the terms Of the treaty were vague ana un-
| rertnin Now the commissioners come win a
new line for the charter and another for the trea-
~. as well as proof, that no one ever before
/ Thought Of that the Saint Lawrence range OF
highlands are separate and distinct from the
4 range in which the Connecticut Ilyer rises, and
that consequently there is chasm IN the natu-
raj boundary of the valleys. This exparte report
also announces TO the world that the topograph-
cal description of the country, hitherto gwen,
has been slngularly absurd and erroneous
Thus il appears that the opinions OF Great
britain have followed her interest-that until the
advantages resulting 10 her from the possession
1 ~ Tins territory were disclosed, she gave the
same construction 10 the treaty that we do--that
since then she has had no fixed settled consuuc-
ton but varies her views with change OF
agents and clrcumstances-tha all her move
mcnts and reasoning indicate but one purpose,
and that Is 10 appropriate to herself the river and
valley OF The Saint Johns. This can never be
done under the treaty of 1883, for nothing can
be more certain than that she has not shadow
of right To a large poriion Of II. she Affects a
great desire to settle the question IN an amicable
manner but does nothing except make PROBES
sions of friendship and keep possession OF the
/ territory She runs her mail across lt--marches
| her troops over it--erects barracks there-and
over most of il asserts the supremacy OF her laws.
| This state of things has been borne meekly by
| the United States, in hopes that she would desist
from her usurpalion. Our government, too, has
never appeared TO be heartily engaged in yind-
eating our rights. Mr. Livingston made shock
ing blunders in his diplomatic papers, and come
near to giving up part of the United States
without apparently being conscious of il.
Since then we have done better, but have
made no advancement Great Britain keeps
possession Of the territory and the chief that has
been done is 10 bow politely to each other, and
compliment the pacific disposition which pre-
walls. The President even communicated this
insulting paper to Congress without word OF
rebuke or complaint.
No doubt Great Britain will be satisfied with
this and will have no objection to spending
century in exploring and making reports. She
is determined to have the territory if ii can be
obtained by diplomatic ingenuity or such ex
parte, fallacous evidence as is contained in this
report. To this end, it is much to be feared,
that she will never agree TO the Northwest angle
of Nova Scotia That she will always be in
doubt about the highlands, and will make new
discoveries and propose new lines, but they will
always give to her the valley of the st. John.
She will pursue, there is too much reason to be-
lieve, this system of trihing long as she can,
and then she will be for new commissioning
deed one is now on the tapls-but it will come
to nothing, for we can as plainly see the result
as if il were on paper. The British Commits
soners, unless there is some change of policy,
| will agree TO nothing which does not cover the
| valley Of the Saint Johns. The American will
agree to no such thing, because this is not in
formity with the treaty. Here the matter will
end unless there is anew reference. This, Great
Britain will agree TO if she obtain potentate
over whom she holds the same influence that she
did over the King Of the Netherlands. Suppose
this to happen there will thus be a long trial be-
fore him, and decision which will be quite
likely to fall as stand, and thus the matter will
90 on, and Great Britain hopes by some lucky
occurrence TO obtain the territory, or to obtain it
by wearing out our patience. We ought not to
be satisfied with this. 1t is not compatible with
our honor or dignity as free people. We should
not suffer ourselves to play at game to see which
has the sharpest wit and may jockey the other.
/ This will answer for desperate case, when we
are desperate enough TO espouse such case, but
| it does not become us thus to hazard sacred and
Of settling this matter. If the typography has
not been satisfactorily asccrtaned let its true
/ character be known without delay. II it then
turns out as no doubt il will, that there's no diff
| 6cultv in executing the treaty, then we should
put stop to these unj Just delays and if Great
| Britain will agree to nothing except what suits
her interests, then let us assert our rights and
maintain them. 1t is folly 10 pursue this jockey
ing course of experimental arbitration for it de
serves no better appeative. II must depend on
Great Britain whether she will undertake TO
Wrcst from US part Of our country by violence.
4 il that be her purpose, much as we deprecate
4 war, we are ready to meet the contingency, Tor
we will cheerfully submit to any sacrifice, rather
than be dishonored and dlsgraced. While she
demands as right what belongs to US her
claim cannot be respected or submitted to, be the
consequences what they may when she acknow-
lodges our title, and seeks an accommodation
| through our territory, she will find us probably
less difficult to treat with. But il does not be-
come this or any other country 10 submit to arbi-
tratlon questions, raised upon rights upon which
there can be no doubt We have had most in
| stmctIvc lesson IN the reference already had be-
fore the King Of the Netherlands. We thought
our right SO plain, that there could be no msta-
king II, and vet such was the preponderating
4 power and influence of Great Britain, that we
came near TO sacrificing fourth of the territory
of Maine We cannot 60 safely into arbitration
/ upon such matters before monarchs for the pow
er Of corruption is all at work against us with
fearful odds in its favor There is no sympathy
with US, nor can we counteract bribery and cor
ruption by any means that can or ought to
employ Great Britain sees our position. She
sees how near she came so success in her late
4 experiment. and she will be for repeating it. If
there he no mistake III the typography, as repre-
sented by our engineers, there is nothing TO refer
unless il be the question whether line can be
run directly north from the monument 10 the
highlands, and this Is too PLAIN matter 10 admit
of consideration for a moment. This country
VIII come with rreai relnrlancn inin striG. with