The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-20

Thos. Allen.
The Madisonian ieiH operairoT the Administra-
hon. Globe, 1887.
NORTH EASTERN BOUNDARY.
Review Of the Report Of the British Commis-
sioners.
CONCLUDED.
In our last paper we examined at some length,
the principal new views presented by Messrs.
Nudge and Featherstonhaugh. We now beg
the patient attention of our readers to a few ad-
ditional considerations.
The British commissioners reiterate the old argu-
ment, that the river ST. Johns does not fall into the
Atlantic ocean. lfths can be made out the purpose
of showing that the treaty be executed will be
accomplished as they contend for they argue that no
line running directly north from the monument can
fall upon highlands whose rivers run into the Atlantic
side, and into the ST. Lawrence on the other
The St. Johns rises probably one hundred and seven
ty miles northwcserly Of the monument It's sources
therefore lay farther west than the monument, while
its mouth is farther east line therefore drawn di
rectly north from the monument win cross that river
before il reaches the north west angle of Nova Scotia
which is upon the highlands that divide the rivers
that fall into the Atlantic from those that fall into the
St Lawrence The line which stretches along south
westward from the angle is TO pass along these high
lands SO dividing the waters and would run along
the dividing line between the sources of the ST Johns
and those Of the ST. Lawrence most of the distance
the Chaudiere river they contend that the highland
does not answer to the treaty the waters of the ST.
Johns the south side do not fall into the Atlantic
ocean.
This conclusion does not follow if the premises arc
well taken, because line drawn directly north from
the monument does not fall upon that part of the high
lands which furnishes to the ST. Johns but to
the Restqouche whc his river east Of the St. Johns
and discharges itself into Chaeures bay-they must
therefore prove not only that the St. Johns does not
fall into the Atlantic ocean, but that the Restgouche
does not and free to say there is as good rea
son for maintaining the ono as the other
The whole argument stands on the fact that these
rivers find their way to the ocean through bays the
first is for that said fall into Fundy and the
latter with equal justice may be said to fall into Cha
leures.
The ground assumed is, that river running into
bay or sound, does not fall into the sea- but into the
bay or sound II this be true bays and sounds are no
part OF the ocean But we believe this to be quite too
limited meaning to the words Atlantic ocean when
eployed in the comprehensive designed by the
commissioners who made the treaty of 1888 Bays
sounds inlets and harbors as much parts of
the the open space Of water between US and
Europe They all belong to the great Atlantic, and
60 to make up the great ocean, for they are all one
common undivided Of water Their having
names in no respect changes the fact, but leaves
Chaleures and Fundy as much parts Of the ocean az
they were before the were assigned All that
can be said is that they places in the ocean bear
ing names-Liverpool and London are not the less
parts Of England because they have names the
United States the less part of North America be-
cause they are known under this designation.
But whether this be deemed conclusive or not,
river which through bay does in fact fall into
the ocean, and all great rivers are usually spoken Of
as falling into the ocean, and yet perhaps there is not
an instance in which would reach the ocean upon
the British view of this question for we doubt
whether one of any considerable magnitude can be
found which does not first enter water by some other
name. Can IT be said that the English Channel or
St Georges Channel, or the North sea, or the CULTS
OF st Lawrence or Mexico parts of the ocean7
or that river running into through Them does not
fall into the ocean, The ocean is every where con
sideed the receptacle Of rivers and the waters
of rivers by the universal understanding of mankind
are considered as dischargng themselves into il,
though It may be reached through bay or water by
another name.
If the makers Of the treaty did not mean this it is
impossible To comprehend them for all the rivers from
the Connecticut to the Resguoche, inclusive of both,
which have their sources in the highlands in ques-
ton, find their way to the through waters Of
some other name The Connecticut, through Long
Island Sound; the Andresooggin and Kennebcc,
through the bay Of Sagadahoc the Penobsco through
bay Of the same name; the st. Johns, through the
bay Of Fundy; and the Restiquoche, through the
bay of Chaleurs They could refer other rivers
but these, because there none and il the obicc.
ton is well taken TO one il is alike applicable to all
and the description which was made to prevent all
future disputes is without meaning, because wholly
inapplcable to the end in view
What is still more striking and conclusive is the
iact, that Mr.. Mtches map, published in IT'S, is
agreed to have been before the makers of the treaty
an authority Tor the topography of this portion Of the
country This map contained its face all these ri
"ers, ana bays, and their name inscribed upon them
and yet we are told the commissioners did no, mean
river that falls into hay What did thew mean 4
what could they mean BY rivers falling into the Al
lantic ocean, They had some rivers n v;ou, -,
yet there none in existence hut thee rbo,
saw the bays on the map, with their names inscribed
upon them, and the rivers dscharging into them and
yet never occurred to them that these rivers did no,
hli INTO the ocean. But this line along the highlands