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


then under her jurisdiction and she employed IAN
puaqe 10 describe il which she deemed suitable and
peunent We find il in the Kings proclamation es-
tabishna and fixing limits TO the government OF Que
hee we also find il in act of Parliament in liza
in The commissions Of the Governors Of the Pro
,inces. as well in all official papers where il was
necessary to assign limits 10 the jurisdiction and il
i uniformly described without any substantial yara
ton, as line drawn along The highiaHds irhieh bride
tie rirrs Hat empty themselves into the 81. Lar-
renee from those that fan info the This, when
we consider that Miichels map is an English autho
ny and had then long been published and that Great
Britain Familiarity acquainted with all these bays,
and the mouths Of all these rivers and well knew there
were none other, would seem to be conclusive as to
her opinion this point. When she spoke of the
divided waters, she meant by those falling into the
sea-these rivers and none other. Can we, with this
evidence before us believe her serious in setting up
this distinction thought Of before at the time
| Of making the treaty Remarkable the fact may
seem, il is nevertheless true that this idea originated
after the making of the treaty of Client in 1914. In
| 1884, as had already been stated there joint
commission TO ascertain the of the river st.
Croix, and there great examination and much
discussion in regard to the waters intended by the
treaty. In that discussion the British agent claimed
the commissioners in their report do, the head
OF the western branch the intended The
American agent contended for a stream east of the
ST Crox but the commissioners decided the question
and erected the monument where il is and doubt
rectly. The argument Of the British agent was that
tbs branch conomed to the charter line of 1921.
He admitted that the line must directly north
and must the ST. John, and be continued to the
place where the waters were turned down to the st.
Lawrence, His reasoning was almost exclusively
founded on thsl construction of the treaty, and his
chief anxiety seemed TO be to at point
far west leave all the of the Restgouche
in the British provinces This argument comedies all
we have claimed as to the Northwest angle of
Nova Scotia No idea had then been entertained of
running the line in any direction but north and
of stopping short of the ST. John or the highlands of
the St Lawrence. Nor such suggestion
made till after the late war; when Great Britain had
had become acquainted with the great convenience
sulting from communication between her provinces
across Maine. The treaty of Ghent provided for as
certaining this boundary and from the time the sur
veys commenced under that treaty forward we have
been met with doubts and dfculties--and new lines
the end Of all which to transfer the territory TO her
h0 eoiiiSsiohcI LOON sthnu NJ WARS
! Hill and line westerly from that to the Chau-
| diere-but this obscure and inconsistent with
the treaty. that the King of the Netherlands could not
be brought TO adopt it, He in the exercise of his wis
DOM came to the conclusion that he could find the
line Of the treaty in other words that line could not
be run directly north from the monument, and re-
commended compromise by giving to Grsat R.:s.;a
the territory she much desired. But his proceed
-. Al.
had no authority to divide the territory do more
than ascertain the line Of the treaty Great Britain
assumed his ground that the terms of the treaty
were vague and uncertain. Now the commissioners
come with new line for the charter and another for
the treaty, well proof that one ever before
thought of that the Saint Lawrence range Of high
lands separate and distinct from the range which
the Connecticut river RISES and that consequently
there is chasm in the natural boundary of the valleys
This pate report also announces the world that
the typographical description Of the country hitherto
given, has been singularly absurd and erroneous
Thus it appears that the opinions of Great Britain
have followed her interest-that until the advantages
resulting to her from the possession of this territory
were disclosed she gave the construction TO the
treaty that we do-that since then she has had no fixed
settled construction but varies her views with change
81 agents and circumstances-that all her movements
and reasoning indicate but purpose and that is
appropriate to herself the and valley Of the Saint
Johns. This can never be done under the treaty of
1888, for nothing can be more certain than that she
has not shadow ofrght to large portion oft, She
affects great desire to settle the question in an ami
cable manncr-but does nothing except make profess
sons OF friendship and keep possession of the terrific
ry She runs her mail it-marches heI troops
over iterects barracks therc-and over most Of it as
serts the supremacy her laws. This state of things
has been borne meekly by the u States in hopes that
she would dcsist from her usurpation. Our govern
ment too has appeared to be heartily engaged
in vndicating rights. MIR. Livingston made
shocking blunders in his diplomatic papers, and come
to giving up part of the U States without appa
rently being conscious it.
Since then have done better but have made no
advancement. Great Britain keeps possession of the
territory, and the chief that has been done is to bow
politely TO each other, and compliment the pacific dis
position which prevails. The President even conmu-
ncated this insulting paper to Congress without a
word Of rebukc complaint.
No doubt Great Britain will be satisfied with this
and w'il have no objection to spending century in
exploring and making reports. She is determined to
nave 'hc 'crIitory ~ can De obtained by diplomatic
ingenuity or such OK parte, faacous eveence as is
contained in this report To this end is much to be
feared that she will never agree 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 believe this system of trng as
long as she can, and then she will be for a new com
mission-indeed one is the tapis-but il will
come to nothing for we plainly see the result
as iit were on paper The British Commissioners,
unless there is change of policy will agree TO