The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-08-28
Frnn, the London Tines.
-THE MAINE BOUNDARY QUESTION

THE MAINE BOUNDhIt1 QCEo I1ON.
The report of Commissioners Nudge and
Featherstonhaugh upon the Northeastern boun-
dary of the British province OF New Brunswick
is among the most important documents that we
have ever read, and the most decisive as to the
merits Of a great international question:
ANY person who paid attention (and who has
nat0 to the clamors of the republican newspa-
ners for sone years past, must have been per.
shaded. had he not known better, that the citi-
zens of the state of Maine were set OF the most
onnressed and ill-used Of Gods creatures-lambs
TTdrr;ed by the providing wolves of England
tnrtIe-doves futtered in their nests-stricken
and signing sufferers under wantoA injury, with
whom the world must sympathize, and who well
deserved that every man able to use fre-lock
would Join in that appeal to arms which they
so long and Justify have threatened.
The nress of England, and the Times amongst
other Journals, have vaguely apprehended, with
o,,t direct inquiry, that the American claims had
I,ar+;aIIv though not entirely, some sort of
foundation in positive truth and justice, and that
= r,,,,t,,oI comnromise, or in other words a GER
t.,n sacrifice Of pretensions on both sides, might
he necessary towards an equitable adjustment
of the feud. Our own fear was that the claim
of England to the line OF boundary from Mars
hin (southwes) towards the source oil the Con
necticut river might, by reference TO history
PI,oss;blv have had to bride America by sum o
money into a peaceable acquiescence in the de
mand of a road or some narrow strip OF TERRITORY
along which to carry our indispensable commu
nieafions between Fredericton and Quebec.
n was assumed as almost certain, that wher'
there was so much smoke, there must have beef
some shark of fire-that where there was su;i
confident and vehement assertion, there couit
scarcely fail to be some plausible pretence Where
on to Justify or excuse lt-and that, IN iact,
Maine Ivasnot altogether in the right, twas ou
Of tbe ouestioa but that England must be to q
Considerable extent mistaken. We shared thai
impression. so prevalent of late years amongst
our countrymen, and should, according to the
blindness OF our credulity, have, not reluctant
lv. compounded for surrender OF some portion
of the national claim
From sush necessity it is most gratifying to
be convinced by the official report above alluded
tn. that Great Britain stands henceforth COM
pletely and finally relieved
IT has seldom occurred to us to meet In the
course Of any political controversy, demonstra-
t;on 90 triumphant as that brought forward on
tbe part of Colonel Nudge and Mr. Feather
stonbaugh in support OF right so holly and per
tinaciously disputed. The temper, the diligence,
the reasoning power, the thorough knowledge Of
their subject in all its branches, and their iuclc
d N~@N
di6cult matter which are presented by the re
mort Of these able gentlemen, must do them tn.
highest honor both here and in America, although
prsise from the latter quarter may no doubt b
hut erudp1nsly bestowed. Indeed, after the dis
appointmept which this decisive paper will have
inflicted upon tie confident anticipations OF many
thousands of sanguine minds among our neigh
bors, we cannot wonder, and ought scarcely te
blame them for showing signs OF considerable
dissatisfaction. We trust, however, that the
rood sense Of Americ a, when it has had time tt
operate. and the respect for justice, which be
longs 70. as it ought to be inherent in, free
people. boasting Of the fairness of their foreign
policy and the wisdom of their domestic nstitu
lions, will ere long smooth down any angr!
sentiments which may have been excited by Uni
occurrence, and will leave unimpaired snd un
interrupted their friendly relations WIN Urea
Britain. t.T
1t would be an attempt at once irksome and su
perhuous for our readers to follow us through al
analysis of the facts and arguments which con
stitute the body Of prosf in this report. 1t ma.
suffice to state, as the result Of the labors as
signed to the commissioners, that they have sat
isfactorily ascertained, by strict Investigation
of the face of the country, by an Industrious pc
rusal and comparison OF charters, treaties, trans
fers Of territory and other historical records, tn
absolute and indisputable conformity between
the intent and spirit of the treaty Of 1888 an,
the demarcatiens Of territory originally contend
cd for by Great Britain, that no portion of tn
stdisputedp districts ever could, under the al
thority Of that treaty, or with any colour Of jus
tice. have been claimed BY the United States
that the award Of the King Of Holland, whicl
transferred 10 the republic about three-fiths Q