The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-16
THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN, TICKET.
NORTH EASTERN BOUNDARY.
The Report of the British Commissioners r.,

stonnaugn, VINO were appointed by the Queen OF the
United Kingdoms TO explore the region Of our dis
Puted Northwestern Boundary, having been placed
in our hands, we have perused it, and examined the
maps with feelings Of surprise and regret We are
not aware that this document has, in any way, been
sanctioned by the Government Of Great Britain and
for the honor Of that country well for the peace
Of our own, sincerely hope will not for its ten
denotes are far from pacific. The people Of the United
States just and generous, having no desire to
trench upon the rights of Great Britain or TO claim
foot of territory which the treaties into which we have
socmnly entered do not plainly cover But while we
are actuated by such sentiments and will patiently
bear, as we have hitherto borne, much wrong before
we will resort to forcibe for redress yet
there is limit to endurance-there is point beyond
which usurpation, in form, will be tolerated and
we fear this report brings too to it, If Great
Britain persists against the plain and manifest provi-
sions Of the treaty of l7S3 to which she is party in
claiming territory there is but issue left for
the honor Of the country forbds that should hest
tate moment to repel false pretensions by force No
matter how important portion of the territory OF
Maine may be to her Britannia Majesty, we can no
more allow her to take il from by usurpation than
we permit her TO to her Provinces the whole
of that State. We cannot and shall not in this
troyersy listen to any argument respecting the
sity she feels for portion Of tn territory maintain
the communication between her Colonies. The ques-
ton is not what convenient line for her but where
the line established by the treaty. and this point
alone she must be firmly held So far as there is
doubt or difficulty in ascertaining this Boundary by
the terms of the treaty. she may avail herself of those
embarassments, and contend for the establishment OF
line by agreement. But if the terms of the
treaty such as to leave for impartial minds
to doubt, she justify herself in delaying to
run and mark the line and it. in the spirit of selfish
ness she refuses to do the idle pretence that we
cannot ascertain it, then it will become our duty, at
all hazards to establish that line, and maintain, with
the blood Of the country, jurisdiction to it. If we
falter this point, permit Great Britain TO take
from inch of territory without right then should
be debased and dishonored people in the eyes of
the world-too degraded to maintain the inheritance
purchased with the blood and vaor of our fathers
We not for war; but while we deprecate that as
great evil think that there greater evils and
among them that disgrace and degradation which i'm
plies want of patriotism.
After reading this report we believe that no true
hearted Amercan-no lover of this country-no one
who cherlshes regard for its honor or desire for its
integrity, will lay it down without feelings of disgust
There is tone of arrogance and assumption running
through it, 10 which the people of the United States
can never be reconced. All antecedent authority
British well American is treated with contempt
when it does not tally with the views of the commits
sloners Our agents and engineers rcbuked with
scorn and held up the gaze of the world as rickish
dishonorabe men-no, only as the authors of false
arguments, but of false and fictitious maps. The do
ngs, under the Joint commission of 1894, are without
hesitation denounced erroneous and the British
government substantially invited TO disregard them
A range of new highlands never before known or
thought of with like confidence represented as the
true highlands of the treaty. though instead of d.
yidng the waters of the ST Lawrence from those that
fall into the sea- they the valley of the St John
that stream itself, and its tributaries This is des
crbed continuous unbroken range, while the ele
walton which actually separates the valley of the ST
John from the St Lawrence is called Scattered Peaks
separated by intervening lowands and falling entirely
to to the treaty. They also assert that the
measures of elevation though taken in the process of
long continued and elaborate surveys, both by British
and American engineers and topographers, are alb
surdly erroneous.
Such results reached by hurried exploration of
about two months, overturning the abors of years
must come well sustained by facts, before we can lend
them our belief, We in them evil omens-a dis
position to push boldly on with false pretenson, re-
CARELESS of Consequences disposition 10 wound the
feelings and irrate the sensblities of the United
Statesa spirit Of usurpation which il sanctioned by
the British government will this country up to
vindicate its honor and maintain its integrity Hence
it is that have read the report with uneigned re
greet
In this article it is our purpose rather to examine
of the grounds assumed than TO review this
report and its appendix, consisting of 50 folio pages.
1t is extremely difficult perform this task and make
the reasoning ineligible to the reader, unless his
geographical knowledge is aided by map but will
present the matter in as clear and distinct view
possible
The United States claim to have their Northeast
ern Boundary, which separates them from the British
provinces established according to the provisions Of
the treaty between them and Great Britain entered
into and ratified in 1888. This Is just and reasonable
because both parties have agreed to it.
The United States alegc that the provisions Of the
treaty clear not to admit Of doubt or msap-
prehension and therefore nothing remains be done
but to out and mark the line the treaty requires
Great Britain not being satisfied with the line as
claimed by the United States have at different periods
Get up different pretensions sometimes contending
for one route, sometimes for another, and sometimes
that the treaty is too vague and uncertain that il
cannot be executed and therefore line must be
agreed upon 1t is to be feared her objections to our
claim do not so much rest in the uncertainty Of the
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