The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-03-24
FOR PRESIDENT,
VIM. Henry Harrison,
OF ONO.
FOR VICE PRESIDENT,
John Tyler,
OF VIRGINIA.
THE BOUNDARY QUESTION, &c.

THE BOUNDARY QUESTION, &c.
The settlement of this question cannot but be
regarded as more distant than it was one year ago.
II has been permitted TO pass along with little, if
any sincere effort to secure its speedy adjustment
Had Lord Molbourn occupied the Presidential
Chair instead of Martin Van Buren,, tho results OF
the past year in relation to this subject could have
been hardly less favorable to Great Britain than
they now are. Had the President not ordered the
State Of Maine 10 ''buck OUT from the position she
assumed last year, and had only encouraged her to
drive the British out of the territory and line the
outer limits with Notifications, had this been done
England would, no doubt, ere this, have fully
abandoned her fdsessrounded claim. But now she
has taken courage at our cowardice, and laughs at
the mbeciIe and pusilanmous conduct Of those at
the head of our Government.
We need the the head of affairs whom
Col. johnson declares "never lost battle
man that humhled the proud Proctor, ard drove
the British from the North Western fontier,-
England would behold him as an old acquaintance
before whose prowess her best soldiers found it
convenient to retreat. Our Correspondent "Jef-
ferson" in the following remarks, takes the right
view OF the subject
MR EDIroR:-It is with no little concern that |
have read OF late from week to week the accounts
relative to the North Eastern Boundary Question,
ment of the dispute seem less and less favorable.
When the temporary arrangement was entered
into year ago between the Secretary of State at
Washington and the British Minister, Mr. FoA, it
was the general expectation of the whole country
That it would be followed by some prompt action
the part Of the President 10 enforce proner set
Element Such was the tenor of Mr. Van Buren, ;
communication, through Mr. Forsyth, 10 the Gov.
ernor of Maine, and such the communication TO
Congress. But year has passed, and what Steps
have been taken by our Government either TO pro-
cure the peaceabc adiustment oflhe dispute. or to
prepare for the maintenance of our rights should
Great Britain resort to force.
1t seems hardly probable now that Great Britain
will acknowledge claim. She has improved
the season Of our delay for constructing extensive
Notifications not only against the disputed territory
but at various points the Canadian frontier e,i
IDENTITY with the intention of enforcing her claim Mt
the point of the bayonet, while our Government
have not appropriated a dollar for any correspond
ing Qualifications.
NO doubt we possess the ability by land to repeI
any aggressive movement on the part of England
and ultimately to drive them from their i'll gotten
possessions on our borders but it mus, lie at an
expense OF Dlood ana treasnle wholly unnecessary
and which might be saved by timely preparation
The well tried proverb Gin peace prepare for war
seems wholly neglected by our Government, ,bej,
whole energies seeming to be engrossed in ouurrels
upon the currency and the domestic institutions Of
the States.
have spoken of our ability to meet the British,
by land. might speak with equal confidence of
our Naval prowess if circumstances were equal
The splendid Naval victories achieved bv orr
countrymen during the last war, leave no room to
doubt that with proper preparation we could meet
them successfully on the ocean. But whicEnojand
has been constantly augmenting her navy what has
been done by tho American Government since Con
Jackson's first election? The PonnsvIvani. "a
then partially built, has been completed, and soma
of orr old riga,es have been repaired. and recently
a small steam frigate has been built n, phin-
delphd, and this tells the story of our naval prepor
atoms. Our harbors IN u miserable stare NJ
defence, and most of them may easily be entered
by the steam vessels of England
1t seems hardly pardonabe that our Government
should have entirely overlooked tho necessitv of
steam vessels of war Groat Rrtai,
has at the present time 81 steam frgates ready for
active service And without more or less Of the
Of n war; from picking up merchant men at
pleasure, and even cutting them out Of our harbors
in sight OF our heavy armed vessels? Were the
skill and courage of our gallant tars and marines