The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-31
NORTHEASTERN BOUNDARY.
The Report OF the Brl.i.h Commissioner.

Queen of the United Kingdoms TO explore the
region of our disputed Northeastern Boundary
having been placed in our hands, we have pc
rused II, 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, as well as for the
peace OF our own, we sincerely hope IL will NOD
| Tor ITS tendencies are far from pacific The peoy
| pie oil the United States are Just and generous,
having no desire To trench upon the rights of
Great Britain, TO claim foot of territory which
the treaties into which we have soemnly enter
ed do not plainly cover. But while we are ac-
tuated by such sentiments, and will patiently
bear, as we have hitherto borne, much wrong
before we will resort TO forcible measures for re-
dress, YET there is limit TO endurance-there is
point beyond which usurpaton IN no form,
will be tolerated, and we fear this report brings
US too near to il. II Great Britain persists
against the plain and manifest provisions Of the
treaty OF 1888, TO which she is party in claim
ing our territory there is but one issue left for
the honor of the country forbds, that we should
hesitate a moment 10 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 10 take II
from us by usurpalion than we can permit her
TO annex TO her Provinces the whole Of that State.
We cannot and shall not in this controversy,
she feels for a portion OF this territory to main
tain the communication between her Colonies
The question IS not what is convenient line
for her but where is the line established by the
treaty and 10 this point alone she must be firm
ly 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 embar-
easements, and contend for the establishment Of
a new line by agreement. But if the terms of
fhp frpaf ~ nah IN 1aay far I'M,
partial minds TO doubt, she can never justify
herself in delaying to run and mark the line;
and ii, In the spirit of selfishness she refuses 10
do II on the idle pretcnce that cannot ascer-
tain it, then il will become our duty, at all ha-
yards, TO establish that line, and maintain, with
the blood Of the country, our jurisdiction to it.
II we ialter on this point, or permit Great Brl-
tam to'take from US an inch OF territory without
right then should we be a debased and dishon-
ored people in the eyes of the world-too degra
ded TO maintain the inheritance purchased with
the blood and valor of our fathers. We are not
for war but while we deprecate that a great
evil, we think that there are greater evils and
among themth disgrace and degradation which
implies want of patriotism
After reading this report we believe that no
true hearted Amercan-no lover of this country
no one who chershes regard for its honor,
or desire for its integrity, will lay it down
without feelings of disgust There is a tone of
arrogance and assumption running through II, to
which the people of the United States can never
be reconciled. All antecedent authority, British
as well as American, is treated with contempt
when it does not tally with the views of the
commissioners. Our agents and engineers are
rebuked with scorn, and held up to the gaze of
the world as trickish, dishonorabo men-no
only as the authors of false arguments but OF
false and fictitious maps. The doings under
the joint commission of 1894, are without hest
tation denounced as 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 dividing the waters of the st.
Lawrence from those that fall into the sea, they
cross the valley Of the st. John, that stream it
self and its tributaries This is described as a
continuous unbroken range, while the elevation
which actually separates the valley of the St
John from the ST. Lawrence is called Scattered
Peaks, separated by intervening lowlands and
failing entirely TO answer to the treaty They also
assert that the measures of elevation, though
taken in the process of long continued and ella
borate surveys, both by British and American
engineers and topographers, absurdly erro
neous.
Such results reached by hurried expora
ton Of about two months, overturning the la
bors of years, must come well sustained by facts,
them evil omens-a disposition topush boldly on
with false pretenslon, regardless OF conse
quences-a disposition to wound the feelings
and rritate the sensbilties of the United
States-a spirit of usurpation which, if sane
toned by the British government, will rouse
this country up TO vindlCate its honor and main
tain It's integrity. Hence it is that we have read
the report with unfegned regret,
! In this article it is our purpose rather to ex-
anime some of the new grounds assumed than
to review this report and its appendix, consist
ing of SO folio pages. 1t is extremely difficult
to perform this task and make the reasoning in
telligible to the reader unless his geographical
knowledge is aided by map, but we will pre-
sent the matter in as clear and distinct a view as
possible
The United States claim to have their North
eastern 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 1883
This is Just and reasonable because both par
ties have agreed 10 It.
The United States allege that the provisions
Of the treaty are so clear as to admit of doubt
or misapprehenslon, and therefore nothing re-
mains to be done but to run out and mark the
line as the treaty requires.
Great Britain not being satisfied with the line
as claimed by the United States have at dfe-
rent PERIODS SCI up Inherent pretehsiohS soHt-
times contendlns Tor one route, sometimes Tor
another, and sometimes that the treaty IS too
vague and uncertain; that it cannot be executed
and therefore new line must be agreed upon
Ii is to be feared her objections TO our claim do
not so much rest in the uncertainty of the treaty
as in a desire on her part, TO possess portion
Of the territory which would by that line be
thrown into the United States, as il affords her,
in her estimation, the only convenient commu-
nication between the Canadas and her Atlantic
| Colonies. She, in TRUTH considers il the key
of her military operations, and thus essential IN
the government Of her wide spread Provinces