The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-12
NORTHEASTERN BOUNDARY.


The following proceedings took place in the Senate
on Friday last
The doors being opened, after short executive
session,
Mr.. WALKER submitted the following resolution
for consideration.
Pesoirsd That the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tons be instructed TO inquire INTO the cxpedency Of
causing to be procured and submitted 10 the Senate
copies of the Debates in the British Parliament prior
to the year 1890 in relation to the Northeastern boun
dairy of the United States and copies of land titles
emanang from the British Government repugnant
in the calls of said titles to the boundary claimed
by said Government.
Mr.. PRESTON objected to the adoption of the
resolution presenting US in the aspect OF regulating
our proceedings by British legislation.
Mr. CRITTENDEN would suggest whether it
might not be possible that these debates made against
our claim to Il territory in dispute and if So would
ii not instead of strengthening, weaken the position
we a, present occupied IN relation to the matter
Mr.. WALKER said, the resolution was one Of in
quiry only the propriey of which would be decided
on ~ the appropriate committee. II that committee
upon mature delberation conceived the inquiry to be
important, il would be made and in submitting this
resolution he desired only to call their attention TO
the subject Mr. w said he had read one OF these
debates of the British Parliament and conceived It To
be of the utmost importance and that il ought to be
published in official form Tor the information of the
people of England of the people of the British pro-
vnces of the people of the United States and of the
civilized world. In that debate the boundary line,
as now claimed by Great Britain was distinctly repn-
dated by both branches of the British Parliament,
and by both parties the Opposition and the Ministry
in debate, too, contemporaneous with the treaty OF
1888 WI w also believed that land titles had cma-
mated from the British Government directly and CON
Trajectory in the calls of those titles to the boundary
now claimed by England, and he thought the whole
subject Of sufficient Importance to claim the attention
| of the Committee on Foreign Relations.
! Mr. WEBS TER said he agreed with the Senator
from Mississippi MIR. Walker to the importance
of these documents in shedding light on the true in
tent and meaning of the treaty of 1883 in relation to
the boundary between the United States and the Bri-
| tsh PROVINCES. II clearly established, in his mind,
that the treaty pursued the old boundary establish
ed by the charter OF the colony OF Massachusetts, and
| that the northwest corner Of Nora Scotia wa, the
starting point There was also an important admis-
sion made by the then Lord Chancellor the attacks
| of some of the Opposition members of Parliament.
They denounced the treaty granting large terrific
~ to this country, the possession of which ne
cessary to the convenience and safety OF their Cana
dian provinces. To this 1t was replied by the Lord
Chancellor that there nothing OF grant on eli her
side but they had taken the boundaries as they had
been previously established and that no treaty could
have been made upon any Other terms Throughout
the whole of these debates indeed, there is broad
admission by all parties 1i what this country has al
ways claimed as the boundary between this country
4 and the British Provinces
i MIR. BUCHANAN said that as this resolution
was Of mere inquiry, it might appear discourte-
GUS towards his friend from Mississippi Mr. Walker
TO oppose its adoption and he should do with great
reluctance Fit were pressed he would therefore pro
badly vote fol- IT, although IT appeared 10 him to be a
singular duty TO impose the Committee of Foreign
Relations Unqucstionably the debate in the British
Parliament TO which II referred of great i'm
portancc. 1t proved that shortly after the original
treaty was concluded, British statesmen of all parties
agreed that the line designated by it included within
the limits of the United States the territory now in
i dispute between the two Governments But why
should the Senate be made the instrument of commu-
ncaiing this debate TO the public Such course was
unprecentcd, so far as his knowledge extended THIS
information proper for the public and it might I've
communicated like all such information through the
agency of the public press. He thought this would
be the best and most appropriate course; and unless
his impressions should change he would act upon this
opinion, a member OF the Committee on Foreign
Relations, should the resolution be adopted.
/ He was glad of the present opportunity Of saying
few words on another branch OF the subject II had
been expected by some persons that the report Of
1 Messrs Nudge and Featherstonhaugh would be no