The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-26

The proposal of>Presldent Jackson 70 vary "' 'A'
north line and TO run the line even to the northeast
IL necessary, in order to strike the highlands was
departure from the explicit terms OF the treaty anu ="
abandonment Of the rights Of Maine This proposal
will introduce utter uncertainty and confusion wheie
an before was clear and definite for if the lands sepa
,ang the waters mentioned and which the highest
between those waters are not the highlands contem
Mated in the treaty because they are only one OF TWO
thousand feet higher than the tide waters the ques-
ton may be asked hor many thousand feet are neces-
sary TO constitute the highlands Suppose the lands
AZ north northwest should he three thousand feet high
and our Government should assert that these must be
the highlands of the treaty and suppose the lands az
northwest from the monument--th this line cutting on
millions Of the acres Of Maine not run in dispute
should be four thousand feet high and the British
Government should assert that these must be the high
lands of the treaty; how the controversy be set
tledl According to the definite description Of the
treaty highlands separating certain matters, can be
6und but this character OF the highlands be ahan
doned and nep character that Of absolute height be
introduced who can determine that height This
would be introducing point Of dispute and rem
der the controversy nterminable
g. The rights Of Maine perfectly clear. Her
boundary plainly line due north from the ST Croix
TO the highlands near the river ST. Lawrence.
Yet here it must be confessed, difficult question
arises, whether in dispute concerning the boundary
between the United States and foreign country there
must not necessarily be power in our General Go
vernment to settle the point even without the consent
of Maine Are the peace and the prosperity OF the
4
26 States Of conederacy TO be interrupted and de-
stroyed on account of the claims OF of those States
to part of its territory which is in itself of very little
uence and for the loss Of which, if It be lost
ample compensation might be offered by Congress
In all must not the parc uar interest yield to
the general In laying out canal Of railroad for
the general good what individual claim, that the
canal or the road shall not pass through his land
Besides, what seems clear right to Maine may not
seem to the General Government and of this there
deriate from the north line
In conclusion, what shall now be done is most
interesting and important question to be acted upon by
our General Government
Among the courses which may be adopted will
mention the following
/. Let the American Government propose to the
British Government even at this late hour and not
whstanding the vote of the Senate, the acceptance
of the auard of the King Of Holland Maine has
alleged that it not decision but matter of adj
vice; but this is mistake for the King in his
speaks of his desire to make "une decision scrupu
leuse mpartale and then proceeds to declare what
it is And in case the award is adopted let Maine be
amply remunerated and this is all she wants for the
loss of cold corner of her territory,
2. Let the Government ask the consent of Maine
to enter upon discussion for settlement with full
power to make the settlement
3 In case of refusal on the part of Maine,-let the
settlement be made in disregard of the claims of Maine
or let Congress inform Maine that she must man
age the matter in her way, and if she chooses,
fight Great Britain g on her own hook" without any
aid from 25 States of the Union.
have before an Exposition of the causes
and consequences of the Boundary differences be-
tween Great Britain and the United States subse-
quently to their djustment by arbitration drawn up
in 1889 at the request of the Chamber of Commerce
of Sheffield, England, by DAVID URauHART, Esq.
The writer maintains, that the award is still binding
in the British Government notwithstanding the CON
sent Of Lord Palmerson TO waive it, He makes the
singular suggestion p ~ that in the treaty of 1888
there substitution of the word g north" for
the word pest, from the source of the st. Croix y
This direction, he says, wuuld avoid the difficulties
Of intermediate waters between the ST. Lawrence and
the Atlantic"
This seems a very clear admission of the correct
ness Of the American view of the Boundary line of
the treaty Yet his argument to prove, that the award
is still binding Great Britain is worthy of consider
alton by our Government more especially as, in the
present state of the question: neither party hope
for more favorable decision in case Of a award
President Van Buren, with Just view of the
power of the General Government, even independent
ly of the consent Of Maine, has believe announced
his readiness to enter upon new arbitration.
A.