The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-01-26
NORTH EASTERN BOUNDARY

J lie following proceedings which we copy ron
the Madisoniau, took place in the Senate on FRI
day.
The doors being opened, after short executive
session,
Mr. Walker submitted tho following resolution
for consideration,
pesoJ1ed. That the coynmiltee on Foreign Reia-
lions be instructed 10 inquire into the expealeney
of causing 10 be procured, and submitte" ~ ~ "; o
SENATE copies of the debates IN the britsn arr
rent prior TO the year lS2O, In reialion 10 l"1
north eastern boundary ofthe United States, ana
comics OF land titles emanating rom the bfnsh
Government repugnant IN the cals OF saio ul'es "
the boundary now claimed by said government
Mr. yreslol, objected 10 the adoption OF the reso-
Intion. as presenting us in the aspect of regulating
our proceedings by British Legislation.
Mr. Criitenden would suggest whether 1t might
not he possble that these debates made against our
claim to the territory in dispute, and, II So wouiu
i not instead of strengthening, weaken the posi-
ton We at present occupied in relation to the mat
ter
MIR Walker said, the resolution was one OF ihqu.
~ only, the propriety OF which would De oec'ueu
by the appropriate committee Ii that cohti''''ee'
mon mature elaboration, conceived the inquiry 10
be important, It would be made !; and in submit
ting this resolution, he desired only to call their
attention to the subject. Mr. w. said he mad READ
ore of these debates Of the British Parliament, and
conceived to be of the utmost importance, and that
it ought to be published in official form for the
information OF the people of England. ofthe peo-
ple of the British Provinces, of the people
of the United States, Of the civilized
world. In that debate, tue boundary line
claimed by Grert Britain, was distinctly repudiated
by both branches of the British Parliament, and by
both parlies, the Opposition and the Ministry, in
debate, too, contemporaneous with the treaty of
1888. Mr. w. also believed that land titles had e.
mana:ed from theBritish Government, directly and
contradictory IN the calls of those titles. 10 the
boundary now claimed by England land he thought
the whole subject Of sufficient importance to claim
the attention of the committee Foreign Rela-
tons.
Mr. Webster agreed with the Senator from Mis-
sissippi (Mr Walker) as to The importance of these
documents in shedding hight on the true intent and
meaning ofthe treaty of 1888, in relation TO the
boundary between the United States and the Brit
ish provinces. 1t clearly established, in his mind
that the treaty pursued The old boundary, estab
Iished by the charter of the colony OF Massachu
sets, and that The northwest OF Nova SEQ tia
was the starting point.-There was also an mpor
tant admission made by the then Lord Chancellor
to the attacks Of some of tho opposition members
OF Parliament lrhey denounced the treaty as grant
ing large territory 10 this country, the possess
ion OF which was necessary 10 The convenience
and safety of their Canadian provinces. To this
it was replied by the Lord Chancellor that there
was nothing oil grant on either side, but they had
taken the boundaries as they bad been previously
established, and that treaty could have been
made upon any other terms. Throughout
he whale of these debates indeed there is broad
admission by all parties of what this country has
alway claimed as the boundary between this coun
try and the British provinces.