Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-09-17

US. while desire to preserve harmony, ands dispo
sition to yield literally TO mutual convenience 50
strongly ne,e US, to come together and TO unite on
a line by agreement
IL appears to 10 your lordship's opinion that the
line Of the ST. Johns from the point where the north
line Of the ST Crox strikes that river, up TO some
one Of its sources, evidently suits both parties, with
an exception, however, OF that part OF tho MAZDA
wasks settlement, which is the south side OF the
St Johns, which you propose should be included
within the Britirh territory. That on a line oy
agreement the 81. Johns for some distince upward
from its intersection by the line running north iron,
the 81. Croix. would be very convenient boundary
Tor the two parties, is readily ADMITTED; but - a
very important question how far NJ, and to vhch
OF the sources OF this river this ue should extend.
Above Madawaska, the course Of this river turns
to the SOUTH and stretching away toward the sources
OF the Penobscot, leaving far TO the north the hoe
of communication between New Brunswick anu
Canada. That line departs from the ST. Johns al
together near Msdawaska, and keeping principally
upon the left or north bank Of the Madawaska, and
proceeding by way of Temisconata Lake, reaches
the ST. Lawrence at the mouth of the river Du-
Lour.
There are, then, two important subjects for con
sderation
First. Whether the United States can agree to
cedc, relinqush or cease to claim any part Of the
territory west OF the north line from the ST. Croix
and south OF the ST. Johns. And think It but
candid 10 say, at once that we see insurmountable
objections TO admitting the line to come south OF the
river. Your lordship's observations upon the pro-
prie;y OF preserving the unity Of the Madswsska
settlement, are, IN great measure. Just and alto b
gether founded. doubt not in entirely good mo-
tives. They SAVIOUR of humanity and a Kind regard
TO the interests and feelings of individuals But
the difficulties seem insuperabc. The river, as your
lordship remarks, seems a natural boundary, and IN
this part of II, to run in convenient direction Ii
IS a line always clear and ndisputable. II We de-
part from 1t, where shall fad another boundary,
equally natural. equally clear, and conforming TO
the same general course1 departure from the
line of The river, moreover, would open new ques
tons about equivalents, which 1t would probably bo
found inptaciicable TO settle. Ii your lordship was
at liberty, as understand you not to be, to cede
the whole or part OF the territory, commonly CALI
ed the strip, lying east Of the north line, aud west
oil the ST. Johns, considerations might be found IN
such cesSion, possibly, for some new demarcaiion
west of the north line and south of the river. But
IN the present position OF things cannot hold ou,
the expectation TO your lordship that any thing
south OF the river can be yielded.
| And perhaps the Inconvenience TO the settlers
the southern bank, Of making the river the bounda-
ry. arc less considerable than your lotdship suppo
SEES These settlers are scattered along considera
bic extent, very likely soon 10 connect themselves
with whomsoever may come to live near them; and
though OF different origin and some difference of re-
.igion, not likely on the whole, TO be greatly dis
similar from other borders, occupying the neighbor
ing territory, their rights Of property would, Of
course be all preserved, both Of inheritance and ali
ena,on; and If some Of them should choose to retain
the political and social relations under which they
now are, their removal for that purpose TO the north
bank, drawing after il no loss of property or means
of subsistence, would not be great hardship
Your Lordshp suggests the inconvenience of Ovid
ing municipality by a line OF national boundary;
and certainly there is force in the observation; but
II, departing from the river, TO establish at
the south OF II, an artificial line upon the land, there
might he points upon such line, at which people
would live in numbers, on both sides; and mere
mathematical line might thus divide vages, while
It divided nations The experience OF the world,
and cur own experience, show the proprety OF
making rivers boundaries for the same reason that,
IN other cases TO which they are applicable, noun
tain ranges, or ridges Of highlands, adopted for
the same purpose; these last being, perhaps, still
more convenient lines OF division than rivers Lens
equally clear and prominen, objects and the popula,
ton OF neghborng countries bordering on a noun.
tain line OF separation, being usually thin and in
considerable on either side.
Rivers and inland waters constitute the boundary
between the United States and the Territory OF Her
Majesty for some thousands OF miles westward from
the place where the 18Th degree OF north latitude in
tersects the ST. Lawrence; and along this line occl
siona irregularities and outbreaks have taken ce
always by the agency and nstisaiion of agta,ors
and lawless men, friends Of neither country: yet is
clear that no better demarcation of limits could be
made. And at the north part, along the space
through which the 81. Croix constitutes the line of
separation, controversies and conflicts not heard
Of; but similarity Of language, character, and pur
suits, and mutual respect Tor the rights of each o;her
preserves the general peace.
Upon the whole my Lord, feeling that there may
be inconvenience, and perhaps a small degree Of
hardship, yet cannot admit tina, there is any cru
city in separating the Madawaska settlers south OF
the ST. Johns, far political relations arc con
cerned, from their neghbors the north OF that ri,
yer.
In the present state OF society and of peace which
exists between the two countries, the severance OF
political relations needs not 10 disturb social and
family intercourse while high considerations, affect
ing Both the present and the future, seem TO TO
require, that, following natural indication, we i'd
here the ST. Johns in this Part of it's course
The line Ct division.
The next question is how far upwards this boun-
dairy ought TO be observed and along which of its
branches. This question would be easily settled if
what may be called the main branch OF the river
in this part OF it, differing from the general character
of the rivers in this region Of country. did make
sudden turn. But, # consider the main
branch oil the ST Johns, that which has been usually
so denominated, your lordship observes that, near
the mouth OF the Madnwaska, II turns almost at
right ang'es and pushes It's source towards those Of
the Penobsco Coniisuity and compaciness OF
territory can hardly be preserved by following a
stream which makes not OCCASIONAL windings, but
at once so great a DETECTION from its previous
course. The Madawnska il one OF branches or
principal sources, and, as the map shows, is very
much the continuance Of the line Of the principal
river from the Great Falls upward. The natural
course would, therefore, seem TO be, 10 continue
along this branch.
We understand, and indeed collect from your
lordship's NOE that with wha ever opinion of her
right TO ie disputed territory England in asserting
u, has principally in view TO maintain, on her own
soil, her accustomed line Of decentralization between
Canada and New Brunswick. We acknowledge
the general justice and propriety of this object and
agree at once, that with suitable equivalents, a con-
SeGional line ought to such TO secure it to Eng
land. The question therefore, simply is what line
will secure III
The commoa communication between the proyin-
ces follows the course Of the St. Johns from the
Great Falls TO the mouth Of the MAZDA wsska, going
along with Il TO the Temiseoua Lake, and acros,
the highlands TO streams running into the st. Law
renee. And this line Of communication we are
willing 10 ngree shall hereafter bo within acknow.
lodged British territory, upon such conditions and
! considerations as may be nssented to. The MAZDA.
| vaska and the aforementioned lakes might convent
emily constitute the boundary, but believe il is
true that, in some parts Of the distance ABOVE the
mouth Of the Madawaskn, il has been found con.
venient to establish the Of communication on
the south bank Of that river. This consideration
may be important enough 10 justify departure
from what would Otherwise be desirable, and the
4 running Of the line Of some distance south Of the
| Med waska, observing national monuments where
ii may be practicable, aud thus leaving the whole
valley Of the Madlwaska on the British side.
The United States therefore, upon the adjust
ment Of proper equivalents, would not object 10 >
line Of boundary which should begin at the middle