The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-18

entirely good motives. They SAVIOR Of humanity and
kind regard to the interests and feelings Of indivld-
uals But the difficulties insuperable The river,
as your ordshp remarks, seems natural boundary,
and IN THIS part OF H. To IN convenient direction
II Is line always clear and ndisputabe. five depart
from where shall find another boundary equally
natural, equally clear, and conforming to The same
general course departure from the line Of the river
moreover, would open new questions about equiva-
lents which il would probably be found impracucable
to settle If your lordshpwa at liberty, as under
stand you not TO be, TO cede the whole or part OF
the territory, commonly called the strip lying east OF
the north line, and west of the ST. Johns, considera-
tons might be found in such cession possibly, Tor
some new demarcalion west Of the north line and
south of the river. But in the present posture OF
things cannot hold out the expectation to Jour lord
ship that anytbing south Of the river can be yielded
And, perhaps, the inconvenience to the settlers on
the southern bank Of making the river the boundary,
are less considerable than your lordship supposes-
These settlers scattered along considerable ex-
tent, very likely soon to connect themselves with
whomsoever may come to live near them and
though OF different origin, and some difference OF re-
igion, not likely, the whole to be greatly dssimllar
from other borderers occupying the neghborng terri
tory, their rights of property would of course, be all
preserved both OF inheritance and alienation and, II
some OF them should choose to retain the social and
political relations under which they now are their re-
moval, for that purpose to the North bank, drawing
after II no loss of property, or of means of subsst-
ence, would not be great hardship. Your lordship
suggests the Inconvenience of dividing municipality
10y line of national boundary and certainly there
IS force in the observation but II, departing from
the river, to establish, to the south Of it,
artificial 1.-The upon the land there might be points
such line, at which people would live in numbers on
both sides and more mathematical line might thus
divide villages, while it divided nations The expe-
rience OF the world and our own experience, shows
the propriety OF making rivers boundaries when
ever their courses suit the general object for the
same reason that, IN other To which they are
applicable, mountain ranges, or ridges oil highlands,
are adopted for the same purpose these last being,
perhaps, still more convenient lines OF division than
rivers, being equally clear and prominent objects,
and the population Of neighborng countries bordering
mountain line Of separate n, being usually thin
and nconSiderable on either side. Rivers and in.
land waters constitute the boundary between the
United States and the territories of her Majesty Tor
some thousands Of miles westward fom the place
where the 45h degree of north latitude intersecs the
5 Lawrence and along this line though occasional
irregularities and outbreaks have taken place always
Ivy the agency and nstgation of agitators and law
less men, friends of neither country, yet 1t Is clear
that no better demarcation of limits could be made.
And at the northeast along the space through which
the ST. Croix constitutes the line Of separation, con-
troverses and conflicts not heard of; but sima
rity Of language character, and pursuits, and mutual
respect for the rights Of each other preserve the ge
neral peace.
Upon the whole, my lord, feeling that there may
be Inconvenience, and perhaps small degree of
hardship, | yet cannot ,dmit that there is any
cruelty ia separating the Madawaska settlers south
Of the st. Johns far political relations are con-
ccrned, from their neighbors on the north of that
river In the present state of society and OF peace
which exists between the two countries, the sever
ance of political relations needs not to disturb social
and family intercourse while high considerations,
affecting both the present and the future, seem to me
to require that following natural indications, we add
here to the ST. Johns, in this part of its course,
the line of division.
The next question is. how far upward this bound
AIRY ought to be Observed and along which of S
branches. This question would be easily settled, il
what may be called It. main branch OF the river IN
this part of it, differing from the general character of
riAers in this region OF country did not make sud-
ded turn. But # we consider the main branch of
the ST. Johns that which has been recently usually
so denomnated, your Lordship observes that near
the mouth Of the Madawaska, it turns almost at right
angles and pushes its sources toward those Of the
Penobscot Contguity and compactness Of territory
can hardly be preserved by following stream which
makes not occasional winnings, but at once so great
a DETECTION from its previous course. The NADIA
waska is of its branches, or principal sources
and as the map shows, is very much continuance
of the line of the principal river, from the Great
Falls upward The natural course would therefore
| seem to be TO continue along this branch.
We understand, and indeed collect from your
Lordship's note that with whatever opinion Of her
right to the disputed territory England, in asserting
it, has principally in view to- maintain, on her
SOIL her accustomed line of communication between
Canada and New Brunswick We acknowledge the
general justice and propriety of this object, and
agree at that, with suitable equivalents, con-
ventiona line ought to be such to secure il TO
England. The question, therefore, simply is, what
line VIII secure it
The common communication between the provin-
ccs follows the of the ST. Johns from the
| Great Falls to the mouth of the Madawaska, and
then not turning away to the south with the course
| IF wi Of
Madawaska, going along with it to the Temiscouata
lakes, thence along those lakes, and the
highlands to streams running into The st. Lawrence.
And this line of communication willing to
agree shall hereafter be within acknow lodged British
territory upon such conditions and considerations as
may be assented to. The Nladawaska and the fore
ment oned lakes might conveniently constitute the
boundary But believe it is true that, in part
of the distance, above the mouth of the Madawaska,
it has been found convenient to establish the of
communication on the south bank Of that river
This considcra ion may be important enough to usti-
fy departure from hat would otherwise be desir-
able, and the running of the line at distance
south Of the Madawaska observing natural monu-
mens where it may be practicable and thus leaving
the whole valley of the Madawaska the British
side.
The United States therefore, upon the adjustment
of proper equivalents, would not object to line of
| boundary which should begin at the middle of
the main channel of the river st. Johns, where
ed from the of the ST. Croix thence proceed
! ing westerly, by the middle of the main channel of
that river, TO a point three miles westerly of the
mouth of the Nladawaska, thence by straight line
to the Quilt of Long lake. thence westerly by a
direct line to the point where the river St Francis
| empties itself into the lake called Pohenagomook,
thence continuing in the direct line to the high
lands which divide the waters falling into the
du Loup from those which fall into the river St.
Francis. Having thus arrived at the highlands |
shall be ready to confer the correct manner of
following them TO the northwesternmos head Of the
Connecticut river
such line as has been now described would Sc
cure to England free intercourse betw, en- Canada
and New brunswick and, with the navigation of the
ST. Johns yielded TO the United States, would an
pear 10 meet the wants Of all parties. Your Lord
ships proposition in regard to the navigation is re
| cclyed as inst and nc copet;t,t;nx 80