The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-06-01
From he Augusta bIs) Age.
THE NORTHEASTERN BOUNDARY.


| The discussions in the Legislature have Terminated
in the passage of Resolves providing for the appoint
ment OF Commissioners 10 negotiate sottemebt OF
| The N. 4. Boundary question, upon principles which
commanded the nearly una nnous assent of both the
| Senate and House.
| We propose TO state briefly the points upon which
the debates have turned and which will appear more
| fully when they shall have been reported.
Our title TO the so caed) disputed territory having
been so long matter OF controversy part Of 1t hav
ing never been under actual jurisdiction, and an
arbitration, Involving less of hazard TO our
rights, being in prospect many persons were inclined
10 think expedent To adjust the question upon prIn-
cples of compromise. In other words they were
willing to yield up portion of The territory, for the
sake d ending the dispute to- he remainder. Or at
any rate, they were willing 10 yield portion, Tor a
consideration less than its value regarding the adjust
lnent of the question important consideration IN
itself An opinion of this kind, It Is but candid TO
admit, Is not without many strong reasons IN us
favor, aud has long been entertained by very
many, entitled to respect for their sagacy and pa
triotism.
On the other hand, our rights being in themselves
81 clear aud perfect having been 30 long, with 80
much fortitude and under many difficulties main
tanned, and honor being SO essentially involved In
| an unwayerng adherence to them; vastly greater
number of persons were determined to insist upon
them in The fullest and at all hazards. Willing
for the sake of peace aud indeed believing to be Tor
the true interests OF the State to assent TO modlhca-
ton of the line for he advantage OF both parties, and
upon the principle of an exchange Of territory ana
privileges they protested against the doctrine OF com
promise. they would treat upon no other bass Than
a substantial wledg of The line Of 1883,
and yield nothing within that line, without ap ample
aud honorable equivalent beyond H. In the compre,
hensiye language Of Mr.. Osgood, OF Portland they
would assent an exchange in the spirit 81 peace,
bat Weld nothing for The sake ofpeace,"
The debate in the Legislature turned upon these
opposing opinions.
The Resolves reported by Mi Kayanagh, although
asserting IN their preamble our unwaserng ana CON
rmed belief in the justice OF our iitle dd not never
iheess, require Commissioners TO insist upon a
substantial acknowledgment Off, but would have per
nted them to adjust the question upon the principle
o. compromise to which we have adverted, PROVIDED
always, they assenlcd TO no adjustment, WHICH, IN
their opinion was inconsistent with the honor aud
interests ul the State The amendment moved by tol.
Bradbury, of Calais, and which was IN the end SUB
stantiay adopted, embraced the opposing principle,
And the Resolves now stand, our title Is insisted
upon as absolute and perfect, and the withdrawal OF
the British claim is not TO he regarded as any cohsae-
ra ion or equivalent, for any crsson OF territory
which may be made.
We have thus far aven only our own omnlon 81 the
true meaning and construction ofthe Resolves report
cd by Mr.. Kavanogh, and have no. Intended 10 say,
that such was designed TO be their meaning, or mat
all or majority of those, who sustained them
agains, the amendment of Col Bradbury, entertained
the views which we believe (pcrhaps erroneously)
that those Resolves actually embraced On the con-
trary, it was supposedly many lhathey were quail
fled and controlled by their Preamble, TO be in sub
stance what Col B. and his friends desired them to
be- and on that ground they resisted amendments as
unnecessary And we may be permitted to add, That
have reason to know, that the Chairman OF the
Committee the Boundary Mr.. kavanagh) had
desire to resist the principles Of Col b amend
ment, and the unanlinty with which be was selected
one of the Commissioners, Is gratifying PROOF 'hat
the friends Of that amendment never dstrusted the
substantial soundness OF his views, although differing
from him IN the mode OF their expression,
Another question raised in the debates, was whe-
ther the Legislature had the power to cede away the
territory of the State assent to conventional
line, which OF necessity involves The idea of cesson.
OF those who finally voted against the Resolves,
the greater part were governed by belief that the
plwer did not exist and many who voted for them
did with doubts as TO the powc more OF less con
siderable
say that we were opposed personally, both TO the cal
Comns 4iouers; and tbs, not because we arc aNerse
20 the idea of Conventional lne but because we see
no evidence that line will be offered TO Us, which
we can honoraLly accept Nevertheless looking y
the undoubted manifestation OF public opiniAn IN Ia
OF trial Of the experiment. and considering, that
even, if aborive, 1t will demonstrate our disposition
to adjust the ques upon fair and honorable terms
have no hesitation in saying that both the 60
vernon ana Legislature have taken that course, which
duty dictates, and which the people will approve
And may the Dsposer OF events grant IT an issue
equal to the hopes of its friends