Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-09-20

sident instructions, 10 say that he fuy appreciates
The motives which induced you Lordshp, personally, to
undertake your present mission; that he quite aware
that your public life has been distinguished by efforts 10
maintain peace and harmony between the two coun-
tries that he quite we'll recolected that your exertions
employed TO prevent the late war, anc that he
doubts the sincerity of your declaration that nothing
could have drawn you from your retirement and in
duccd you engage your present undertaking, but
the hope of being service TO your country and TO or
common race. And have the utmost pleasure, my
Lord in acknowledging the frankness, candour, and
plain dealing which has characterized your official IN
tercnurse with this Government; nor am ] per-
milted or inclined to entertain any doubt OF your
Lordshps entire conviction, os expressed by yourself
the merits of this controversy and the difficulties
of the The question before us, IS whether these
confident opinions, both sides, OF the rlghttul ma
ture and just strength of respective claims Will
permit us, while desire to preserve harmony, and
disposition yield literally to mutual convenience, SO
strongly incte TO come together and unite OH line
by agreement
Itappeass be your ordships opinion, that the line
Of the ST. Johns, from the point where the North line
from the ST Croa strikes that river, up TO some one oil
its sources, evidently suits both parties, with an ex
cepon, however, Of that part Of the Madawaska Get
Element, which is the South side of The st. Johns,
which yon propose should be included within the
British territory. That line by agreement the
St. Johns, fur distance upward, from its inter-
section by the line running North from the 81, Crolx,
would be very convenient boundary for the two par
ties, is readily admitted but, it is very important
question how far up, and TO which OF the sources oil
this river this line should extend Above Nladawaska,
the course Of this river the South, and stretch
ing away towards the Of the Penobscot, leuy
ing far 10 the North the line of communication be-
tween New Brunswick and Canada. That line de-
parts from the ST. Johns altogether, near Sladawaska
and keeping principally upon the LETT or North bank OF
the Mada aska ind proceeding, by way OF the Tennis
couata Lake reaches The ST. Lawrence at the mouth oil
the river Du Loup.
There are then, two important, subjects for considea-
ton
First. Whether the IT, s. can agree to cede, relin-
qush to claim any part OF the Territory West
of the North line from the ST. CroIx and South OF the
St Johns. And think il but candid 10 say, at once,
that we nsumounabe objections to admitting The
line TO South of the river Your lordshps OBJ
servaons upon the proprety of preserving the UNITY
Of the Maduw aska settlement, are, in great measure,
iust and altogether founded, doubt not, IN entirely
good motives. They of humanity and kind
regard the interests and feelings OF individuals But
the difficulties seem insuperab!e The river, ms your
Lordship remarks, seems natural boundary, and III
this part of it, to IN convenient direction IL ~
line always clear and iudispula5ie II we Depart
from it, where shall find another boundary equally
natural equally clear and confirming to the same ge-
neral course departure from the line of the river,
moreover, would open questions about equiva-
Tents, which il would probably be found mpractIcobe
TO settle II your lordshp at liberty, as under
stand you not 10 be- 10 cede the whole or part e
territory commonly called the strip, lying cas-, OF the
North line and West of The ST. Johns, considerations
might be found in such cessation possibly Tor some
new delnarcation West Of the North line and South of
the river. But in the present position OF things can
hold out the expectation to your ordship That any
thing 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 are scattered along considerable ex-
tent very likely soon to connect themselves with
whomsoe may come TO live near them; and though
of different origin, and SOME difference OF reLgon not
likely the whole to be greatly dissmllar from other
borderers occupying the neghbouring territory their
rights of property would Of course, be all preserved,
both of inheritance and alienation; and if some of them
should choose to retain the political and social relations
under which they are, their removal Tor that pur-
pose TO the North bank drawing after It no loss oil pro-
perty or means of subsistence would not be great
hardship Your Lordsp suggests the inconvenience oil
dividing a munic pay by line OF national boundary,
and certainly there force in the observation; but ",
departing from the river were TO establish at the
South of an artificial line upon the land, there might
be points upon such line, ut which people would 1--we
in numbers on both sides; and mere mathematical
line might thus divide villages, while II divided ma
TONS The experience of the world and our own ex-
perience show the propriety of making rivers bounda
RES for the that, in other cases 10 when
they are applicable mounnin ranges ridges OF high
lands are adopted for the purposes these last being,
perhaps, still more convenient lines OF DIVISION than ~.
vers being equally clear and prominent objects, md
the population Of neghboring countries bordering ona
mountain line of eparaton being usually thin and IN
consde cradle on either SIDE.
Rivers al nd inland waters constitute the boundary
between the u. s. and the Territory OF her Majesty
for some thousands OF miles westward from the place
where the 4.th degree of North latitude ntersec,s the
ST. Lawrence and along this line occasional irregua-
rites and outbreaks have taken place always by the
agency and insligaton Of agitaors and lawful men,
friends neither country yet clear that no better
demarca,ion of limits could be made. And at the North
part along the space through which The ST. Croi1 con-
sttues The line of separation, controversies and con-
hc.s are not heard Of but similarity OF language, cha
racte and pursuits, and mutual respect Tor the rghts
OF each other, preserves the general peace.
Upon the whole, my Lord, feeling that there may be
and perhaps small degree OF hardshp,t
yet canno, admit that there IS any cruelty ~ separa
ing the Mudaw aska settlers South at the ST. John
far as political relations concerned, from Their neigh
bors on the North Of that river.
I'm the present state Of society, and OF peace which
exs, between the two countries the severance OF po-
ca relations needs not 10 disturb soclnl and family
intercourse; while high considerations affecting both
the present and the future seem 10 me TO require, that
following natural indication, we adhere to the st.
John this part Of its course, the line OF division
The question is, how far upwards this boundary
TO be Observed and along which CT lis 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 the country, did not make sudden
turn But, if consider the main branch Of the St.
Johns that which has been usually so denominated,
YOUR Lordship observes that, the mouth of the
Madawaska it turns almost at right angles, and pushes
its source towards those of the Penobscot. Conguity
and compac,ncss of territory hardly be preserved
by following stream which makes not occasional
windings, but at great DETECTION from liz
pre yous course The Medawaska is Of IFS branches
or principal sources, and, the map shows, 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 Lord
ships note, that with Whatever opinion Of her right to
disputed territory England in asserting il has pTn
cipalIy view to maintain on her soil, her accus
toned line OF commu inc lion between Canada and New
Brunswick. We acknowledge the general justice and
propriety Of this object and agree at once, that with
suitable equivalents, conventional line ought 10 be