The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-08-17
THE TREATY.

NE IREAI
IL is understood that the Treaty, involving
a number of the points Of difference between
our country and England, will be the subject OF
discussion IN the Senate Tin secret session. to-
day. We hope (and who does not?) that the
deliberations Of the Senate will confirm the
general impression of the People, that hnal
and honorable settlement of the questions In
dispute may be nOl1 consummated. But mas
much as the Globe, paper supposed by some
to have an influence with portion of the De-
mocratlc party has spoken against the terms OF
the Treaty, we think il just and proper to re-
publish an article on the subject from the
Charleston Mercury, also Democratic journal.
DISPUTED TERRITORY OF MAINE
Much has been said of the disputed territory, in
reference TO military operations and the facilities II
offered Tor invasion between the United States and
canada. Such question is not very easy OF dis
cussion with the aid only of such maps we have
now. The recent surveys may afford materials for
military chart, but they at present beyond our
reach. The Globe argues that by the proposed ar
rangement the United States lose important advan-
tages both for defence and for invasion. The N. Y.
Express replies follows:
"The Washington Globe affects an alarm on
count OF an alleged surrender by Mr.. Webster and
the Maine and Massachusetts Commissioners of
valuable military line. 1t tells US in substance, we
can never reach Quebec by an army now, for we
have given up the way there
1--WE have before US a map of Maine with the agreed
upon Boundary Line traced upon it. The very
sight OF this map ocular demonstration of the
falslty OF the Globes assertion The British order
to reach Quebec, have got to pass North beyond the
47h degree OF latitude in right line, and then north
west towards Quebec. The road they have by the
Madawaska is Of possible use to them against us,
and only of use to them to connect their upper and
lower provinces. 1t is road we should never think
OF reaching Quebec by and which it would be inn
possible for us in time of to obstruct without an
outlay OF men and means altogether dsproportioned
to the object
" The military route for us to attack Quebec is thro'
Maine via the Kennetcc-the route taken in the Re-
evolutionary war by Arnold and others. No route
north of this, would American General dream of
taking. There other routes westward, but that
is the extreme eastern or northern route. The
military possession Of that territory is therefore OF
to US. If could defend it in time of war,
we could take it. As for terrifying in wilderness
in the 47th and 4Sth degree Of north latitude quite
unnhabted, and probably quite uninhabitable from
the sterility OF the SOIL it is all an absurdity."
1t is probably pretty rough place fight in at any
rate-and it presents obstacles 10 settlement that will
probably for long time forbid its being the theatre
OF the operations Of large armies. The INVASION OF
Arnold was undertaken for the very reason that 1t
Dcyonu all CalCulation--it was CoiPiete sur
piiseand yet it utterly failed. 1t is not likely to be
renewed. Maine does not appear to offer the proper
base for the operations of an invading army 1t lies
between two British provinces, and the East Is per-
iectly penetrable by any sort of force moving from
the British posts in New Brunswick. The resources
Of the United States would be dsad vantag eousy
ployed at such distance from the popuous parts OF
the country.
But, granting that an invasion of Canada should be
made in this drectionwhat difference will the pro-
& ol,.1 IA
would take 100000 men to hold that whole range of
hills, against attack of 10000, far as the mere
passage OF them is concerned. The invading army
choose the point of attackand ii Is not Likely TO
be the where the strongest resistance will be oier-
ed. Any force that the position of the de-
Tending army compel them to abandon their ad-
vantages. Such would be the effect OF an INVASION
by the kennebec, any line OF deiences further to
the noIthward--they must be abandoned, and the
troops fan back to cover Quebec II would be diff-
cult to point out single instance here an able gene
raj has been baffled by such obstacle Napoleon
fought his way over the Alps, beating superior army
in possession. The march of the same commander
upon Madrid the invasion of Andalusia 10y Soult, and
the passage Of the Pyrenees by Wellington, are In
stances equally in point. The defence of Lisbon by
Welington4 famous lines of Torres Vedras, is quo
ted the OF her side, but with doubtful pertnence.
The space defended was small a narrow peninsula,
the lines were but few miles from Lisbon, the En-
glIsh had undputed command of the sea the inhabi-
tahNs VI NouH "e'e oi thS' S'uti az" w S'"S
tons force, though lnieor not small in conpar'-
son with the French--t large enough to take
complete military possession OF the whole line OF de-
fences. Yet it shrew lily remarked 10y Col. Napier,
that the BEST If not the only why he maintain
ed his position, that he not attacked. he
Lines" proved capital scarecrow, and that is about
all that can be safely said of them. They would not
have stopped Napoleon day-nor Wellington either.
In military point OF view, We cannot look upon
| these disputed bills as of any sort of consequence