Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-06-16
From the Bosfon Daily Advertiser.
THE BOUNDARY NEGOTIATION.

The preliminary arrangements are now
made for entering upon the negotiation fol
a settlement Of the boundary controversy,
under favorable auspices. The negotiat-
| ing parties, if they cannot agree upon
what the true boundary is, are authorized
to determine what il ough! to be, for the
mutual convenience Of the parties. The
Commissioner of Maine and Massachu.
sets, representing State Legislatures
which have hitherto denied the authority
of the General Government to negotiate
for the establishment OF n new boundary,
by a cession Of any territory embraced
within the limits dyfined by treaty, are
now authorized to agree, on the part Of
those States, to the establishment Of such
line, on obtaining for their respective
States satisfactory equivalent for such
territory as may be coded, either in other
territory, or in the grant Of privileges or
advantages OF any other nature. 1t has
been ntmated that one OF the equivalents
which may perhaps be obtained for such
portion OF territory as may be ceded to
Great Britain is right of navigation OF
the ST. John, from where i, leaves the
United States territory TO its mouth. One
of the equivalents which Great Britain
will probably readily grant is the strip of
land along the northerly border Of Yer
mont, which has been from the settlement
of that State within her jurisdiction, and
in the actual possession and occupation Of
her citizens. but lying north Of the forty
fifth degree of latitude is not within the
limits conceded to that State by treaty.
A similar concession OF a small strip OF
territory is also desired along the frontier
of New York. There are other modes
by which the United States might be ade-
oua,ely Unidentified for the cession Of that
tract of territory lying within the limits
of the United States ns defined BY treaty,
which is necessary to facilitate the com
munication between the two ncighborlng
British provinces. Should the equivalent
so obtained inure to the ben fit of the
United States, rather than to that OF the
State which would suffer the loss Of the
territory, i, may BIO presumed that the
United States would make compensation
10 the States OF Maine and Massachusetts,
which are joint proprietors of the soil, in
other territory situated elsewhere.
|, may be apprehended that difficulties
may mise in the negotiation, from The
terms in which the action Of the Commits
sioners Of Maine is restricted in the reso-
lutions from which they derived their all.
,hority. We ref TO that provision which
requires the unanimous consent OF the Tour
Commissioners to give validity to their
act. At first view il might seem hardly
reasonable to expect the unanimous con-
currcnce Of four men, chosen, as these
Commissioners are. in any proposition for
a compromise Of this question likely to be
proposed by tho other party. Yet when
i, is considered that for single member
of tho commission to defeat, by his dissent,
any arrangement satisfactory to all the
other parties, would be to assume a very
high degree OF responsibility, which might
involve consequences OF very serious
nature, it will be found that there are
strong reasons for anticipating unanlmi,y
of action on this question.
1t is expected that the Commissioners OF
tho two States will be assembled at Wash
ineton with very little delay, and that they
will proceed Immediately in the negotla.
ton. We doubt not it will soon be de-
.ermned whether the question con be set
tied by compromise, or whether it must be
suffered TO lake the dlatory, expensive,
and uncertain course Of another arbitra
finn