Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-01-21

'
e Immediately interested, by paying the small
r sum of half milion-of which a large
r part (say $20O,O00) is PROFESSIONALLY due
d 10 Maine, and would have to be paid to her
4 without the treaty-s, indeed, small sac.
: rlfice; fortunate delverance. President
E Jackson was willing TO allow her, as has
r been stated, more than twice as mnch for
+ assent TO the award; and, in doing 50, he
: showed his wisdom, whatever might have
! been thought Of it at the time. Those, at
least, who opposed the treaty, will not
charge him with being willing 10 sacrifice
, the interest and honor of the Union, in
| making the offer; and yet the charge
which they make against this portion of the
treaty, does by implication, subject what
he was ready to do to similar one.
: But it said that the territory which Eng
land would acquire beyond the boundary
t Of the awarded line would greatly strength
an her frontier and weaken ours; and
!, would thereby endanger the safety of the
country in that quarter. He did not pro-
fess to be deeply versed in military science;
but, according to his conception, there
was no foundation for the objection. 1t
was, if he did not mistake, the very last
point on our whole frontier, from the
mouth OF the St. Croix TO the outlet OF
Lake Superior, on which an expedition
would be organized on ether side to attack
the possessions OF the other, In military
point of view, our loss is nothing in that
quarter; while in another, and a much
more important quarter, our gain by the
treaty is great, in the same point Of view.
He referred TO that provision by which we
acquire Rouse's Point, at the northern eX-
tIemity of Lake Champlain. 1t is among
the most important military positions on
the whole line of our eastern and northern
frontier, whether 1t be regarded in refer
ence to offensive or defensive operations.
lie well remembered the deep sensation
caused among military men in consequence
of its loss; and he would leave the ques.
ton OF loss or gain, in Il military point OF
view, taking the two together, to their de-
cis;on, without the least doubt what IL
would be.
But if it should be thought by any one
that these considerations, as conclusive rs
thew seemed TO be, were not sufficient t.
Justly the ratiti alton of this portion of the
Il treaty, there were OF lerS, which appeared
10 him to be per ectly conclusive. lie ie-
ferred to the condition in which we would
be placed, if the treaty should be rejected.
He would ask--if, alter having agreed at
Client to refer the subject to arbitration,
and after having refused to agree to the a.
ward made under that reference, by an
arbiter of our own selection, we should
now eject this treaty, negotiated by our
E own Secretary of State, under our own
eyes, and which had previously received
the assent of the States Immediately IN
Observation-Disclosures there would be the
slightest prospect that another equally ia
yorable would ever'be obtained? On the
contrary, Uould we not stand IN tar
worse condition than ever, in reference
10 oar claim? Would it not, indeed, be
, almost certain that we should lose the whole
. of the basin of the ST. John, and Grea
Britain gain all for which she ever conten
del, strengthened as she would be by iht
, disclosures made during this discussion
4 He was far from asserting that the TACT
, disclosed established the claim OF Urea
. Britain, or the map exhibited is the ont
, to which franklin referred, IN his note t
q the Count de Vcrgennes, the French MIN
: lister; but it cannot be doubted that TIT
Z conformity of the line delineated on TIM
q map, with the one described in his note
q would have the effect OF strenlhenng no
a little the claims of Great Britain, In heI
q own estimation and that of the world
l.. But the facts stated, and the map exhibit
e ed by the committee on Foreign relations
!. [Mr. Rives, arc not the only or the stron
). rest disclosure made during the discussion
|. The French map introduced ty the Sena
). a,or from Missouri, Mr.. Bentpn,l fr IN M
/ Jefferson's collection in the Cong PISS Ii
brarv, in order 10 rebut the inference from
4 the former, turned out TO be still more SO
! That was made in the village Of Passy, il
!. the year after the treaty of peace was ne
# pociated, where DR.. Franklin (who wa
!. one of the negotiators) resided, and wa
# dedicated to him; and that has the boun
n dary line drawn in exact conformity 10 tn
~ other, and ia the manner described In tn
!, note of DIR. Franklin--a line somewha
s more adverse to US than that claimed b,
4 Great Britain. But, as striking as is thi
;. coincidence, he was far from regarding
; as Sufficient to establish the claim OF q
o Britain. 1t would however, be in vain 4
n deny that it was a corroborating circum
,s stance, calculated to add no small weigh
!. to her claim.
= 1t would be still further increased By tn
b. fact that France was our ally at the time
lie and, as such, must have been consulted AM
n; kept constantly advised of all that occur
it red dnriug the progress of the negot!a
r. ton. including its final result. 1t would b