The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-14
WAsHrNGroS, March Is, 1916

WAsHRGToS, March Is, 1876.
To the Editor Of The Union:
The honorable Reyerdy Johnson. in his speech
in the Senate the 18th instant as reported in the
Union, and with no variation as to meaning in the
National lntegaacer, says: "Thns il would be
seen, that from the earliest period, subsequent TO
l7l3-the date Of the treaty Of Utrecht-that line
now supposed not TO be run, was run, and is TO be
found on every map OF any authority, from that day
I'LL this. modern doctrine on the subject started
Or recollect arght) for the first time by Green
how, is, that the line was in fact never run WHY
it was never contemplated to be in fact run Il
would have been almost physically impossible to
have run II in the condition in which the country
then was, and the great extent Of territory over
which it was to extend; and hence the words in the
treaty Of Utrecht are, that it shall be described
Now, with regard TO the frat part Of what is here
quoted from Mr.. JohnSon's speech, shall leave the
honorable senator and the public to satisfy them
selves and each other as to the correctness Of the
assertion, that "hs line running 10 latitude 400 and
upon this latitude Of 49o Indefinitely TO the ocean"
SIS 10 be found on trery map Of any authority from that
day tl7l3l till this" merely recommending them,
however, to look at one map, made by John Mitch
ell, and published in 1855, upon the authority Of
which the British and American plenpotentiaries at
PARIS in l7S3 settled the boundaries Of the United
States for there they will certainly find no such line
supposed by Mr. Johnson to have been described by
the British commissioners. | will also take the lib-
ery of adding, that the portion Of the treaty Of
Utrecht, relating TO the Hudsons Bay territories
contains no such word as described, )" which ia APP
piled exclusively to the "Oiher British and French
colonies" in America
My purpose at present is TO protest against the
mputation which the honorable senator has been
pleased to cast on me, in the part Of his speech
above quoted Of endeavoring, by equivocation, to
eyade the acknowledgment of the adoption OF the 49th
parallel oflatitude as boundary by commissioners
under the Utrecht treaty. He there represents
saying, that the line was run; giving II TO be
understood that used the word run in order after
wards, If necessary, TO shelter myself under the
plea, that II was never physically marked laid oG
on the earth's surface. Now il this was the nen-
ton Of the honorable Mr.. Johnson--and neither T.
nor any one else to whom have submitted his
words, can construe them otherwise-he has done me
most gross injustice. II he will honor me, by refer
ring to the part Of my History Of Oregon and Cali
forna relating to this subject, (pages 2sl and 49,
| he will see that have not used the word run, OF
any other OF the import attached that word in his
speech, with respect to the supposed decision OF the
| commissioners, uader the Utrecht treaty have
employed the terms adopted settled determined agreed
upon, and none others; combining the word run, to
lines traced on maps. My conclusion, as there
shown, and as now repeat, is-that whatever lines
may be found running on maps, or described
in books, no line was ever adopted or deter.
mined, or settled, agreed upon, by the
British and French governments, or their com.
missaries,,or commissioners agreeably to the treaty
Of Utrecht, as the boundary or separation between
the possessions of those nations in the northern parts
| of America. This doctrine was, as the honorable
senator justly says first started by me, and it wa,
started with proofs and reasons, to which have
since found 1t necessary to make few additions. Il
has been assaied repeatedly but only by assertions
which may be all embraced within the following
| formula-that the affirmation of the supposed
settlement of limits has been printed in some books
| and engraved in some maps. and written i'm some
presidents messages, and communicated in some
diplomatic 1notes, and spoken in some Congress
speeches-t must, necessarily, be true. am, how
ever most happy to see the question brought befor,
a tribunal so high and enlightened as the Senate
where it will doubtless be examined with that car,
and impartality which its importance, under presen
circumstances, demand.
| RORERT GREENHOW