Evening star., 1953-05-07

treaties and statutes admitting the
various States into the Union since the
adoption of the Constitution?
Congress has admitted 35 States
since adoption of the Constitu-
ton in 1889 and, in each case,
fixed the boundaries of the respective
States, whether these States were in
land or coastal States; and these State
boundaries are definite and can be To-
Gated with engineering certainty.
The Treaty of 1848 with Mexico con-
frmed the seaward boundary of Texas
and also fixed California's coastline.
The Act Of Congress admitting Cali
fornia fixed its boundary as three miles
into the Pacific from said coastline.
Likewise, the acts admitting Oregon
and Washington fixed the State bound
aries at three miles from the coast.
The Act of March 3, 1845, admitting
Florida as State, fixed its boundary
which Spain ceded Florida to the
United States. A little research in the
Congressional Library will show that
Spain originally held Florida as a ter
ritory and ceded the same to the Brit
ish Crown in February. 1868; that, in
October of the same year. the British
Crown issued proclamation fixing the
Florida seaward boundary: and, in 1888,
Britain retroceded the Florida terri
tory to Spain, and in 1919, Spain ceded
Florida to the United States with the
same seaward boundary.
Boundaries of the other Gulf States
were definitely fixed by the Acts of
Congress admitting them into the
Union. in some cases fixing their bound
aries from shore and in others from
the coast.
In 1895, Congress enacted % Stat. at
large 672. amended in 1946, authorizing
the designation by suitable bearings,
lighthouse, ETC.. the line dividing the
high seas from rivers harbors and in
land waters. Under this law. as
amended our coastline has been estab-
lished and, where a State boundary
extends from coast, it is relatively
easy matter, when and as occasion may
arise, to measure the boundary distance
fixed by the Act of Congress from such
coastline.
With the law and these authorities
available, Mr.. Fryklund's statement
that according to law, the United
States border in the Atlantic and
Gulf is to the low tide mark along
Shore" etc. is evidently an erroneous
statement made without reference to
our treaties, Constitution and relevant
laws on the subject of State boundaries
All State coastal boundaries, fixed
by treaty and acts of Congress, are
their historic boundaries and it is this
type Of boundary that was recognized
in favor of Norway by the International
Court Of Justice.
Let us be mindful Of the fact that
our Nation and the States which COM
historic tradition in which we should
all be proud and support them as good
Americans. Whatever the historic
boundaries Of our coastal States may be
as fixed by treaties and acts of Con-
gress, they cannot be changed at this
late date because so-called liberals"
would restrict our boundaries to s.
mile belt from shore.
Thank God our forefathers and
statesmen, who preceded us. had the
vision and courage to establish our
historic boundaries as they are set
down in these treaties and laws
of the United States Of America.
F. Edward Hebert.
Member of Congress, 1st District,
Louisiana.
Editors note: Most congressman
do not agree with Representative
Hebert-as evidenced by their ap-
proval last year Of the resolution to
set up subcommittee to determine
the proper criteria for fixing the sea-
ward limits of the inland or territorial