1827.] Norlh-East Boundary of America. 145 



these highlands should be left, because they gradually or occasionally sink 

 lower and lower, particularly when this very direction will intersect the 

 north line near the point where it reaches the St. John, and where the 

 lands are still at an elevation of from 1,500 to 2,000 feet above the level of 

 the sea known lands, bearing the name of Mars' Hill. 



This is manifestly the spot where the north line should stop, and where 

 the boundary should turn towards the west, passing along a tract of 

 country certainly elevated, though it be not all along equally mountainous. 

 This is the spot, whether it be determined by pursuing the direction of the 

 highlands from the head of the Connecticut, or whether it be decided 

 solely by the admitted principle of giving source and mouth to the same 

 country. 



The allowed object of the boundary was the best defensive one, 

 arcifinious, as the diplomatists phrase it to be obtained in these regions. 

 High, mountainous ridges, are the best boundary ; and the original framers 

 of the treaty supposed, for none of them knew, from the known outlets of 

 many rivers, that such ridges extended somewhere between the Bay 

 of Fundy and the St. Lawrence, and those they destined for the bound- 

 ary. Upon actual survey, such a continuous and mountainous ridge does 

 not exist, but a line of elevated lands, though with considerable interrup- 

 tions, and irregular in height and width, does exist, and of course is 

 essentially the line contemplated by the treaty, and is, at all events, the 

 best arcifinious boundary that can in that quarter be obtained, for the 

 reciprocal advantages and mutual conveniences of both parties, and such 

 the parties have solemnly recorded to be their objects. 



Such are the pretensions of the contending parties, and thus were they 

 argued by the members of the second commission, appointed after tho 

 peace of 1815. The commissioners could come to no understanding, and 

 the matter, according to a provision of the treaty, not this time left to 

 the cunning of the American and the dupery of the Briton, was referred 

 to the Emperor of Russia. After long delays, according to the fashion of 

 such matters, the Emperor finally declined the invidious office, and 

 leaving the parties where he found them, recommended them to arrange 

 the matter by negociation. That negociation is still pending. 



But though this negociation be still confessedly pending, the states 

 which border on the debateable territory refuse to wait the slow march 

 of diplomacy. The bond of union between the United States is well 

 known not to be of a very binding nature. The authority of the execu- 

 tive is frequently treated with contempt by the several states, who seem 

 to feel themselves at liberty, when it suits their convenience, to act inde- 

 pendently of the general government, even in matters which really involve 

 the credit and safety of the whole ; and this is the case now with respect 

 to Maine and Massachusetts, which have given their own interpretation to 

 the treaty, fixed themselves the boundary, and actually taken sovereign 

 possession of the land. 



Before the separation of the United States, England of course ; hold the 

 sovereignty of the country now in debate, as well as of the rest of America, 

 and till the question should be legitimately decided, held herself entitled 

 to continue the exercise of that sovereignty. On the cession of Canada, 

 and the rest of the French provinces, to England, little of the country 

 being occupied, that sovereignty was almost nominal ; but as the course 

 of colonization has advanced, the rights of sovereignty became active 

 M.M. New StriesVoL. III. No. 14. U 



