Daily National Intelligencer

MOOSE ISLAND.

By several articles which have appeared in Federal prints, we perceive, much importance is attached to an extract of a letter on the subject of our Eastern boundary, which was published in this paper a few days ago. On the correctness of that letter we expressed no opinion at the time, willing to let it go for what it was worth. To prevent the improper advantage taken of it by the opposition papers, to the prejudice of the claim of the United States, we think it proper to state, that it is with us a general principle, from which there was in this instance certainly no occasion to deviate, to respect the claims of our own government, and to regard them as just until they are proved to be otherwise; and that the opinion of an anonymous correspondent on the subject, is regarded by us only as the sentiment of a respectable citizen on a public topic, which our paper was made the medium of conveying to the public eye. The dispute in regard to the Boundary is placed in Chancery by the Treaty; and we feel the less disposition to muzzle the Press on this subject, from the certainty that no publications in the newspapers in regard to it can in any way affect a decision, which depends more on the rules of trigonometry than on the public sentiment. Either Moose Island belongs to us, or it does not. If it does, the Treaty will not rob us of it. If it does not, it will revert to its proper owner. In any event, this long litigated point will be conclusively adjusted, as it ought to be.