The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-19

along that line indefinitely.
At the time this treaty was formed France
possessed Canada and Louisiana, which she con-
nected bv chain Of forts extended from the
mouth Of the Mississippi, on all its waters, and
or the lakes, along the St Lawrence to Montreal
Her Entertainments eastward on the territory OF
the present United States, then British provinces,
extended to the foot of the Allcgany mountain
1t is well known that on the Ohio, point forIn-
ed by the confluence of the Auegany and Monon-
gahea branches, below which the stream takes
the,name Of Ohio, that the French had built a
fort which was called Duquesne fort which
has been better known since b. the I.ame OF Pitts
burgh. The adjustment of the boundary of the
territory between the two powels'in this QUAR-
Ter, was the result of another war and another
treaty.
BY the 4th article ofthe treaty of 1765, France
coded to Great Britain, Canada, Nova Scotia,
&c. in the north, and by tie seventh article, the
bay and port OF Mobile and all the territory
which she possessed to the left of the Missis-
sippi, except the town and island Of New-Or-
leans.
BY the 9TH article it WAS also stipulated, that Z
line TO be drawn along the middle of the Nissis-
sippi, from its source 10 the river IberViuc, and
thence along the Middle OF that river and the
lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain to the sea,
should be the boundary between the British terri
tory TO the eastward, and louisiana TO the west.
AT that time 1t was understood, as il has been =
yer since, tiilyery lately, that the Mississippi took
ats Source III some InSuutan, at least high north
as the 49tb degree Of north latitude.
By the treaty ofI7S5, and between the United
States and Great Britain, the boundary between
those states and Nova-Scotia and Canada is fixed,
by line which is to run along the St. CroiX and
Highlands bounding the southern waters cf the
ST. Laurence, the 18th degree of latitude TO the
water communication between the lakes, and a.
long that conllnunicatlonto the lake ofthe Woods
and through that lake 70 the north western point
thereof; thence due west course to the Mis-
sissippi. The line follows afterwards the course
OF the Mississippi to the 3l5t degree of north Ia
titude.
BY Mitchelrs map, by which the treaty of t78S
was forned, it WAS evident chat the north western
point Of the lake of the Woods, was at least as
high north as the latitude 50 By the observati-
ons of Mr.. Thompson, astronomer TO the North
Western company, it appears to be in latitude
20 degrees 81 minutes. BY joining then the
western boundary OF Canada 10 its northern in the
lake of the Woods, and closing both there, it
follows that it was the obvious intention of the
ministers who negotiated the treaty, and of their
respective governments, that the United States
should possess all the territory lying between the
lakes and the Mississippi, south OF the parallel of
the 49th degree of north l?utude. This is con-
irmed by the courses which are afterwards pur-
sued by the treaty, since they precisely those
which had been established between Great Bri-
tain and France in former treaties. BY running
due west from the north western point of the
lake OF the Woods to the Mississippi, it must
have been Intended, according to the lights be-
fore them, TO take the parallel OF the A9th degree
of1atitude as established under the treaty OF u
trecht; and by pursuing thence the course OF the
Mississippi to the 31st degree OF latitude, the
whole extent ofthe western boundary OF the Uni
ted States, the boundary which had been estab-
lished by the treaty oi11o3, was actually adopted.
This conclusion is further supported by the line
raj s1iIit which term mated war revn-
luton, it having been manifestly the intention OF
the parties to heal, as far rs could be done, the
wounds which it had inflicted. Nor is it essen
italy weakened by the circumstance that the Mis-
sissippi is called for by the western course IRON,
the lake OF the Woods, or that It's navigation is
stipulated in favor Of both powers. Westward OF
the Mississippi. to the south OF the 49th degree
ofnorth ,,tuCe, Great Britain held then no ter-
ritory. That river was her western boundary.
In running west and ccding the territory TO the
river, it was impossible not 10 call fer it and On
the stppositipn that 1t took its source within the
iirnits ofthe Hudson bay company, it was natu-
raj that it should stipuate the free navigation OF
the river. But in SO doing it is presumed that
her government respected more delicate sens
of what it might be supposed to owe 10 th inter
est OF that company, than any strong motive OF
policy founded ON the Interests Of Canada, or It's
other possessions III that quarter. AS Great
Britain ceded at the same time the Floridas to
Span, the navigation Of the Mississippi by her
subjects, fit took place, being under foreign
jurisdiction. could not fail to draw from her own
territories the resources which properly belonged
TO them, and therefore could not be viewed in the
Light Of national advantage.
After the treaty of 1888, and at the time the
convention in contemplation was entered into, the
state of things is above stated. The ter
ritory which Great Britain held westward Of the
lake of the Woods, was bounded south by the
49th degree of north latitude that which lay
between the lake Of the Woods and the Msss-
sippi southwark Of that parallel, belonged to the
United States and that which lay to the west of
the Mississippi, to Spain. Ii being, however,
understood BY more recent discoveries or obser-
vations that the source Of the Mississippi did no;
extend so high north as bad been supposed, and
Great-B Britain having shcwn a desire to have tie
boundary of the United States modified in such
manner as 20 strike that river, an article TO that
effect was inserted in the late convention But
in so doing it IS not the intention of the Anne
fichu minister, Or OF the British minister, TO d1
mo c than simply to define the American bouu.
Diary. Ii was not conte mpated by either ofthem.
tlIat America Should convey to Great Britain any
right 20 the territory lying westward Of that line
since not foot of IL belonged to her Il WAS
intended 70 leave il to Great Britain to settle ia
point as 20 such territory, Or such portion OF II
as she might want, with Spain, OF rather with
France, TO whom il then belonged At this pc
ROD, however, certain measures RESPECTING. The
Mississippi, and movements in that quarter took
place, which seemed to menace the great inie
rests Of America that were dependent on that
river. These excited scn5ibiity, acute and II
nc al ne l,.ef, - u H..