Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-10-20

Heu, tue treaty snould t3ke eUect ana, III
not, that it should be null and void on
our assent or refusal to admit such an ar
article would depend the continuance or
suspension of the negotiation.
AS we mad represented that the PROPOSE
ton made by them, on that subject, was
not sufficiently explicit, their government
had directed them to give US every necessary
explanation, and to state distinctly the ba-
sis which must be considered as an ,indis-
pensable prel minary.
1t was sine qua NON that the Indians
should be included in the paciiication, and,
as incident thereto, that the boundaries of
their territory should be permanently es-
tablished. Peace with the Indians was a
subject SO simple, as to require no COM
ment. With respect to the boundaries
which was to divide their territory from
that of the United States, the object of the
British government was, that the Indians
should remain as a permanent barrier be-
tween our western settlements, and the ad-
Jacent British provinces, to prevent them
from being conterminous to each other /:
and that neither the United States, nor
Great Britain, should ever hereafter have
the right to purchase, or acquire any part
Of the territory thus recognized, as belong
ing to the Indians. With regard to the
extent of the Indian territory, and the
boundary line, the British government
would propose the lines of the Greenville
treaty, as proper basis, subject, however,
to discussion and notifications.
We stated that the Indian territory, &C.
coIding to these lines, would comprehend
a great number of American citizens not
less perhaps than hundred thousand /; and
asked, what was the intention of the Brit
ish government respecting them, and under
whose government they would fall ? 1t was
answered that those settlements would be
taken into consideration, when the line be-
came subject of discussion but that such
of the inhabitants, as would ultimately be
included within the Indian territory, must
make their own arrangements and provide
for themselves.
The British Commissioners here said
that, considering the importance of the
question we had to decide, (that Of agree.
ing to provisional article) their govern.
ment had thought it right, that we should
also be fully informed OF its views, with
respect to the proposed revision fthe boun
dairy line, between the dominions of Great.
Britain and the United States.
LIST. Experience had proved that the
joint possession of the Lakes, and a right
common to both nations to keep up a na-
val force on them, necessarily produced
collisions, and rendered peace insecure
As Great Britain could not be supposed to
expect to make conquests in that quarter
and as that province was essentially weak
er than the United States, and exposed to
invasion, it was necessary, for its security
that Great Britain should require that the
United States should hereafter keep no
armed naval force on the Western Lakes
from Lake Ontario to Lake Superior, both
inclusive that they should not erect any
fortified or military post or establishment
on the shores of those lakes and that they
should not maintain those which were al
ready existing This must, they said, be
considered as moderate demand, since
Great Britain, if she. had not disc!aimed
the intention of any increase of territory,
mi ght with prdpriety have asked cession
OF the adjacent A. shores The CONNER
cial navigation and intercourse would be
left on the same footing as heretofore. II
was expressly stated, in answer to a ques-
ton we asked, that Great Britain was TO
retain the right of having an armed naval
force on those Lakes, and of holding mill
tsry posts and establishments on their
shores.
Cd. The boundary line west of lake ST.
Perior and thence to the Mississippi, to be
revised and the treaty right of G. Bri.
tain to the navigation Of the Mississippi, to
be continued. When asked, whether they
did not mean the line from the lake of the
Woods to the Mississippi, The British com.
missioners repeated that .hey meant the
line from lake Superior to that river.
Sd A direct communication from Hall
TAX and the province of New Brunswick to
Quebec to be secured to Great Britain. In
answer to cur question, in what manner
this was to be effected, we were told that
1t must be done by cession TO G. Britain
of that portion of the district of Maine lin
4 bao kat..