Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-12-14

suggesting to the British Observation-Disclosures
the. propriety of an article by which Great
Britain and the United States should reci-
procally stipulate never hereafter. If they
should be again at var, TO employ savages in
it, believe that it would be infinitely more no.
norable to the humanity and Christian tes,>
per Of both parties, more advantageous to
tho Indians themselves, and better adapted
to secure their permanent peace. ~tranquilii-
~, and progressive cilization, than the bonn
dairy proposed by the British plempotentia.
ries.
With regard 70 the cessicn of a part of
the Djstric, OF MS:ne. as TO which the Bgi-
fish plenipotentiaries are unable to reconcile
the objections male by the undersigned with
their previous declaration. they have the Ito.
nor to observe, that at the conference Of the
9th ultimo, the British plenipotentiaries sta
ted, as one OF the subjects suitable for dis.
cussion. q revision of the boundary line be.
tween the British and American territories,
with a view to prevent uncertainty and dis
pute /: and that it was I'm the point thus sta
ted, that the undersigned declared that they
were provided with Instructions from their
government a declaration which did not
Imply that they weyk instructed to make any
cession OF territoryrin any quarter, or TO a.
gree TO a revision Of the line, or to any ex-
change ofterritory, where no uncertainty or
dispute existed.
The undersigned perceive no uncertainty
or matter ofdoubt in the treaty of 1888, with
respect to that part Of the boundary of the
District of Maine which would be affected
by the proposal of Great Britain on that sub.
ject. They never have understood that the
British p-lenipotentiarics who sigued that
treaty, had contemplated a boundarydi differ
ent from that fixed by the treaty, and which
requires nothing more, in order to be def.
nitely ascertained, than to be surveyed in
conformity with its provisions. This subject
not having been a matter of uncertainty or
dispute, the Undersigned are not instructed
upon il (; and they can have no authority to
cede any part Of the state Of Massachusetts,
even for what the British government might
consider a fair equivalent.
In regard to the boundary Of the north.
western frontier SO soon as the proposition
OF Indian boundary is disposed ii. the un-
dersigned have no objection, with the ex
PLANTATION given by the British plenipoterti>
aries, in their last note, to discuss the SUBJ
ject.
The undersigned in their former note,
stated with frankhess, and viii now repeat,
thot TN wv 1917 w hSoi6uitS III
the proposed treaty of peace a definite boun
dairy they should stipulate not to acquire, by
purchase or otherwise. any territory ; IDLY,
Of securing the exclusive military possession,
of the Lakes &c Great Britain, are both i'm
admissible ; and that they csnnot subscribe
TO. and would deem il useless TO refer to
their government any arran2emsn nj. ever
provisional, containing either Of those pro-
positions. With this understanding, the un.
dersigred are new ready to continue the ne.
goc;atGnj and, as they have already ex.
pressed, to discuss all the points Of difference,
or which might hereafter tend in any de.
gree TO interrupt the harmony of the two
countries
The Undersigned request the British pie
nipoteutiaries to accept the assurance of
their high Consideration.
(Sisned)
JOHN ADAMS.
JAMES A. BAYARD.
HENRY CLAY,
IONA. RUSSELL.
A, GALLlTIN.
-- |fNtI tINLU"|