Lincoln telegraph., 1838-05-10
NO. 6.


Great Britain, since it would be considered
by that Sinte as equivalent to cession Of
what she regards rs a part Of her territory,
he observed that the objection of The state
could not be admitted as valid; for, the
principle on whchsi rested was as good for
Great Britain as il was for Name; that if
the State was entitled 10 contend thai. until
thetreaty line was determined, the houn-
dary claimed by Maine must be r.
as the right one. Great Britain IL ILL
more entitled 10 insist ON similar preten-
sion, and to assert that until the line ofthe
treaty shall be established satisfactorily the
whole Of the disputed territory onght to be
considered as belonging to the British
crown, since Great Britain was the origi-
nal possessor, and all the territory which
had been proved TO have been, by. treaty;
ceded by her, must be deemed to Belong to
her still But, Mr.. Fox said,the existence
ofthese conflicting pretcnsions pointed out
the expediency Of compromise: and why,
he asked, as conventional. line different
from that described in the treaty, was ag-
reed to with respect to the boundary west
ward from the Lake of the Woods. should
such line not be agreed to, likewise, for
the boundary eastward from the Connecti-
cut? Her Majesty's Government could
not, he added, refrain from again pressing
this proposition upon the serious consider
alton ofthe United States, as the arrange
mentbest calculated 10 effect a prompts and
satisfactory settlement between the two
powers. 49,
With reference to the American propo-
siion to make the river ST. John, from its
mouth to lis source, the boundary, Mr.. Fox
remarked that it was difficult to understand
upon what grounds any expectation could
have been formed that such proposal
could be entertained by the British Gc--srn-
ment, for such an arrangement would give
TO the United States even greater advan-
tages than they would obtain BY an uncon-
diiional acquiescence in their claim to tho
whole ofthc disputed territory. because it
would give all the disputed territory lying
south OF the St. John. and in exchange for
the remaining part Of the territory lying to
the north Of the St John would add to the
State of Maine a large district Of New
Brunswick district smaller in extent but
much more considerable in value than the
portion ofthe disputed territory which lies
to the nolth OF the st. John.
With regard TO the proposition for the
appointment Of commission ofexploration
and survey, Mr.. Fox stated that her Maj
esty's Government, with little expectation,
that it could lead 10 useful result, but Jun
willing 70 reject the only plan left which
seemed to afford chance of making fur
ther advance in this matter, would not
withhold their consent to sach a commis-
sion, ifthe principle upon which it was to
be formed, and the manner in which it was
to proceed, could be satisfactorily settled;
that Of the two modes proposed in which
such commission might be constituted,
her Majesiy's Government thought the first,
viz:-that it might consist of commission
ers named in equal Numbers by each of
the two Governments, with an umpire TO
be selected by some friendly European
power, would be the best, but suggested
that it might be better that the umpire
should be selected by the members Of the
commission themselves, rather than that
the two Governments should apply 10
third power to make such choice; that the
object ofthis commission should be TO ex-
plore the disputed territory,in order to find
within its limits dividing highlands, which
might answer the description Of the treaty,
the search to be made il a north and north
west line from the monument at the head
of the ST. Croix, and that her Maicsty's
Government hadgiyen their opinion that
the commissioners should be instructed 10
look for highlands which both parties might
acknowledge as fulfilling The conditions Of
the treaty.
In answer to the inquity how the report
OF the commission would, according to the
views of her ,najesiy's Government, be
likely, when rendered to lead to an ultimate
settlement Of the boundary question, Mr..
Fox observed that sinec the proposal for
the appointment of Commission originat-
ed with the Goyci nlnent ofthe United States
it was rather for that Government than tie
Government of Great Briiain to. answer this
question. Her Majesty Government hfd
already stated they had little expectation
that such a commission could lead 10 any
useful result, &C.. but that her Maiesty's
Goyernment, il The first place, conceived
thai il was meant by The government oflhe
u. Ssthat flihe Commission should discoy-
or highlands answering to|the description Of
the treaty, a connecting line from them to
the head oi the ST. Croix, should be deem
ed to be aportion Of the boundary between
the two countries. MI Fox further refer
red the Secretary to the previous notes Of
Mr.. McLane on tho subject, in which it
~ n n .,,,,, AZ t,d nc f,,,., 90 fIo X<,eei ihIa