Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-07-14
Mr.. Fox TO Mr.. FORSYTH.

Washington, June. %.
The undersigned, her Briianic mojesiy's
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plcnlpo-
Tertiary, has the honor 20 transmit 10 the Sec
rotary of State Of the t. :. by order of his
government, the accompanying printed copies
Of report and map which have been present
cd to her maesty's government by Col. Nudge
and Mr. Fe1thersionehugh, the commissioners
employed during the last season to survey the
disputed territory.
The undersigned is instructed 10 say that it
will of course have become the duty of her
maicsty's government TO lay the said map and |
report before parliament; but her mljes,y's /
government have been DESTROYS, as mark of /
courtesy and consideration towards the gov
eminent of the u. :. that documents bearing |
upon a question Of so much interest and inn !
portance TO the two countries, should, in the |
first instance, be communicated to the presi- !
dent. The documents had been officially pac- |
ed in the hands of her majesty's government, |
only few days previous to the date of the
instruction addressed TO the undersigned.
Her majesty's government feel an undated
desire to bring the long-pending questions
connected with the boundary between the u.
S. and the British possessions in North Amer
| ca to final and satisfactory settlement be-
ing well aware that questions of this nature
as long as they remain open between two
| countries, must be the source of frequent irrl-
tation on both sides, and are liable at any mo-
ment TO lead to events that may endanger the
| existence Of friendly relations. II is obvious
that the questions at issue with the United
| States must be beset with various and equally
existing difficulties; or else those questions al
would not have remained open ever since the
year 1888, notwithstanding the frequent and
earnest endeavors made by each Government
TO bring them to an adjustment. But her ma
jesiy's government, do not relinquish the hope
that the sincere desire viii h is felt by both
parties to arrive at an amicable settlement
will at length be attended with success. The
best clue 10 guide the two governments in their
future proceedings, may perhaps be obtained
by an examination of the causes of past fail
ure; and the most prominent among these
causes has certainly been want OF correct in
formation as 10 the Typographical features and
, physical character of the district in dispute.
This want of adequate information may be
traced as enc of the difficulties which embar-
raised the Netherlands government in its en-
dcavorS to decide the point Submitted to It's ar
bitration, in 1880. The same has been felt by
the government in England it has been telt
and admitted 10y the government OF the United
States, and even by the local government of
the contiguous state of Maine.
The british government and the government
of the United States agreed, therefore, two
years ago, that a survey of the disputed terri
tory, by Joint commission, would be the
, means best calculated to elucdate and solve
the question at issue. The preaident proposed
l such a commission, and her majestys govern
ment consented to it and it was believed that
= the general principles upon which the commits
sion was &c be guided, in lis local operations,
had been arrived at by means of correspon-
dence which took plrce between the two gov
= crnments in 1887 and 1888.
Her maiesty's government accordingly trans
mtied. in April Of last year, for the consdera-
ton of the president, draught of convention
TO regulate the proceedings of the proposed
commission. The preamble of that draught
' recited'textually the agreement that had been
/ come TO by means of notes which had been
u which had been exchanged between the two
T. governments, and the articles of the draft
;, were framed, as her majesty's government con
: sdered, In strict conformity with that agree
= ment.
r But the government Of the United States did
not think proper TO assent TO the convention 50
r proposed.
I The United States government did not in
r deed allege that the proposed convention was
o at variance with the result of the previous cor
d respondence between the two governments,
: but il thought convention would establish a
O commission Of "mere exploration aud survey
n and the president was of opinion that the step
e never to be taken by the governments should
|. be TO contract stipula,ons bearing upon the
: face of them the promise of final settlement,
?. under some form or other, and within a rea
l. sonable time.
The United States government accordingly
i transmitted to the undersigned, for communi
= cation TO her majesty's government, in the
I. month of July last, "A counter dGaught of con
n veniion, varying considerably in some parts a:
y the secretary Of State of the United States ad
# mited in his letter 10 the undersigned, OF tho
N the Goth OF July last, from the draft proposed
in by Great Britain. But the Secretary OF STATE
a. added, that the United States Government die
not deem II necessary 10 comment upon The
IT alterations so made, as the text itself OF ihG
g draft would be found sufficiently perspicuOus
e Her majesty's government might certainly
W well have expected that some reasons wOul,
r. have been given to explain why the DnIieC
e States government declined To confirm an az
\, rangemeni which was founded upon PROPOSE
Of lions made by that government ITSELF and up
81 on notifications TO which that government ha,
,r agreed, or if the l.. ). government objected Il
of the draft. il should have shown why.
A The British draft contained no provision
M for arbitration, because the principle Of arbi
10 tratinn had not been proposed OF either sid
F. during the negotiation upon which that drai
!, was founded and because, moreover, il wa
>, understood at that time that the principles o
"a arbitration would be decidedly objected 10 b,
~ the United States.
IN But as the United States Government hayt
now expressed a wish 10 embOdy the pnnci
IL pies Of arbiiraion in the proposed convent on
. her maiesty's government are perfectly Will