The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-07-02
NORTHEASTERN BOUNDARY.

/ NORTHEASTERN BOUNDARY.
The following message, from the President
Of the United States, was communicated to the
Senate by A. Van Buren,, his Secretary;
The importance Of the subject TO the tranquility Of
our country makes it proper that should commun
cate the Senate in addition TO the information here
toore Transmitted in reply to their resolution of the
18th Of January last the copy OF letter just received
from Mr., Fox, announcing the determination oil the
British Government to consent TO the principle OF our
last proposition for the settlement of the question Of
the Northeastern Boundary, with copy OF the answer
made To il by the Secretary of State. cannot doubt
that with the sincere disposition which actuates boh
Governments TO prevent any other than an aMeapie
termination of the controversy will be found pract
cable to arrange the details of conventional agree
ment the principles alluded To as TO effect that
object.
| The British commissioners, in their report commu-
nicated by Mr.. Fox, express opinion that the true
line Of the treaty Of 1888 is materially different from
that so long contended for by Great Britain. The re-
port is altogether pare in its character and has not
! yet, far we informed, been adopted by the
! British Government Ii has, however assumed form
sufficiently authentic and important to justify the be-
lief that it is TO be used hereafter by the British Go
vernment in the discussion of the question of boundary
and differs essentially from the line claimed by
the United States, immediate preparatory explora-
ton and survey part by commissioners APP
pointed for that purpose of the portions OF the terrific
ry therein particularly brought into view would
| in my opinion, be proper If Congress concur with
me in this view of the subject provision by them TO
enable the Executive carry it into effect will be
cessary
M VAN BUREN,.
Washington, 27M June, 1910,
M For 10 M FORSYTH
WASHINGTON, .June % 1910.
| The undersigned, Her Britannia Majestys Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenpotentiary, has the
honor to transmit to the Secretary of State of the Uni
ted States, by order Of his Government the accompa
nying printed copies Of a report and map which have
been presented to her Majesty Government by Col.
| Nudge and Mr.. Feaherstonhaugh the commissioners
employed during the last survey the disputed
territory.
The undersigned is instructed to say that il will of
course have become the duty of her Majesty's Go
vernmen to lay the said report and map before Par
lament but Her Majestys Government have been de-
srous as a mark OF courtesy and consideration to-
wards the Government of the United States that do
cumens bearing upon question of SO much interest
and Importance to the two countries should, in the
first instance be communicated the President The
documents had been officially placed in the hands of
her Majestys Government, only few days previously
to the date of the instructions addressed to the under
signed
Her Majestys Government feel an undated desire
to bring the long pending questions connected with the
boundary between the United States and the British
possessions in North America to final and satsiac-
tory settlement; being well aware that questions of
tins nature long they remain open between two
countries must be the of frequent irritation
both sides, and liable at any moment to lead to
events that may endanger the existence of friendly
relations
1t is obvious that the questions at issue between
Great Britain and the United States be beset with
various and really existing difhc utcs else those
questions would not have remained open since the
year 1888 Notwithstanding the frequent and earnest
cndeayors made by each Government to bring them to
an adjustment. But her Maesty's Government do
not renquish the hope that the sincere desire which
is felt by both parties arrive amicable settle
ment, will at length be attended with success
The best clue to guide the two Governments in their
future proceedings, may perhaps he obtained by
examination OF the causes of past failure and the most
prominent amongst these has certainly been
want of correct information to the Typographical
features and physical character OF the district in dis
pute.
This want Of adequate information may be traced
as one of the difficulties which embarrassed the Ne
therlands Government in its cndeavors to decide the
points submitted to its arbitration in 1880 The same
has been felt by the Government in England it has
been felt and submitted by the Government of the
United States, and 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 survey of the disputed territory by joint com
mission would be the measure best calculated to elu
cidate and solve the questions issue. The Presi-
dent proposed such commission, and her Maiesty's
Government consented to it and it believed by
her Majesty Government that the general principles
4 upon which the commission to be guided in its
local operations had been settled by mutual agreement
arrived at by means of respondencc which took
place between the two Governments in 1887 and 1888
Tier Majesty Government accordingly transmitted,
in April of last year. for the consideration of the
President, he draft of convention to regulate the
| proceedings of the proposed commission The pre-
amble of that draft recited textuay the agreement
that had been come TO by means of notes which had
/ been exchanged between the two Governments and
the articles of the draft framed her Majestys
Government considered in strict conformity with that
agreement.
! But the Government of the United States did not
think proper to the convention SO proposed
| The United States Government did not indeed al
lege that the proposed convention variance with
the result OF the previous correspondence between the
two Governments hut it thought that the convention
would establish a commission of mere exploration
and survey, and the President was of opinion that
the step next to be taken by the two Governments,
should be to contract stpulatons bearing upon the
face of them the promise of final settlement under
some form other and within reasonable time
| The United States Government accordingly trans
mitted to the undersigned for communication her
Majcstys Government, in the month of July last, a
counter drat OF convention, varying considerably in
some parts, as the Secretary of State of the United
States admitted IN his letter to the undersigned of the
29h Of July last from the draft proposed by Great
Britain But the Secretary OF State added that the
United States Government did not deem it necessary
to comment upon the alterations so made as the text
itself Of the counter rait would be found sufficiently
perspcuous
! Her Majestys Government might certainly well
have expected that reasons would have been
| given to explain why the United States Government
declined to confirm arrangement which was found
ed upon propositions made by that Government itself
and upon notifications to which that Government had
agreed or that if the American Government thought
the draft of convention thus proposed not in CON
ormlty with the previous agreement, it would have