The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-05-09
in Senate Of The United State. Mn b.
REPORT:

which Cere referred the SeUeroI mes
suges Of the President Of the q. s.
communicating 10 Congress, al ITS
present session, certain official CORES
pondence in relation 10 the question Of
the territory in dispute Nth Great
Britain in our northeastern frontier;
and, also. certain resolutions ofthe Le-
gisiatars of Maine on the same suGject
report:
That they have had the sans under con-
sideraiion, and now deem II exPedient to
communicate to the Senate their reasons
for net making, at the present moment, a
general report upon the whole subject
They feel that they will best perform this
duty, by placing clearly and distinctly be-
fore the Senate the existing state and condi-
ton Of the pending negotiation between the
tive Governments.
This President of the United Stsies, in
his annual message of December last, in
formed Congress that, "fcr the settlement
Of our northeastern boundary, the PROPOSE
lion promised by Great Britain, for a com
mission of exploration and survey, has
been received, and cOunter-project, in
cluding also provision for the certain and
final adjustment Of the limits in dispute, is
now before the British Government for
its consideration. The President has
not thought it advisable to communicate
! this connter-project to Congress; yet we
have his assurance, on which the most
confident reliance may be placed, that it is
of such character as will, should it be
! accepted, finally settle the question. This
proposition was officially communicated to
that Government during the last sum
mer
! Mr.. Fox, the British minister, in his
note Of the oath January last. doubtless
with perfect knowledge Of the nature of
the project which had been submitted by
the American Government to that Of Great
Britain, assures Mr.. Forsyth "that he
net only preserves the hope, but he enter
tains the firm belief, that if tAc duty of ne
gotia,ion the boundary question be left in
the hands of the two National Govern
ments, TO whom alone Of right il belongs,
the difficulty OF conducting the negotiation
to an amicable issue will not be found so
great as has been by many persons appre-
hended." And in his subsequent note, Of
March l3, 1910. he states that he has been
instructed TO declare 'that her majesty
Government are only waiting for the
detailed report Of the British commits
sioners recently employed 10 survey the
disputed territory, which report, i. was be-
lieved, would be completed and delivered
e = he he nrsssSs ,,dS;, i1Tsss h' ih
transmit to the Government Of the United
States reply to their last proposal upon
the subject Of the boundary negotiation. j.
Thus we may reasonably expect that this
reply will be received by the Presiden, du-
ring the present month of April, or early in
May.
While such is the condition oftAe prin-
cipal negotiation, the committee have deem
ed il inexpedieRt, at this time, TO report up
ON the subordinate, though important, ques-
ton In relation 10 the temporary occuoption
OF the disputed territory. They trust tha,
the answer Of the British Government NAV
be oil such character as to render report
upon this latter subject unnecessary. In any
event. they have every reason TO believe
that the state of suspense will be but of
brief duration.
The committee, eversnce this embar-
RAISING and exciting question was first pre-
sented for their consideration, have been
anxious that the nment Of the United
States should CO W preserve itself in
the right; and 6 this desire has been
iuily accompiS The territorial rights
OF Maine ma n uniformly asserted, and
hrm detelnV TO maintain them has
been lavarlab heed; though this has
been done IN .ble spirit, So far as the
The committee exercise any influence
over the subjec Fhe{y are resolved that II
war should be 4 go, (Which they conf,
DENLY hope ma the case,) this war
shall be renders seable by the conduct
oil the British GoErnment. They have
believed this 10 be ths surest mode of unit
ing every American heart and every Ameri.
can arm in defence of the just rights of the
country.
II is but justice to remark, that the Exc.
cutiye branch Of the eOyernment has. from
the beginning, been uniformly guided by
the same spirit, and has thus far pursued
firm, consistent. and prudent course,
throughout the whole negotiation with
Great Britain.
While the committee can perceive no
adequate cause, at the present moment, for
anticipating hosiillliss between the two
countries, they would not be undcrstood as