North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-04-29
CONGRESS.


Of the President oi the United States, com
msnicsiing 10 Congress, at It's present ses
sion, certain Official correspondence in reis
ton 70 The question al the territory in dis
puse with Great Britain on our Northess
tern frontier end also certain resolutions
OF the legislature OF Maine on The same
subject.
Rspovt.-Thst they have had the came
under consideration, and now deem it ex.
pedient TO communicate 10 the Senate
their views for not making, al the present
moment, general report upon the whole
subject. They feel that they will best
perform this duty, by placing clearly and
distinctly before the Senate the existing
stase and condition Of the pending nego-
tiation between the two governments.
The President OF the United States, in
his annual message OF December last, in
formed Congress that, "for the settlement
OF our Northeastern Boundary, the propo-
sision promised by Great Britain for com
mission of exploration and survey, has
been received, and q counter project, in
GLIDING also, provision for the certain
and final adjustment Of the limits in dis
pute, 10 now before the British Govern
msnt for its consideration. The Presi-
dent hss not thought il advisable 10 COM
municate this counter project TO Congress;
ys, we have his assurance, on which the
most confident reliance may be placed,
that il is OF such q character as will,
should ID be accepted, finally settle the
question. This proposition was officially
communicated 10 that government during
she last summer.
Mr.. Fox, the British Minister, in his
mole Of the cath January last, doubtless
with a perfect knowledge Of the nature of
The project which had been submitted, by
the American governmental that Of Great
Britain, assures Mr.. Forsyth, "that he
not only preserves the hope, but he enter
tains the firm belief, that if the duty of me-
gotiating the boundary question be left in
the hands OF the two national governments,
to whom alone of right i. belongs, the diff.
Guilty Of conducting the negotiation 10 an
amicable issue will not be found so great
~ was, by many persons, apprehended."
And 10 his subsequent note of March IS,
1870, he states that he has been instruc-
ted TO declare, "that Her Majesty's gov
eminent are only waiting for the detailed
report OF the british commissioners recent
ly employed to survey the disputed terri
tory, which report, il was believed. would
be completed and delivered to Her Males
ty's government by the end Of the present
month, March, in order TO transmit TO
The government of the United States a
'eply to their last proposal upon the subject .
,f the boundary negotiation" Thus we
may reasonably expect that this reply may
Do received by the President during the
present month OF April or early in May.
While such is the condition OF the princi-
Die negotiation, the committee have deem
d il mex pedient, at this time, 10 report
,pon the subordinate, though important I
question in relation to the temporary oc-
'upation ofthe disputed territory.-They i
rust that the answer OF the British gov :
may be OF such character as TO =
endcr report upon this latter subject I'M !
necessary. In this event, they have every G
eason TO believe that the state of suspense .
viii be but of brief duration.
The committee, ever since this embar-
assing and exciting question has been
rst presented for their consideration, have s.
zen anxious that the government OF the 81
United States should constantly preserve b
Iself in the right ; and hitherto the desire
as been fully accomplished. The terri
orial rights Of Maine have been uniformly a
sserted, and a firm determination 10 main o
ain them has been invariably evinced
hough this has been done in an amicable
pIrit So far as the committee can exer- IS
ice any influence over the subject, they y
70 resolved, that il war should be the re- a
ult, which they confidently hope may not &c
G the case, this war shall be rendered
levitable, by the conduct Of the British =,
overnment. They have believed this to = !;
. the surest mode OF uniting every Amer :,
an heart and every American arm in de- ~
nee Of the just rights OF the country. /,
IL 10 but just TO remark, that the execu- :"
We branch OF the government has, from =,
le beginning. been uniformly guided by !.
lie same spirit, and has thus far pursued
IN, consistent, and prudent course,
'roughout the whole negotiation with sa
reat Britain. 81
Whilst the committee can perceive no mi
leqaaie cause, al the present moment, in,
g anticipating hosiiliiies between the
70 countries, they would not be under
God 40 expressing the opinion that the IN
'untry should not be prepared TO meet w
y emergency. This question of peace be
war, may ia great degree, depend no
ION the answer Of the British Govern N,
snt, now speedily expected, IN,