Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-05-09
AN IMPORTANT REPORT.
THE COMMITTEE OF FoFEIGN RELATIONS on
ROuNnAry Or-rSTIOy


BOUNDARY QUEsTIoN.
The Committee on Foreign Relations to which
was referred the sveral messages Of the President
Of the United States, communicating to Congress-
at its present session, certain official correspun
Gence in relation to the question of the territory in
dispute with Great Britain on our Northeastern
frontier; and also certain resolutions OF the lCgis
lature Of Maine on the same subject,
REHORT:
That they have had the same under consideration,
and now deem it eXpedient to communicate to the
Senate their views for not making, at the present
moment, general report upon the whole subject
They feel that they will best perform this dutv by
placing clearly and distinctly before the Senate tho
existing state ana condition Of the pending nego-
tiatiun between the two Governments.
The President of the United States, in his annual
message of December last, informed Congress that,
for the settlement Of our Northeastern boundary,
the proposition promised by Great Britain for
commission Of exploration and survey, has been
ceyed, and counter project including also pro-
vision for the certain and final adjustment of the
limits in dispute, is now before the British Govern
ment for its consideration" The President has
not thought it advisable 10 Communicate this counter
project to Congress; yet we have his assurance on
which the most confident reliance may be placed,
that it is Of such character will, should it be
accepted, finally settle the question. This propo-
siton was officially communicated to that Govern
ment during the last summer.
Mr.. Fox, the British Minister, in his note of the
2lth January last. doubtless with perfect knowl
edge of the nature Of the project which had been
submitted by the American Government to that of
Great Britain, assures Mr.. Forsyth THAT he not
only preserves the hope, but he entertQins the firm
belief that if the duty of negotiating the boundary
question be left in the hands of the two National
Governments, to whom alone Of right it belongs,
the difficulty of conducting the negotiation to an
amcable issue, will not be found 50 great aS has
been by many persons apprehended," And in his
subsequent note Of March ID, $40, he states that
he has been instructed to declare, "that her Maj es-
| tvs Government are only waiting for the detailed
report Of the British Commissioners recently EN-.
pOyed to survey the disputed territory, which re-
port, it was believed, would be completed and de-
livered TO her Maie5tys Government by the end OF
the present month, March, in order to transmit to
the Government Of the United States reply to th2f
last proposal upon the subject Of the boundary ne
that this reply will be received by the President
during the present month, (of AprilJ or early il
May.
Whilst such IS the condition Of the principal ne
rociation the committee have deemed it eypcGient,
at this time, to report upon he subordinate though
important question in relation to the temporary
cupaton of the disputed territory. They trust that
the answer Of the British Government may be OF
such character to render report upon tins 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, ever since this embarrassing and
exciting question has been first presented for their
consideration, have been anxious that the Govern
ment of the United States should constantly pre-
serve itself in the right; and hitherto the desire has
been fully accomplished. The territorial rights OF
Maine have been uniformly asserted and firm de,
termination to maintain them has been invariably
evinced; though this has been done in an amicablC
spirit. So far as the committee can exercise any
influence over the subject they are resolved. thai
If war should be the result, which they confidently
hope may not be the cuse, this shall be RENDERED
inevitable by the conduct OF the British Govern
ment. They have believed this to be the sure,
mode of uniting every American heart and every
American arm in defence Of the just rights Of TIN
country.
1t is but justice to remark, that the Executive
branch of the Government has from the beginning
been uniformly guided by the same spirit, and ma
thus far pursued firm, consistent, and pruden
course throughout the whole negotiation wat
Great Britain,
Whilst the committee can perceive no adequat
cause, at the present moment for anticipating hos
tilities between the two countries, they would no
be understood as expressing the opinion that tn
country should not be prepared to meet any emer
gency. The question of peace or war may. in
great degree, depend upon the answer Of the BIRTHS
government, now speedily expected
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