The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-09-21
MESSAGE
MESSAGE
From the President The U. States, accon

held in this city with the British 4,IIaster, spe-
cialan extraordinary.
These results comprise
lst. A Treaty to settle and define the bounda-
res between the territories of The u. States and
the possessions of her Britannia Majesty in
North America, for the suppression of tho Afri-
can slave trade, and the surrender Of criminals,
fugitives from justice, in certain cases
3D. A correspondence on the subject of Inc
interference Of the Co)oHal authorities of The
British West Indies WITH American merchant
vessels driven by stress of weather, or carried
by violence into the ports of those colonies.
Sd. A correspondence uIom the s'l!iHc. ii. the
attack and dcstruct;,1 % the sa9n',o2 ."o';'Ia.
4t!l. A correspondence oa The sut t.oc. o. an
pressmont.
Ifthis treaty sh1ll racc"a tl.n .-,1"n''0';na oi
the Senate, it will tnrmna'a Il E.i;1tG4'n re-
specting boundary which has Io1c; s;ihss'cl he
tween the two GOvcrnmeT eT,s---,I2s been ::.e sub
ject of several Observation-Disclosures al settlements.
and has sometimes led to great irrI'?'oil, nni
without danger Of disturbing The existing peace.
Both the u. States and the states more lnmeHi-
ately concerned have entertained no dnu1. OF
the validity of the American title 10 Al! the ter
ritory which has been in dispute: but that title
was controverted, and the government OF the
United States has agreed to make the dispute
subject Of arbitration. One arbitration has been
actually had, but had failed 10 settle the contro-
versy; and it was found, at the commencement
of last year, that correspondence had been III
progress between the two governments Tor a!
Joint commission, with an ultimate reference toI
an umpire or arbitrator, with authority to make
final decision. That correspondence, however,
has been retarded by various occurrences, and
had come to no definite result when the special
IS 7 >r1 Acbl,prtpp u-o orn0uOrpH -
This movement On the part of England afforded, |!
in the Judgment Of the Executive, favorable op- |
portunity for making an attempt to settle this
long existing controversy by some agreement Or
treaty. without further reference TO arbitration.
1t seemed entirely proper that, if this purpose
were entertained consultation should be had
with the authorities of the States OF Name and
Massachusetts. Letters, therefore, OF which
copies are herewith communicated, were ad-
dressed to the Governors of those states, sug-
gestng that commissioners should be appointed
by each Of them, respectively, TO repair to this
city and confer with the authorIties OF tins 60
vernment on line by agreement or compromise,
with its equivalents and compensatIons. Ths
suggestion was met by both states in spirit OF
candor and patriotism, and promptly complied
with. Four commissioners OH the part OF Name,
and three on the part of Massachusetts, all per-
SOlS Vi diIu IiItih'tS'3 "S'N W.
ly appointed and commissioned, and lost no time
in presenting themselves at the seat of the 60
vernment of the United States. These commits
sioners have been in correspondence with this
government during the period of the discus
sions; have enjoyed its confidence and freest :
communications; have aided the general object
with their counsel and advice; and IN the end,
have unanimously signihed their assent 10 the
line proposed in the treaty.
Ordinarily, it would be no easy task to recon-
cile and bring together such variety OF interests
in matter in itself difficult and perpleXcd; but
the efforts of the govercment in attempting to
accomplish this desirable object, have been sec
conded and sustained by spirit of accommoda-
ton and Cancellation on the part OF the States
concerned, to which much of the success OF these
efforts is to be ascribed.
Connected with the settlement of the line OF
the Northeastern Boundary, so far as it respects
the States of Maine and Massachusetts, is the
continuation of that line along the highlands to
the northwestermost head OF Connecticut river.
Which of the sources of that stream is entitled
to this character, has been matter of controversy
and of some interest TO the State OF New iiamp.
shire. The King of the Netherlands decided
the main branch to be the north westermost head
of the Connecticut. This did not satisfy the
claim of New Hampshire. The line agreed to
in the present treaty follows the highlands to
the head OF Halls stream, and thence down that
river embracing the whole claim of New ilamP-
shire, and establishing her title to 100000 acres
of territory, more than she would have had by
the decision of the King of the Netherlands.
By the treaty of 1888, the line is 10 proceed
down the Connecticut river to the 45th degree
of north latitude, and thence west By that paraI-
lei, till it strikes the st. Lawrence. Receat eX-
amnatons having ascertaned thatihe Inc here
tofore received as the true lire of latitude be-
tween those points was erroneous, and that the
correction Of this error would not only leave, on
the British side, considerable tract OF territory.
heretofore supposed TO belong to the States OF
Vermont and New York. but also Rouse Point,
the site of a military work OF the United S'aics'
it has been regarded as an object OF Importance,
not only to establish the rights and Jurisdiction
of those States, upon the line to which they have
been considered to extend, but also to compre-
bend Routes Point within the territory OF the
United States The REIMBURSEMENT, by the Bri-
fish Government, of all the territory south of the
line heretofore considered to be the true line,
has been obtained; and the consideration for this
REIMBURSEMENT, is to enure by the provisions of
the treaty to the States OF Maine and Massachu-
sets.
The line of boundary, then, from the sources
of the St. Croix to the st. Lawrence, so far as