The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-09-21

the Treaty of Ghent But between this last
mentioned point and the Lake oI the Woods, the
Commissioners acting under the Tth article ol
that treaty found several matters OF Disagree
mcnt, and therefore made 10 joint report to their
respective Governments. The first of these was
Sugar Island, or st. Georges Island, lying in
ST. Mary's river, or the wafer communication
between Lakes Huron and Superior BY the
present treaty this island is embraced in the ter
ri,crics of the United States. Both from soil
and position, it is regarded az Of much value
Another matter Of difference was the manner
Of extending trc line from the point at which the
Commissioners arrived, rorth of Isle RoyaIe, in
Lake Superior, 10 the lake of the Woods. The
British Commss insisted on proceeding
10 the Fond du Iln, at the southwest angle
q: :!la Lake, and thence by the river st. Lou
i, ta he I,ainy Like. The American Commits
:.naar: supposed ihc trt!? course % be to pro-
ca2I b; W; O. The .D,c River. Attempts were
made 20 c3.n7roniso this difference, but without
:"ccHss. The .,a;a;!s of these proceedings are
'oaad q !2a.l il The printed, seperate reports Of
tie Commissioners.
From IL, lnlfa:r:act knowledge OF this remote
conn:rv, and lie date ofthc treaty of peace, some
o.: ii!c descriptions in that treaty DO not harmo-
ni%c with is natural features as now asccrtaincd
"L1ng Like" is 10 where TO be found under that
name. There is reason for supposCg, however,
that the sheet OF water intended by that name,
is the estuary at the mouth of Pigeon River
The present treaty alopis therefore that estuary
and river, and afterwards pursues the usual route
across the height Of land by the vrrous portarcs
and small lakes, till the line reaches Rainy Lake;
from which tho Commissioners agreed on the
extension OF il 10 its termination, i'll the north
west angle Of the Lake OF the Woods. The re-
gIon of country on and near the shore ofthe lake
between Pigeon River on the north, and Fond
du Lac and the River st. Louis on the south and
west, considered valuable as mineral region, is
thus included within the United States. 1t en-
braces territory flour millions of acres, north
ward Of the claim set up by the British Commits.
s;oncr under the treaty of Ghent. From the
height of land at the head Of Pigeon River, wes-
CRY 10 the Rainy Lake, The country is under
stood 10 be of little value, being described by
and marked OH the map as region OF
ock and wafer.
From the north west angle Of the Lake of the |
Woods, which is found TO be in latitude 45 deg. |
3 min. % sec. north, existing treaties require !
he line to be run due Suuh to its intersection
With the Ash parallel, and thence along that par
llel to the Rocky Mountains
After lndrv informal communications with
he British Minister upon the subject of tho
lan!s of the two countries to the territory west
+ the Rocky Mountains. 81 little probability is
Dund to exist Of coming TO any agreement on
hat subject at present, that it was not thought
xpedient to make it one of the sub ects OF formal
ego,alon, TO be entered upon between this
Government and the British Minister, as part OF
lis duties under the special mission.
By'the treaty Of 11S3, the line oi division along
he rivers and lakes, from the place where the
9th parallel of north latitude strikes the 81.
lawrence, to the outlet OF Lake Superior, is in
ariabIy TO be drawn through the middle of such
:atcrs, and not through the middle OF their main
hanncls. Such line if extended according tn
he literal terms Of the treaty. would, 1t is ooVI-
us, occasionally intcresects Islands The
manner in which The commissioners OF the two
dealt with this difficult subject,
nav be seen in their reports; hut where the
inc. thus following the middle OF the river, or
:ater course, did not meet with islands, yet 1t
;as liable sometimes TO leave the practicable
avirable channel altogether on one side. The
reaty made no provision for the common use OF
he waters by the citizens and subjects OF both
ountr!es.
1t has happened therefore, in few instances,
hat the use of the river, il particular places,
would be greatly diminished to one party or the
,IIer. if in fact there was not choice In the use
# the channels and passages. Thus at the
.onc Sault in the ST. Lawrence, dangerous
,assage, practicable only for boats, the only sale
un is between Long Sault islands and Barn
lar,s islands, all which belong 10 the United
States on one side, and the American shore OH
he other. On the other hand, by far the best
,assane for vessels OF any depth of water, from
lake Erie into ;he Detroit River, is between
3os Blanc, a British island and the Canadian
shore So again there are several channels or
passages of different degrees oi facility and use
Illness, between the several islands in the river
ST. CLAIR, at or near its entry into the lake o that
name. In these three cases tic treaty provides
hat all the several channels aud passages shall |
be free and open to tie use of the citizens and
subjects Of both parties.
The treaty obligations subssting between the
two countries ior the suppression Of the African
slave trade, ard the complaints made to this Co
verrment within the last three or four years,
manv of them hut tco well founded, OF the vista
ton, seizure, and detention OF Americann YES
sells on the cuasr, by British cruzers, could not
but form a delicace and highly important part OF
the ncuocia; ions which have NOW been held.
The early and prominent part which the Go
vernment of the United States has taken for the
abolition of this unlawful and inhuman traffic is
well known. BY the tenth article oi the treaty
of Client, it is declared that traffic in slaves ire
concilaGle with the principles oi humanity and