Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1842-09-15
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT,
ACCOMPANYING THE TREATY.

the Senate the results of the negotiations
recently had in this city with the British
Minister, special and extraordinary.
The results compromise,
LIST. A Treaty to settle and define the
boundaries between the territories of the
United States, and the possessions of her
Britanic Majesty in North America, for the
suppression of the African slave trade. and
the surrender of criminals, fugitives from
justice, in certain cases.
I'd. A correspondence on the subject of
the interference Of the Colonial authorities
of the British West Indies with American
merchant vessels driven by stress Of wealth
er, or carried by violence, into the ports Of
those colonies.
3d. A correspondence upon the subject of
the attack and destruction of the steamboat
Caroline.
9TH. A correspondence on the subject Of
impressment.
If thistreaty shall receive the appreciation
of the Senate, it will terminate "a difference
respecting boundary which has long subsis-
ted between the two gOvernmenls--has been
the subject Of several intellectual attempts
at settlement, and has sometimes led to
great irritation, not without danger OF dis
turbing the existing peace. Both the United
States and the states more Immediately
validity Of the American title to all the ter
ritory which has been in dispute; but that
title was controverted and the Government
of the United States had agreed to make the
dispute subject of arbitration. One arbi-
tration had been actually had, but had fail
ed to settle the controversy; and it was found
at the commencement of last year, that n
correspondence had been in progress be-
tween the two governments for joint COM
mission, with all ultimate reference to an
umpire or arbitrator, with authority to make
n final decision. That correspondence,
however, had been retarded by various oc-
curences, and had come to no definite result
when the special mission of Lord Ashbur-
ton was announced. This movement on the
part of England afforded, in the judgment
of the Executive, favorable opportunity
for making an attempt to settle this long ex-
listing controversy by some agreement or
treaty, without further reference to arbitra-
ton. 1t seemed entirely proper that, if this
purpose were entertained, consultation
should be had with the authorities of the
states of Maine and Massachusetts. Letters,
therefore, of which copies are herewith
communicated, were addressed to the Gov
errors of those States, suggesting that COM
missioners should be appointed by each of
them, respectively, to repair to this city to
confer with the authorities of this Govern
ment, on a line by agreement or compro-
mise, with its equivalents and compensa-
tions. This suggestion was met by both |
states in a spirit Of candor and patriotism,
and promptly compiled with. -Four COM
missioners on the part of Maine, and three
on the part of Massachusetts, all persons. of |
distinction and high character, were duly |
appointed and commissioned, and lost no |
time in presenting themselves at the seat OF !
the Government of the United States. These !
commissioners have been in correspondence |
with this Government during the period of
the discussions; have enjoyed its conf
dence and frcest communications have |
aided the general object with their counsel !
a.ld advice; and in the end, have unani-
r.ousy s,gniied their assent to the line pro- I
posed in the treaty.
Ordinarily, it would be no easy task to re- |
concile and bring together such variety of
interests in a matter in itself difficult and
perplexed: but the efforts of the Govern
ment in attempting to accomplish this desi-
rable object, have been seconded ana SuS- |
tanned by a spirit of accommodation and con-
ciiation 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, 50 far as it |
respects the states of Maine and Massachu-
setts, Is the continuation of that line along
The highlands to the northwestcrnmost head
of the 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
Hampshire. The King Of the Netherlands
decided the main branch to be the north
Westeynmost 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, embra-
cling the whole claim of cw-Hampshire,
and establishing her title to 100000 acres of
the decision ofthe King Of the Netherlands.
BY the treaty of 1883, the line is to pro-
coed down the Connecticut River TO the 45th
degree of north latitude, and thence west by
that parallel, till it strikes the st. Law
renee. Recent examinations having ascer-
TUNED that the line heretofore received as
the true line Of latitude betweenlhose points
was erroneous, and that the correction of
tthis error would not only leave, on the Bril-
fish side, conSidera bic tract of territory,
heretofore supposed to belong to the states
of Vermont and New. York, but also Rousc's
Point, the site of military work of the Uni
ted States, it has been regarded as an object
Uf Importance, not only 10 establish the
rights and jurisdiction of those states, up to
the line to which they have been considered
10 extend, but also to comprehend Rouse's
Point within the territory of the United
States. The REIMBURSEMENT by the British
Government Of all the territory south of the
line heretofore supposed to be the true line,
has been obtained and the consideration