The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-22
ABBOTT LAWRENCE,
JOHN MILLS,
CHARLES ALLEN.
isTER, Secreia1 Of State.


WAsHMGToN, July %, 1912.
Sir The undersigned commissioners of the State
of Maine on the subject OF the Northeastern boun-
Diary, have the honor acknowledge the receipt of
your note, addressed to them under date Of the 18th
instant, with enclosures therein referred to. The
proposition first submitted by the special minister Of
reat Britain, the subject of the boundary, having
been disagreed to, and the proposition made on the
part of the United States, with the assent of the
commissioners of Maine and Massachusetts, having
been rejected inadmissible, coupled with an ex-
preston OF surprise that 1t should have been made ;
and Lord Ashburtop, in the communication,
having minated preference for conference rather
than correspondence, and having omitted in his note
to make any new proposition, except qualified with
drawal of part of his former one, we learn from
your note that you shave had full and frequent con-
ferences with him respecting Il Northeastern boun-
dary,n and that you ''beieve you understand what
is practicable to be done on that subject so far he
Lord Ashburton) is concerned" We also learn,
,haI in these conferences he has made positive
binding proposition, thinking, perhaps, it would be
more desirable, under present circumstances, that
such proposition should proceed from the side of
the United ates - but that you have reason to be-
lieve that he would agree to line of boundary such
as described in the paper accompanying your note
(maIked y and, Also that you entertain the convc
ton THAT no more advantageous arrangement be
made ;; and, with this conviction you refer the sub
cct to the grave elaboration of the commissioners
Regarding this substantially proposition on the
and assent of Great Britain, and as the one most
favorable to US which, under any circumstances the
latter Government would either offer OF accept the
undersigned have not failed 10 bestow upon II thu
grave deibeIation and consideration which It's nature
and ia porance, and their own responsible position
demand. Ii The result of that delberaon should not
fully justify the expressed hopes meet the ext
lions and views OF the Government Of the Y nlted
States we beg yon to be assured that such failure will
be the result OF their firm con lotions Of duty the
State they represent and will arise from any
of am anxious desire on their part to bring the con-
tIOversy 10 amicabe, just, and honorable termna
ton In coming u this consideration they have not
been unmindlul that the State of Maine, with the
frmest conviction of her absolute right to The who'll
territory drawn into controversy, and sustained as
she has been, by the unanimous concurrence of hen
sister States and of the Government of the Union
pc .tedy expressed and cordially given, and without
wavenng doubt 10 the perfect pract.cability OF
marking the treaty line upon the face of the earth,
cording to her claim, has yet at all times, manifested
spirit of lorbearance and patience under what she
could no, but deem unfounded pre- ensons, and un
wauantable delays and irritating eDcroachments. la
the midst of all The provocatons TO resistance, and to
the a ser'ion and maintenance of her extreme rights
she has never forgotten that she Is men Der of The
Union, and she has endeavored TO deserve the respect
sympathy and cooperation of her sister States, by
pushing course equally removed from luslanlmty
and Iashness and by maintaining her difficult posi-
ton in spirit that would iorbear much for peace but
would yield nothing through fear At all times and
to bring the controversy To a close upon terms
honorable and equitable, and 10 unite in any proper
scheme effect object. In this spirit, and with
these convictions, Maine instantly and cLeerfuly
coded TO the proposal of the General Government
made through you, TO appoint commissioners.
That no obstacle might be interposed to the sue
cesstul issue OF this negotiation her Legislature gave
to her commissioners ample and unlimited powers,
which, but for the presumed necessity of the case her
people would be slow to yield TO any func,ionaries-
Her commissioners, thus appointed and thus empow-
eled, assumed the duties imposed upon them in the
spirit and with the views of The Government and peo-
PIE of Maine. They came to the negotiation with a
finn convection of her rights, but with disposition
and determination TO meet a concilatory proposition
for conventional line in similar spirit, and TO yield,
for any reasonable equivalent oil that they presumed
would be asked or desired ty the other parry. They,
W tn the other citizen of Maine were not unapprzed
of The fac,, often alluded TO IN our former cummu-
ncatons, that England had long been anxious to OBJ
tain the undisput,d possession of that portion of he
territory WHICH would enable her TO main ain q direct
and uninterrupted communication between her pro-
vlnccs. SO lar as they could learn from any source,
this the only protested object she had in view,
and the only enc which had been regarded in Con-
temptation.
With this understanding, the undersigned at
dec ded TO yield, upon the most liberal terms, this
ng- sought conyeneL ce and they INDUCED the con-
hdent expectation that sucn a concession would at
once meet all the wants and wishes of the Eaglish
Government, and bring the mission to a speedy and
CioSt' w therefore, we were met al
the outset by proposition which required the cesson
part, OF all the territory noItn of the St John
river, and enough OF the territory the south TO in
clude the Madawaska settlement, extending at least
fifty miles up that rIveT with other equivalents to
us than the limited right TO float timber down that ri
ver and TO the United States the small tracts accent
10 the forty filth parallel of latitude in other States
we could not but express regret to be thus, il
were repelled But, regarding this rather the
IRENE limit of ella IN, subject, notwithstanding the
strong language of Lord A hburton TO be restrained
and limited, we de- med it proper, in our commpnca-
ton of The 10th instant, after declining accede to
the proposition, in conjunction with the commission
honal line OF boundary therein specified. In fixing
on this line, we were mainly anxious 10 select such
one as should at and emncntly give to Great
Britain all that vas necessary for her understood OBJ