Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-14
LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF
STATE TO rHE COVER NoRs OF MAS.
SACHUSErTS AND MAINE.

LITTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF
STATE TO rfiE COVER NoRs OF MAS.
sAchUsErrS AND MAINE.
DSrAsrnEsr or STATE
Washington, lith April, Isi2
To his ENeelleney, JouS FArRrIELp,
G0roRor Of Ma
Your Exeelleney Is aware that previous to Mach,
iS'i, negotiation had been going for some time
between the Secretary of State of the United State.
under the direction OF the President and the British
minister ac~.rs'~d 81 this Government having for
IT'S OBJECT the creation OF JOIN, commission Tor set
boundary oi the United States w,h n n,oy,s,on ,o,
an ultimate reference oIbitrators 10 be appointed
by some OF the sovcreiens of Europe IN case an ar
6i,ration should become necessary. On thele,ding
features oi Convention for this purnoSe ,h. 49,
Governments were agreed. but on several m,,,e,s
OF detail the parties differed and appear TO have been
intorchanging their respective views and on,n,on.
projects and contemporaries, without coming TO n
hnal arrangement downto August, $40. Various
causes, not now necessary 10 Le explained arrcsted
the progress OF the negotiation at that time and no
considerable advance has been since made in Il.
IL seems TO have been understood on both sides,
that one arbitration having failed, was the duty
OF the two parties TO proceed to institute another
according to the spirit Of the Treaty of Ghent and
other treaties; and the President has felt to he his
duty, unless some new course should be proposed,
to cause the negotiation to be resumed and pressed
to its conclusion. But have now TO inform vour
Ereeency that Lord Ashburton, a Minister Pieni.
potentiary aud Special has arrived at the Seat of
Government OF the United States charged with full
powers from his sovereign TO negotiate and settle
the different matters in discussion between the two
Governments. have further to state to you. that
he has officially announced TO this DEPARTMENT that
IN regard 10 the Boundary question, he has author
~ TO treat Tor conventional line or line by aerce-
ment, on such terms and conditions, and with such
mutual consideration and equivalents, as may be
though, Just and equitabe and that he is ready "a
enter upon a negotiation for such conventional line
soon this Government shall say "that IL is an.
thorized and ready on its part, to commence such
/ negotiation.
Under these circumstances. the President has
lelt II to be his duty TO call the serious attention of
| the Governments OF Maine and Massachusetts 10
the SUBJECT, and TO submit to those Governments
tne proprley OF their cooperation, to certain ex
tent ana IN n cortE n form, IN endeavor TO ter
inmate controversy already Of so long duration
and which seems very likely TO be still considera'
bly, further proracied before the desired enl of A
hna adjustment shall be attained, unless a shorter
course OF arriving al that end be adopted, than such
as has heretofore been pursued ana as the two
Governments are still pursuing.
| Yet, without the concurrence of the two States
whose rights are more Immediately concerned both
having an interest IN the soil and one of them in
the jurisdiction and government the duty of this
Government will DC TO adopt no new course, bur,
/ IN compliance with treaty stpuations, and in fur
| therance OF what has already been DONE to hasten
! the pending negotiations as fast as possible.
But the President thinks il highly desira BILE ot.
Ject to prevent the delays necessarily incident TO
any settlement OF the question by these means.
Sueh delays are great and unavoidable. IL has
been found ihat an exploration and examination of
the several lines constitute work of three wears.
The existing commission for making such cX pora-
ton under the authority Of the United States, has
been occupied two summers and very consideru-
ole portion OF the work still remains to be done.
II JOINT commission should be appointed, and
| should go through the same work and the
commissioners should disagree, as is very possible
and an Arbitration that account become indis
pcnsabe, the arbltratots might find II necessary to
make an exploration, and survey themselves, or
! cause the same to be done by others of their own
appointment. Ii TO these causes operating to post
pone the hnal decision, be added the time necessa-
ry 10 appoint arbliralors and for their preparation
TO e1ve Europe Tor the service and the various re.
hrdlng incidents always attending such operations
seven or eight years constitute perhaps the short
| est period within which can look Tor a final re
suit In the meantimc, great expenses have been
incurred, and further expenses cannot be avoided.
IL IS well known that the controversy has brought
heavy charges upon Maine herself 10 the remunera-
ton or proper settlement OF which, she cannot oe
expected to be Indifferent.
The exploration by the Government of the Il.
States has already cost hundred thousand dollars
and the charge OF another summers work is in
prosper. These facts may be suff tent To form n
proJatle estimate Of the whole expense likely To he
incurred before the controversy c,n 10 scittd by
arbitration; and our experience admonishes US that
The opinion of this Government upon the Justice
aud validity OF the American claim has Deon eX
pressed al so many tmos, and IN many forms,
tina. repetition OF that opinion is not necessary.
But the suffice. is subject IN dispute. The Gov
eminent has agreed to make a matter OF reference
ana nrbufation; and 1t must fluff that agreement,
unless another mode for settling the controversy
should be resottcd 10 With the hope of producing a
speedier decision Fhe President proposes then
That the Governments -, Maine and Massachusetts
should severally appoint commissioner or com
mssioners, empowered 10 confer with the authori-
tics of this Government upon a conventional line
or line by agreement, with It's terms, conditions,
considerations and equivalents, with ar understand
ing thot no such line will be agreed upon without
the assent OF such commissioners. This mode OF
proceedings or some other which shall express as.
sent beforehand, seems Indispensable, # any noso.
tIltion for conventional line Is 10 be had since If
happily treaty should be the result of the nego-
ton, IT can only be submitted to the Senate OF the
United States for ratification.
II subject Of deep and sincere regret 10 the
President that the British Plcnipoieutilry did not
arrive IN the country, md make known his powers
IN time to have made this communication before the
annual session of the Legislatures OF the two States
had been brought to close. lie pcrccives and
lamens the inconvenience, which may he expert
enced from re nSsembiing those Legislatures; but
inc Brush mission IS special one II does not SUI
persede the resident mission of the British Govern.
ment at Washington, and its stay in the u. States
is not expected to he long. In addition to these
considerations, IS 10 be suggested that more than
four months Of the session of Congress have aren-
dy passed, and It is highly desirable, il any treaty
Tor conventional line should be agreed on il should
be concluded before the session shall terminates
not only because Of the necessity Of the ratification
OF the Senate, but also because il is not impossible
that measures may be thought advisable, or become
important, which can only be accomplished by the
authority Of both Houses.
These considerations, in addition TO the impor-
lance OF the subject, and firm conviction in the
mind OF the President that the interests Of both
countries, as well as the interests Of the two States
more Immediately concerned require prompt effort
TO bring this dispute TO an end, consirain him 10
express an earnest hope that your Excellency will
! convene the Legislature Of Maine, and submit the
subject to It's grave and candid deberation.
am, with great respect
Your EHcellencys obodt servt
(Sisned) DANIEL WEBS TER.
To this letter the Governor Of Massachusetts, an
swered that tho Executive OF thot Commonwealth
was already, by resolutions Of the Legislature nu.
tnorzed to do whatever might DO necessary in the
premises; and the Governor Of Maine issued n