New-York daily tribune., 1842-09-06
T HE TRIB u NE.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.
Accompanying the Treaty.

have the Satisfaction 70 communicate TO tue
Senate the results of the negotiations recently had
in this city with the British Minister, special and
extraordinary.
The results comprise,
1st A Treaty to settle and define the bsunda-
ries between the territories of the United States
and the possessions of her Britannia Majesty in
North America, for the suppression of the Artisan
slave trade, and the surrender of criminals, fugi
tives from justice, in certain cases.
Cd A correspondence on the subject of the in
reference Of the Colonial authorities Of the Brit
ish West Indies with American merchant vessels
driven by stress of weather, or carried by violence
into the ports of those colonies.
Sd. A correspondence upon the subject Of the
attack and destruction of the steamboat Caroline.
4th. CORES spondcnes on the subject of i'm
pressment.
If this treaty shall receive the appreciation of the
Senate, it will terminate difference respecting
boundary which mas long subsisted between the
two governments-has been the subject of several
Intellectual attempts at settlement, and has some
times led to great irritation not without danger of
disturbing the existing peace. Both the United
States and the States more Immediately concerned
have entertained no doubt Of the validity of the
American title all the territory which has been in
dispute ; but that title was controvertea and tho
Government of the United States had agreed to
make the dispute subject of arbitration. One
arbitration had been actually had, but had failed TO
settle the controversy; and it found at the
commencement of last year, that correspondence
had been in progress between the TIVE govern
nepts for Joint commission, with an ultimate re-
ference to an umpire or arbitrator, with authority
to make final decision. That correspondence.
however, had been retarded by various occurrences,
and had come to no definite result when the spe-
cal mission of Lord Ashburton announced.
This movement on the part of England afforded,
in the udg dgement of the Executive, favorable op-
portunity for making 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 enter
tained consultation should be had with the authori
ties of the States of Maine and Massachusetts.
Letters, therefore, of which copies are herewith
communicated, were addressed to the Governors of
those States suggesting that commissioners should
be appointed by each of them, respectively, to
pair to this city to confer with the authorities of
this Government, on a line by agreement or com
PROMISE with its equivalents and compensatons
This suggestion was met by both States in spirit
of candor and patriotism, and promptly complied
with Four commissioners on the part of Maine,
and three on the part of Massachusetts, all per-
sons of distinction and high character, were duly
appointed and commissioned, and lost ne time in
presenting themselves ut the seat of the Govern
ment of the United States. These commissioners
have been in correspondence with this Government
during the period of the discussions have enjoyed
It's confidence and frcest communications; have
aided the general object with their counsel and ad
vice; and in the end, have unanimously signihed
their assent 70 the line proposed in the treaty.
Ordinarily it wosld be easy task to reconcile
and bring together such va1ety Of interests in
mutter in itself difficult and perplexed: but the
efforts of the Government in attempting to accom-
plish this desirable object, have been seconded
and sustained by a spirit of accommodation 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 us it respects the
States of Maine and Massachusetts, is the contin-
a,ion of that line along the highlands to the
northwesternmost 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 Hampshire.
The King of the Netherlands decided the main
branch 10 be the northwesernmost head of the
Connecticut This did not satisfy the claim of
New-Hampshire. The line agreed to in the pres
ent treaty follows the highlands TO the head Of
Halls stream, and thence down that river,
bacng the whole claim of Ncw-Hampshire, and
establishing her title 100000 of territory,
merelhan she would have had by tho decision of
the King of the Netherlands.
By the treaty of 1888, the line is to proceed
down the Connecticut River to the 45th degree OF
north latitude and thence west BY that parallel,
till it strikes the St. Lawrence. Recent examina-
,icns having ascertained that the line heretofore
received as the true line of latitude between those
points was erroneous, and that the correction OF
this errsr would no, only leave, on the British
slde considerable tract of territory, heretofore
supposed 10 belong TO the States Of Vermont and
NewYork, but also Rouse's Point, the site OF
military work of the United Statos, it has been
regarded as an object of importance, not only to
establish the rights and Jurisdiction of those
States, up to the line which they have been con-
sidered to extend, but also to comprehend Rouse's
poih, withnthe territory Of the United States
The REIMBURSEMENT by the British Government of
all the territory sonth of the line heretofore con-
sidered to be The true line has been obtained; and
the consideration for this REIMBURSEMENT is to on.
IRE by the provisions of the troaty the States OF
Maine and Massachusetts.
The line of the boundary, then, from the source
& Of the st. Crox to the St. Lawrence, so far as
Maine and Massachusetts are concerned, Is fixed
By their own consent and for considerations salts
factory to them the chief Of these considerations
oeing the privilege of transporting the lumber and
agricultural products grown and raised in Maine
on the waters of the ST. Johns and its tributaries
down that river to the ocean, free from imposition
A Or disability, The importance of this privilege
Perpetual in its terms, to country covered at pre-
sent by pine forests of great value, and much OF II
capable hereafter of agricultural improvement Is
not matter upon which the opinion of intelligent
men is likely to be divided
So far as New Hampshire is concerned. the
pst.,. 4 u. H. N.,xtr nj