The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-19
DANIEL WEBSTER
His Excellency JoHN FAIRFIELD,
Gore,1,or IF Maine.
Coz. .Duris 10 Mr.. Webster.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

Worcester, (Nass.) April II, lS42.
SIR have t. honor to acknowledge the recep-
ton Of your official communication announcing the
arrival OF Lord Asiburon, as special envoy from
Her Majesty the Queen Of the United Kingdoms,
vested with full authority to adjust, by conventional
line the Northeastern boundary of the United States.
1t will be highly satisfactory TO the people of this
Commonwealth TO learn that attempt is to be made
TO establish line by compromise, without their
sent; but if such line can be agreed upon for a
ts1actory equivalent, which should leave all the par
ties interested at peace, and terminate the controver-
sy, have no doubt it would meet with the approba-
ton of the people of this State. No opinion can
with safety be formed upon any such proposition, till
it is submitted in its details and fully understood
That the parties may all have full opportunity to act
with deliberations the desire of the President is that
the Legislatures of Massachusetts, and Maine should
be assembled to make suitable provisions for the APP
pointment OF commissioners to take charge of their
respective interests at Washington during the nego-
tation between the United States and Great Bri-
tain.
Anticipating the contingency which has occurred i
invited the attention Of the Legislature TO the subject
while IN session, and suggested the eXpedency OF e
gsaton which should provide for it, In pursuance
OF that SUGGESTION certain JOINT resolutions pass
ed and approved which have been forwarded to the
President, Which appear to to confer all the au-
thorty necessary, and were undoubtedly designed by
the Legislature to meet this emergency. This wise
provision Will trust, supersede all occasion for
assembling the Legislature, the Governor and
Council have authority to act in the matter in any
way that the interests and honor of the Common
wealth demand. There will be a meeting by APP
pointmcnt, OF the Council on the 25th of May, which,
if Maine can only move after legislation is had, will
be sufficiently seasonable for all practicable purposes
when the subject will be laid before tn, m, and there
be little doubt that they will acquicsce in the pro-
priety OF sending commissioner TO represent the
State in matter of such decided Importance
If this movement on the part of Great Britain is
indicative, as it seems to Inc it is, of settled pur-
pose to close the controversy and she is prepared TO
give satisfactory equivalents for the concession of ter
ritory sufficient TO answer her purposes then the d.
vision OF such an equivalent equivalents between
Maine and Massachusetts will become an important
question; but 1t should in no particular be left for u-
ture discussion or decision, by Congress any other
body, but should be dehniuvey adjusted in the gene
raj arrangement that each State may know the exact
measure of its rights.
You will learn also, from these resolutions the
disposition oil the State to bring this question to an
issue, in any manner consistent with h,r honor ine
rest and dignity The opinions conveyed in them as
far as know, were unanimous, and dictate the
of public sentiment. The people OF Massachusetts,
are not disposed to yield any thing to unjust preten-
sion Not particle of doubt is entertained, by any
one, that the treaty line of 1888 may be as certainly
identified as Mars HILL and the northwest angle of
Nova Scotia certainly established by the descrp-
ton in the treaty as the meridian of Quebec. We
all feel that no doubt exist that there are high
lands which divide the waters that flow into the ST
Lawrence and the sea, and that line due north can
be run from the monument TO the dividing summit.
These are matters that feel any hesitation
about, and hence there is but one opinion in Massa-
| chusetis WhAa, therefore, we cannot listen 10 a
claim upon what we know TO be our own. we can, in
the spirit of peace and accommodation, yield some
thing to the convenience of aneighbor by agree men
This is, without shade of cooring, the sentiment Of
Massachusetts. She will, on honorable terms, con-
cede something TO the convenience and necessity of
Great Britain, but nothing-not rood Of bsrr~-.