The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-17
IoFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.
MESS AGE
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
TRANSMITTING
A treaty NTH great Britain.
M z S S AGE

| To the Senate Of The United States
have the satisfaction 10 communicate to the Sc
nate the results of the negotiations recently had IN
this city with the British Minister Special and Extra
ordinary
These results comprise
Is treaty to settle and define the boundaries be-
tween the territories of the United States and the
possessions Of her Britannia Majesty IN North Anne
rca, for the suppression of the African save-ade'
and the surrender Of criminals, fugitive from JUS
! lice, in certain cases.
2d. correspondence on the subject OF the inter-
ference Of the colonial authorities of The British
West Indies with American merchant vessels driven
by stress OF weather. or carried by Violence into he
! ports Of those colonies.
| Sd. A correspondence upon the subject of the at
tack and destruction of the steamboat Caroline
| 4th. correspondence on the subject OF Impress
ment.
II this treaty shall receive the appreciation of the
senate, II VIII terminate difference respecting ooun-
dairy which has long subsisted between the two Go
vernment--has been the subject of several netectu-
al attempts at settlement, and has sometimes led to
great irritation not without danger Of disturbing the
existing peace. Both the United States and the
States more Immediately concerned have entertain
ed doubt Of the validity Of the American title
all the territory which has been in dispu,e but that
title was coDtrovered, and the Government of the
United States had agreed to make the dispute SUBJ
Ject Of arbitration. One arbitration had been actu
ally had but had failed to settle the controversy and
II was found, at the commencement of last year, that
Ia correspondence had been in progress be-
tween the two Governments f joint commission
WIN an ultimate reference to umpire arbltra-
tor, with authority to make final decision. That
correspondence, however, had been retarded by var
Gus occurrences, and had to definite result
when the special mission OF Lord Ashburton was an
nounced Tbs movement on the part Of England
Afforded in The judgment Of the Executive, favor
able opportunity for making attempt TO settle this
long-exsting controversy by agreement
treaty, without further reference to arbitration. 1t
seemed entirely proper that, if this purpose
tertained consultation should be had with the author
tiles OF the States Of Maine and Massac husetts.-
Letters, therefore, of which copies herewith
municated addressed to the Governors Of those
States suggesting that commissioners should be APP
pointed by each of them respectively, to repair to
tins city and confer with the authorities of this Gov
eminent, on line by agreement or compromise, with
Its equivalents and compensatons This suggestion
was met by both States in spirit Of candor and pa
triotism, and promptly complied with. -Four COM
missIoners on the part Of Maine, and three on the
part OF Massachusets, all persons Of distinction and
high character, were duly appointed and commission
ed, and lost no time in presenting themselves at the
seat OF Government Of the United s ates. These
commissioners have beenin correspondence with this
government during the period of the discussions
nave enjoyed its confidence and reest communica-
tons have aided the general object with their coun
sci and advice and, N the end have unanimously
signihed their to the line proposed in the
treaty.
Ordinarily, it would be no easy task to reconcile
ana bring together such variety OF interests in
matter ~ itself difficult and perpexed but the efforts
OF the Government in attempting to accomplish this
desirable object have be seconded and sustained
bya spirit OF accommodation and Cancellation 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, far it respects the States
of Maine add Massachusetts, is the continuation of
that line along the highlands to the northwesternmost
head OF Connecticut river. Which Of the of
that stream is entitled to this character has been
after of controversy and is of some interest to the
State of New Hampshire. The King of the Neither
lands decided the msip branch to be the northwest
ernmost head OF the Connecticut. This did not sat
isfy 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
embracing the whole claim of New Hampshire, and
establishing her tite to 100000 of territory
than she would have had by the decision of the
King of the Netherlands
BY the treaty of l7S3 the line is to proceed down
the Connecticut river to the 45h degree Of north lat
ude and thence west by that parallel till it strikes
the st. Lawrence. Recent examinations having as
certained that the line heretofore received the true
line of latitude between those points was erroneous
and that the correction of this error would not only
leave, the British SIDE considerable tract Of ter
rtoy heretofore supposed to belong to the States of
Vermont and New York, but also Rouse's point, he
site OF a military work of the United States; it has
been regarded object of Importance only to
establish the rights and jurisdiction OF thoseStates up
the line to which they have been considered TO extend
but also to comprehend Rouse's point within the ter
ritory of the United States. The REIMBURSEMENT by
the British Government Of all the territory south of
the line heretofore considered to be the true ne has
been obtained; and the consideration for this relin-
punishment is to enure, by the provisions of the trea
ty to the States of Maine and Massachusetts,
The line of boundary, them from the source Of the
st. Crolx TO the st. Lawrence, far as Maine and
Massachusetts concerned, is fixed by their own
consent and for considerations satisfactory to the m
the chief Of these considerations being the privilege
of transporting the lumber and agricultural products
grown and raised in Maine the waters of the ST.
Johns and its tributaries down that river to the ocean,
free from imposition disability. The Importance
of this privilege, perpetual IN its TERMS to country
covered at present by pine forests OF great value and
much Of it capable hereafter Of agricultural improve
ment, is not matter upon which the opinion of n-
telligent'men is likely TO be divided.
So far New Hampshire is concerned, the treaty
secures all at she requires and New York and
Vermont quoted to the extent Of their claim and
occupation. The difference which would be made |
in the northern boundary of these two States, by |
correcting the parallel of latitude may be on
Tanners maps 1885, new atlas maps Nos and 9. |
From the intersection of the As deg. Of north lati-
tude with the ST. Lawrence, and along that river and
the lakes to the water communication between Lake
Huron and Lake Superior, the line was definitively
agreed on by the commissioners of the two Govern
ments under the 9th article of the treaty Of Client.
But between this last mentioned point AID the Lake
Of the oods the commissioners acting under the 7th
arti lie of that treaty found several matters of dis
agreement, and therefore made no joint report to
their respective governments The first Of these was
Sugar island, ST. Georges island, y ing in ct. Ma
RVS river, or the water communication between Lake
Huron and Superior by the present treaty this
island is embraced in the territories Of the United
States. Both from soil and position, II is regarded
as of much value
Another matter of difference was the manner of
extending the line from the point at which the COM
missioners arrived north of Isle Roy ale in Lake Su-
perior to the Lake of the Woods. The British com
missioner insisted on proceedi to Fond du Lac, at
the southwest angle OF the lake, and thence by the
river St Louis, to the RAINY Lake The American