New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-05-14
= r ,nc secretary Of state to the ,
Leuer TO-" AZ VI SSH husett. and Mninc.
" ~ ~ ~ fA ~ -
Washington, ilth April, l8i1

y NNs
.o,ne time between the Secretary OF Stat "' VIZ
United States. under the direction oi The President
AID the British Minister accredited to thls Wv
eminent, having Tor it. object the creau'h %
inint commission for settling the c"fHo''ts. ~
spocting the Nsrihea.iern boundary oi iie h'''u
Siaie.. with provi.ion for an ultimate reference
Ia abilrltors. to be appointed Dy s"'"' =" "'
sovereign. Of Europe IN case an arDi'r1'''" N"'o1
HIM. ,..co..ary On the leading features II
Convention for hi. purpose the two 'oVe rnIneh''
were agreed. but on several matters oi detail the
uartic, differed and appear 10 have been inter-
cLauen. their respective news and opinions, pro-
ieci. and countcrIrocct>, without coming 10
6unl arrangement. down 70 August, l&4O- NanCus
CAUSES not now necessary 10 be- explained ar
rested the progrc-. of the negotiation al that time
and no comfortable advance ha. been since made
IN IT,.
It.cm- to haze been ulder,i 'od, on bo'h de-
hat one arb,raii % having failed. 1t "n' inc "u'.
Of m, parties TO proceed 10 institute hn''i''' ''
e,rding 10 the .nir.t of the Treaty OF Gnent, ana
other treaties; aad the President has felt II to be
ms duiv. unlc,, some new course shoud De pro
po.ad. 10 cause the negotiation to be resumed AID
pressed 10 ii. conclusion. But have low 10 IN
form your Txce.leucy hat Lord A-hburion, Minis
ter Plcnipoientiary and Special, has arrived al the
sat Of Government of the United States charged
with full po~cr~ from his sovereign 70 nego'I1te
and settle tie different matter. in discussion be-
tween the two Governments. ] have further 10
state 10 YOU, that be has officially announced q"
this Department that, IA regard t. the D"'H'''!
question. h. la. authority 10 treat i"f 'o'+'"'
,ional line, 81 line by agreement, on -uch terms
aud conditions, and with such mutual con'ldeia-
ton. and equivalents, a. may be thought Just ana
equitable; and tina, he is ready to enter upon a
negotiation for such a conventional line 80 soon a.
tins Government shall Say that it Is authorized
and ready on It's part TO commence such nes0-
tlaiion.
Under these circumstances. the President ma
felt IL 10 ~ hl. duty call the serious attention 81
the Governments Of Maine aud Massachusetts I"
the subject and to submit 10 those Ho'erhineht'
the propriety Of their cooperation To certain eA-
tent and in sccrtain form, in an cndca.or 10 ter
inmate cOu,ro,ersy already OF 20 long duration.
and which seems very likely to be sill considcra-
bis further protractcd before the desired end
Of fnul adjustment shall be attained. unies- u
shorter course of striving at that end be adopted
than such "a, has heretofore been pursued, and a.
the two Governments are still pursuing.
Yet, without the concurrence of the two States
whose rights are more Immediately concerned,
bolh HAVING an interest in the soil, and ole OF
them in thu jurisdiction and government, the duty
of this Government viii be to adopt no new
course, but. in compliance with treaty supuiaiions.
and, IN fuuh, rance ct what has already been
done, 10 hasten the pending negotiations a. fast IA
possible
But the President thinks j; highly desirable
object 10 prevent lc DELAYS necessarily incident to
any settlement OF the question by these means
Such delays are great and unavoidable 1t Las
been found that AN exploration and eNam'H"t'"h
of the several Uses constitute Il work OF tine,
wears. The existing commission for making ,uch
exploration under the authority of The tmieo
States, has been occupied two summers, and
very considerable portion &" the work SIM remains
to he done. II a Joint commission should be ap-
pointed, aud should GO through the same work.
and the commissioners should disagree, n Is very
possible, and an arbtraiioa that account be
come indispensable, the arbitrator, might find u
necessary TO make an exploration and survey
themselves or cause the same to he done 10y oti-
ers of their own appointment. II To these cause
operating To postpone The final decision, b. aided
the time necessary To appoint aibiirrors' ana To-
their preparation to leave Europe for the service,
and the various rctardng incidents always attend
ing such operations, seven az eight yeaIs cons''-
tute perhaps. the shortest period within which we
can look for "A final result. In the mean time,
great expenses have been incurred. and further
expenses cannot be avoided. Ii il well known
that the controversy has brou. lat heav! charge
upon Maine herself, to the remuneration or proper
settlement of which, she cannot be expected 10 be
indifferent.
The exploration by the Goyornment OF the United
States has already cost hundred thousahd do
lars. and the charge of another summers work j.
in prospect These facts may be sufficient 10
form probable estimate of the whole expense
-, ,fi b.
settled by arbitration; and our experience admon-
ishes us that even another arbitration might pos
sihy fail
The opinion ilhi. Government upon the Justice
and validity of the American claim has been eX-
pressed. 1t, 81 many times, and in many forms.
that u repetition OF that opinion i not necessary.
But the subject Is 4 subject IN dispute. The Cav
ernmeut has agreed To make IT matter of reference
and arbitration; and ii must fulfil that agreement.
unless another mode Tor settling the controversy
should bc rcsorlcd to with hope of producing
spccdler decision. The President proposes, thai
the Governments Of Maineand Massachusetts should
sc'erally appoint commissioner or comm. ~ioH-
cr>. empow cred To confer with the authorities o.
this Government upon a conventional line, 81 line
by agreement with It's terms. conditions, considc-
ra,ions and equivalents, With an understanding
that no such line will be- agreed upon, wthou, NJ,
assent of such commissioners. This mode of pro
ceedIng, or some other which shall cNpre., assent
beforehand, seems indispensable, ii any negetia-
ton for conventional line j, t. be had since l'
happily treaty should be the result OF the .eso-
tistiod. II can only be submitted to the Senate O.
the United States for ratification
IL Is a subject Of deep and sincere regret to the
Prcsidcn; tia, the Brush Plenipoien,ary did MOI
arrive in the country. and make known his paw
er', in time to have made this communication be-
fore the annual session d. the Legislatures OF the
two States sad been brought to CLOSE He per
oeives and lamcn;s the Inconvenience which ma,
be experienced from re-a>>cm5hns those legi,lu-
lures but the British mission i. special one; d
l'eS no, suPcrsedc the resident mission of ia,