The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-21
4 lloli. SOMhissioNERs,
Of Maine and Massachusetts.
Mr.. Uebster to The Elaine Commission rs.

Nh Uebstef 10 The Iaine Commission rs
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington July Is, 1912.
GENTLEMEN You have had an opportunity of
reading Lord Ashburtons note to me Of the llth of
July Since that date, have had full and frequent
conferences with him respecting the eastern bounda-
ry, and believe understand what is practicable be
done on that subject, far as he is concerned. In
these conferences, he has made no positive or bind
ing proposition, thinking perhaps it would be more
desirable, under present circumstances that such pro-
position should proceed from the side of the United
STATES. have reason to believe, however, that he
would agree to line OF boundary between the Uni
ted States and the British provinces of Canada aud
New Brunswick, such as is! descr bed in paper ac-
companying this (maTked b. and identified by my
signature.
In establishing the line between the monument and
the ST. John it thought necessary adhere TO that
run and marked by the surveyors of the two Govern
ments in 1877 and 1878 There is doubt that the line
recently run by Major Graham more entirely accu-
rtei but, being pare line, there would be objec-
tons to agreeing to it without examination, and thus
another survey would become necessary. Grants and
settlements also, Fave been made, in conformity with
the former line, and its errors are SO uncomfortable
that il is not thought that their correction sui-
cIont object 10 disturb these settlements. Similar
considerations have had great weight in adjusting the
! line in other parts of it,
The territory in dispute between the two countries
contains l2O2I square miles, equal 10 1862, $50
acres.
ljy the line described in the accompanying paper,
there will be assigned TO the United States 7,0l5
square miles, equal to 4,4S9, 600 acres and to Eng
land 5,Ol2 square miles, equal to ,207 $50 acres.
| by the award of the King Of the Netherlands,
there assigned to the United States 790S square
miles-5,OGl ,l20 acres TO England 4,ll9 square
mi!cs-2, $50, 100 acres.
! The terriory proposed to be reIinquished to Eng
! land, south OF the line of the King of the Neither.
lands, is, you vii! see, The mountain range from
the upper part of the 81 Francs river to the meeting
of the Two comics ed lines of boundary at the Mear-
mette Portage, in the highlands near the source of
the 81. John. This mountain tract c. nlains 1913
square miles, equal TO 81 $50 acres II is supposed
to be of no value for cultivation or settlement On
! this point you will zee, herewith letter from Car
tain Ialcott, who has been occu ,'cd summers in
exploring the line If tn highlands, and is Intimately
acquant' with the territory The line leaves to the
| United States between the base of the hills and the
left bank of the ST. John, and lying along upon the
river, territory OF G51 $50 acres embracing without
doubt all the valuable land south of the St. Francis
and west of he ST. John. OF the general division of
The territory, II is believed 1t may be safely d. that
while the portion remaining with the United States
is, In quantity, sevenihtweths in value ii is at least
! four-fdhs Of the whole.
! Nor is il su lposed that the possession of the noun
tain region IS OF any Importance, n connection with
the defence OF the country, any military opera ions
1t lies below all the accustomed practicable passages
| for troops into and out of Lower Canada that il t
| say, the Chaudie, Lake Champain and the Richie
| lieu, and the St Lawrence. fan army with its ma.
trisl could possibly pass into Canada over these
! mountains 1t wou only find itself on the banks of
the s.. Lawrence betotr Quebec; and on the other
hand, 1t Is not conceivable that an invading enemy
from Lower Canada would attempt passage in this
direction, leaving the Chaudcre on one hand and the
route by Midawaska on The other
If this line should be agreed TO- on the rart Of the
United States, suppose that the British minister
would as an equivalent, stpulac first for theNse of
the river ST. john for the conveyance of the timber
| growing on any of its branches TO tide water free
from discriminating tolls, mpositions or inab-
ties OF any kind, the timber enjoying all the priyilc
ges of British colonial timber All opinions concur
mat TINS privilege OF navigation must greatly enhance
tue value oil the territory and The timber growing
thereon, and prove exceedingly useful to the people
OF Name Second. That Rouses point in Lake
Champlain and the lands heretofore supposed to be
within The limits OF New Hampshire, Vermont and
New York. but which correct asccrtainmcnt of the
Ash parallel of latitude shows to he in Canada
should be surrendered TO the United States
II is probable, also, that the disputed line of boun
dairy IN Lake Superior might be so adjusted as In
leave disputed island within { e United States
These cessions on the part of England would enure
partly TO the benefit of the States of New Hampshire
Vermont, and New York, but principally TO the Unl-
ted States. The consideration on the pari of Eng
land, for making them, would be the manner agreed
upon for adjusting the Eastern boundary. The price
OF the cesslon therefore, whatever it might be- would
m fairness belong to the two States Interested in the
manner of that adjustment
Under the influence of these considerations | am
author zed to say, that If the commissioners of the
TWO states assent to the line described in the ac-
companj ing paper, the United States will undertake
10 pay 10 tnese States the sum of two hundred and