Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-06-04

testimonies, place the letter of gentleman who,
besides his great authority, gives reference to
another, who from his long political position In our
country the powers of his mind and the habits of his
life, happens to be. Of all living men, the who
can shed most light upon the subject. | speak of
Colonel Timothy PickeriDg-the friend and compan-
ion of Washington-his quarter-master general du-
ring the war of the revouton-his Postmaster Gener
al Secretary Of War, and Secretary of State during
his presdency-a member Of this body at the time the
treaty ratified which made us party TO the treaty
of Utrecht-and always man to consider and to un-
derstand what he about. In fact, Washington wan
ted other sort of about him. The writer of the
letter, (Timothy Pkn author Of the work on statis-
tics) reading account of the talk here about
the treaty of Utrecht and seeing what lack OF nfor-
nation was in the American Senate, wrote letter to
member of this body, Mr.. WEBsTER.] to give him
his memoranda of that treaty forty years ago
This letter is invaluable testimony of the events to
which it relates it combines the testimony of two
eminent men; and send 1t to the secretarys table
to be read. 1t is dated Utica, New York, April 9h
1876:
perceive by the debates 10 the Senate on the Oregon
question: that in decision Of this important subject
little laid by of its members the line settled
between France and England under the treaty of Utrecht
in 1913 and that by others il commended that evidence
actually exists that such settlement was made under that
treaty.
1
have ventuTed, in public Speech 10 have placed himself
among the latter upon the statements OF MIR. CTeenhow,
sdered that this line adjusted by commssaes appoint
ed under that teay and in reading the speeches OF Mes
Cass and Benton and your significant questions the
subject thought proper examine documents and
oTandums for proof Of the opinion had thus formed
On such examination found the following extract this
subject from Mr. Hutchnss Historical Narrative and Topo
graphical Description of Louisiana and West Florida printed
at Philadelphia in 1854.
"Aer stating the grant Crozet Of Louisiana Hutchn
proceeds say: AS France the French
would scarcely admit had any other northern bound
than the pole. The avidy Of Great Britain equal
but France having been unfortunate in the of no.
northern boundary Of Canada fixed by the treaty of
Utrecht 10 l7l3 1t assigns Nsp Britain and HudsOns Bay
Of CanadI Britain;
afterwards, 10th Sides Gscertaned the limits by imagi-
nary line running from cape pro0nfory in New Britain
on the Atlantic ocean, in fifty degrees thirty minutes north
latitude; then southwest to the Lake Msgasng Msas-
sin from thence further southwest direct to the latitude
fortynne degrees All the lands the north of the imag-
nary line being assigned to Great Britain south
ward OF that ne to as far as the river ST. Lawrence to the
French
"These at that time' he adds the true limits Of
Louisiana and Canada CroZes Grant subsistng
Ter the death of Louis XIV
"The above extract taken from long communication
made to MT Jefferson by Colonel Pickering the 18th Of
January 1904 when the treaty of Mr. King
ies under consideration and Of course after pur-
chase of Louisiana presume, therefore, it correct
though relative to Kings treaty difference of opinion
existed between Jefferson and Pickering have been
be in this place. to have this work of Hu,chins
: II was, no doubt, well known to Mr.. Jefferson.
am not able TO inform you whether he answered in
writings the above communication Of Colonel Pickering; but
from his declarations made to and Others ed Of
January 1906 he then fully believed this lire been
thus settled, in pursuance Of the treaty of Utrecht.
"A that time, eonversing with and Others at dir
party on the favore subject of Lewis CIaks exped
ton the Pacific he declared according my
dun made at the time that by the treaty of Utrecht in
l7l3 between the English and French the line between
49; and this the why, in treaty
English, in 1873, our northern boundary placed the
Lake Of the Woods, which was in latitude 4s'.'
mot having Hutchins mentioned referred il
this debate have been induced TO send you this
from him. and also my above memorandum, to bring thu
to notice and recollection Udisa qudnta pa
pOtest."J
This is the letter of Mr. Pitkin, with the extrac
from Mr. Pickering. 1t is not the recollection of al
old man, but the written-down account Of what b.
saw and knew forty years ago, and written down a
the time he it and knew it. 1t is full and com
pete the point in question The reference Hutch
mss historical narrative, and typographical descrip
ton of louisiana is correct. The work not
library but several friends have sent copies of il
f from different parts of the United States and. on
comparison, | find Mr.. Pickering's extract to be
correct to letter. The reference of Mr.. Pitkin to
what passed. in his presence, Mr. Jeffersons table
in 1906, in relation the Lake of the Woods recalls
fact which ought to be taught in the schools, to the
little girls in their tiny Biographies, instead of be.
ing disputed by bearded men in the American Senate
That lake. for hundred and thirty years. has been
a landmark among nations; for than sixty
years-from the date of national exstence-it has
been prominent mark in our national boundaries.
The treaty of Utrecht made it so and he that does
know this great historical incident may find it out
by tasting the Intellectual crumb which fell from Mr.
Jefferson's table in 1906, and which Mr. Pitkn has
preserved for feast this day in the American Senate
Mr.. Jeferson's table al which something else
besides the body fed. was never at it but once
and then there five hours; not for the Burgundy
. uh i'm n min
ter said of the king of Portugals dinner" excellent
but for the conversation. which divine And now
| will say that saw Mr.. Pickering once and under
circumstances remember him also. 1t at the
ira session of Congress- in 1Sl3-he a member OF
the House of Representatives, looker-on from the
, bot and suffocating gallery, better paid for my
sufferance than those who are listening to now
saw all aged man, always in his seat, always atten-
tive, always respectful The decorum of his conduct
struck me inquired his name it turned out to be
one who had been formed in the school of Washing
ton, of whom knew but little up to that time but
through tile medium of party watchwords and of whom
| then said, that if events should ever make me
member of Congress- should love to initiate the dec
Drum.
i The line of Utrecht is termed by Mr. Pickering an
" imaginary" line. That is correct 1t was never
rum nor intended to be rum nor possible to be rum
The treaty required it to be determined" and ii
determined by astronomical points and lines and
by geographical features-the high lands parting two
of systems of waters-those Of Hudsons Bay and those
the Canadian lakes. And here l will say there were
two sets of boundaries to be established under this
same treaty of Utrecht: the north of Canada,
which was done as stated with the year limited; the
otherlon the south of Canada between Acadia and the
British colonies on the Atlantic, for which no time
1 was limited, and which never done. Confound-
ing these two sets of boundaries, of which was
determined and the other not may have led some
minds into error-those minds which cannot apply