Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1846-06-03


testimonies, place the letter Of gentleman who
besides his own great authority, gives reference to
another, who, from his long political position i'm our
country, the powers Of his mind and the habits Of his
life, happens be. of all living men, the one who
can shed most light upon the subject. | speak of
Colonel Timothy l'ckerlng-the friend and comgan
q ION OF Washington-his quarter-maser general dg-
ring the OF the revolutIonhIs Postmaster Gener-
al Secretary of War, and Secretary Of State. during
his presldency-a member Of this body the time the
treaty ratified which made party TO the treaty
of Utrecht-and always a consider and To u.i-
dersand what he was about In fact, Washington wan
ted no other sort of about him. The writer of tie
letter (TmOtly Pitk.D, author of tie work on stats
tlcS, on reading some account of the talk here about
the treaty of Utrecht, ard seeing what lack of nfor-
nation was IN the American Senate, wrote letter to
a member of this BODY Mr. WEBSTER I to rive him
bis memoranda Of that treaty some frty wears ago.-
This letter Is invaluable testimony of the events to
which 1t relates; II combines tie testimony Of two
eminent men; and send it TO the secrearvs table
to be read 1t Is dated Utica, New York April 9Th
1916:
81 perceive by the debates in on The Oregon
question, that, IN decision OF this important subject no
little stess is laid by Of the line scted
between France and England under the treaty Utrecht
III 5 and that by others is COMMENDED that no evidence
actually exists that made der that
Treaty. $1,000 ~
9 was somewhat surprised that General Cass should
have ventnied IN public speech, placed himself
among the latter upon the statements Mr. Gleenhoy
clerk IN the department OF State have for long time con-
sdered that this line adj listed conmis>arles appoint
ed under that tie y AID reading the speeches of essrs
Lass and Benton and your significant questions on the
SUBJECT thought proper documents and mem
orandums for some proof Of the opinion had thus formed
On such examination found the following extract on this
subject from Mr. Hutchins Historical Narrative and Top,-
graphical Description of Louisiana and West Florida printed
at Philade lphia in l7SI.
tat tho 70
VINO was then, believe siapher United States
proceeds say: As Canada New France The French
court would scarcely admit had other northern hound
any than the pole The avity of Great Bain vas equal;
but France having been unfortunate the war Of the
northern boundary OF Canada fixed by treaty Of
Utrecht in l7l3 1t assigns Netc Britain and H5sone Ran
the north Of CRddI, TO Gieai and nmis>iners
Afterwards on both sides, aScerained the limits by an ag
nary lie running from cape OF prooaforu NV Rrit
on the Atlantic ocean, IN fifty degrees thirty minutes north
laude then southwest To the Lake Misglsing or Ni>tas
SIM from thence further southwest direct the latitude Of
foty-nine degrees All the lands north Of the im,si-
nary line being assigned to Great Bain and all south
waid Of that line, TO far the ST. Lawrence to the
French.
"Thee were al that time he adds the tue limits of
Louisiana and Canada Crozeis Grant not subsisting ng af
ter the death OF Louis NV
The above taken from long communication
made Mr. Jefferson by Colonel Pickering on The 18Th of
January 1904 when the treaty of XII = and of bounda
res, was under atom of course after our pur-
though Kings treaty difference Of opinion
existed between Jefferson and Pickering. have been
OF
it was. no doubt, well known to Mr. Jefferson.
" am not able 10 inf I'm you whether answered in
writing the above communication of Colonel Pckering but
from his me and others ON the g}d If
January 1896, he then fully believed line to have been
thus setiled, in pursuance of The treaty Of Uuecht
A that time, conver>ing with me and others ut dir
rer patty on the lavoIfe of Lewis CaTks expcdi-
ton TO the Pacific he declared, (sccodil my memoIan-
dunn made the time) BY treaty of Utrecht in
l7i3, between the English and French the line between
Louisiana and the English country settled in latitude
49 and this the why, in treaty with the
English in 1883 our northern boundary placed the
Lake OF the Woods, which n latitude 49,
" Not having seen Hulchius mentioned or referred TO in
this debate have been send you th, extract
from him, and also my above memorandum to bring the
sane To your notice and recollection, rasaf quana ralere
Potest")
This is the letter of Mr. Pitkin, with the extract
from Mr.. Pickering. 1t is not the recollection of an
old man, but the written-down account of what be
saw and knew forty years ago, and written down at
the time he saw it and knew it. Il is full and com
plete to the point In question. The reference to Hutch
mss historical narrative and Typographical descrip
ton of Louisiana. correct. The work is not I'm our
library, bat several friends have sent me copies Of it
from different parts of the United States and ON
comparison, | find Mr.. PIckerings extract to he
correct 70 letter. The reference of Mr. pitkjn 70
what passed, IN his presence, Mr. Jeicrsons table
IN 1906 in relation to the Lake of the Woods. recalls
fact which ought to be taught in the schools TO the
little girls, III their tiny geogra plies. instead Of be
ing disputed by bearded men in the American Senate
That lake. for hundred and thirty years has been
"A landmark among naiions for more than siyiy
ycarstrom the date of cur national exiscncc-itbas
been prominent mark in our national boundaries
The treaty Of Utrecht made it so, and he that does
not know this great historical incident NAV find it out
by tasting the intellectual cruMb which fell from Mr.
Jeiiersons table IN lSO6 and which Mr. pi:kin has
preserved for feast this day in the American Senate
Mr.. Jchor>ons table one at which sometime else
besides tie body was fed. never at it but once.
and then sat there i've hours not Cor the Burgundy,
which was, IN tact--1Ehat certain American minis
ter SAID Of the king Of Portugas dinner. escegeng-
but for the conversation. which was divine And now
Will say that saw Mr. Pickering once. and under
circumstances to remember him also Ii was at tl,eex
ra session of Congress. iii lSI3-he member Of
he House OF Representatives, lookcr-on from the
.ot and suil0cating gallery. better paid for nv
'uierance tlan those who are listening 10 me now.
saw an aged man, always in bis seat always attcn-
I've, always respectful. The decOrum of his conduct
struck me; | inquired his name; it turned ont TO be
'nc who had been formed in the school of WASHING
on, of whom knew but little up to that time but
trough tie medium of party watchwords, and of whom
then sand, that, If events should ever make me
member Of Congress, should love initiate the dec
rum.
The line of Utrecht is termed by Mr. Pickering, an
imdgiagry" line. That is correct. Ii was never
un nor intended TO be run, possible TO be rum
The treaty required it to be &" defermined;" and il
vas determined BY astronomical points and lines and
y geographical tcaturcs-the high lands parting two
systems Of waters-thosc Of iiudSons Baya and those
he Canadian lakes And here | Will say there were
VIZ sets of boundaries to be established under this
anne treaty Of Utrecht one on the north OF Canada
fhich was done stated with the year limted the
Their on the south of Canada, between Acadia and the
british colonies on the Atlantic for which no time
'as limited, and which was never done. Confonnd-
~ these two sets of boundaries one of which was
etcrminod and the other not, may have led some I
linds into crror-those minds which cannot apply a
'ord, to things. G
Mr. plkln IN fins LETTER enoats Of = lonr coro,,u G.