Evening journal., 1912-12-16
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How One Of the Most I'M
pOrtant Clauses in Ash
burton Treaty Originated
By Holland.

The late Judge Learned Hebard Of
Lebonon Conn, was, in his day. an
influential public citizen. He served
many years as judge of probate, and,
as executor of the estate of Govern
or Jonathan Trumbull, made final
distribution of many of the relics and
effects of the first Governor, Jona-
than Trumbull, who was an intimate
friend of Washington and of whom
Washington aften spoke as Brother
Jonathan" 1t was this term OF friend
ship used by Washington which
caused the expression to become typi-
cal of the American people.
was riding with Judge Hebard,
in the fall of 1874, through the old
town of Norwich, Connecticut, which
was the original settlement. He point
ed out to me the birthplaces OF SAM
uel Huntington, signer of the Declar-
alton of Independence, and of several
citizens who became distinguished in
public life At last, as we passed
a comfortable old homestead he said
Il have ben told that in that house
William Woodbridge, who was,
think, the second Governor of the
State of Michigan, was born. II was
my good fortune to have some cor
respondence, perhaps thirty years
ago, with Mr.. Woodbridge, when he
was United States Senator from Mich
igan. / was at that time a commits
siOner appointed to allot a reserva-
ton of land to the remnants of the
Mohican Indians, two or three hum
dred of whom then survived. lt was
in connection with Mr. WOodhridge's
experience in his early life in treat
ing with the Indians Of Michigan ter
ritory that my correspondence was
written.
When Governor Woodbridge was a
boy, his father moved the family
from Connecticut to Ohio. Michigan
territory at that time was just begin
ming to be settled, and when Wood
bridge was only twenty-five years OF
age, President Madison appointed
him secretary of the territory. He
was also elected, | think. the first
delegate to Congress from that ter
ritory His official responsibilities
made it expedient for him to settle in
what was then the little township OF
Detroit, and it was due to that cir
cumstance that one of the most inn
pOrtant clauses ever incorporated
into a treaty between the United
States and any other nation, owes its
origin.
while Mr.. Woodbridge was in
Washington serving as a Senator, the
treaty was negotiated, Daniel Web
ster being then secretary of state.
BY that treaty the boundary line be-
tween Maine and the Canadian pro-
vinces was determined. Senator
Woodbridge called upon Daniel Web
ster one evening and said to him that
his experience, while living at De-
troit, had caused him to wonder
whether it would not be practicable
to enter into a treaty with Great Bri-
tain whereby fugitives from justice
who escaped from Michigan by cross
ing the river into Canada, could be
returned to the United States while
on the other hand the United States
would pledge itself to return fugi-
tives from Canada who crossed over
into Detroit or. in fact, anywhere
within the boundaries of the United
States
Daniel Webster at once realized
the importance of this proposition
and said to Senator Woodbridge that
he had done both nations a great SER
vice Dy suggesting sucu treaty
agreement The important clause
was gladly accepted by Lord Ashbur-
ton and it was incorporated into the
treaty. That was the first time that
the principle of extradition was ever
recognized and put into effect. Out
of it has grown large development.
and the time is near at hand when
the United States will have extradi-
ton treaties with all of the leading,
or civilized nations.
William Woodbridge did many
valuable things for the territory
which afterward became Michigan,
but. he performed a great national
service when he suggested to Daniel
Webster the Incorporation of an ex-
tradition clause in the Ashburton
treaty"
Copyright, 1912. by Z. J. Edwards.
All rights, reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell or
"The Civil War Governor Who Gave
His Salary to the Soldiers"