Northeastern boundary, the
A dispute concerning the exact boundary between the
United States and the
British possessions on the east, as defined by the treaty of peace in 1783, remained unsettled at the close of
President Jackson's administration, in 1837.
In conformity with the treaty of
Ghent (1814), the question concerning that boundary was, in 1829, submitted to the
King of the Netherlands for arbitration.
Instead of deciding the question submitted to him, he fixed a new boundary (January, 1837) not contemplated by either party.
The American minister at
The Hague immediately protested against the decision, but, as it gave territory in dispute to
Great Britain, that government accepted the decision.
The
State of Maine, bordering on the
British territory of
New Brunswick, protested against the award.
Collisions occurred, and the national government began negotiations with
Maine with a view to an amicable settlement of the affair.
An agent appointed by
Maine recommended that State to cede to the
United States her claim beyond the boundary-line recommended by the arbiter, for an ample indemnity.
The subject passed through the various stages of discussion and negotiation, until the irritations caused by the sympathy of the
Americans for the Canadians who had broken out into open rebellion against the
British government caused great heat concerning the boundary.
The people of
Maine were much excited, and armed in defence of what they deemed their rights.
In fact, there were preparations for war in both
Maine and
New Brunswick, and the peaceful relations between
Great Britain and the
United States were threatened with rupture.
President Van Buren sent
General Scott to that frontier in the winter of 1839, and, by his wise and conciliatory conduct, quiet was produced and bloodshed was prevented.
The whole dispute was finally settled by
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491]
the
Ashburton-Webster treaty (Aug. 20, 1842) negotiated at
Washington, D. C., by Daniel Webster,
Secretary of State, and Lord Ashburton, acting for
Great Britain, who had been sent as a special minister for that purpose.
Besides settling the boundary question, the treaty provided for the final suppression of the slave-trade and for giving up criminal fugitives from justice in certain cases.
