WASHINGTON CITY, December 15th, 1831. SIR: I have been requested by Mr. Wing, the delegate from Michigan, to communicate to the War Department my views as to the importance, (in a military point of view,) of opening a road from Fort Howard to Fort Crawford, by the way of Fort Winnebago. From a knowledge of the country, acquired by a residence of several years at the two extreme points, I am enabled to give it as my opinion, that such a road as is contemplated would not only facilitate and expedite the transportation of public stores between those points, but would, at all seasons of the year, ensure a speedy co-operation of the troops in any military movement which might be ordered. The distance by water is computed to be 360 miles, and such is the difficulty of navigation, that a loaded boat is not unfrequently 20 days in making the voyage; whereas a road, judiciously laid out, would ensure the performance of the trip within eight days at any season of the year, and reduce the distance to 220 miles. I have the honor. &c., JNO. GARLAND, Hon. LEWIS CASS, Extract of a letter from Henry B. Brevoort and James D. Doty to Major General Macomb, dated Green Bay township, January 20th, 1829. "Your own accurate knowledge of the country lying between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi, renders it unnecessary for us to speak otherwise than in general terms of its geography. The prairies which commence on the Mississippi and Wiskonsin rivers, extend to the head of Winnebago lake, with the exception of occasional belts of woods along the water courses and in other places of clusters or islands of open woods. It is confidently asserted, that wheel carriages can, even now, pass from the lead mines to the Calmut village on Winnebago lake, which is not more than 38 miles from this place. The head of this lake is on the most direct route to Chicago and Fort Winnebago. You will readily perceive, therefore, how important it is that the road should be opened from that point to the bay, and we take the liberty of soliciting the aid of the troops to effect this object, which we esteem of equal advantage and convenience to the Government and the citizens. One of the undersigned, (Judge D.,) has just returned from that part of the country, having personally examined it, with a view to obtain the best ground for a road; a sketch of which he respectfully transmits herewith. He feels confident that 12 men, in one month, can open this road to the Calmut village; passing, as it does, upon a high ridge of beach and maple land. If the road constructed by the citizens to the Grand Kan Rannoh, should be followed as far as Plum creek, the distance for the new road would be diminished to 23 miles. It is hoped that some gentlemen, duly qualified, may be ordered to make the necessary surveys of these routes, and to ascertain, by a particular examination of the country, the practicability of so improving the communication between the Lead Mines and Lake Michigan, by the way of the Ford Lakes and Winnebago Lake, either by a road or canal, as to open new sources of wealth to New York, and to the people inhabiting the borders of the great lakes. The object is also of so great magnitude to the Government, that we cannot doubt of your giving it an attentive consideration." 1st Session. BOUNDARY BETWEEN GEORGIA AND FLORIDA. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TRANSMITTING The information required by a resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 19th instant, in relation to the boundary line between the State of Georgia and the Territory of Florida. DECEMBER 29, 1831. Read, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. WASHINGTON, December 29, 1831. In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 19th instant, requesting the President of the United States to communinicate to it "the correspondence between the Governor of Georgia and any department of this Government, in the years 1830 and 1831, in relation to the boundary line between the State of Georgia and the Territory of Florida," I transmit, herewith, a communication from the Secretary of State, with copies of the papers referred to. It is proper to add, as the letter and resolutions on this subject, from the Governor and Legislature of Georgia, were received after the adjournment of the last Congress; and as that body, after having the same subject under consideration, had failed to authorize the President to take any steps in relation to it—that it was my intention to present it, in due time, to the attention of the present Congress by a special message. This determination has been hastened, by the call of the House for the information now communicated; and it only remains for me to await the action of Congress upon the subject. ANDREW JACKSOŇ. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, December 28th, 1831. The Secretary of State, to whom has been referred, by the President, a resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 19th of this month, requesting the President to furnish that House with a copy of any correspondence which may have taken place in the year 1830 or 1831, between the Executive of Georgia and any department of this Government, relative to the boundary line between the State of Georgia and the Territory of Florida, has the honor to transmit, herewith, to the President, the copy of a letter under date the 22d of March, 1831, from the Governor of Georgia, addressed to the President himself upon the subject in question, together with a copy of the resolution of the Assembly of Georgia therein referred to; which letter and resolution were deposited, by order of the President, in this department. That communication comprehends all the correspondence, within the purview of the resolution of the House of Representatives, which is to be found in this office; but an indistinct recollection is nevertheless entertained here, that the letter of the Governor of Georgia was answered by the President, though it does not appear that a copy of his letter was kept. Respectfully submitted. EDW. LIVINGSTON. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, GEORGIA, MILLEDGEVILLE, March 22, 1831. SIR: Congress having failed, at its last session, to make provision for running the dividing line between Georgia and Florida, the Legislature of this State has directed me to cause that line to be run by commissioners appointed for that purpose. The President is informed that commissioners have accordingly been appointed, and received instructions to meet at the town of St. Mary's, on the first of May next, and to proceed, without delay, to run and plainly mark the line from the junction of the Chattahoochie and Flint rivers, to the head of St. Mary's, agreeably to the treaty of 1795, between the United States and Spain. The opinions and motives of the Legislature which induced this proceeding, are fully explained to the President in the report and resolutions of that body, copies of which accompany this communication. Since 1827, when it was first discovered that the place fixed upon by Ellicott and Minor, did not truly represent the head of the St. Mary's intended by the treaty of 1795, the State of Georgia has been continually urging upon the Government of the United States the propriety of causing such an examination and survey to be made, as would terminate the uncertainty as to the place which ought to be so considered. The State does not desire the acquisition of any territory, and claims none but what is believed to be secured to it by the highest evidence of title. The obligation, therefore, is imperative upon those who administer the Government of the State, to preserve its territory inviolate. The boundary described in its Constitution is the same, from the junction of the Chattahoochie and Flint rivers to the St. Mary's, as that which formed its dividing line from East Florida when Georgia was a colony of Great Britain. By the proclamation of the King of Great Britain, in 1763, forming the governments of East and West Florida, and extending the southern boundary of Georgia, that line was described as running from the junction of the Chattahoochie and Flint rivers to the source of the St. Mary's. By the commission granted to Governor Wright, in 1764, the same line is described as extending to the southernmost stream of the St. Mary's. By the definitive treaty of peace of 1783, Great Britain ceded to Georgia as an independent State, and as one of the parties to that treaty, all the territory which belonged to it when it ceased to be a colony. The line in question was described in that treaty as running from the junction of the Chattahoochie and Flint rivers, straight, to the head of the St. Mary's. By the term head of the St. Mary's, as used in that treaty, was understood the same place which was described in the proclamation of 1763, and in the commission to Governor Wright, in 1764, as the source or most southern stream of the St. Mary's. The same must be intended to have been meant by the term the head of the St. Mary's in the treaty of 1795, because it corresponds exactly with the description of the same place in the treaty of 1783, and because, although there were disputes between the United States and Spain, and the United States and Georgia, as to the boundary line between that State and West Florida, none are believed to have existed as to the line between Georgia and East Florida. If, therefore, the place fixed upon by Ellicot and Minor does not truly represent the head of the St. Mary's, surely the United States ought not to insist upon its being so considered, especially since Florida has become a part of its own territory. In communicating to the President, by the request of the Legislature, the appointment of commissioners, and the time when they are instructed to proceed to run the line from the junction of the Chattahoochie and the Flint rivers to the head of the St. Mary's, I have thought it my duty to present this brief justification of the course which has been pursued by the State in ascertaining the extent of her territorial rights. Very respectfully, yours, To the PRESIDENT of the United Statse. GEORGE R. GILMER. The Committee on the State of the Republic, to whom was referred that part of the Governor's message which relates to the boundary line between the State of Georgia and the Territory of Florida, with the accompanying documents, have had the same under consideration, and report: That the deep interest which Georgia has in the question of the final and satisfactory settlement of her boundaries, is such as to impose on her constituted authorities, the duty of prosecuting the subject to some final termination. And at this time, your committee believe, that the constituted authorities of this State would be liable to the charge of deriliction of duty to her citizens, were they to permit the boundary which separates Georgia from the Territory of Florida, from the junction of the Flint and Chattahoochie rivers, thence to the head of the St. Mary's river, to remain, as it now does, unascertained, and not run and marked. Your committee, in again presenting a condensed view of the subject referred to their consideration, will purposely be very brief, as the merits. of the question have been so often presented to the Federal Government, and particularly in the report and resolutions agreed to by the General Assembly of this State, on the 16th day of December, 1828, which your com |