Part 31

An argument has also been attempted to be drawn from the limits given on Greenleaf's map to a purchase made from the State of Massachusetts by Watkins and Flint. This purchase is, however, by the patent extended to the highlands, and the surveyors who laid it out crossed the Walloostook in search of them. Here they met, at a short distance from that stream, with waters running to the north, which they conceived to be waters of the St. Lawrence, and they terminated their survey. The lines traced on Greenleaf's map are therefore incorrect, either as compared with the grant or the actual survey, and although from a want of knowledge of the country the surveyors stopped at waters running into Lake Temiscouata instead of the St. Lawrence, the very error shows the understanding they had of the true design of the patent, and this transaction, so far from being an available argument against the American claim, is an act of possession at an early date within the limits of the disputed territory.

WASHINGTON, April 8, 1842.

To the Senate of the United States:

In compliance with your resolution of the 31st March, 1842, I have the honor to submit the accompanying document and report from the Commissioner of the General Land Office.

JOHN TYLER.

WASHINGTON, April 9, 1842.

To the House of Representatives of the United States:

I transmit herewith to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary of State, with a copy of the correspondence requested by their resolution of the 7th instant.

JOHN TYLER.

WASHINGTON, April 11, 1842.

To the Senate of the United States:

I herewith transmit a memorial which I have received from the Choctaw tribe of Indians and citizens of the State of Mississippi, with a request that I should communicate the same to Congress. This I do not feel myself at liberty to decline, inasmuch as I think that some action by Congress is called for by justice to the memorialists and in compliance with the plighted national faith.

JOHN TYLER.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 1842.

To the Senate of the United States:

In further compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 2d of February last, requesting information touching the demarcation of the boundary line between the United States and the Republic of Texas, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State and the accompanying documents.

JOHN TYLER.

WASHINGTON, April 13, 1842.

To the Senate of the United States:

In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 24th of July last, I communicate to that body a report from the Secretary of State, conveying copies of the correspondence which contains the information called for by that resolution.

JOHN TYLER.

WASHINGTON, April 13, 1842.

To the Senate of the United States:

In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 29th July last, I communicate to that body a report from the Secretary of State, conveying copies of the correspondence which contains the information called for by said resolution.

In communicating these papers to the Senate I call their particular attention to that portion of the report of the Secretary of State in which he suggests the propriety of not making public certain parts of the correspondence which accompanied it.

JOHN TYLER.

WASHINGTON, April 18, 1842.

To the Senate of the United States: