Letter, Tallahassee, Governor George W. Towns / Thomas Brown proposing settling the dispute

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Executive Department Florida
Tallahassee Feby 28th 1850
His Excellency Geo W. Towns
Governor of Georgia &c
Sir
I have the pleasure to
acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 19th Inst and
With it a Copy of the Resolutions Adopted by the Legisla-
ture of Georgia, Visting in you full powers to settle
the boundary question between our respective States; and
I giving the assurance of your Excellency's "Sincere desire
to accomplish it, with as little delay as possible". And
I now assure your Excellency of the same sincere desire
on my part; and as the best evidence which I can
give of my Sincerity, I will proceed at once with
all frankness to propose a mode of settling this
boundary question.
I object to your proposition of subjecting this difficulty
to another Set of Commissioners for Arbitration and
Umbrage for the following reasons. I can see no
good Cause for Supposing Another Commission would
be more apt to Agree than those that have been hereto
for appointed, or that they would agree upon an Umpire
And the alternative you suggest of taking a
Governor of one of the Southern States as the Umpire,
I think would be attended with many objections
To me it is objectionable that persons selected
justment of this line I propose to take the
Mound for the Eastern Point, to run from
thence directly to the junction of the Flint and
Chattahoochee River, as the true line between
Georgia and Florida. This is the line as sur-
veyed by the United States, known as McNeils
line and to Which the Mass of your State
extends. The establishment of this line will
be attended with less inconvenience to the people
of both of the States, than any other line that
Could be determined on; because if it went
one mile N. E. of the Mound it would interrupt
the titles to lands granted by the state of Georgia
to her Citizens. And if it were to run South of the
Mound it would interrupt titles to lands granted
by the U.S. to people in Florida. I feel a strong
assurance, if your Exellency will look at the
map, and examined the courses of these lines
you will agree with me in opinion.
I have not been able to see the reports made
by the former Commissioners and Consiquently
do not understand the proportions made on
either side, but it strikes me with surprise
that there should have been any difference of
opinion upon the adoption of the line which
I propose as a Comprimise; particularly


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either as Commissioners or Umpire, do not, and would
not take sufficient intrust in the performance of
the duty, as to inform themselves thoroughly of the merits
of this question. Which requires much reading and
investigation to enable them to make a sound
decision. It would be attended with many delays
and difficulties before a decision could be had.
The place of meeting would present difficulties
Whether it should be at Milledgeville or Tallahassee
or some intermediate place. If a Governor
of a State Should be chosen, as Umpire, it is
not to be supposed that he would attend the
the meeting of the Commissioners in Person, a full
record of the whole proceeding, would therefore
be required to be kept and a transcript to be
submitted to him for his action, this would
present many difficulties and open a door
for irregularity which might upset
his decision. And finally it is objectionable on acco-
unt of Unnecessary delays and expense.
But your Excellency says if a more speedy
just and cheaper mode of settlement can be
suggested by me, you hope it will be done.
I propose therefore as a more speedy, just and
Cheaper mode of settlement that we try to settle
this Controvery ourselves. We have stronger
Motives for wishing to have this question settled
speedily and to the satisfaction of all parties
than any Commissioners or their Umsue would
would have. and we can have no motive
for wishing to do other than what is right & just.
I have shewn in my letter to your Excellency
of the 18th Dec last that the line between
Georgia and Florida had been fixed and
determined by the Commissioners appointed on
the part of Spain and the United States under
the treaty of 1795 "To be drawn from a point
N. 45 E. 640 Perchis from the Mound B Known
as Ellicotts Mound - to the mouth of the Flint River
fifty years ago. I further shewed that nearly
twenty years after this line was established
that the state of Georgia's appointed Commissioners
to examine the Correctness of Ellicotts line, who
After an expeter examination reported "That
After a careful examination they found
the head of the St Marys River to Agree with
the Report made by Ellicott and Moves
beyond the possibility of doubt, that the infor-
mation received by the Legislature of this State
relative to that Subject was incorrect". The true
line therefore between Georgia and Florida
is from a point one mile N. 45 E. from Ellicotts
Mound to the junction of the Flint and Chatta-
hoochee Rivers.
Now to make all reasonable Concessions
on the part of Florida for an amicable Ad-


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His Excellency Geo. W. Towns
Governor of Georgia
Milledgville
As the Legislature of George have declared
that the strip of Territory in dispute is un-
important to Georgia. But surely the Con-
vinience of the people located on the line
of this disputed strip should be a matter
of Consideration with both States
I hope this proposition will be considered by
Your Excellency in the spirit which it is offered
as liberal and fair and that it will be
accepted and steps taken by the appointment
Of proper persons on the part of both States
to have the line permanently designated and
Marked.
But if your Excellency should differ
in Opinion with me that you will shew
wherein my proposition is not liberal and
fair and propose some other line while
you will be able to shew has more of
those advantages which shall be considered
by me in the same spent of candor.
Hoping to hear from your Excellency very
Soon upon this Subject
I have the honor to be
Your Excellency ob Srvt &c.
Thos Brown