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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