Page:Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Georgia 1849.djvu/29

26 Treasury, and that grants be allowed to issue to the bona fide owners of all that class of undrawn and fractional lots of land falling under the description referred to. Copies of the Executive orders, with a report of the lands sold and such as remain undisposed of, under the two acts of the last Legislature, are respectfully submitted. A copy of the report and Resolutions adopted by the last General Assembly "in relation to the boundary line between Georgia and Florida," was transmitted to the Governor of that State in April 1848, and his attention respectfully invited to the liberal terms proposed for an amicable adjustment of the controversy pending between the two States. No advance however was made, or definite action taken, by the authority of that State until the past winter, when the subject was referred to its Legislature in the annual message of Governor Moseley, in terms so commendatory of the plan proposed for final adjustment by this State, that the hope was entertained that I should be enabled to lay before you, at the present session, the gratifying intelligence that a final adjustment, upon terms honorable to both States, had been consummated. The Legislature of Florida, however, thought proper to disregard the conciliatory spirit, and desire of this State to preserve amicable relations, as manifested by the Report and Resolutions of December 1847, and adopted resolutions deemed by me discourteous to the kindly feelings and high sense of honor which have characterized our legislative action on the subject, and virtually closing the door upon all future attempts at friendly adjustment.—A copy of the Resolutions was transmitted to me by Governor Mosely, accompanied by a communication under date 6th February 1849, to which my reply was made in March last. Since then no correspondence has taken place between the authorities of the two States, and no official information has been received at this Department on the subject. The state of the question, as it now exists, is the result of no ill temper or illiberal exaction on the part of the Executive of Georgia—but, on the contrary, with an indulgent feeling necessary to yielding implicit credence in the good faith with which our young sister advanced her claim, every consideration consistent with a consciousness of right and a recollection of the most sacred ties of blood and friendship, was urged to bring this vexed question to a speedy adjustment. Entertaining the opinions expressed in my last letter to Governor Moseley, a copy of which with all the correspondence on the subject is herewith transmitted, I do not feel authorized to recommend any further attempt on the part of this State at negotiation, until invited by the authorities of Florida. What becomes your duty, should you believe the nego- tiation closed, will readily suggest itself.