The Influence Of The Northeast Boundary Commission Journal Of John Gilmore Deane

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The Northeast Boundary Commission Journal of John Gilmore Deane from September 2, 1838 to November 30, 1838 depicts a period of time, in which Maine stood defensive against the British colonies in claiming the boundary line between Canada and Maine. We will see that Mr. JG Deane played an important political role in Maine during the rising boundary concerns and was well acquainted for the work put forth. Although not a famous or memorable Maine figure by many, he played a crucial role in the determination of Maine’s Northeast boundary. He ensured the Maine people had access to the natural resources the state would depend upon by playing a role in establishing a fair boundary line.

John G. Deane was a native of Massachusetts and moved to Maine in 1809. He had been fortunate to have a college education from …show more content…

Mr. Deane wrote a concise and accurate report for the Governor tracing the history of the boundary, grants and treaties to present day. A copy of “Deane’s Report,” as it was referred to, was sent to the President of the United States, the governors of each of the states of the union and to each of our foreign …show more content…

The treaty allowed the St. John River and its tributaries would be “free and open to both parties and… in no way… obstructed by either” (Judd, 352). This ultimately allowed for a unique transnational lumbering economy along the St. John River and as a result many sawmills developed on the lower river of the St. John and gave Aroostook lumber operators the right to enter, duty-free, all ports in the vast British Empire. Without the treaty, timber resources would have remained landlocked and of little value until the railroads would enter the territory in the 1870s (Judd,