Executive Office, Detroit, March 9, 1835. Sir: You will herewith receive a copy of a letter just received from Columbus. You will now perceive that a collision between Ohio and Michigan is inevitable, and will therefore be prepared to meet the crisis. The Governor of Ohio has issued a proclamation, but I have neither received it, nor have I been able to learn its tendency. You will use every exertion to obtain the earliest information of the military movements of our adversary, as I shall assume the responsibility of sending you such arms, etc., as may be necessary for your successful operation, without your waiting for an order from the Secretary of War, so soon as Ohio is properly in the field. Till then, I am compelled to await the direction of the war department. Very respectfully your obedient servant, Stevens T. Mason. The 31st of March found Governor Lucas with his staff and the Boundary Commissioners at Perrysburg. General John Bell of the seventeenth division of the Ohio militia also arrived with a volunteer force of six hundred men. In the meantime Governor Mason and General Brown had arrived at Toledo with about one thousand men, and there encamped, being fully determined to prevent any re-marking of the "Harris Line." Both Governors eyed each other like pugilists preparing for conflict. Happily before any opening hostilities, two Peace Commissioners from the President of the United States arrived on the scene. They were Richard Rush, of Philadelphia and Benjamin C. Howard of Baltimore, who were appointed to represent President Jackson in his efforts for peace. This commission prevented bloodshed, and through its influence the militia of both states was disbanded. Notwithstanding this, however, Governor Lucas determined to run the line. General Brown, the Michigan Commander, was again called out to watch the proceedings. The Boundary Commissioners were accompanied by their surveyor and a posse. When within the disputed territory the sheriff of the county attempted to arrest the party, and did arrest some of them. The Commissioners escaped. The assault on the surveying party created great commotion throughout Ohio. Governor Lucas called a special session of the Legislature, which met on the 8th of June, 1835. This was the first time in the history of the State that the Legislature had been called in session for a special purpose by a Governor. There had been extraordinary sessions twice before, in 1822 and 1832, to redistrict the State for Congress, but they convened by virtue of joint resolutions passed at regular sessions. The determination of the Governor may be well judged in this crisis when we find him appealing to his highest constitutional powers and summoning the Legislative branch of the State government in a manner and for a purpose without a precedent. In a special message of great length, the Governor detailed the circumstances which had occurred since the adjournment of the Legislature, together with all the correspondence pertaining to them. In retaliation for Michigan's legislation, an act was passed "to prevent the forcible abduction of citizens of Ohio"; and, in addition to this, the county of Lucas, named such in honor of the Governor, was created, which was composed largely of the disputed territory, and Toledo was made the county seat. Three hundred thousand dollars were appropriated from the State Treasury, and power given the Governor to borrow three hundred thousand more for the purpose of asserting the jurisdiction of Ohio over the territory in question. The Adjutant General reported to the Governor ten thousand troops ready for action. All these preparations only incensed the people of Michigan, and it looked as if the interstate war would break out afresh, to be settled only on the battlefield. The belligerent conduct of Governor Lucas created much discussion and considerable anxiety at Washington and throughout the country. To relieve the President from uneasiness in the situation, the Governor sent a private commission, consisting of N. H. Swayne, W. Allen and D. T. Disney, to confer with the President on the situation. Upon a full explanation of Ohio's claim, the Secretary of State wrote the Commissioners that "the President, without taking upon himself any other character than that in which he had heretofore acted, will cause an earnest recommendation to be immediately sent to the acting Governor of Michigan, and the other authorities of the Territory, whom he can rightfully advise in the performance of their duty, that no obstruction shall be interposed to the re-marking of the Harris Line; that all proceedings already begun under the act of February, shall be immediately discontinued; that no prosecu From a painting by Laura C. Birge in the Capitol at Columbus. Born, March 21, 1786, in Washington County, Pennsylvania, emigrated to Ohio in 1801; served in the War of 1812; elected to the Legislature in 1812, 1813 and 1815; served in Congress from 1821 to 1836, when he resigned to run for Governor of Ohio; after his term expired he served in the State Senate, Congress and the Constitutional Convention of 1850; he died at Urbana, August 24, 1852. |