What kind of relations did Canada have with the US

An excerpt from the L. N. Fuller articles dated 1923 "..Navy Island was now the center of activity. The steamer, Caroline, carrying supplies to the island, was burned by the British. This incident, who caused most critical relations to exist between the United States and Canada, will be described elsewhere. Another attempt was made to invade Canada from the Niagara frontier, but it, too, was a failure..." "...Captain Drew and his crew returned to the British side where they were received with cheers. On the American shore a vast throng had assembled, horrified at the deed, as they believed that the helpless boat was freighted with living men. Great Britain approved the deed and conferred the order of a knighthood on Colonel McNab and publicly thanked Captain Drew...". America, infuriated by the actions of the Canadas under british control, had a different reaction."The reaction on the American side was different. Governor Marcy sent a special message to the legislature denouncing the deed. President Van Buren sent a special message to congress, declaring that a British force under arms had invaded American territory, that American property had been destroyed and American lives lost. The secretary of state demanded satisfaction from the British minister to Washington and the militia was called out all along the northern border. General Scott was ordered to the frontier to take charge of the proceedings." Although extremely mad, The US had no intentions of going to war with the Canadas.

In foreign affairs, one of the chief problems Van Buren faced was a dispute with Britain about Canada. Canadian rebels had tried two times to end British rule of Canada. They failed both times. Rebel leaders were forced to flee to safety in the United States. There they found it easy to get men and supplies to help them continue their struggle.
The rebels built a base on a Canadian island in the Niagara River which formed part of the border between the two countries. They used an American boat to carry supplies from the American side to their base. In December 1837, Canadian soldiers crossed the Niagara River and seized the boat. One American was killed in the fight.
For a while, Canadian forces and Canadian rebels exchanged attacks on river boats. A number of American citizens fought with the rebels. President Van Buren was troubled. He declared that the wish to help others become independent was a natural feeling among Americans. But, he said no American had a right to invade a friendly country. He warned that citizens who fought against the Canadian government, and were captured, could expect no help from the United States.

Another problem between the United States and Canada at that time concerned the border along the state of Maine. That part of the border had been in dispute ever since 1783 when Britain recognized the independence of the American states.
Years later, the king of the Netherlands agreed to decide the dispute. The king said it was impossible to decide the border from words of the peace treaty between Britain and the United States. So he offered what he believed was a fair settlement instead: The United States would get about two times as much of the disputed area as Canada.
Britain accepted the proposal by the king of the Netherlands. The United States did not. The United States refused, because the state of Maine would not accept it.
In 1838, Britain withdrew its acceptance of the proposal. And Canadians entered the disputed area. The governor of Maine sent state forces to the area. The soldiers drove out the Canadians and built forts. Canada, too, began to prepare for war.

-Andrew Suttis