The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-04-21 00:00:00

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vation of the psiiitterty from further spoliations, leaving the
possession and jurisdiction as they stood before the state of
Maine found itself compelled to act against the trespassers,
the President cannot but consider that the conduct of the
American local authorities strongly and most favourably con-
trasts with that of the colonial authorities of her Majesty's
government. While the one, promptly withdrawing its mili-
tary force, has confined itself to the use of the small posse,
armed as agreed upon, and has done no act not necessary to
the accomplishment of the conventional objects, every mea-
sure taken or indicated by the other party is essentially mili-
tary in its character, and can be justified only by a well-
formed apprehension that hostilities must ensue.
With such feelings and convictions, the President could
not see, without painful surprise, the attempt of Mr. Fox,
under instructions from his government, to give to the exist-
ing state of things a character not warranted by the friendly
disposition of the United States, or the conduct of the au-
thorities and people of Maine—much more is he surprised to
find it alleged as a ground for strengthening a militnry force
and preparing for a hostile collision with the unarmed inha-
bitants of a friendly state, pursuing within their own borders
their peaceful occupations, or exerting themselves in compli-
ance with their agreements to protect the property in dispute
from unauthorized spoliation.
The President wishes that he could dispel the fear that
these dark forebodings can be realized. Unless her Ma-
jesty's government shall forthwith arrest all military inter-
ference in the question—unless it shall apply to the subject
more determined efforts than have hitherto been made to
bring the dispute to a certain, a pacific adjustment, the mis-
fortunes predicted by Mr. Fox in the name of his government
may most unfortunately happen. But no apprehension of
the consequences alluded to by Mr. Fox can be permitted to
the government and people of the United States from the
performance of their duty to the state of Maine. That duty
is as simple as it is imperative. The construction which is
given by her to the treaty of 1783 has been, again and again,
and in the most solemn manner, asserted also by the federal
government, and must be maintained, unless Maine freely
consents to a new boundary, or unless that construction of
the treaty is found to be erroneous hy the decision of a dis-
interested and independent tribunal selected by the parties
for its final adjustment. The President, on assuming the
duties of his station, avowed his determination, all other
means of negotiation failing, to submit a proposition to the
government of Great Britain to refer the decision of the ques-
tion once more to a third party.
In all subsequent steps which have been taken upon the
subject by his direction he has been actuated by the same
spirit. Neither his disposition in the matter, nor his opinion
as to the propriety of that course, has undergone any change.
Should the fulfilment of his wishes be defeated, either by an
unwillingness on the part of Her Majesty's Government to
meet the offer of the United States in the spirit in which it
is made, or from adverse circumstances of any description,
the President will, in any event, derive great satisfaction from
the consciousness that no effort on his part has been spared
to bring the question ter an amicable conclusion, and that
there has been nothing in the conduct either of the Govern-
ment and people of the United States, or of the state of
Maine, to justify the employment of Her Majesty's forces
as indicated by Mr. Fox's letter. The President cannot,
under such circumstance, apprehend that the responsibility
for any such consequnces which may unhappily ensue will,
by the just judgment of an impartial world, be imputed to
the United States.

The undersigned avails himself, &c.
To the lion. IL S. Fox, &c. JOHN FORSYTH.

MR. Fox TO MR. FORSYTH

Washington, March 26, 1840.
The undersigned, Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Ex-
traordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, has had the honour
to receive the official note of yesterday's date, addressed to
him by Mr. Forsyth, Secretary of State of the United States,
in reply to a note dated the 13th inst., wherein the under-
signed, in conformity with instructions received from his
Government, had anew formally protested against the acts
of encroachment and aggression which are still persisted in
by anned bands in the employment of the state of Maine
within certain portions of the disputed territory.
It will be the duty of the undersigned immediately to
transmit Mr. Forsyth's note to Her Majesty's Government
in England ; and, until the statements and propositions which
it contains shall have received the due consideration of Her
Majesty's Government, the undersigned will not deem it
right to add any further reply thereto, excepting to refer to,
and to repeat, as he now formally and distin ;tly does, the
several declarations which it has from time to time been his
duty to make to the Government of the United States with
reference to the existing posture of affairs in the disputed
territoyy, and to record his opinion, that an inflexible ad-
herence to the resolutions that have been announced by Her
Majesty's Government for the defence of Her Majesty'srlghts,
pending the negociation of the boundary question, offers to
Her Majesty's Government the only means of protecting these
rights from being in a continually aggravated manner en-
croached upon and violated.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew
to the Secretary of State of the United States the assurance
of his distinguished consideration. H. S. FOX.
The Hon. John Forsyth, &c.