Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-12-13

2eSDs under tne saIhp.iy oF tilS bIAanpIc Ma
je-y, in the Province OF New brunswick, against
TIVE citizens OF the United States, established, in
Bri,i-h settlements. upon the rivers Aroostc and
Majawssks.
The proceedings, as described in Mr.. Clsy's
note, are supported by two dispositions on oath
| which have been transmitted to the Government
OF the United States by His Exceency Enoch
Lincoln, the Governor OF the State OF Maine.
| The Affidavit Of William Dalton, residing upon
the river Aroostc, relate. to legal process having
been instituted against him, by magistrates acting
under British authority, for the recovery OF debts,
or for misdemeanoI. The AFFIDAVIT, of Jonathan
Wilson relates 10 the arrest at Woodstock, upon
| the Majaws-Sa river, within sixiy.fivs miles of
Fredericton, of AR. Baker for having interrupted
! the passage Of the mail from New Brunswick to
! Canads.
! The rivers Aroostic and HIadawaska are to be
found on a reference to map, made by the British
Commissioners of bCvadaty, under the 5 b article
Of the treaty of Client, in that portion of the ter
riory OF New Brunswick enclosed between the
\ two lines OF boundary laid down, the one by the
British Commissioners, which run by Mars Hill,
and the other by the American Commissioners,
which runs at the distance OF stout one hundre
and for,yfour miles from Mars Hill, to the North
OF it.
Whatever may have induced The Commission
ers, on both sides, to trace the lines above
toned, as according With the true intent of the
boundary, laid down in the treaty of seventeen
hundred and eighty three, and subsequently, in that
Of Client, the Governments OF Great Britain ard
! OF the United States have not yet been allie 20
reconcile the different reports Of their Commis-
sionets, and the territory in whch,hs proceedings
have occurred lately, and which form the sub
! iect OF Mr.. Ciay's note, is sti!i 10 dispute.
The sovereignty and ufi.dicon over that er,itor
! has consequently remained with Great Britain hav.
ing been in the occupation and possession of the
crown, previously TO the conclusion Of the treaty
| of I!63.
The underlined, or rather unsettled claim of the
United States TO portion of that territory can
not furnish any preexi for interference With or
an interruption OF the exercise of the jurisdiction
within that territory. by magistrates acting under
British authority, on the part of the citizens of the
United States who may choose TO reside in those
ancient settlements. The undersigned, therefore,
1 is convinced that Mr.. Clay will agree with him
that there cannot be any grounds for complaint of
an undue and illegal exercise of jurisdiction what,
ever motive there may be for remonstrance a.
sainst the severity with which the laws MAJ have
been executed.
With regard to one Of the sffidavi,s transmitted
by the Governor of Maine, that of Jonathan
! Wilson, II appears that he undertakes to relate
the circumstances attending the arrest of Baker on
the Msdawaska, from what he had been told bv
Joshua Harvey, formerly of Bangor, in the State
OF Maine. The undersigned takes this opportu-
nifty OF communicating TO the Score airy Of State
some circumstances attending that transaction with
which lie has been made acquainted by his Males
tvs Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick. In
letter which the undersigned received on the 9Th
OF October last, from His Excellency, dated the
llth OF September, be Informed that an alien
of the name Of Baker, residing in Briliph settle.
ment on the Madawaska, had, on the 18th of july
last, interrupted the passage of the mail from New
Brunswick TO Canada, by the long estabIi shed
road through that settlement. Sir Howard Dou
gias transmitted 10 him, at the same time, comics
nj d1n astsr toll
duct OF Baker, and feeling that it was his daty
Lieutenant Governor, not 60 abandon any rirb,
OF practical sovereignty which had beea exercised
In the disputed territory, which has been held DC
cupied and located, as British settlements for onv
period within the last century, or even later. he
cohslueIeu that the report which had been made to
him OF the conduct of Baker, was fit matter for
the cognizance OF The law officers of the Crown.
snd His Escellency accordingly directed the At
torhry General 10 take such measures az be niah
: deem necessary 10 enforce the municipal laws OF
The Province, and TO repress and punish the disor-
ders which had been committed.
The undersigned has not received from Sir
Howard Douglas any report, yet, of the procee
dnss against baker, subsequently, TO his arrest He
has the honor to submit to the consideration of IKE
Secretary OF State the accompanying documents,
namely:
No. l. a report made to The Lieutenant Co.
| vernon, by Mr. Morehouse, a magistrate in the
neghborhood of Madawaska.
! No. 2. The deposition of Peter Sies,e, relative
to the stopping Of the mail.
| No. 3. The deposition OF William Ferris rela
tive to the flag of The United States having been
hois;sd by Baker
! No. and s. The deros;tions of Abraham
Chamberland and Peter hIarkee, relative to pa :
! per circulatedin settlement upon the Malayyss-
ka, tor signatures amongst the inhabitants, by
which they were TO bind themselves TO resist the
British authority.
| No. s. The opinion OF The Attorney and So
lichoT General OF the Province.
! The Secretary Of State will observe in the en-
closed depositons, that Baker and others assert cd
that, in the measures which they took, they would
be supported by the Government of the u Slate.
IL is hardly necessary for The TO repeat
The assurances which he has received from the
Lieutenant Governor OF New Brunswick, that His
I EKcelency is convinced that the Government Of
/ the United States was not. in any shape aware
Of the intentions OF Baker and his associates
I II Is evident from the enclosed documents thai
the offensive coEduct Of Baker was not confined
10 stopping The mail, but that be had boised IN.
/ flag of the United States. in defiance of British
claims, and had sought to engage party in an
ancient British settlement, to transfer the posses
son to the United States.
I The undersigned has alresdy communicated ia
the Secretary OF State sufficient proofs of the de-
cided resolution Of His Majesty Lieutenant Co
vernon OF New Brunswick 10 maintain The disnuf.
ed territory in the sams state in which His Ex
celency received il, after the conclusion Of The
treaty OF Client: and the undersigned is con zinc
ed that mui1sl sphit of forbesrsnce animates the
General Government of the United States Ii is
ainful 10 reject nPon the collisions of authoritv