The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-03-21
From the Boston Couritr.


THE LATE PRocEEpiNGs IN MAINE.
The following extract of IL letter from n
correspondent in Maine, contains a more
complete account than any article we have
seen elsewhere of the late extraordinary
proceedings. 1t is well worth an attentive
perusal.
Having been member of the Legisla-
ture of Maine, which has now adjourned,
and the injunction Of secrecy laid upon our
proceedings having been removed, con-
ceive myself at liberty to state 10 you the
coulse which the thing took, and my views
of it. was in the minority on this, as on
most other questions.
"Before the departure of Mr.. Preble for
Washington, he made en- effort to obtain
from the members of our Legislature, as
sembled an Legislative caucus, some pledge
that they would approve an arrangement.
by which the territory lying north aud east
of the st. Johns and St. Francis should be
coded, could ali equivalent be obtained, in
land lying on our own border, and the free
navigation of the st. Johns This pledge,
or even an assurance that such an arrange
ment would meet their appreciation, he,
however, failed to obtaln-our members Of
both parties stating that, situated as the
question now is, they could not yield their
assent to any compromise which might in
volve the rights of the State, or have an APP
pearance OF abandoning the high ground
they had taken. Under these circumstan-
ces Judge Preble started for Washington
after which, the first information receip-
ell by the Legislature Of his movements,
was communication received confidential
ty from our Governor, enclosing certain let
ters from our agent, in which the step since
taken was urged upon our consideration.
After much debate, the Resolves to which
have before alluded were passed-some
strange influence having induced many Of
our prominent Jackson men to change their
ground. They passed, finally, by a MAORI
ty of eleven Notes.-The whole number vot-
ing in their favor being fourteen less than
quorum. The vote in the Senate was
more decided.
"These resolves were advocated on the
ground that proposition had been made
by the General Government TO purchase
this territory,-hy which our title TO it was
acknowledged, and the ground previous
ly taken by US that the General Govern
mcnt had no right to cede it without our
consent, established. And thence it was
urged that we did not compromise onr hon
or, or inlure the prospects Of our claim, by
this - elimnary step. But in answer to
this, it may be said, that Judge PEBBLES let
ters contain TO evidence that Il proposition
was ever made. They contain only his
statement of conversation between him
self and Mr.. Livingston. in which the latter
tic aNnnfI0prry IS euch la
as that contemplated by the Resolves. Mr.
Prehle also hints that such is the diplomatic
mode Of conducting matters Of tins kind.
know not how this may be, but it seems to
me exceedingly unsatisfactory, when | con
slider that any equivalent to Maine must be
made by Congress, and cannot come either
from the President or his Secretary.
81 do not hesitate to say, Sir, that these
letters of Judge PEBBLE satisfy Inc of his
willingness to sacrifice the interests and
honor of our State, for the sake of reinstat-
ing himself i'll the good graces of the Pres
ident, and regaining the ground lost by his
protest. This question Is, as stated by him,
very embarrassing one to the present adj
ministration. They would do much to be
relieved from ii, and he IS willing to aid
them in accomplishing that object, at the
expense of this State and OF Massachusetts
:" will add that strong effort was made
to incorporate a provision in the Resolves,
that no step should be taken under them,
until they should have been assented to by
Massachusetts. This the minority deemed
due to your Commonwealth, in consequence
of the bold stand she had taken. This eff
fort failed, and as much as any thing, per-
haps, for the reason, that Judge Preble had,
in one of his letters, stated that Maine
would he under no obligation to consult
Massachusetts.
81 have stated these things somewhat
infinitely, because am prepared to say to
you, that view the whole matter as mere
political maneuvre. One of two things it
will certainly accomplish. Either the whole
affair will he delayed, under the pretext af-
forded by these Resolves, until after the
next Presidential election, and then the
award will be ratified, or else the award
will be ratified at once, and the Resolves
made an excuse for so doing. That this
award will, one day or another, receive
ratification, and the disposition to treat and
compromise, shown hy these Resolves, cited
in excuse. you, think, Sir, cannot doubt.
The object can be no other than to dispose
of the question with as little trouble as Dos.
sble to the President, and, yet, not hazard
the votes of Maine. And to project such
aslhis, involving the rights and honor of
State, the Agent of that State has lent him
self, and II political majority in her Legisa-
ture has sanctioned the lniquty."
-
VENIsoN. Deer have been unusually
abundant on the Androscoggin and in the
neiphhorhood Of Moose bend Lnke. A man