Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-23

PORTLAND, March 13.-Thc Injunction of secre-
cy Is we learn, removed from the proceedings ofour
Legislature, but we have not received the official re-
port oil them. They relate supposed, to the
boundary question, and understand that the Lee
gslature passed resolutions authorising the opening
of negotiation between this State and the United
states Tor the cesslon, for suitable indemnify the
United States, of that part of the territory of Maine
lying north and east of the line proposed by the UNI
pire. The agreement, if any should he made is to
be submitted TO the Legislature of Maine for its an
proval or rejection. There is TO be, therefore, no.
thing in the negotiation binding on the State until
the Legislature shall approve and ratify it, Before
this can he DONE there will be another election of
members and the Legislature may therefore be in
struced by the people. The ground assumed by
this state is, that the United States has no authority
TO cede, under the color of a compromises, nor i'm
any other way, any portion of our territory TO To-
reign State. BY proposing TO us cesson ofthe ter
ritory 10 themselves for an equivalent, the United
States agree to the doctrine maintained by the 90
vernment of the State. In this proposition there is
therefore, no yding of principle the part of the
state. We negotiate on the ground that the proper
~ Is ours IN full right, and be taken from us
but by our own free consent.-The question for the
State 10 decide is therefore, whether we shall yield
this part OF our territory for indemnity and allow
the United States to carry into execution the deci-
sion of the Dutch King, or refuse our consent and
leave the United States 10 take their own course
In this case, the United States would either ratfy
the decision, or would not. If they ratified it and
would be left TO this State? We could G ltc our
protest indeed, but what would that avail us? OF
the decision Of the Dutch King we can never speak
but IN terms of unqualified repobation 1t can be
justified OH no ground. No man of common homes
y and common intelligence, could have made such
"a decision. But our government agreed to refer it
to him, and Inc has made the decision. We cannot
prove that the umpire was corrupted; we cannot
prove that the line determined upon and the
decision drawn up in England, and sent over 10 the
Hague for him TO sign; cannot prove that hesiad
consultations with the back-sas agents of the Bri-
tlsll Cabinet We may have our opinions and be-
lief of these things, and they may excite a very just
indignation in fsiuds, but they are not sI,scep-
BILE of proof The misfortune was i'm ever consent
ing to take as an arbiter, man who had been, dur
ing the greater part of his life British pcnsiouer
But that mistake is past remedy. We have already
waived our exceptions TO the person, and we have
got ms decision. Ill the government of the United
states find that in the progress of the negotiation
they have become so far committed that they cannot
avoid carrying the award into execution, willie they
admit It's gross injustice, without something looking
like a breach of national faith, what remedy of any
practical benefit, is lief; for the State?
Again; suppose we decline to give our assent and
the United states refuse to carry the award into exc
cution, what will be the result? There remains an
unsettled controversy. The British are already in
actual occupation OF larger portion territory than
that assigned them by the Dutch King. In order
to obtain the possession we must disIodge them-
This would require n military force and Immediate
ly bring on n border war. If our settlements ex-
tended up to the ST. John, and we had good roads
opened to that river, we should be willing TO call
upon the militia, and we believe they would vii.
lngly answer to the call. This would undoubtedly
bc at the risk Of war, and we should be willing
to take the risk. But would the middle and south
ern states! When we had controversy with Spain
as TO the Texas was this State willing TO enter into
war Tor that territory The States bordering on
the Texas, we believe, ready for this result,
but the States more distant felt less interest in the
controversy and preferred to yield our right rather
than hglIt for IT, And have not reason to apprc-
heud that the western and southern States will feel
indifferent TO controversy, lying az this extremity
Of the Union, felt in that relating to the Texas