Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1839-03-07
IMPORTANT =!
MESSAGE FIR ON THE PRESIDENT.
To Ire Senate of lie United State

Win enclosures, communicating CERTAIN
proceedings ofthe Legislature of that State,
and copy Of the reply of the Secretary OF
State, made by my direction, together with
note from H. 8 Fox Esq. Envoy Extra
ordinary and Minister Penipotentiary Of
Great Britain, with .the answer of the Sec
rotary of State to the same
1t will appear from those documents that
a numerous band of lawless and desperate
men, chiefly from the adjoining British
Provinces, but without tie authority or
sanction of the Provincial Government, has
trespassed upon that portion of the territory
in dispute between the United States and
Great Britain which is watered by the river
Aroostook, and claimed to belong to the
State of Maine and that they had COM
fntted extensive depredations there by cut
ting and destroying a very large quantity
of timber. 1t will further appear that the
Governor of Maine, having been officially
apprised OF the circumstance, had commu-
T,icated it TO the Legislature, with recon-
mendalion of such provisions, in addition
30 those already existing by law, as would
enable him to arrest the course of said
lepredations, dispense the trespassers, and
secure the timber which they were about
carrying away that in compliance with a
resolve of the Legislature, passed in pur-
suance of his accommodation, his Excel
lency had despatched the land agent of the
State, with force deemed adequate to that
purpose to the scene of The alleged depre-
dations, who, after accomplishing part OF
his duty, was seized by band of the tres
passers, at a house claimed to be within the
a.. L. h. I,
paired for the purpose Of meeting and con-
sulting with the land agent OF the Province
of New Brunswick, and conveyed as a
prisoner to Fredericton, in that province,
together with two other citizens ofthe State,
who were assisting him in the discharge of
his duty.
1t will also appear that the Governor and
Legislature of Maine, satisfied that the
trespasseis had acted in defiance OF the
laws Of both countries, learning that they
were in possession Of arms, and anticipating
Correctly, as the result has proved) tina,
persons of their reckless and desperate
character would set at nought the authoril
of the magistrates, without the aid of
st5ong force, had authorized the sheriff, and
the officer appointed in the place of the
land agent to employ, at the expense Of the
State, an armed posse, who had proceeded
TO the scene Of these depredations, with
view to the entire dispersion or ARES, of
trespassers and the protection of the public
property.
In the correspondence between the Gov
ernor of Maine and Sir John Harvey,
Lieutenant Governor of the Province Of
New Brunswick, which has grown ont of
these occurrences, and is likewise herewith
communicated, the former is requested to
recall the armed party advanced into the
disputed territory Tor the arrest of tresras-
sers, and is informed that a strong body Of
British troops is to be held in readiness to
support and protect the authority and sub
iects of Great Britain 10 said territory. In
answer to that request the Provincial Gov
ernor is informed of the determination of
the State of Maine TO support the land
agent and his party, in the performance Of
their duty, and the same determination, for
the execution Of which provision is made
by resolution Of the State Legislature, is
communicated by the Governor to the Gen
eral Government.
The Lieutenant Governor Of New Bruins
wick, in calling upon the Gov. of Maine
for the recall of the land agent and his par
ty from the disputed territory, and the
British Minister in making a similar de-
mand upon the Government Of the United
States, proceed upon the assumption that
an agreement exists between the two ma
tons conceding to Great Britain, until the
final settlement of the boundary question,
exclusive possession of, and jurisdiction
over, the territory in dispute. The impor-
tant bearing which such an agreement, if it
existed, would have upon the condition and
interests of the parties, and the influence it
might have upon the adjustment of the dis
pute, are too obvious to allow the error upon
which this assumption seems to rest to pass
for a moment without correction. The
answer of the Secretary of State to MIR.
Fox's note, will show the ground taken by
the Government of the United STATES upon
this point. 1t is believed that all the cor
respondence which has passed between
the two Governments upon this subject has
already been communicated to Congress,
and is now on their files. An abstract Of
it, however, hastily prepared, accompanies
this communication. 1t lis possible that in
thus abrlgirg volumlnous correspon-
dence, commencing in 1925 and continuing
TO very recent period, portion may have
been accidentally overlooked +; but it is
believed that nothing has taken place which
would materially change the aspect OF the