Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1839-03-14
NO so.

State of Maine, which you apprehend will
De me consequence OF the recent attempt
mace ny the state authorities to expel tres
passers upon the public lands In the terri
tory IN dispute between the governments
OF the United States and her Brianic Ma
Jesty, has been laid before the President.
who after careful examination of its con-
tents, has Instructed me to reply, that your
own note, and the proclamation of Sir John
Harvey the Lieutenant Governor of New
Brunswick, which was sent with it, have
been both prepared under erroneous i'm
pfessIohs as to the facts of the transaction
to which they relate. Communications
from the Government of Maine enable me
to state to you, that the recent movement
IN the disputed territory was founded upon
resolution oft Legislature, copy of
"hlch is herewith enclosed. You will per-
cieve that the military occupation of the
territory was not contemplated, the sole OBJ
Ject having been to,remove trespassers, who,
in violation of the right of property, to
whatsoever it may belong, and the de-
clafed intentions of both Governments,
were gradually and hourly diminishing its
value. From the authority given to
the agents of the state Of Maine,
and from information of undoubted
authenticity, it is known that the per-
sons engaged in this affair, although ar.
med, from an apprehension of resistance
from the large body ofarmed lawless ag-
gressoTs on the public domain, were not.
detailed from the militia ofthe state for
that purpose, but were employed by the.
Land Agent of Maine and one of his sher1
ifs, who were TO direct and control all
their movements
Had the sole and avowed object been
accomplished, the party would have been
Immediately withdrawn, leaving the terri.
terry in other respectss jim the same condition
in which it was found by them.-This ter
mnation of the enterprise has been thus,
far suspended by the unexpected seizure
and detention of the Land Agent Of Maine,
who was arrested by the trespassers when
in The act of patting himself in communi--
cation with the agent of the government Of
New Brunswick, appointed by the govern
ment of New Brunswick TO watch the tres
passers he had himself been directed to ar
rest or drive of. Her Majesty's govern
ment cannot be surprised, however, much
it be regretted with the President, that
Maine has thought herself compelled to
adopt some decisive movement on the sub
ject, when it is recolIected as long ago as
the year 1929, Mr. Clay, then Secretary
of State, apprisod the British minister, Sir.
Charles Vaughan. on similar but less exs
tenslre violations Of the property now in
question, alleged to have been authorised
by the Colonial government, that if such
trespassers were authorized or counfe-
nanced on the disputed territory, it was
not to be expected that the state of Maine
would abstain from the adoption of preven-
tative measures. 1t is true that IN the
present instance the trespassers were not
believed to have been either countenanced
or authorized by Her Majesty's Colonial
Government; but that circumstance would
/ itself lead to some surprise at the excite
ment produced by an act equally required
by the interests of both nations. Sir John
Harvey, has indeed subsequently, taken
measures which proves his own conviction
Of the necessity ofinterference on the part
OF one or both governments to arrest a sys-
tematic pundering of the public domain.
The President hopes, therefore, that as
you will perceive that there was no militia
ny occupation attempted; that the object in
view was perfectly lawful, the necessity
of it being acknowledged by the act of Sir
John Harvey; that as soon as the purpose
is accomplished the agent and his assis-
tants win, as heretofore on like occasions
be Withdrawn, that you will not ind it. diff
ficui to satisfy Her Majesty's colonial au-'
thorities that there can be TO occasion for
collision with Maine. growing out Of this
renewed exercise, on her part, of an oft
asserted right due to herself, and useful. ri
this instance, to her Malesty's government
whatever may be the result of the pending
regotaiioa, especially on the supposition
that the territory in question should be here
after found to belong to the British prov
inces. In the event, the President pur-
suades himself, from the known disposition
and long tried lorbearance of the State Of
authorizes, that he will find it easy to pre-
vent any military array on the territory on
the part Of Maine, or procure the volunta-.
ny disbandment of any militia that may
have been brought together from the appre-
hension Of collision with the colonial gov
eminent.
The ptopriety Of the prompt release, or
each side Of the agents of the State an,
Colonial Governments who have been ar
rested, as the President believes, under
mutual Misrepresentation, is SO obvious
: that he takes for granted they will be re
spectively set at liberty, if that has not al