Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1839-03-21
NO 81.

disputed territory and leave all future opera
lions against irespassers TO be conductedby
concert and agreement with the Provincial
Government In determining tins ques-
ton, your attention willnaturalIy be direct
ed 10 the original design and object ofthe
movement on your part, the extent to which
that object has been accomplished, your
constitutional power and right to adopt the
course hitherto pursued, and the expeden-
cy Of continuing to exercise that right.
The object in the first place was to pro-
tect public property. The territory bor4
dering upon.the Aroostook river. in many
respects the fairest portion of Maine, par
in the extraordinary fertility gifts soil, has
long been the scene of very extensive and
wantor depredatons. principally on the
part Of persons resident in, if not inhabi-
tants ofthe Province Of New Brunswick.
The Circumstances in regard tothe extra
ordinary depredations committed this winter,
by bands or armed and desperate men.
the course yon took to arrest ttem--the
seizure and imprisonment of the Land
Agent and his assistants, | need not detail
as they arc already familiar to you. This
proceeding on our part was denounced by
the Lieutenant Governor Of New Bruins
swick as an nvasioa ofthat Province, and
a military occupation of the territory,
Threatened rs also forcible expulsion Of
our agents If they should not Immediately
retire, Instead, however. Of permitting
them to retire, you sent what was deemed
sufficient military force to sustain themt
and also to repel any invasion Of our soil
that should be attempted. This I believe
to be a succnct and unvarnished statement
of your object, and the method pursued to
effect it. Has that object been acconl-
plished IF have right apprehension Of
the facts, | must say IN part only. 1t Is
true the trespassers are dispersed, but they
have given out that as soon as our force is.
removed they will return, throw the timber
already cut into the streams, and run it
down to the St. Johns. This can undoubt-
eddy be accomplished by them, without
the utmost vigilence and activity on our.
part 1t is true also that the 1t. Governor
of New Brunswick proposes to swing a
boon, across the mouth of the Aroostopk,
TO seize the timber there, sellit and place.
The proceeds in the "disputed territory,
fund But without intending disrespect
Ito the Government of the Province, may.
it not well be doubted, whether Maine
would ever realize any thing from such a
procedure ? Would not the debts in this
disputed territory account always exceed
the credits {? Would not the tracts about
this ssfnnd," SO far as we are concerned.
like those about the lions cave, be all one.
way? Be that as il may, Maine is capable
of experimenting her own affairs, and
ought not to impose that duty on a neigh-
boring Province -
Before answering the main question
however, let us enquire still further, as to.
the legality and pioprety Of our proceed-.
ing thus far. My respect for you will not.
permit me TO 60 into an elaborate argu
ment, to showour clear and unquestiona-
bic right and title to the territory embraced
within the line, running from the source Of
the St. Croix due north to the Highlanda.
dividing the waters that flow into the At
lantic Ocean from those which fall into the,
river ST. Lawrence-thence along said
Highlands to the norihwesternmos. head
of Connecticut river. AT the last session
of Congress, the Senate Of the United
States adopted unanmously the following
Resolution, viz
/" Resolyed, That after careful exani-
+" nation, and deliberate consideration Of
g the whole controversy between the Uni-
''tcd States and Great Britain, relative to
g the North EaSternB Boundary ofthe former,
% the Senate docs not entertain a doubt OF
Z. the entire practicability drumming and
marking thai boundary, in strict conform
CITY with the stipnlltions Of the definitive
sreaty Of peaceof seventeen hundred and
eighty-three audit entertains perfect
I. g cnnvietion OF the justice and polidiiy Of
/ I" thestitle nftlie United States to the full
4 & crtcatlot al The tcls.itoyy IN dispute be-
sstwccn the two powers. = q
4 The same Resolve, was, on a subsequcnt
day. taken up IN HE House Of r ePresenta-
lives and ,raaaiamssst adopted by that body
\ | need say no naorerppn the subject Of title,
\ especially to yoia, with whom the whole
4 subject IS perfectly familiar,
Then as TO The right Of Jurisdiction and
! possession while this preposterou claim o.
i Great Britain remains unsettled is It ii
1.-The British Government by virtue Of an
agreement, as has been alleged by the 1t
\ Governor Of ew Brunswick, mud reitera:
.Etedby MI Fog a on, OF is d not
q The PFesidsnt. IL I,ss mr. ssa 70 "a Congress
N ofLlo 2GtlraF Febru a9R, after aliuding e
1.-The allegatipfrof Rls ox says. 6 4 he i'm
iroytant bearing which, such an agF ecEaensg
y if Il existed Would have upon the condlticr