Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1839-03-14

" morning an IL 10 RMp0", Out, on the cOf1tf0-
~, erery thing to ratJy TIE ju'isdiction of
Milne oocr that part OF hr territory aphere
1t had tong been familiar, and the iatef|ir-
ence of the Lieuiendnt GoUef1aOr of New
Brunswich IS ei0lGtion Of The e1isting an
dersfanding In the first proceeding of
Maine, the force sent to arrest or drive Gil
the numerous and armed band of trespas-
sers who we're dopredating upon the public
property, appears to have been in the ma
ture of ciol process, in execution of the
law ofthe land. The power OF a ministerial
officer, such as sheriff, for example, to
compel obedience to the law, and the sum-
mon to his aid n sufficient portion of the
"power ofthe county" TO snbdue opposition,
is well known both to American and British
Jurisprudence, and is sanctioned by early
laws in the history Of England. The rio
tous and desperate character ofthe marau-
dcrs upon the Arooslook is sufficiently
manifested by the fact of their breaking
open an arsenal upon the British territory,
in order to supply themselves with an adj
ditional quantity ofarms, to enable them
selves to resist and repel the party which
was approaching, under civil officer, to
require submission to the laws The proc
lamnton of the Lieutenant Governor of
New Brunswick WAS issued before any steps
we're taken by Maine to sustain the civit by
the military power, and was directed against
the interference of the ministerial officer OF
the law, acting in strict conformity with
wha. are believed TO be fundamental prin-
ciples of British as well as American law.
The first appeal to military force 'oas matte
bv han, and tie subsequent proceedings Of
Maine are DEFENSIVE merely The pre-
tension of the Lieutenant Governor Of New
Brunswick excludes the cioit as well as
military power of Maine and the United
States from interfering to preserve order III
this seat of the ancient jurisdiction Of Mas
sachusetts aud would compel the United
States and Mime to rely upon the justice,
the vigilance or the generosity OF tire British
authorities for the maintenance OF good
order and the enforcement of the laws, in
a country where nothing but naked claim
can be said to exist upon the part of the
British Government. 1t demands OF Maine
that she should dlyest herself of jurlsdc-
ton practically established and ascertained,
and transfer it to Great Britain. 1t demands
of the United States that an arrangement,
alleged to have been made between the
two Governments, of the existence OF which
the United States are unconscious, should
be summary carried out, according to the
construction which one of the parties is
said TO have placed upon it, aud without
giving to the other party an opportunity to
contest such construction. 1t is difficult,
in The opinion OF the Committee, to believe
that the Government Of Great Britain main-
tains such an Interpretation Of that arrange
ment, and thus converts what was intended
for the preservation Of friendly feelings into
n source Of great and instant discard But
the assertion Of the Lieutenant Governor
Of New Brunswick has been twice officially,
deliberately, and publicly made, that he is
| acting under the instructions of his Gov
eminent fact of which he and his Gov
eminent can be the only judges THE ere-
cation of thfse orders IS incompatible 'ri!h
the honor of the United States. The Exc
cutiyo branch of the Government has eX-
pressed this opinion, and In this opinion,
| the Committee fully concur. The sudden
execution ofthese orders may bring on a
crisis for which as much preparation ought
TO be made as the short time remaining OF
the present session of Congress will permit ;
and the bill which is herewith submitted is
intended to accomplish that purpose.
The following are the details ofthe Bill,
W hich has finally passed both branches Of
Congress and has become law for the
purposes therein specified.
A BIZ l. giving to the Preasdent of the
United States additional powers for the de-
fence Of the United States, in certain cases
against invasion. and for other purposes.
Be it enutcd by Tie Senate and House Of
Representatives, Of The United States Of
.Rmerica IN Congress assembled, That the
President Of the United States be, and he
hereby is, authorized to resist any attempt
Oh the part of Great Britain to en- force, by
arms. her claims to exclusive jurisdiction
over that part of the State of Maine which
is in dispute between the United States
and Great Britain and, for that purpose,
to employ the naval and military forces Of
the United States and such portion of the
militia as he may deem it advisable to cal
into service.
SEC. Q and be it further enacted. Thai
in the event of actual invasion of the ter
ltorv of the United States by any foreign
Power. or of imminent danger Of such in
vasion discovered, in his opinion, to exist
before Congress can be convened to &C
upon the subject, the President of tht
United States be and he hereby is, author.