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

lneT T6IndThSJ Oul tHSIC Is uuOtHCt SilOl iA
your letter of so grave a character that 10
avoid all possibility of misrepresentation,
the President has made it incumbent on
me to call it TO your special notice. 1t is
the assertion "that it is well known that
all that part of the disputed territory Is
placed under the jurisdiction OF Her
Majesty's authority; and that 1t Is bound
TO remain so, by explicit agreement be-
tween the Governments of Great Britain
and the United States, until the final set
Element of the question of the North Ease
tern boundary" That Great Britain has
sought, on several occasions, to prove ar
gumentaliyely, that the exclusive juriSdic-
ton rested with her until the final settle
ment ofthe question, | shall not contro-
vert; but the question ofright OF lurlsdic-
tion as consequent thereon, or as resulting
from The previous exercise thereof, has
been subject of continual controversy be-
tween the two governments, in respect to
which neither has released or waived its
claims. So far from any REIMBURSEMENT
of right Of jurisdiction having been made,
or any agreement, either expressed Or I'M
piled, entered into on the part ofthe Uni
ted States, Of the nature alleged by the
Lieutenant governor Of New Brunswick.
and affirmed also in your note of the 2:'d
instant, it will appear from the whole
course Of the correspondence between the
two governments, extending through Sc
Ties Of years that that of tie United States
has throughout, and on frequent occasions
.solemnly protested as well against the eX
istence ofthe right Of exclusive jurlsdic
ton, as to the exercise thereof; and has
upon every proper occasion, asserted that
both belonged to Maine and to tho United
Suites.
The assertion now made, therefore, APP
pears to the President to be so eXtraordin-
ary, that am instructed to ask from you
a full explanation Of the ground upon which
it is placed, as the President owes 1t IN duty
10 the General and State Govern nents that
the error may be traced to its source, and
that the two Governments may know dis
sinctly, and without delay, the true extent
Of their understanding on this point, that no
unfortunate or fatal consequences shall
spring from any misconception on either
side in respect to it. In the present state
Of the intercourse between Great Britain
and the American continent. and the rapid
ty with which her Majesty's Government
can be consulted on all questions arising
with this Government, or in her Majesty
possessions, The President believes that
this state of the question should of Itself,
furnish an amply sufficient reason 10 prevent
any hasty action on the part of the colonial
Government, which may lead to results
f,tal to the good understanding, and emf
nsntly hurtful to the prosperity Of the two
countries.
cannot take leave of this subject with
out adverting to the delay of her Majesty
Government in making some decisive propo
stion to advance the final settlement of the
question of boundary, thus exposing the
two Governments, as the present condition
Of things on the frontier too clearly shows,
TO consequences which neither can look to
without pain and full ofmortiicaion 10 that
one, to whom any unnecessary procrasti-
nation may be justly attributable.
avail myself Of the occasion to offer
you assurances Of the highest respect and
consideration, with which | have the honor
to be, your humble servant
JOHN FORSYTH. /
Mr. Fo1 to lIf FORSYTH.
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