The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-03-05
POSTSCRIPT.
FROM WASMH GTO ~ .
Message of the President.


To the Senate Of the United States.
] lay before Congress several dispatches from his
Exccllency the Governor of Maine, with enclos-
nres, communicating certain proceedings OF the
Legislature Of that State, and copy of the reply OF
the Secretary OF State, made by my direction, to-
gether with note from III. 5. Fox, Esq. Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Pleni potentiary OF Grit
Britain, with the answer of the Secretary OF Stale to
the same.
1t will appear from these documents thnt nu'
merous band of lawless and desperate men, chiefly
from the ad joining British Provinces, but without
the authority or sanction of the Provincial Gov.
crnment had trespassed upon that portion OF the
territory in dispute between the u. >. and u. Bri-
tain, which is waerod by the River Aroosook,
and claimed to belong to the State of Maine; and
that they have committed eXtensi We doprcdatlonS
there by cutting and destroying very large guam
ty of timber. 1t will further appear that the Gov
of Maine, having been oflicniy appraised of the
circumstances, had communicated ii to the Legsla.
luyo, with n recommendation Of such provisions, in
addition to those already existing by law, as would
enable INN 10 arrest the course ofsnld depredatons,
dispense the trospassers, NJ secure the timber which
they were about carrying away; that in compliance
with resolve of the Legislature, passed in pursu-
ance Of his recommendation, his EXcellency had
despatched land agent of the State, with II fprce
deemed adequate to that purpose, to the scene Of
the alleged depred0ons, who, after accomplishing
part OF his duty, seized by band oe the tres
passors, at house claimed TO be within the IuriS-
dicton Of Maine, whittier he had repaired for the
purpose of meeting and consulting with the land
|
Veyed as a prisoner to Fredericton, in that Prov
ince, together W it'll two other citizens of the State,
who were assisting HIM in the discharge Of his duty
1t will also appear that tho Governor and Lcgis-
! lature of Maine, satisfied that the trespassers had
acted in defiance of the laws ofboh countries learn
ing that they were in possession Of arms, and anti
cipaing correctly, as the result has proved) that
persons of their reckless and desperate character
would set at nought the authority Of the magistrates
without the aid of strong force, had authorized
the sheriff. and the officer appointed in the place
ofthe land agent to employ, at the expense of the
State an armed posse, who had proceeded to the
i scene of these depreddons, with view to the
entire dispersion arrest ofthe lrespasscrs and the
protection Of the public property.
In the corresp ondencc between the Governor of
| Maine and Sir John Harvey, Lieutenant Governor
Of the Province ofNew Brunswick, which has grown
out Of the occurrences, and is likewise herewith
communicated the former is requested to recall the
armed force advanced into the disputed territory
for the arrest of rcspassers and is informed that
strong body of British troops to be held in read
mess TO support and protect the authority and sub
jecls of Great britain in said territory. In answer
to that request the Provincial Governor is informed
of the determination Of the Statc of Name to sup
port the land agent and his party. in the perform
ance Of their duty, and the same determination, for
the execution of which provision is made bv res
olutou of the State Legislature, is communicated
by the Governor to the General Government
The Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
in calling upon the Gov. of Maine for the recall
of the land agent and his party from the disputed
territory, and the British Minister in making sim
| Government
States proceeds upon the assumption that agree
ment exists between the two nations conccding to
Great Britain, until the final settlement ofthe boun
Diary question, exclusive possession of, and JuriS-
dCtlon over, the territory in dispute. The impor.
tont bearing which such an agreement, if it ex ST
ed, would have upon the condition and interests of
The parties, and the influence it might have upon
the adj ustmGnt ofthe dispute, are too obvious to
allow the upon wnlrh this assumption seems
to rest to pass fox moment without ,2rrecton.--
The answer Of the Secretary of State to Mr. HoA :
| Will show the ground taken by the Government Of
the United States upon this point. 1t is believed
that all The corrcspo ndence which has passed be-
| tween 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 is possible that in thus abridgng a voiNmnous
correspondence, commencing in 1925, and con'inu-
| ing oaVery recent period, portion may have
been accidenty overlooked bnt it is believed that
| no thlng has taken place which would materially
change the aspect of the question as therein pre-
seated Instead of sustaining the assumption OF
the BRITISH functionarles, that correspondence dis
proves the existence OF any such agreement. Ii
shows that the two Governments have differed not
only in regard to the main question of title to The
territory IN dispute, but with reference also to the
right OF jurisdiction, and the fact of the actual
efcise Oh II ia different portions thereof. Always
aiming at an amicable ad jusment of the dispute
both parties have entertained and repeatedly urged
upon each other desire that each should execso
its rights, whatever it considered them TO be- in
the greatest practicable extent, the excicmcn: like
~ to grow out of the controversy. 1t was in pur-
suance OF such an understanding that Maine and
Massachusetts, upon the remonstrance of Great
Dritan, desisted from making sales OF lands, and
the General Government. from the construction of
projected militaro road in portion of the terrific
ny OF which they claimed to have enjoyed the cX-
elusive possessions, and that Great Britain on her
part, IN Difference to similar remonstrance from
the United States, suspended the issue Of licenses
to cut timber in the territory in controversy, and
also the survey and location of rail road TIN ough
section OF country over which she also claimed
to have exercised exclusive jursdiction
The Stale OF Maine had right 10 arrest the de-
predictions complained Of; it belonged to her to
JUDGE of the exigency Of the occasion calling for
her interference and it is presumed that had the
It Gov of New Brunswick been correctly advised
of the nature of the proceedings of the State of
Maine, he would not have regarded the transaction
as requiring, on his part any resort to force. Each
party claiming aliglt to the territory, and hence
to the exclusive jurisdiction It, it is NANTES,
that TO prevent the destruction Of timber by tres.