The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-03-05

s.<sed bv the grantees, and those claiming under
them; that the rest Of i was surveyed by and some
or II divided between Massachusetts and Maine, soon
afer the latter became an independent State; that
both States have long been 10 the habit Of granting
permits 10 cut timber there without being molesed
from any quarter thai many persons have puIchas-
ed these lands OF Maine and entered into their ac-
tual occupation, and that in various other ways
Maine has exercised jurisdiction which may fair
ybe regarded asezeiLsire Orsr this territory. Under
these circumstances information was received that
body OF armed men had gone into this territory and
were cutting vast quantities OF The timber, deiying
The power Of this State 10 prevent them. On these
facts being communicated TO the Legislature, the
two branches Immediately directed The land agent To
take with him sufficient force TO arrest these de-
predatoTs and 10 break up their enterprise. The
party OF the land agent Is In the territory en-
gagged in executing the trust with which charg-
ed, and with my consent, will never leave IL while
the protection Of the property OF the State from
plunderers renders IL necessary for them 10 remain
III your excellency chooses 10 send an armed force
TO attempt their expulsion can only say that This
state will endeavor 70 meet such attempt as will
deserve have no threats 10 make, no boastings TO
indulge. II Maine does her duty, as trust in God
she will, nothing that could say In advance would
add To- the glory Of her career IL she proves recre-
ant to her duty, and tamely submits TO be expelled
from her territory by force that she could success
fully resist nothing that can say would tend to di-
minish The measure Of her ignominy and disgrace"
In a communication of the Governor of Maine
seizure OF the Land Agent Of Maine and his assist
ants upon the Aroostook territory, by Provincial
authority, il Is again said
"No palliating circumstance for this outrage can
be found in pretence that the place chere IL tcds
committed is icihin the concurrent jurisdiction Of the
tco Governments much less that the British Govern
menl have had exclusive jurisdiction. Lands even
higher up and beyond this, were surveyed and
granted by the Stale OF Massachusetts more than
thirty years ago; and Massachusetts and Maine have
~. L.l<.t - ...t...
timber upon the Aroostook lands without being, to
my knowledge, molesied from any quarter, 10 say
nothing Of the sales and actual occupation OF the land
ITSELF"
In the same Governors letter to the President Of
the United States this subject, under date OF Feb
l6, 1889, il is said
"These gentlemen have been seized upon terrific
ry which is regarded by Maine as having always
been within her exclusive possession and Inrisdic-
on as will appear BY few Of the facts alluded to
"Iwill only add that, in this State, there is but
one feeling upon this subject; andthat is Of deep in
dgnaiion at the oulrages that have been perperated,
and Of a fzed and nnyielding determination not 10
submit 10 The degrading terms proposedb the Lcutcn
ant Governor Of Neic BrnnsTick-that of Withdraw
ing from the Aroostook territory, and abandoning
our soil 10 foreigners, and our property to a band of
armed plunderers"
Sir with the evidence before the Committee,
of the plain understanding between the United
States and Great Britain, that Maine should
retain her exclusive jurisdiction over so much Of
the disputed territory as had been within her pos
session, and that Great Britain should retain her
exclusive jurisdiction such portion Of the dis
puted territory as her Province had been accus-
toned TO exercise exclusive jurisdiction over, and
that neither party should extend its jurisdiction be-
yond such limits; with this evidence before the
committee, OF the exclusive jurisdiction which
Maine has for years. and Massachusetts for years
anterior exercised over the Aroosiook-wth the
a.. N
other branch Of Congress before us, that the title Of
Maine to the whole fee Of the soil is absolute and
founded in the most unquestionable justice; with
the evidence yet further, Of the determination OF
Maine not TO yield one jot or title OF her claim to
either the fee the jurisdiction OF this portion OF
the disputed territory, until the dispute shall be set
lied, ii ever How is il TO be expected, or can il be
called just, that Maine should back out from this
soil under any preience of compromise or By any APP
pcation of force, and consent TO receive into the
equal and concurrent jurisdiction Of the British
Province say sir, that If she be true TO herself
If she be true TO her own fame-f she regards the
oath she has taken IN the face OF the world, in ap
pealing TO arms against such retreat or submis-
sion she tviH not do it, No; | do most solemnly be-
lieve, that any arrangement for this, consummated
by the President of the United States, or by any
other power, will be a virtual abandonment OF the
rights and honor of Maine. II Maine submits TO
it. what may not the country expect her submission
to? Her sister Republics will pronounce her ca
pable OF being driven into any terms which the e-
deral Executive may demand her assentto. This
bill, trust, aims al no such humiliation for her. IL
the exclusive jurisdiction Of Maine 10 the Aroos-
took country be in any way disturbed or invaded by
the Provincial Government or by Great Britain,
then will the contingency contemplated by this bill
haye occurred Upon any other construction of the
BILL or OF the duty which the federal Executive will
owe to Maine under it, would sooner see the bill
defeated, than passed.
Sir, illusions have been made on this floor to the
conduct of the local authorities Of Maine-and in
quarter where 1t should have been said last, il at all,
however just the sentiment may be regarded by this
Committee or by the countryside last proceedings
Of the Governor and Legislature OF Maine has been
pronounced rash, imporlunate, precipitate, that
Maine has been plunged needlessy into difficulty
and the peace OF the nation put in jeopardy.
Sir If would make an issue upon such imputa-
tions at this period-or if it was the duty Of Maine
TO fall down at the footsool Of the Federal Govern
ment 10 apologize for any proceeding of raShnesS,
or precipitancy on her part she might well turn and
become herself the accuser Of the Federal Govern
ment, and from its own records, prove upon it neg
ligence, in the extreme, towards the rights and ho
nor OF Maine. II Maine has been rash, this Go
vernment has been still more cupably negligent
II fault there be any where, the first fault attaches
not to the authorities OF Maine. II blame is TO be
traced to its source and origin II will not be found
resting with, or proceeding from Maine. make no
accusation other than 10 say, as have said before
that Maine has been for years neglected in her boun-
dairy, and her troubles and her dangers have been
forced upon her, against her earnest endaevors 10
avert them; but being thus forced upon her, she is
endeavoring to meet them as becomes free and in
dependent republic.
II has been said, sir, that our country is not pre-
pared for war-that our shipping will be driven
from the ocean-our cities and towns will be
sacked and destroyed by the enemy-that our har-
bors and seacoast unfortifyed-that frontier
is deienceess-that our Western lakes are without
a single armed ship to maintain the honor of the
country for single day there. All this may be a
good argument addressed to our apprehensIons; but
It is not that looks to the rights, to the honor
of the nation. Grant that we have none of the bull
warks adverted to grant that are less prepared
for war, in these respects, than could wish TO be;
is 1t not true, nevertheless, that we as well pre-
pared as we ever have been as well prepared as we
can ever hope TO be- until war shall be upon us2 Sir,
our nrenaralion for war is not il never has been in