Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-03-21
POLITICAL.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the Senate of the United States:

from MS Excellency The Governor o1
Maine, with enclosures, communicating
certain proceedings OF The Legislature OF
that Stale, and copy Of the reply of the
Secretary OF State, made by my direction,
together with note from H. 5. Fox, Esq.
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pen
ipo,enllary Of Great Britain, with the an
swrr of the Secretary of State to The same.
Ii vii appear from these documents
that a numerous band OF lawless and de5
perae men, chiefly from the adjoining
British Provinces, but without the sane
ton oil the Provincial Government, had
lresspassed upon that portion of the teri
tory in dispute between the United States,
aud Great Britain, which is watered by the
river Ar0ostO0k, mud claimed TO belong 10
Maine; aud that they had cormilted ex-
teusive depredations there, by cutting and
Destroy ing very large quantity OF timber.
II will further appear that the Governor OF
Maine, having been officially apprised OF
he circumstances, had communicated it 10
The Legislature, with recommendation Of
such provisions, in addition to those al
ready existing by law, as would enable him
to arrest the course OF said depredatiuns,
"lsperse the trespassers and secure the
Iinner which they were about carrying
away; thai in compliance with resolve
oi the Legislature, passed in pursuance Of
his recommendation, his Excellency had
despatched the land agent of the State,
with force deemed adequate to that pur-
pose, TO the scene of the alledged depre-
dalions, who, alter accomplishing part of
his duty, was seized by band Of the tres
passers, at house claimed to be within
the Jurisdiction of Maine, whittier he had
repaired for the purpose of meeting ID
consulting with the land agent of the Pro.
vince OF New Brunswick, and convevetl
as prisoner to Fredericton. in that Pro-
vince. together with two othe: citizens OF
The State, who were assisting him in the
discharge Of his duty.
IL will also appear that the Governor,
and Legislature of Maine, satisfied tina,
the trespassers had acted in defiance of The
laws Of both countries, learning that they
Sg Ms;e u RssssfssssRt ks Rtg re aRaAs aRaAs aB4aay
thai persons oil their reckless and desperate
character. would set at naught the author
ity of the magistrates. without the aid of
strong force, had authorized the sheriff,
and the officer appointed in the place of
the land agent, I" employ, at The expense
of The State, an armed posse, who had
proceeded to The scene of these depreda-
tlons, with a view to the entire dispersion
or arrest of trespassers, and the protection
OF the public property.
In the corr espondence between the Gov
ernor of Maine and Sir Jnhn Harvey,
Lieutenant Governor Of the Province Of N.
Brunswick which has grown out of these
occurrences, and is likewise herewith com.
municaed, the former is requested TO re-
call the armed party advanced in the dis
puled territory for the arrest Of trespassers,
and is informed that a strong body of Bri-
tisL troops,is 10 be held in readiuess,to sup
port and protect the authority and subjects
Of Great Britain in said territory. In au-
swer to that request, The Provincial Gov
ernor is Informed of the determination Of
The Stale of Maine, TO support the land
agent and his party, in The performance of
their duty, and The same determination,
lur The execution of which provision is
made by a resolution Of the Stale Legis-
laure. is communicated by the Governor
TO the General Government.
The Lieutenant Governor Of n. Bruins
wick, in calling upon the Governor of
Maine, for the recall Of the land agent and
his party from the disputed territory, aud
The British Minister in making a similar
demand upon the Government Of The u.
States, proceed upon the assumption that
all agreement exists between The two ma
iiuns, conceding to Great Britain, until the
fual settlement of the boundary question,
exclusive possession of, and jurisdiction
over, the territory in dispute. The impor-
tan, bearing which such an agreement, if
it existed, would have upon the condition
and interests of The parties. and the inhu-
ence it might have upon the adjustment of
the dispute, are loo obvious TO allow the
error, upon which this assumption seems
TO rest, 10 pass for moment without cor
reclion. The answer OF the Secretary of
Stale, To Mr.. Fox's note, will show The
ground taken by the Government of The
United States upon this point. 1t is be
leved that all The correspondence which
has passed between the two Governments.
upon this subject, has already been COM
municated TO Congress, and is now on their
files. An abstract of it, however, hastily
prepared, accompanies this communica-
lion. 1t is possible that in thus abridging
vouninous correspondence. commenc-
ing in 1925. and continuing to very re-
cent period, a portion may have been
accidentally overlooked, but il is believed
that nothing has taken place, which would
materially change the aspect of the ques-
tion as therein presented.
Instead Of sustaining the assumption of
the British functionaries, that correspon-
,l.noa ,I;cprnyee rho existencp nf anv suc h