Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-03-22
Cor Fairfsids Message 10 The Legisla-
tire of Maine.

material points oflhis message I, begins
with an annunciation Of The documents sub
miited 10 the Legislature. among which are,
letters from the Secretary Of State--ihe
Presidents Message to Congress--the cor
respondencew the British Minister, and
the Memorandum of agreement signed by
the Secretary Of State and the British Min
lister. After recital Of the substance ofihe
agreement the message proceeds as fol-
lows
81 1.-THE important question now presented,
is whether the State of Maine will assent TO
the agreemento or not Deeming il ques-
lion beyond my Legitimate province 10 de-
eide. communicate the papers relating to it,
and instructions; with determination, so
far as NAV be able. to carry into effect,
your decision, whatever il may be. As do
not wish, however, to- shun any portion of
the responsibility fairly devolving upon me,
i will proceed, as briefly as can, TO give
smy opinion in the case presented, and the
reasons upon which il is founded Shall we
then, in accordance with the agreement.
Withdrew our forces from the disputed terri
tory, and leave all future operations against
tresspassers TO be conducted by concert and
agreement with the Provincial Govern
fnenti In determining this question, your
attention will naturally be directed 10 the
original design and object of the movement
on your part--the extent to which that OBJ
ject has been accompIished--your consli
tutionnl power and right to adopt the course
hitherto pursued-and the expediency OF
continuing to exercise that right The OBJ
ject in the first place, was, to protect public
property. The territory bordering upon the
<Aroostook river, in many respects the fair
est portion OF Maine. particularly in the no.
Bile forest oftimber, and in the extraordina-
ny fertility of soil has long been the scene
OF very extensive and wanton depredaiions,
principally on the part Of persons resident
H. il not inhabitants fthe Province Of New
Brunswick. The circumstances in regard
70 the extraordinary depredations committed
this winter, by band Of armed and despe-
rate men-the course you took TO arrest
them--the seizure and Imprisonment Of the
Land Agent and his asssislants-I need not
detail, as they are already familiar to you
This proceeding on our part, was denounc-
ed by the It. Governor of New Brunswic K
40 gu tufdSiOu VI tudt IIOViUCe anu u Illit-
tary occupation of the territory threatened
and also forcible expulsion Of our Agents
ifthey should not Immediately retire. In.
stead. however, of permitting them TO retire
you sent what was deemed Sufficient mill
tary force TO sustain them. and also to repe
any invasion Of our soil that should be Ut
tempted
This believe to be succinct and un-
vanished statement Of your object, and the
method pursued to effect it. Has that oh
ject been accomplished If have right
apprehension Of the facts, | must say in parl
only. tits true the trespassers are dispers-
ed, butthey have given out that as soon as
: our force is removed they will return, throw
the timber already cut into the streams, and
run it down to 81. John This can undoub,.
edly be accomplished by them, without the
utmost vigilance add activity on our part. -
II is trne. also. that the L. Governor OF
New Brunswick proposes to swing boom
across the a,outh ofthe Arooslook, 10 seize
the timber there. sell ii. and place the pro-
ceeds in the disputed territory fund But
without intending disrespect 10 the Govern.
ment OF the Province, may il not well be
doubted. whether Maine would ever real
lze any thing from such procedure q
Would not the debts in this disputed terrific
~ account always exceed the credits o.
Would not the tracts about this fund so
lar aswe are concerned. like those about the
lions cave. be all one way? Be that as it
may. Maine is capable ofsuperintending her
own affairs, and ought not to impose that du-
lyon neigbboring Province"
r. The Governor then goes on to state the
grounds ofthe title Of Maine to the territory
IN dispute. and TO examine the question of
the right ofjurisdiclion while " this prepos.
ferrous claim of Great Briain, as be terms
Il, remains unsettled. He comes. of course
to the conclusion that the right of possession
andjurisdiciion is in Maine, thai there has
been no agreement for conceding tito Great
Britain. and that this right is asserted by
the General Government TO be in Maine
He then proceeds,
:" But il it had been otherwise. and the
Government Of the United States had agreed
that the British Governue mt should have ex
elusive jurisdiction and possession of this
territory, which II acknowledges TO be ours,
would 1t have been binding upon Maine D.
Clearly not. The respective States of the
Union aresovereign and independent, except
SO as that sovereignty has been restrain.
Cd or modified by the constitution oil The Uni.
ted States The General Government is
one Of limited and defined powers The
power to ALLEVIATE the Territory ola State. or
IN transfer ,ortsnx, oc u =. ~. .,e.edso,so.,