The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-03-05

preserve the property in dispute from destruction
|by intruders, and military occupation by that
slate OF the territory with view to holt it bv force
While the settlement Is sub ect of negotiation be
tween the two governments, there is an essential
difference rs well in respect to the position Of tho
State, ms TO the duties Of the General Government.
In letter addressed by the Secretary of State ~
the Governor of Maine, on the first Of March last
giving detailed statement of the steps viii CHI had
been taken by the Federal Government TO bring
the controversy to n terminate on, and designed to
apprse the Governor of that State of the vie ws of
The Federal Executive in respect 70 the future i,
was stated, that while the obligations Of the FEEDER
al government to do all IN its power effect the
settlement ct the boundary quest ion was fully rec
ognlzed, 1t had, in the event of being able TO do SO
specIfcaiIy, by mutual consen t, no other means to
accomplish that object amcably, than by another
hrpIlralion, or by commission with an umpire in
The MIXTURE OF an arbitration; and that in the event
OF al ON er measures failing, the President would
feel 1t his duty 10 submit her proposition to tho
government of Great Britain, to defer the decision
OF the question to a third power. These are still
my views upon the subject, and until these stems
have been taIen cannot think it proper to invoke
the attention Of Congress to other than amIcable
means for the settlement of the controversy, or TO
cause the military power Of the Federal Govern
ment to be brought in aid of the Slate of Maine, IN
any attempt to effect that object by resort to
force.
On the other hand, if the authorities of New
brunswick should attempt to force the claim ofex-
elusive jurisdiction set up by them, bv means of
n ltary occupation on their part of the disputed
territory, shall feel myself bound 10 consider the
contingency provided by the Constitution hav-
ing occurred, on the happening of which n State
has the right to call for tie aid of the Federal
Government to repel INVASION.
have expressed to the British Minister near
this Government "a confident expectation that the
agents ofthe State OF nianc, who have beeh arrested
under an obvious misappreiension of the object of
their mission. Will be promptly released; ana 10
the Governor of Maine that similar course will
be pursued in regard to the agents of the Province
n ne huU ale ii
that any militia that may have been brought to.
gether by the State of Maine, from apprehension
OF collision with the Government or people of
the British Province, will DO voluntarily and
peacoabie dishandcd.
| cannot allow myself to doubt that the results
anticipated foom these representations will be sea
sonably realized. The parties more immediate
ly interested cannot but perceive that on appeal
to arms, under existing circumstances, will not
only prove fatal to their present interests, but
would postpone, if not defeat, !he attainment of
the main object which they have in view he
very incidents which hayo occurred will necessa-
rly awaken the Government to the importance
OF promptly adjusting dispute, by which it is
now made manifest that the peace of the two ma
lions is daily and inminen thy endangere This
expectation is further warrant ed by the general
GIbearance which has hithe rto characterized the
conduct OF the Government and people both
sides of the line. In the uniform patriolism of
Maine, her attachment to the Union her respect
for the wishes OF the people of her sister States of
whose interests in her welfare she cannot be un-
CONSCIOUS, anu, h te soIlcilude icll by the coun-
try at large for the preservation Of peace with her
neigh bors, we have a strong guarantee that she
will not disregard the request that has been made
of her.
As however the session ofCongress is about to
terminate, and the agency of the Executive
may become necessary during the recess it is i'm
portant that tho attention OF the Legislature
should be drawn to the consideration of such
measures as may be best calculated TO obvia the
necessity OF call for extra session. With that
view, have thought it my duty TO lay the whole
matter before you, and to invite such action there
on as you may think the occasion requires
NJ. VAN buren,.
Washington, Goth February 1880