Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1839-03-07

the greatest practicable extent, the excite
ment likely to grow out of the controversy.
1t was in pursuance OF such an understand
ing that Milne and Massachusetts, upon
the remonstrance Of Great Britain, desist-
ed from making sales OF lands, and the
General Government from the construction
of projected military road in portion OF
the territory Of which they claimed to have
enjoyed the exclusive possession; aud that
Great Britain, on her part, in difference to
a similar rcmonstrance from the u. States,
suspended the issue Of licenses TO cut tim
Der in the territory in controversy, and
also the survey and location OF a railroad
through a section of country over which she
also claimed 10 have exercised exclusive
jurisdiction.
The State Of Maine had a right to arrest
the depredations complained OF it belong
ca to her to Judge OF the exigency Of the
occasion calling for her interference and
it is presumed that had the Lieutenant
Governor of New Brunswick been correct
" advised of the nature of the proceeding
ofihe State Of Maine, he would not have
regarded the transaction as requiring, on
his part, any resort to force. Each party
claiming a right to the territory, and hence
to the exclusive jurisdiction over it, 1t is
manifest that, to prevent the dest uctlon OF
the timber by trcspassers, acting against the
authority Of both, and at the same time
! avoid forchle collision between the cot
tlguous Governments during the tendency
Of negotiations concerning the title, resort
must be had to the mutual exercise Of jurls-
dicton in such extreme cases, or to an
NH, onI fEm n . To
the limits within which it should be exer-
cised by each party. The understanding
supposed to exist between the Uniied States
and Great Britain has been found hereto
fore sufficient for that purpose, and be-
lieve will prove so hereafter, the parties
on the frontier, directly interested in the
question, are respectively governed by
Just spirit Of Cancellation and forbearance.
If it shall be found, as there is now reason
to apprehend that there is, in the modes of
constituting that understanding by the two
Governments, a difference not 10 be recon-
ciled, shall not hesitate to propose to her
Britannia MnJesty's Government a distinct
arrangement for the temporary and mutual
exercise Of jurisdiction, by means OF which
similar difficulties may in future be preven-
ted.
Bat between an effort on the part Of
Maine TO preserve the property in dispute
from destruction by ntruders, and d militia
ry occupation by that State Of the territory,
a view to hold IT by force, while the settle
ment is a subject of negotiation between
the two Governments, there is an essential
difference, as well in respect to the position
Of the State, as to the duties Of the General
Government In letter addressed by the
Secretary Of State TO the Governor of Maine,
on the first of March last giving detailed
statement of the steps which bad been taken
bv the Federal Government, to bring the
controversy to termination, and designed
to apprisc The Governor of that State OF the
views of the Federal Executive in respect
to the future, it was stated that while the
obligations Of the Federal Government to
do all in its power to effect the settlement
of the boundary question were fully recog-
missed, it had, in the event Of being unable
to do so specifically, by mutual consent, no
other means 10 accomplish that object am
icably, than by another arbitration, or by
commission with an umpire in the nature Of
an arbitration and that in the event of all
other measures falling, the President would
leel IL HIS GUY 10 SuDHlt dEotHcl P'Opcioi-
ton to the Government of Great Britain, to
refer the decision Of the question to third
power These are still my views upon the
subject, and until this step shall have been
taken, cannot think it proper to invoke
the attention Of Congress to other than
amicabe means for the settlement of the
controversy or to cause the military power
ofthe Federal Government to be brought in
aid ofthe State Of Maine, in any attempt
10 effect that object by resort to force.
On the other hand, if the authorities OF
New Brunswick should attempt to enforce
the clam of exclusive jurisdiction set up
by them, by means of military occupation
on their part of the disputed territory, |
shall feel myself bound to consider the con-
tingency provded-by the Constitution as
having occurred. on the happening of which
State has the right to call for the aid OF
the Federal Government to repel invasion.
have expressed to the British Minister
near this Government confident expecta-
ton that the agents Of the State of Maine,
who have been arrested under an obvious
misapprehension of the object of their mis-
sion, will be promptly released aud to
the Governor Of Maine that similar course
will be pursued in regard TO the agents OF
the Province of New Brunswick | have
also recommended that any militia that may
have been brought together by the State OF
o.NtIr ion