Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-04-02

signed. in bis note on The Oath Of December
last. stated the reason why the nouth Of Fish
River and The portion Of the valley o. the 81
John through which II passes, could IN no
proper sense be considered % embraced ~
tho Madawuska settlements. Were the u
States to admit the pretensions sci up on 'ne
part Of Great Britain, 10 give to tho Meos'
wsska settlements q degree OF constructive
extension that might at this time, SUIT the
purposes of her Majesty colonial authorities,
those settlements might soon be made, with
like justice, to embrace any portion OF the
disputed territory; and the rights given tol
the province Of New Brunswick 10 occupy
them temporarily and for n special purpose
might, by inference qnite as plausible, give
the jurisdiction exercised by her Majesty'sI
authorities an extent which would render the
present state of the question, 50 long as il
could be maintained, equivalent TO decision
Of the merits Of the whole controversy in IA
vor Of Great Britain.
Ifthe small settlement at Madawaska, on
the North side of ,he St. Johns, means the
whole valley Of that river--if boom ncross
the Fish river, and tho station Of n small
posse on the south side Of tho ST. Johns at
The mouth Of Fish river is a disturbance Of
that settlement, which is twenty five miles
below, within the meaning Of the agreement,
il is difficult to conceive that there are any
limitations TO the preiensions other Majesiy's
government under il, or how The state Of
Maine could exercise the preventive power
with regard to trespasscrs, which was, on her
part, the great object Of the temporary mr..
rangement. The movements of British
troops lately Witnessed in the disputed ter
ritcry, and the erection Of military works for
ska.r t;n, = a odot.. IS h
authentic information recently received at
the Department Of State, has been communi-
Gated to Mr.. Fox, impart still graver aspect
TO the matter Immediately under considera-
tion. The fact OF those military operations
established beyond doubt, left unexplained,
or unsatisfactory accounted for, by Mr..
Fox's note of the 7th instant, continues an
abiding cause Of complaint on the part Of the
United States against Her Majesty's colonial
agents, AZ inconsistent with arrangements,
whose main object was to divest question,
already sufficiently perplexed and coinplicn-
ted, from such eInbnrrassmenis a. those with
which the proceedings of the British au-
thorities cannot fail to surround il.
\ II, as Dir. Fox must admit, the objects Of
the late agreements were the removal Of oil
military force and the preservation OF the
property from farther spoilations, leaving the
possession and jurisdiction ns they stood be.
fore the State of Maine found itself compel.
led to net against the trcspossers, the Presi
dent cannot but consider that the conduct Of
the American local authorities strongly and
most favorably contrasts with that Of the
colonial authorities Of her Mnjesty's Govern.
ment While tho one, promptly Withdrawing
It's military forcc, has confined itself to the
use of the small posse, armed MS agreed upon,
and has done no act not necessary to the ac-
complishment of tho conventional objects,
every me asuTe taken or indicated by the
other party, is essentially military in its
character, and can bo justified only by q well
founded apprehension that hostiiliss must
ensuc.
With such feelings and convictions, the
President could not see without puinfu sur
prise, the attempt Of Mr.. Fox, under instruc.
,ons FROM his Government, to give the ex.
ist'ng state Of things a character not warrant
ed by the friendly disposition Of the United
States or the conduct Of The authorities and
people Of Mslne--much more is lie surprised
to find it alleged rs n ground for strengthen
ing a military force and preparing for a hos
tile collision with the unsrn,ed inhabitants of
a friendly state, pursuing within their own
borders, their peaceful occupations, or ex-
erting themselves in compliance with their
agreements to protect the property in dispntc
from unauthorized spoilation.
The President wishes that he could dispcl
the icas that these dark forcbodings can b.
reai ID. Unless her Majcs,y's Govcrnncn,
shall forthwith arrest all military interference
in the Qucsiion-unlcss il shall apply to the
subject more determined efforts than have
hitherto been made to bring the dispute to
certain and pacific adjustment, tho nisfor.
tunes predicted by Mr. Fox in the name Of
the GoverDment,niay most unfortunately hap.
pen. But no apprehension Of the consequent
ces alluded to by Mr.. Fox can bo permitted
to divert the Government and people of In"
United States from their performance Of their
duty 10 the state Of Maine. The duty ID as
simple as it is imperative. The construction
which is given by her to the treaty Of 1888
has been, again and again, and in the most
solemn manner, asserted also by the Federal
Government, and must be maintained unless
Maine freely consents to a new boundary, or
unless that construction of the treaty is found
to be erroneous by the decision of disinter.
ested aud independent tribunal, selected by
the paities for its final adjustment. The
President on assuming Tho duties Of his sta.
ton, avowed his determination, all other
l''Ne"~ W bSSoe"''Vu W SuOu1lt u pro-
position to the Government Of Great Britain
to refer the decision of the question once
more to third party.
In all the subsequent steps which have
been taken upon the subject by his direction,
he has been actuatcd by the same spirit
Neither his disposition IN the matter, nor his
opinion as to the propriety Of that course, has
undergone any change. Should the fulfil
mcnt OF his wishes be defeated, either by an
unwillngness on the part Of her Majes,y's
Government TO meet The offer of The United
States in the spirit in which it is made, or
from adverse circumstances Of any dcscrip.
tion, the President will, in any event, dorive
great satisfaction from the conscious ess that
no effort on his part has been spared to bring
the question 10 an amicable conclusion, aud
that there hes been nothing in the conduc,
either Of the Government aud people of the
United States, or Of the state Of Maine, To
justify the employment of hor Majesty's FIR.
ccs os indicated by Mr.. Fox's letter. The
President cannot, under such circumsta nccs.
opprehend that the responsibility for any con.
seqnen nccs which may unhnppily cnsuc, will,
by the just judgment of an impartial world,
DO imputed to the United Stntcs.
The undersigned avails himself, &c. &c.