North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-02-12

as nav ScrFn ~ Ehem nPrcsssry inf guard
ing against, 81 OR pfomply Fepei'mg, the
farther acts ~ hostile aggFessiun over the
whole q: the disputed territory, which il
appears To be The avowed design Of the
Stale 81 Maine sooner or later to attempt.
For The undersigned has 90 observe, that
not only IS the extensive system OF en-
croachnlcnt, which was denounced and re-
monslfaied against by the undersigned IN
his official note al Tie "a OF last Novem-
Der, slili carried on ard persisted in by
armed bands, empltyed hv the authorities
ot Maine IN The districts above the Aroos-
took and Fish rivers, bot that acts, as
above stated, of a character yet more vin-
lent aud obnoxious tn the rights oi Great
Britain, and more dangerous TO the preser-
walton of the general peace. are with GER
taniy mcdiatrd by the inhabitants of that
state. The existence Of such designs has
Tor months past been a matter of notoriety
by public report; those designs were plain
Nv indicated in the recent message oi the
Governor of Mime to The Legislature of
The state; and they are avowed IN more
explicit terms in the letter addressed TO the
President OF The Unied States by the
Governor OF Maine, on the 2lst Of Nov.
which letter has, within the last few DAYS,
been communicated 10 Congress and pub
lished.
The uBdersgned il is true, has been
assured by the Secretary of State, in bis
note Of the 10th instant, that the general
government see no reason To doubt the
disposition of the Governor of Maine 10
adhere 10 The existing arrangements, and
10 avoid all acts tending 10 render more
difficult and distant the final adjustment OF
the boundary question. But in face oil the
above clear indications of ~ the in
ientions Of Maine, as given ont by
the parties themselves, The Secretary OIL
State has not given 10 the undersig ned
any adequate assurance that Maine will
be constrained 10 desisl from carving those
intentions into effect, il, contrary to The
Of the general government,
the Leg islaiure or the Executive Of the
state should think fit TO make the attempt. |
The undersigned not only preserves the
hope, but he eniertains the firm belief, that |
f the duty Of negotiating the boundary |
question be lett in the hands of the two
rational Governments, 10 whom oil right /
/ belongs, The difficulty Of conducting the
negotiation 10 an amicabIe issue will not
pe found so great as has been bv many
persons anprehended. But the case will
become wholly altered, if the people of the
State Of Maine, who, though interested in
he result, are not charged with the nego-
iation, shall attempt to interrupt it by
'ioence.
Iir' Mojsy'yi- -~sh~.:t;ss in North
America have, on their part, no desire or
intention 10 interfere with the course of
he pending negotiation, by an exerlion Of |,
Military force; but they will, as at present
dvised, consult their own discretion in
doping the measures Of defence that NAV
e rendered necessary by The threats of a
ioIent interruption 10 the negotiation
Which have been used by all parties in
1aine, and which the undersigned regrets
, find confirmed by the language (as above
sierred .o) employed by the highest off
al authority in that state.
The undersigned avals himself Of this
ccasion 10 repeat to the Secretary of
tate Of the United States the assurance ;
his distinguished considerations. !,
H. S. FOX.
he Hon. John Forsyth, &c. &c. &c.