North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-04-08
Mr.. Forsyth 10 Mr.. For.
Department Of State,
ashinntnn March aa 1a4n

the United States, acknow lodges To have
received Mr. Fox's communication of the
18th instant, in reference 10 the boundary
negotiation and the disputed territory.
The information given in the closing part
OF II, that reply 10 The last proposition of
the United.Staies upon the subject OF the
boundary may be expected in a short time,
rs highly gratifying 10 the President, who
has, however, given directions to the un-
deTsigned in making this acknowledgment,
TO accompany It with the expression Of
profound regret that Mr.. Fox's note is in
no other respect satisfactory.
After the arrangements which in the be-
ginning OF last year, were entered into on
the part OF the two governments with re-
gard TO the occupation Of the disputed ter
rtory, the President had INDUCED the
hope that the cause CT irritation which had
grown out OF this branch of the subject
could have been removed. Relying on the
disposition OF Maine 10 Cooperate with
the Federal Government in all that could
lead to pacific adjustment of the princ-
pal question, the President felt confident
that his determination TO maintain order
and peace on the border would be fully
carried out. He looked upon all appre-
tensions Of designs by the people of Maine
TO take possession OF the territory, as with
out adequate foundations; deeming it i'm
possible that on the eve of an amicable ad-
lustment OF The question, any portion OF
the American people would, without cause
and without object, leopard the success OF
the negotiation and endanger the peace off
the country. A troublesome, irritating,
and comparatively unimportant, because
subordinate, subject, being thas disposed
OF, the President hoped that the parties
would be left free at once to discuss and
finally adjust the principal question. In
this he has been disappointed. While the
proceedings Of her Maiesty's Government
at home, have been attended with unlock
ID for delays. its attention has been d.
GeHed from the great subject in controver
" by repeated complaints, impnting TO
portion Of the people Of the United States
designs to violate the engagements Of their
Government; designs which have never
'een entertained, and which Mr.. Fox
Inows would receive no countenance
rom this Government.
1t is TO be regretted that at this late
our, SO much misrepresentation still ex-
sts on the side OF the British Government,
S to the object and obvious meaning Of
he existing arrangements respecting the
isputed territory. The i'll success which {
ppears to have attended the efforts made
y the undersigned to convey through Mr..
OK to her Maesty's Government more
orrect impressions respecting them, calls
Or recurrence TO the subject, and a brief I
evIew OF the correspondence which has +
rown but OF it, may tend to remove the
rroneous views which prevail, as to the c
Ianner in which the terms of the arrange \
tents referred to have been observed. a
AS Mr. Fox had no authority to make !
ny agreement respecting the exercise of O
risdiction over the disputed territory, t
lat between him and the undersigned, of o
he 9Th OF February, 1889, had for its v
beet some provisional arrangement for C
lie restoration and preservation Of peace 81
the Territory To accomplish this
oject, it provided that her Malesty's Off y
RS should not seek to expel, by military i
rec the armed party which has been sent n
Maine into the district bordering on the Il
estook river and that, on the hand, the o
overnment OF Maine would voluntarily. &,
I'd without needless delay, withdraw be- !,
md the bounds Of the disputed territory Id
" armed force then within them. Be- II
les this the arrangement had other OBJ II
,ts-the dispersion OF notorious trespass N
S, and The protection Of public property II
ON depreciation. In case future necessity a
ouId arise for this, the operation was to Il
conducted by concert, jointly or sepa- "a,
tely, according 10 agreement between d,
e Government Of Maine and New Bruins v,
lex. a.
In this last mentioned respect, the agree n,
ent looked to some further arrangement "
tween Maine and New Brunswick. II
through the agency Of General Scott. o,
e was agreed to; on The 22d and 25th Of a,
arch following, by which Sir John Of
arvey bound himself MOTTO seek, with m
t renewed instructions to that effect q,
I'm his Government, to take military n
ssessicn of the Territory, or TO repel al
I'm 1t by military force the armed civil h,
sse, or the troops of Maine. On the n,
IT OF Maine, it was agreed by her Gov er
nor that no attempt should be made IL
thout renewed instructions from her m
'gislature, to disturb by arms the prov n,
'e Of New Brunswick in the possession er
the Madawaska settlements, or inter Il;
pit the usual communications beiween Il,