Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-04-03

plants Tor which no adequate cause is perceived
The undersigned feels confident that when those
acts shall have been considered by Her Maicsty's
Government at home, as explained in his note TO
Mr.. Fox, of the Oath of December last, and in
connexion with the foregoing remarks, they will
no longer he viewed as calculated to excite the
apprehensons of her Maicsty's Government, that
the faith Of arrangements is to be broken on the
part ofthc United States.
With regard to the second position assumed
by Mr.. Pox, that the advance of the Maine posse
along the Resooi TO the mouth of Fish River,
and into the valley OF the Upper st. john is at va
rance with the terms and spirit of the agreements
the undersigned must observe that if at variance
with any of their provisions, could only be with
those which secure her Maesty's province ofNcw
Brunswick against any attempt TO disturb the
possession of the Madawaska settlement, and TO
interrupt the usual communications between New
Brunswick and the Upper Provinces The agree
ment could only have relerredto the Madawaska
settlements as confined within their actual limits
at the time il was subscribed. The undersigned,
in his note of the Oath of December last, stated the
reasons why the mouth of Fish River and the
portion of the valley of the ST. John through
which it passes, could in no proper sense be con-
.ilcred as embraced in the Ma 'awaska settlements
Were the United States TO admit the prefension set
up on the part of Great Britain, TO give to the
Madawaska settlements degree of constructive
extension that might, at this time, suit the pur-
poses of her Majesiy's colonial authorities, those
settlements might soon be made, with like Justice
10 embrace any portions of the disputed territory;
and the rights given TO the province New Bruins
wick to occupy them temporarily and for special
purpose might, by inference quite as plausblc,givc
the Jurisdiction exercised by her Maestys
thorities an extent which would render the present
state of the question, so long as it could he main
tanned equivalent 10 a decision on the merits of
the whole controversy in favor of Great Britain.
If the small settlement of Madawaska, on the
north side of the St. Johns, means the whole val
ley of that river-if boom across the Fish river,
and the station of a small posse on the south side
Of the St. Johns at the mouth of Fish river is dis
turbance of that settlement, which Is twenty-five
miles below, within the meaning Of the agreement
it is difficult TO conceive that there are any lmita-
tons 10 the pretensions of Her Malesty's govern
ment under it, or how the state of Maine could
exercise the preventive power with regard TO
irespassers, which was, on her part, the great OBJ
ject of the temporary arrangement. The move
ments of British troops lately Witnessed in the
disputed territory, and the erection OF military
works for their protection and accommodation, of
which authentic in ormaton recently received at
the Department ofState, has been communicated
TO Mr.. Fox, impart a still graver aspect to the
matter Immediately under consideration. The fact
OF those military operations established beyond a
doubt, left unexplained, or unsatisfactory ac-
counted for, by Mr.. Fox's note of the 9TH Instant
continues an abiding cause Of complaint on the
part Of he United States against Her Malesty'S
colonial agents, as inconsistent with arrangements
whose main object was to dvest a question, al
ready sufficiently perplexed and complicated from
such embarraSsments as those with which the
proceedings Of the British authorities cannot fail
TO surround il.
II, as MIR. Fox must admit, the objects Of the
late agreements were the removal of all military
force and the preservation of the property from
farther spollatlons, leaving the possession and iu-
rsdcton as they stood before the State of Maine
fOiInd COmpaIInI n a f fhn
passers, the President cannot but consider that the
conduct ofthe American local authorities strongly
and most favorably contrasts with that of the CO.
!onial authorities of her Maiesty's Government.
While the one, promptly Withdrawing its military
force has confined itself to the use of the small
possee, armed as agreed upon, and, and has done
no act not necessary to the accomplishment of
the conventional objects, every measure taken or
indicated by the other party, is essentially mill
fary in lis character, and can be justified only by
well founded apprehension that hostilities must
cnsne.
With such feelings and convictions the President
could not see, without painful surprise, the attempt
OF Mr. Fox, under instructions from his Govern
ment, TO give to the existing state ofthngs char
acer not warranted by the friendly disposition of
the United States the conduct Of the authorities
and people of Maine-much more is he surprised
TO find it alleged ground for Strengthening a
military force and preparing for hostile collision
with the unarned inhabitants of a friendly state,
pursuing within their own borders, their peaceful
occupations or exerting themselves in compliance
with their agreements TO protect the property in
dispute from unauthorized spoation.
The President wishes that he could dispel the
fear that these dark torebodngs can be realized.
Unless her Male>ty's Government shall forthwith
arrest all military interference in the question:
unless 1t shall apply TO the subject more deerm'n-
ed efforts than have hitherto been made to bring
the dispute to certain and pacific adjustment,
the mistorunes predicted by Mr.. Fox in the name
OF his government, may most unfortunately hap
pen. But no apprehension of the consequences
alluded to by Mr.. Fox can be permitted TO divert
the Government and people Of the United States
from the performance Of their duty to the State OF
Name. The duty Is as simple as il is imperative.
The construction which is given by her TO the
treaty OF 1883 has been, again and again, and in
Inc most solemn manner, asserted also by the Fed
eral Government, and must be maintained, unless
Name freely consents to a new boundary, or I'M
less that construction Of the treaty is found to he
erroneous by the decision of a disinterested anC
independent tribunal, selected by the parties for it,
final adjustment. The President, on assuming tn,
duties Ct his station, avowed his determination
all other means ofneGotiation failing, TO submit
proposition TO the Government of Great Britain tC
refer the decision ofihe question once more 10
third party.
In all the subsequent steps which have been ia.
ken upon the subject by his direction, he has beer
actuated by the same spirit. Neither his DISPOSE
ton in the matter, nor his opinion as to the pro-
prety OF that course has undergone any change
should the fllflment Of his wishes be defeated
either by an unwillingness on the part of her Ma
lesty's Government TO meet the offer ofthe United
otates IN the spirit in which it is made, or from
adverse circumstances Of any description, tn,
PRESIDENT will, in any event, derive great salts
faction f'om the consciousness thai no effort on hi
part has been spared to bring the question TO al
amicahle conclusion, and that there has bee
nothing IN the conduct either of the Government
and people of the United States, or of the state G
Maine, tojustify the employment of her Majesty
forces as indicated by Mr. Fox's letter. Tn
President cannot, under such circumstances, ap
prehend that the responsibility for any consequent
ceS which may unhappily enslie. will, by the Jus
United States. 80
The undersigned avails himself, &C. &c.
JOHN FORSYTH.