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

!
Ia by the Authorities ol Maine and New
Brunswick. In the FIRST place, the tetriIo.
~ contiguous 10 the mouth of Fish river.
on either side of the ST. Johns, can, 10 no
proper sense, be considered as included in
the Madawaska settlement. II is distant
some twenty-five miles above II, and the
two points are not connected by any con
tinuo0s occupations or settlements OF the
country. But even il the point referred TO
formed part of the Madawaska settlement,
the agreement Of the eth OF February
stipulated that, in the event of necessity
Tor dispensing notorious trespassers, or pro-
Iectlng public property from depreciation,
by armed force, the operation would be
conducted jointly or separately, according
! 10 agreements between the Government
| Of Maine and New Brunswick. Under
such an agreement, negotiated through the
agency of General Scott, the Governor of
Maine was to maintain within the disputed
territory, under land agent, small civil
posse, armed or unarmed, 10 protect the
timber recently cut, and TO prevent further
| depredatlons, without any limitation as TO
The sphere Of its operation within the
bounds OF the disputed territory. To The
attainment Of those ends, the action of the
parties detached by the Maine land agent
| appears, so far as the undersig ned is iniom-
ed, 10 have been strictly confined.
AS 10 the military aspect and character
alleged by Mr.. Fox TO have been assumed
by the parties on the Restook and Fish
rivers, it appeared that those despatched TO
the last mentioned points, composed, as
stated, each-of about twenty-five men, nei-
tier militia nor soldiers, but hired aborers,
were, il IS true, armed with muskets, and
had extended boom across the river, and
erected biock-house for its protection and
their own against the bands ofIawIcss men,
grown desperate by being deprived OF their
accustomed plumber, and over whom her
Majes,y's authorities appear to have exer-
clsed but little control. Such measures Of
precaution cannot but be regarded as die
tated by prudential motives, if not by the
necessity Of the case, and the fitness and
extent OF the preparation, appear 10 the
undersigned questions which could not un-
drrstanuingry Ue DISCUSS away from the
scene of action, and which, of necessity,
can only be properly decided by those per-
sons whose safety was TO be secured.
Upon the Aroostook, which has been the
pivot OF the operations of The land agents
posse, larger number of men has been en-
ployed. They have also extended boom
across the river, and erected near it for
LITIGATION Of hewn timber, and a few other
more temporary buildings. The twenty
five or thirty men stationed there, are like
wise armed with muskets, and, it is beIiev-
ed, have also two small pieces Of artillery.
The remainder, about one hundred and
twenty-five, have, for the most part, been
engaged in opening roads for summer, as
well as for winter, communications, and
IN preparing facilities for supplying The
posse. Any preparations short Of these,
would, il is stated, have been insufficient
to protect the public property; and the au-
thori,es OF Maine cannot repress a senti-
ment OF surprise that these should now be
made subject OF complaint, when, but
short time since, the establishment was as
sauIied by party of some fifty men, suita-
bly, equipped, commanded hy captain of
militia, and hearing The Queens arms, 10
the repulsi0n Of which the occupants dis
played spirit Of forbearance and modera-
ton sufficiently in harmony with The a.
vowed and sole object of their occupation
of the-Ierritory; and that surprise is in no
way diminished by the fact that the agents
of the British Government have just COM
pleted extensive and permanent barracks
on the same territory, north Of the ST.
Johns, and are in the habit of transport
ing troops and munitions Of war over i, at
their convenience.
The construction Of the road leading in
TO the valley OF the Aroostook, would not,
it is apprehended, have been deemed al
This Time, just cause Of complaint, had
Mr.. Fox adrered 10 the fact that the
work was commenced as long ago as 1886,
under an appropriation by the Legislature
Of the State Of Maine, and that from that
time il has steady advanced, so that an
other year will probably see il completed,
from near Maltawamkeag Point, in The
county of Penobscoi, to the Aroostook riv-
er, and thence to the mouth OF Fish river,
on the ST. Johns. Ii is therefore, no new
project, conflicting with any existing ar
rangement, nor with any understanding IN
which the State OF Maine has become
party, but the exercise Of a lawful right
over portion oil the territory 10 dispute, |
Of and over which il ever has had possess
ion and Jurisdiction. To say nothing oil
other advantages anticipated from the !
completion If the road. il will afford great
facilities for nrpyPnfjnp tEeenaSses unoo the /