North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-03-25
NORTHEASTERN BOUNDARY.

and Mr.. FoRsYrH, Secretary Of State -
Executive DEPARTMENT,
Augusta, (Me) Feb. IS, I640
To His ExcclIency NJ. YAs-BuREN,
President Of the United States.
Sru.-A communication FROM Mr.. Fny,
Iihe British minister, to Mr.. FORSYTH, Sc
crctafv of State. under date of January
Goth contains TN following statement =
" Ii appears from accurate information
now in possession Of the Undersigned, that
/ the Governor Of Maine, and, through him.
/ the President and General Government Of
I the United States, have been nIis-iulorn-
/ ed as to the facts. In the hrst place, 40
/ reinforcement has been marched to TIE
/ British post at the Lake Temscouta Tie
oniy change Occurring IL the relief Of n de-
tachmeut oil Her Majesty's Gath regiment.
/ by detachment Of cqudi force OF the llth
regiment; this force of one company being
now stationed at the Temiscouia posi-, as
! il ateGys has been, for the necessary Pur.
pose Of protecting the stores and accom-
modations provided for the use OF Her Ma
iesty's troops, who may be required, IS
heretofore, 10 march BY that route 10 and
from the provinces Of Canada and New
Brunswick. In the second place, il is MOI
true, that the British authorities either
have built, or are building, barracks on
both sides of the St. Johns River, or al
the mouth Of the Madawaska river 40
near barracks hare in .fact been bulA any
,chere"
This statement has been read by The cit
liens Of this State with The most profound
astonishment.-And however high NAV be-
the source from which it enanaies, must
be permitted to say, in the language of
that high fnnctioHary, that cat is not lrUc;n
though in Justice to him, should a31, !
that he has been mis-iniofmed. Though this /
State in the vindcation Of her rights, ard
maintenance Of her interests, relative toI
her territorial boundary, from past expe-
Renee, bad 10 reason to expect any mate |
rial admissions Of the truth ON tie part OF /
the British authorities, she was not pre-
pared to meet snch a positive AMI unqnal |
fled denial Of facts as the foregoing exit
bits especially Of facts 50 easily susccpli- /
Die OF proof. The accuracy of the in
formation alleged to be 10 HE possession
Of the minister, is only equatd by The
justice Of the pretensions heretofore set up
in regard to the title.
But, not to be bandying assertions where
proof is abundant, deem it my duty to
transmit 70 your Excel. the DISPOSITIONS ot
number Of gentlemen, citizens Of this
state, of great responsibility, and whose
statements are entitled 10 the most impli-
cit confidence.
These dispositions abundanNy prove,
that up to May last, nearly two months
subsequent to the arrangement entered
into through the mediation Of General
Scott, no troops whatever were station
ed at Temiscouta lake that in August,
September and October, the number did
not exceed twenty-five while now it has
been increased to above two hundred; thar.
prior to May, no ,arracks had been erect
ed at Temiscouta hut that, since that /
time, two have been built at the head II
The lake, besides some FIVE or six other
buildings apparently adapted to the estab-
lishment Of a permanent military post, and,
at the foot Of the lake, two or more build
ings for barracks and other military pur-
poses that, though no nets barracks have
been erected at Madawaska. certain buld.
ings, heretofore erected, have been engse-
ed for use as such that road has been
constructed, connecting the military posts
at the head and foot Of the lake-a tow path
made the whole length Of the Madawaska
river-the road from the head o! the lake,
to the military post at the River du Loup
thoroughly repaired-transport boats built,
&c. &c.
would farther inform your Excellency
that an agent has been dispatched to Tennis
couta ard Madawaska for the purpose of
procuring exact information of the state of
things there at the present moment but
having incidentally found some evidence of
the state Of things prior TO November last,
| have thought best 10 forward il with
out delay for the purpose Of discussing the
and the countryof the errors
IN wijeh they NAV have been led bv the
before alluded TO. The re-
port of the agent will be transmitted as
,oon as received, which may not be short
IF two weeks
Under these circumstances, | have only I
10 repeat my Official call upon the General
Government for the protection of This
state from invasion.
have the honor 20 he, &c.
JOHN FAIRFIELD, !,
Governor of Maine.
To His ~ Hon Jovr I,