Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-01

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nprnn 1c the disputed territory, had before reached
~: frou, another quarter, and by his direction, mao
Immediately been made the subject OF representations
from this Department to the Brush Minister, accoiP
MED bv request that he would communicate such IN
formation in relation the subject as ne might nave IN
his posscsaon, or could obtain from, "a;
10 be procured from the last mentioned source, sum.
Gent time has ye. been afforded Tor that purpose
hut am instructed BY the President to state, that so
soon as an answer received from the British Minis
,er its purport shall be communicated TO your Excel
lency.
have tn, honor to be, respectfully, your Excellen
~. ohedient servant JOHN FORSYTH
His Exccllency JOINS FAIRFIELD,
Governor of Maine.
Mr. For to .Nr. Forsyth
WASHINGTON, November =, 1889.
Information which has been reported TO her Britannia
Naiast-'s Government in England, and more recent
in.elgrnc which has been conveyed to the under
scned by the British authorities in the Province OF New
Brunswick make it the duty of the undersigned, her
Britannia Maesy IS Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
pcnpptcntarv, call the immediate and serious At.
teniioa or the Governme, of the United States to the
extensive and unscrupulous although it is 10 be hoped
and believed the unauthorIzed) acts OF encroachment
which continue be carried on by tie people OF the
State Of Name within the line of the disputed terri
tory. :
the several agreements which entered into IN the
onths Of February and March last, first between the
Secretary Of State of the T. 5 and the undersigned,
nj Wash ng,on and aftcrward between the Lieutenant
Governor of New Brunswick, the Governor of Maine,
and Major General Scott, Of the T. S. army, for the
purpose Of avcrting the danger of local collision upon
The frontier pending the final settlement OF the boun.
dairy question between the Government OF Great Brl-
tain and the L. :. The terms Of those agreements,
.nG their true intent and meaning sufficiently well
krorn Her Maestvs authorities have, on their part,
10, only scrupulousy adhered to the letter and spirit
Of the engagements referred TO- but they have peen
desrous npcn every occasion of interpreting IN the
most frank and liberal manner any point upon winch
= doubt or cavil could arise.
Tic undersigned, however, regrets to say that the
same correct and scrupulous observance has not mark
ed the conduct of the people of Maine, that OF the
subordinate officers employed BY the Government OF
the State.
The armed posse from the State Of Maine, which il
was agreed upon should be allowed to remain in the
disputed territory, within certain limits tor the purpose
OF guarding the timber upon the disputed lands from
waste and spolaon, has already advanced 1t appears
far beyond those limits, extending It's operations, and
Nay 6Shm TIE valley Of the Res,ook 10 the mouth of the
Fish river INTO the valley of Tie upper St johns and
thus into portion oil the Madawaska settlements All
this clearly at variance with the terms and spiri,
the engaGSlneais sggea by dve been formed by
the persons composing the armed parties on the banks
both Of the Restook and of the Fish river have
cd aspect and character more decidedly military
and more resembling permanent national possession
Df the country, than be either required justified
IN the civil posse Of land agent, holding, for the sole
purpose of preventing trespasscs the temporary
patton of district which claimed by two parties, and
the title TO which IS not yet settled between thea
These establishments stations fortified with
frenchmens and with cannon and the number of arm
cd men composing their garrsons IS far greater than
the occasion warrant A permanent State road is
also being constructed from the frontier OF Maine into
the valley of the Rcstoo and from thence on the South
side Of the ST. Johns to the Fish river, the object of
which road is to connect those portions of the disputed
territory with the of Augusta and Bangor and
other acknowledged parts of the State of Maine
1t moreover appears that land acting under
the authority of the State of Maine, are employed in
marking out lots and townships within the aforesaid
portion CT the disputed territory and that sales OF lands
are being made, with deeds regularly drawn under the
authority ofthe State, as if those lands lying within
region which her Majesty's Government confidently
claims to be righfn possession Of the British CROWN
formed, the contrary, recognised part of the pub
tic domain ofthc State of Maine
II IS true that the present Of cncroachmcnt
and the wrongful occupation of the land by the cIti
zens OF Maine, whether acting unauthorized indvi
;iuals or with the sanction of the authorities Of the
State, cannot in any way place in Jeopardy the even
tua rights of Great Britain, for whatever shall be the
ne of boundary between her Majesty possessions and
the Republic of the United States definitely recogns-
ed and decided upon BY the two Governments either
through the attainment of the line of the treaty of
1853, or through the adoption of conventional line
her alajestys Government will have TO rely upon the
Federal Government of the United States in coniunc
;nn with the Government of her Majesty 10 assert
and carry out the decision, whatever may be the views
and prctcnsions of the inhabitants Of the State of
Maine notwithstanding.
Bat it is evident, that the establishment in the mean
time, OF new interests, and the growing up, it were
OF new proprietary claims upon the lands which vet
IN dispute, may end by embarrassing the action of both
Governments: of the Government to whom the district
shall be finally allotted, and of the Government which
will be called upon definitely TO relinquish it.
The argument has been held, and the same prin-
cpe has been contendcd for by the Government of the
nted States less than by the Government Of Great
brita 1t will be in the immediate recollection Of the
Government Of the United States, that when, in the
year 1887 alleged uct design rather, oeencroach
nen OF tar less direct Objectionable character than
he operations deferred in the present note namely
he survey OF projected line Of railroad from Quebec
o ST Andrews, passing through nart of the disputed
errury, complained Of and demonstrated arainst
" the President her Maiestys Government mined Q
ely consented 10 order that survey be reinquished
rhe undersigned cannot doubt but that the Govern
nent of the United States will now their part be
.uded by similar and reciprocal disposition
The undersigned, therefore, while protesting, in the
rst place, formally, in the name Of his Government,
ganst the acts Of encroachmcnt by the people of .
jaime above enumerated and complained Of, urgently
lso and for the ends of peace and good WILL appeals
the Government Of the United States to those
cts Of cncroachment to be dessec FROM in order that
henever practical adjustment Of the line of boun. q
arv shall he obtained minor incidental occasions
dispute may remain to obstruct that final and friend
settlement of the controversy, which the undersgn
feels persuaded it is the equally earnest desire Of
9TH Governments to accomplish :
The undersigned avals himself Of this occasion to 6
new TO the Secretary Of State of the United States
lie assurance Of his distinguished consideration ', W
Hon. JOHN FoRsYTH, &c, DC, DC. "a "a
Mr.. Forsyth to Mr.. For. G
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, ! tt