Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-04-11
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Mr.. Webster TO Mr.. F0x.


this Department by the Secretary OF War
You will BY this report that gross violation OF
the Territory OF the United States perperacd. on
the IN instant by subordinate civil officer oil new
Brunsw ick counenanced and encouraged, as am as
tooj.hcd 10 see BIZ the late Warden, Mr.. Mclaughlin
These functonarics, it appears, have taken upon
themselves decide that there is 10 boundary line esao-
,hed as vet between Maine and New Brunswick mas
much as late Treaty has rot been confirmed by Par
lament nor proclaimed BY the local authorities OF The
Province They, therefore, attempt 10 execute civil
occss BY British authority, south Of the ST. Johns. II
is 10 be hoped that, becoming acquainted with the
facts Of an outrage committed under such prcsumptu-
Gus and preposcrou preencc the Lieutenant Governor
will have taken prompt measures to bring The perPera-
tors to conJgn punishment You will see that the con-
stable Craven was treated with far greater mdness
and eni,y than he deserved, BY the authorities of the
United States and Maine.
have 10 add that Captain Webster has Deen inform
ed through the proper medium Of communication, that
his conduct is entirely approved
have the honor to be, sir, with high consideration
YOUR obeGenl servant, DANIEL WEBSTER.
HENRY 5. Fox, Esq, &C., sc sc.
Captain UeJster TO Colonel Pierce.
Copy
FoRT KENT, FISH RIVER,
March l3, lS43.
Colonel have The honor 10 report for the nforma-
ton Of the Commander n-chef, that American cit-
zen (named Daniel Savage was The morning of the
18th inst, iorclby abducted from the American terri
ry, and carried past this post in open daylight, by
constable Of New Brunswick, named John L. Craven
On the evening Of the day the local civil auhori-
ties made rcqstlon upon me for assistance TO enable
them TO protect this citizen Of the State, and 10 execute
The laws in dongsatng that they had not sufficient
civil force for the purpose, Craven known 10 be
armed and Of most determined character Under these
circumstances. dccmng il my duty 10 furnish the requi-
red aid placed officer and three men at the disposal
\ thar
might requires but, under circumstances to pass be-
yond the limits of the State, defined by the late trea-
~ with Great Britain, Of the operation of which may
here remark that had not the slightest doubt.
The party proceeded down the river, and on the
morning of The 18th stopped on the SOUTH or American
side OF The RIVER, about two miles below the mouth Of
the MaGawasks NJ The house of Frenchman named
iiebert meanwhile the prisoner, Savage, escaped
from the English side OF the river and fed TO Hebets
Tor proiection the English constable pursued, and
arrested by the American constable, under the
warrant OF the State, The American side of the
river the aitemp, 10 recapue his prisoner pistol
IN hand, Threatening that he would still, if possible,
force him back TO the other side OF The river. AT The
time OF this arrest, Ma or Leonard Coonbe, Justice
OF The Peace for New Brunswick, (at whose suit Sa
wage had been taken,) present, and in his official
capacity, ordered The legally constituted authorities of
Maine 10 dess,, ard directed Craven TO resist them 10
the last Craven then did attempt resistance in such
manner that II became necessary Ter the Constable
to coll for the assistance of the party sent by me
when of the men, sergeant, aided The constable
IN quet,ug and securing him He then brought
to TINS place, and this morning, after examination be-
fore the magistrates placed under bonds to appear
before The Court at Bangor, and set al liberty.
Last evening, after the above named transactions,
called upon ny Mr.. james Mclaughlin, warden
Of the recently disputed Territory, who officially in
formed me- the presence Of the other officers Of
garrison that all exercise of the jurisdiction by the
American authorities, over the territory lying below
the mouth Of Fish river, and on the south tank OF the
ST Johns, would be regarded by him in his capacity
of warden, violation Of her Majestys dominIons-
that the Treaty had not been sanctioned by acl Of Par
lament, ard was in consequence perfectly null here,
and that The English still exercised all their former
claims and rights upon this Terrltory-and should do
so until Parliament had sanctioned the Treaty and
their Government proclaimed it throughout the pro-
vince, however long they light choose TO delay this
sanction and proclamation | REPLIED that this was
an entirely new view of the case to me, and that
could not acknowledge the justice of these pre-
tens'ons-tha' must regard the official publication
OF the Treaty with the Presidents proclamation as
sufficient authority for my guidance and through these
must look upon The Territory yielded by the Treaty. as
now belonging TO, and within the jurisdiction OF the
State OF Maine, and moreover, that the State had al
ready commenced exercising their Jurisdictions south
Of the St Johns, and to my knowledge organic.
ing townships, and exercising authority there IN va
rous waysihat, therefore, any infringement of the
rights or liberty fthe inhabitants thereof by foreign
power, must be regarded by me es violation OF the
rights OF American citizans, which was bound TO de-
end and protect Still, that felt the strongest desire
TO preserve harmony and quiet this frontier, and
should, as had heretofore done, use every exerton
to do So and 10 prevent all unnecessary difficulty, and
that would refrain from, and would endeavor to
prevent The exercise of any conflicting authority lex
cept under the most imperative circumsances,) until
this matter could be laid before the Government and
should receive instructions the subject He, how
ever, would make no corresponding concession, but
SAID that he should act warden Of the disputed Ter
r'tory and make such arrests and such juris
dciion as he thought proper in the Territory conceded
to the United States by the treaty-hat he had been
present during the negotiations for The treaty, and
possessed Of details which we knew nothing about,
and IN word, tntimated much more than he ex-
pressed.
He further stated that if the opportunity presented
he should, even this side, the lieutenant,
any OF the party permitted by me to accompany the
civil authorities, and persisted saying that he should
consider and report, that they had acted in military
capacity, although told him most explicitly that they
went on The requisition Of the civil authorities,
civil force or posse; and, moreover while at Heberts
al the time of the arrest, when appealed to by Major
Coombe, they distinctly stated that they had no nutbo
ry but acting under The control Of the constable
in civil capacity Though | informed him that !
considered that had right 10 60 there in military
capacity, should circumstances render necessary
further in reply to his demand for the liberation Of
Craven, stated that he in the possession of the
civil authorities, and was not and had been,
dc, my control.
Mr. Mclaughlin then stated that he should not only
report 10 ms Government all the particulars of the
t.ansacticn but also the conversation held with
the subject have, therefore, thought ii my duty to
be thus ranute in my Details in order that my own
Government might be equally we'll informed of the
facts IN the case, and that no inconvenience should
arise from the delay necessary obtaining information
from this remote post speedy instruction the
subject is desirabe-snce am informed that other
rests or abductions are IN contemplation, which it is
hoped the prompt interference in the case Of Savage
will, for the present, prevent.
must further add, that Savage lives, and was ar
rested on our Island in the St. john about miles
| above this Post which IL well known 10 he on the