Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-04-14
Capt. Webster 10 Col. Pierce.
(Copy.)
FoRT KENT, FISH RIVER,

MaTcn 10, lo4o.
ColoneE-I have the honor to report, for the
information OF the COMMUNICATIVE Chief, that
an American citizen (named Daniel Savage)
was, on the morning of the lih inst, lorcibly
abducted iron, American territory, and carried
past this post in open daylight, by constable
of New Brunswick, named John C.. Craven
On the evening of the same day The local civil
authorities made requisition upon me for as
sistance to enable them to protect this citizen
of the State, and In execute the laws in so do
ing-stating that they had not sufficient civil
force for the purpose, as Craven was known To
he armed and Of a most determined character
Under these circumstances, deeming it my du-
~ TO furnish the required aid, placed an Off
Ger and three men at the disposal of the Stale
authorities, with directions To act as they might
require; but, under no circumstances, to pass
the limits of the State as defined by the late
treaty 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 Madawaska, at the
house OF Frenchman named Heberl; mean
while the prisoner, Savage, escaped from the
English side of the river and fled To Iebert's
for protection; the English constable pursued,
and was arrested BY the american constable,
under the parrant Of The State, on The AMER
IcAN SIDE Of the river, in the attempt to recap
ture 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, Major Leonard CoOmbe, Justice
ofthe peace for New Brunswick Cat whose
suit Savage had been taken.) was present, and
in his official capacity, ordered the legally con-
stituted authorities of Maine to desist, and d.
rected Craven to resist them 10 The last. Cra-
ven then did attempt resistance in such man
ner that IL became necessary for the constable
to call for the assistance of the party sent by
me,-when one of the men, sergeant, aided
the constable in quieing and securing him.
He was then brought to this place, and this
morning after examination before the magis.
trates, was placed under bonds to appear be-
fore the Court of Bangor anil set at liberty.
Last evening, after the above named trans
actions, was called upon by Mr. James Nc
Laughlin, warden Of the recently disputed ter
ritory, who officially Informed me, in the pres
ence OF the other officers of the garrison, that
all exercise of jurisdiction by the American au-
thorltes, over the territory lying below the
mouth of Fish river, and on the south bank of
the ST. Johns, would be regarded by him in
his capacity Of Warden, as a violation of Her
Maiesty'S dominions-that the Treaty had mol
been sanctioned by act Of Parliament, and was
in consequence perfectly null here, and that
the English still exercised all their former
claims and rights upon this Territory-and
should do so until Parliament had sanctioned
the Treaty and their Government proclaimed
it throughout the province, hocerer long they
might choose to delay this sanction and proc
lamation. ! replied that this was an entirely
new view of the case to me, and that could
not see or acknowledge the justice of these pre-
tensions,-that must regard the oliciaI pub
iicatioD 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
Stale Of Maine, and moreover, that the State
had already commenced exercising their iuris-
diction, south Of the ST. Johns, and to my
knowledge were organizing townships, and ex-
ercising authority there in various ways
that, therefore, any Infringement of the rights,
or liberty of the inhabitants thereof, by a for
eign power, must be regarded by me as a vo-
lation OF the rights of American citizens, which
was bound to defend and protect. Still, that
felt the strongest desire to preserve harmony
and quiet on this frontier, and should, as had
heretofore done, use every exerlion to do so,
and TO prevent. all unnecessary difficulty, and
that would refrain from, and wonld endeGvor +
Ia prevent the exercise Of any conflicting au-
thority, Except under the most imperative cir !