The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-04-05


qsnlny Of the 18th inst, fosoibly sbduetsd IRON
Amsttean tarritory, aud carried paxt 4n pa y
opsn daylight By constable Of New brussw'cH
named John G. Craven. On The evening oi inc san'e
day the local civil authorities made requisinoa ~
on me for assistance TO enable them ~ psoco' Va
citizen Of the State ard 70 execute the laws ~ ~ ~
lng-stating that they had not sumc'en' c'vn 'o's
for the purpose, as Craven was known 20 ps H.
aud OF d most determined character. Under thoss
circumstances, deemng il my duty TO furnish the re-
CURED aid, placed an officer and three men al 'he
disposal Of the State authorities, with directions te
act az they might require but, under no circumstance
to pass beyond the limits Of the State, as dehneu
the late treaty with Great Britain OF the operation
Of which ] may here remark that had not ihe
slightest doubt
The party proceeded down the river, and on the
morning OF the 18th stopped on the SOUTH or Amer
can side Of the river about two miles below inc
mouth Of the Madawaska, at the house OF French
man named Hebert meanwhile the prisoner, Savage
escaped from the English side Of the river, and Ned
to Hebcrts for protection the English constable Pur-
sued, and arrested by the .assyican constable ~"
der the uGrroat Qf the State, on the AMERICAN SIDE o
the river, in the attempt TO recapture his prisoner
pistol in hand, threatening that he would stiil, II
possible, force him back TO the other side OF the rv
At the time OF this arrest Major Leonard
Coombe, ajustice Of the peace for New Brunswick,
Cat whose suit Savage had been taken) was present
and in his official capacity, ordered the ie-
gally constituted authorities OF Maine TO de-
sist, and directed Craven to resist them to
the last. Craven then did attempt resistance
in such manner that it became necessary for the
constable to call for the assistance OF the party sent
by me,-wheD one of the men, a sergeant, aided the
constable in quieting and securing him. lie was
then brought to this place, and this morning alter
examination before the magistrates was placed UNI
der bonds to appear before the Court at Bangor and
set at liberty
Last evening, after the above named transactions,
was called upon by Mr. James Mclaughlin, war
den Of the recently disputed Territory who officially
informed me, in the presence of the other officers OF
the garrison, that all exercise of jurisdiction by the
American authorities, 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 capa-
city Of Warden, as a violation of Her Majesty's do
minionsthat the Treaty had not been sanctioned by
act Of Parliament, and was in consequences 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 il through
out the province, however long they might choose to
delay this sanction and proclamation. replied that
this was an entirely new view of the to me- and
that could not see or acknowledge the justice of
these pretensions,--that must regard the official
publication Of the Treaty with the Presidents pro-
clamation 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 already commenced
exercising their Jurisdiction south of the st. Johns,
and to my knowledge were organizing townships,
and exercising authority there in various ways-tha,
therefore, any infringement Of the rights or liberty of
the inhabitants thereof by foreign power must be re-
garded by me as violation of the rights of American
citizens, which was bound to defend and protect
STILL that felt the strongest desire to preserve har
mony and quiet on this frontier and should, as had
heretofore done, use every exeron to do So and to
prevent all unnecessary difficulty and that | would
refrain FROM and would endeavor to prevent the ex
ercise of any conflicting authority, Except under
the most imperative circumstances until this mat
ter could be laid before the Government, and should
receive instructions on the subject. He, however,
would make no corresponding concession, but said
that he should act Warden of the Esputed Terri
tory, and make such arrests and exercise such sris
dcton as he thought proper in the territory conced
ed to the United States by the treaty-that he had
been present during the negotiations for the treaty.
and was possessed of details which we knew nothing
about, and in a word, iniinsated much more than he
expressed.
He further stated, that if the opportunity present
ed he should, even this side, arrest the lieutenant
or any Of the party permitted by me to accompany
the civil authorities and persisted in saying, that he
should consider and report, that they had acted in
military capacity, although told him most explicit
ly that they went on the requson of the civil au-
thorities, as civil force or posse and, moreover
while at Heberts, at the time Of the arrest when
appealed TO by Major Coombc, they distinctly stated
that they had authority but were acting under The
control OF the constable a GIRL eapaefy.Tbough
informed him that considered that bad a right 10
go there in in military capacity, should circum-
stances render it necessary-And further, in reply
to his demand for the Liberation Of Craven, stated
that he was in the possession Of the civil authorities,
and was not, and never had been, under my control
Mr.. Mclaughlin then stated that he should not
only report TO hrs Government all the particulars Of
the transaction, but also the conversation held with
me on the subject. have therefore thought il my
duty 10 be thus minute IN my details, in order that
my own Government might be equally well informed
Of the facts in Tie case, and that inconvenience
should arse from the delay necessary in obtaining
information from this remote post. As speedy in
struction on the subject is desirable-snce ] am in
formed that other arrests or abductions are In con-
temptation which il is hoped the prompt interference
in the Of Savage viii, for the present preyen
] must further add, that Savage lives and was ar
rested on Island In the St John, about miles
above this Post, which is well known to be on the
South side Of the main channel Of the river, and
virtually acknowledged to be within American iuris-
dciion, by the English authorities, since Leonard
Coombe at whose suit Savage was now taken, year
ago took out writs against him from the State Courts
and had him arrested by officers Of the State And
Mr. Mclaughlin himself admitted the improperly
Of the recent arrest.
I herewith enclose a copy Of a'written commuLi-
cation Of this date, made by me TO Mr.. Mclaughlin
obedient servant,
L. b. WEBSTER,
Capt Commanding Post.
To 1t Col. b. X. PlrRcr,
Commanding Department No. g.,
Portland