The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-10

OUT In the slightest degree restoring the state 10 her
rights, or correcting the wrongs OF me treaty.
Hence the people Of Maine saoml'1ed 70 lne treaty
as a matter Of necessity. They aequlesced in IL,
but were never satisfied with 1t. They yielded TO
| il without approving il. And, though It may be
true that under the prospect OF an arbitration, many
would have preferred adopting the treaty adjust
ment TO leaving the question still open and unsettled;
yet he confident, could they have foreseen the
result, they would never have consented TO the APP
/ pointment of commissioners. Such certainly were
his own views in relation to il. He had taken some
pains at the time and subsequently,, TO ascertain the
precise state OF public sentiment upon the subject,
and he sincerely believed that the special message of
governor TO the legislature at their extra session
IN May, 1912, and the annual message to the legis-
ature IN January, l643, truly reflected public opn
| ION M the State. And if the Senate would pardon
MN Tor the apparent egotism, he would read a few
| passages from each, as illustrative of the views
winch were then taken. The senator from Massa-
ehusets has recited the circumstances correctly in
regard TO his communication to the governments Of
| Maine and Massachusetts, and his invitation to
them TO cooperate In the proposed amicabe ADJUST
ment OF the boundary question. Under all the elf
eumstances, he Mr.. + then acting in another ca
paelty, would not have felt justified IN refusing
to assemble the legislature, and thus permit
the people, through that Legislature, TO decide
| Tor themselves upon the grave and important
question submitted by the general government
and indirectly by England herself. He did not
/
and upon their assembling, TO advise them to accede
to the request Of the general government His
views, however, would more distinctly appear by
reading few passages from the message to the e-
gisature upon that occasion Amer Il recital OF the
material parts Of the mmunicaon Of the Secretary
Of State, Mr.. WEBSTER, and a reference to the ac-
/ companylng circumstances, 1t says:
when regard the clearness title the terrific
~ IN controversy frivolous and unounded pretsnsionI
OF the British eaim-ths long and yexaous dey has
Il
patton Of our teitoythe devastation OF our foresShe
an honest indignation may lead overlook many i'm
oTsni eon'dsratioHh necessary to discreet and sound
t Is due therefore the subject that In other
lights One alternative now contemplated II seems by the
general government is submission Of the question TO an
other aBrGoH Against this Maine has ever remoustra
ted and believe viii continue TO Temonstate. We
perceive the difference so far as authority Is concern
ed between doing thing directly and Indirectly II the
general government has no power to eede directly any por
ton OF the territory Of this State neither has the power
to accomplish same thing through the forms Of an gri
rStion But right wrong In our position cessfu
see az matter Of fact that the general goverument de-
ermned TO attempt the exercise OF such power and thus
Of be agreed upon That this should be serious
y considered IN coming to decision, 10 obvious.
Whatever may be the claim. however. OF the general
government power through ndrecou it does not
claim the power Of ecdRg directly any portion Of
tory or OF directly agreeing 10 anu Other nr boundary M
d,,cbsd in ne treaty Of l7s3 Yielding to the correctness,
Of position in this respect the general government
asks this State for authority thus To settle thu existing
roversy, and invites her cooperation In ehectng that OBJ
ject
The British government also nov prepared to pro.
pose for am disposed to regard the matter what may
be thought TO be "A and equitable equiv alent' for
portion OF that which she has heretofore claimed her oTn
" this is going far deem the honor Of
the State requires certainly far less Objectionable than
most that we have been accustomed to receive from that
quarter.
III anything less than this is intended am persuaded
that nothing will he accomplished in the way of adjust
II II is to be said has been said the treaty
line is imPrGeieabie and therefore line
sarly be agreed uponor that the involved in
Il and hat The Way
ing is, by SptiHg As difference and dividing the terri
e a sU%s oss not
be hyoraby listened 20 by single citizen Of the
- G n1e NOV oe S % Hnsour CLAIM
be justand after the that has pursued
regard to IT, we have conviction not to be shaken that we
could not honoraby relinquish part TO obtain ndpsS
right to the remainder But great Britain prepared to
substantially yield the PoG. Of title and offer fair equiv
portion of this territory am at present disposed
put forever And is difficult to perceive how
Maine, in thus consulting her interest would cOnpromt
/ her honor. e
gHt.rtsinins these views. free say that think
srehy Of the appointment OF commissioners BY the le
EltL.isIe with such power. !. llIt view Of the case
u responsibility cheerfully recommend that course
1T may be that have formed favorable opinion OF
the present disposition Of the British government that
totally unreasonable and of course unacceptable prop
Sarily follow that had erred appointing
and placing ourselves attitude to learn what that
proposition would bel We shall have incurred
the session of the Legislature;
shall have shown to sister States and the world that
having just disposed adopt liberal and
fair course in conducting it, and that though
ardent in the maintenance Of rights
naely on course tending to increase irritation or
bring about hosties between the two countries Lei
what would be the result Maine would stand she has
| heretofore stood, blameess"
| In this extract, (said Mr.. F) his views at the
| time fully expressed That s to say, under
standing that the British minister was fully author
| lied to settle all questions in dispute between the
two countries, and in regard to the Maine bonn
dairy in particular, was authorized and disposed to
cede to Maine portion of English territory in ex-
| change for what England wanted of the territory
Of Maine, he disposed to give the parties an
opportunity to make such an ad justment. He (Mr
JF) was never in favor Of taking money in any
amount for the territory or jurisdiction Of Maine,
nor would the people Of Maine ever have consented
to it had the question been first submitted to them
| But there was strip of land extending from the
junction of the American line with the river ST
| John, extending down to Eel river, say about
seventy miles in length, which much wanted
by Maine, well as the free navigation of the St
John; and for these she was always ready render
a fair equivalent in land north of the ST. John. The
feasibility, and almost certainty that such an ar
rangement could be effected being pressed upon the
governor and members of the legislature by many
persons, apparently speaking er CATHEDRAL could
not fail to have great influence. They had great
influence, and Maine yielded: But, for one, he
was free to say that had such proposition, as
that contained in the treaty, been submitted TO
him by the general government in the first instance
the Legislature would never have been assembled by
any act Of his Nor, Che repeated did he believe
the legislature or the people, upon such PROPOSE
ton, would ever have consented to the appoint
meat Of commissioners His own views, and he
believed the views of the great body Of the people
Of Maine, were expressed in the annual message of
the governor to the legislature, January, l643. III
the Senate would pardon him he would read brief
extract:
AZ