Page images
PDF
EPUB

tifying his positions. She owns, as it is believed as clearly as she owns any other portion of property, a tract not less than six millions of acres, which with the exception of about a Million and an half situated northeastward of the St. John and Matawascah is generally valuable for soil and timber, so that the latter along one river has been estimated to be worth $180,000 00, which is only equal to an average of $150 00 per square mile. The use o the se vast resources is forbidden to her by the circumstance, that a claim is made upon it by a foreign power and by the respect she entertains for the President's reccommendation of a mutual forbearance; yet that Power is in the mean time applying its jurisdiction in the same manner as if the representations of its minister created no pledge and no obligations to sustain their correctness. While it is natural that the same power should seek to render the Province of New Brunswick wealthy and powerful, by the prize it hopes to win, it might have been expected that there should be no repugnance between its acts and declarations. The case which will be presented, must, as you perceive, necessarily require of Maine, a consideration of the duties she owes to her citizens, not left in the condition of neutral subjects without government, as has been supposed, but actually subjugated..

To allow our lands to remain uncultivated, and our public improvements to be postponed through a State necessity, is a sacrifice capable of being endured, compared with that of seeing dominion usurped over those who owe us allegiance, and to whom protection is due. It has been the doctrine of the Government, and of a great portion of the people of the United States, at times when Great Britain was heretofore prosecuting claims against this country, more extensive, but not less unjust than the present, that an injury to a single citizen inflicted a wound upon the body politic, and that an evil inflicted upon a part, demanded the making a common cause for its remedy.

In such a sentiment, believed to be now as fully as ever entertained, I find my apology for this renewed appeal for protection. of the interests of Maine against the reduction of its territory and the oppression of its citizens through foreign interposition.

Availing myself of the present opportunity to offer the President a further view of this subject, which I omitted purposely on former occasions, it is flattering to be able to bring in aid the analogy of the opinions understood by the nation to have been uniformly entertained by our statesmen and jurists in the case of the Mississippi. It being assumed that the protection solicited will be yielded, and that the property demanded cannot be surrendered in any form, or under any mode of procedure, except as superior force may compel submission to a cession of State

territory, it is natural to advert to the value of the property at stake. That value is so enhanced as to place it beyond calculation when we apply the doctrine applied to the navigation of the Mississippi, that the ownership of the head waters of rivers gives the right of free navigation to their sources. The doctrine subject to some modification of a political and fiscal character, has the same application under the laws of nature and nations, in reference to our right of navigation through the St. John, as this nation always demanded for it in connection with the great question with Spain, which called it into view. Let me intreat you, then,to look at once to the exciting cause of the cupidity of Great Britain, and the anxiety of Maine as to this profligate claim. The materials for ship building on the disputed territory, may be called inexhaustible, and the soil is so fertile, that the Matawascah settlement exports many thousand bushels of grain. The towns near the Bay of Fundy, both on the Scoodic and St. John, under the exclusive policy of Great Britain, derive immense annual profits from ship building, and they look with an unholy interest and intent on the extensive forests of Maine. If the merits of the case admitted more measured terms, I should use them. But believing that all posterity would reprobate the weakness of yielding what is once so rightfully ours, and so important, I use the freedom which the occasion demands. Beyond what I have urged, let me add, that there will be, if you shall defeat the claim upon our territory; a facility of artificial water communication which, regarding its extent is unparalleled in the geography of this country. It will embrace all the waters of the St. John, Penobscot, Kennebec, and St. Lawrence.

If the General Government will employ an Agent of this State, it will, I am sure, be responsible for proving to him the correctness of all I have stated, to his entire satifaction, and in the most authentic forms.

I cannot close without assuring you of my confirmed belief, that Maine will never assent to the result of an arbitration unfavorable to her interests in the great concern in reference to which my duty has compelled me to trouble you with my repeated communications.

NO. 26.

Letter from the Secretary of State of the United States, to the Governor of Maine.

Washington, 14th Sept. 1827. SIR: I have received the Letter which your Excellency did

me the honor to address to me on the third instant, and I have lost no time in transmitting a copy of it to the President of the United States, who will no doubt give to it the most respectful and deliberate examination. In the mean time I have also transmitted an extract from it to the British Minister, accompanied by the expression that the necessary orders will be given, on the part of the British Government, to enforce that mutual forbearance from any new acts tending to strengthen the claims of either party to the disputed territory, which it has been understood in the correspondence between Mr. Vaughan and myself, would be observed on both sides.

NO. 27.

Letter from the Governor of Maine, to the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick.

Portland, Oct. 22, 1827.

SIR: It has been represented to me, as Governor of the State of Maine, that one of its citizens, of the name of John Baker, while residing on its territory, has been arrested and is detained in gaol at Fredericton. A circumstance so interesting to the peace and character of the State and Country compels me to so→ licit information which I do with the respect and amicable dispo sition due authorities of a neighboring government. It is hoped that you will be pleased to communicate all the facts in the case, and that the result will be to allay the anxiety produced by the impression that the privileges of an American Citizen and the jurisdiction of a sovereign power has been invaded. Maine has not only a wish to be amicably connected with New Brunswick, but her interests impel her to seek a friendly intercommunication; yet you must be aware that honor and justice demand of her the utmost respect and devotion on her part to the rights of every citizen.

The attempt to extend the jurisdiction of New Brunswick over the disputed territory will compel counteraction from Maine.The result must be productive of so much evil that it is not deemed indelicate or disrespectful to advert to it. The arrest of our citizens on what we believe to be a part of our State will demand its utmost energies for resistance.

7

NO. 28.

Mr. Daveis' Aappointment.

STATE OF MAINE.

Secretary of State's Office,
Portland, Nov. 5, 1827.

Charles Stuart Daveis, Esq. Portland.

SIR: I am directed to inform you, that you have this day been appointed by the Governor of this State, an agent, with authority to act in behalf of the State of Maine, in obtaining information, either informal, or by authenticated statements, as to all objects relating to rights of property and jurisdiction between the governments of the said State, and the Province of New Brunswick. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant, AMOS NICHOLS, Secretary of State.

NO. 29.

Letter from the Governor of the State of Maine to the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick.

Portland, Nov. 5th, 1827.

SIR: I have the honor to solicit your friendly reception of Charles S. Daveis, Esquire, appointed to obtain information relative to our border difficulties. It has been considered due to yourself to select, for this Agency, a gentleman of high character, and who in the most acceptable manner, may inquire into concerns calculated to produce a war between the United States and Great Britain, unless by the forbearance of injuries by New Brunswick and Maine, it may be prevented.

In whatever point of view you may regard this subject, I have full confidence that you will permit Mr. Daveis, if only in the capacity of a stranger and a gentleman, to pass with your countenance through the territory over which you preside, to the different portions of country he may wish to visit, for the purpose of ascertaining the facts relative to complaints of violence and injustice committed on the citizens of Maine.

This measure has been adopted, not to interrupt, but to cherish, the most respectful sentiments, and amicable disposition, be tween all those who may be concerned.

Mr. Daveis' authority does not specially designate his object; but you are requested to consider him as fully empowered to demand the release of John Baker, a citizen of Maine, said to be confined in the Gaol at Fredericton, and that the persons, who arrested him and conveyed him there, may be delivered up to be tried by the laws of this State, and dealt with as justice may require.

[graphic]

NO. 30.

Letter from the Secretary of State of the United States, to the Governor of Maine.

Washington, 30th October, 1827.

SIR: I have committed to the charge of Mr. William Prentiss, who will have the honor to deliver them and this letter to your Excellency, and who is employed for that purpose, twenty-four manuscript volumes of Books, according to the accompanying list, on the subject of the North and Northeasterly Boundary lines of the United States, prepared at this office for the State of Maine, conformably with the suggestions and desire expressed by your Excellency. From the extent of these manuscripts, it is more, than probable that they embrace copies of a great deal more, in documents, discussion and argument, than was in the contemplation of your Excellency, or than was desired for the use of your State; but to secure a full compliance with your Excellency's views, and to guard against any deficiency, I gave directions to have a transcript made of every thing which might by possibility be useful or interesting upon the occasion, having the remotest bearing upon the subject, with the limitation stated in my previous correspondence; and as the selection was nccessarily committed to others, who may not have had a very accurate view of the extent of the Commission entrusted to them, it is not improbable that it may comprise much which may be found superfluous.

I send also, forty-two copies of maps, likewise prepared with the same views, and under the same circumstances, which Mr. Prentiss will also have the honor to deliver to your Excellency.

NO. 31.

Letter from the Governor of Maine, to the Secretary of State of the United States.

Portland, 16th Nov. 1827.

SIR: I have received the documents you caused to be transmitted with the satisfaction naturally excited by so valuable a testimonial of regard for the wishes of this State. An attention which has occasioned so much trouble, cannot fail to produce a strong sentiment of respect, and to call into action a proper sensibility, in acknowledgment of a burdensome service, from those very deeply interested in obtaining it.

I have also this day received your communication of the date of the 10th instant. From its contents, I am made sensible that the objections I have had the honor to urge against the submission to a foreign umpire of the territorial and jurisdictional rights of Maine, without consulting or advising her as to the conditions, have not been deemed available. If any injury shall result to her, the ap

« PreviousContinue »