Report of Charles S. Daveis, esq.

Maine. Agent To Inquire Into Aggressions Of Inhabitants Of New Brunswick. [From Old Catalog], Charles Stewart Daveis

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• Saint John River
• Maine
• New Brunswick

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• Publié par: les_archives_du_savoir
• Nombre de lectures: 3
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 9 Mo

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Class Jf3f2_
Book -MilJan. Sess. 1828.] [Doc . N( , tg
REPORT
JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE
&tmtt autt Thorns: of MtwmHtoMm,
STATE OF MAINE,
IN RELATION TO THE
NORTH-EASTERN BOUNDARY
OF THE STATE.
Printed by Order of the Legislature.
*- .'.
PORTLAND,
rUOMAS TODf), PRINTER TO THE STATE.
1828STATE OF MAINE.
In Senate, Jan. 1828.4,
Ordered: That so much of the Communication made by
the Governor to the Legislature, with the accompanying
documents as relates to the North-Eastern Boundary thisof
State, be referred to
Messrs. Megquier,
Williams, and
Hathaway,
With such of the House as may join, Commit-and that the
tee be authorized to cause such of the accompanying docu-
ments to be'published, as in their opinion the public good
requires.
Read and passed.
Sent down for concurrence.
ROBERT P. DUNLAP, President.
House Representatives, Jan.of 1828.5,
Read and concurred, and
Messrs. Deane, of Ellsworth,
Fuller, of Augusta,
Vance of Baring,
Carpenter, of Howland,
Burnham, of Unity,
Were joined.
JOHN RUGGLES, Speaker.—
REPORT.
The aforesaid Joint Select Confmittee of the Senate and
House Maine, have consid-of Representatives of the State of
aforesaidered the whole subject submitted to them by the
Order, to wit : the Governor's Message which relates toAll
the is as follows, to wit:North-Eastern Boundary, which
" thatIn the number of our resources is one so conspicuous,
it must early attract your notice. It is that of a wild and
about six millions of acres. It isfertile territory, embracing
how evidently it isnot necessary now to attempt to show
subject to your jurisdiction, nor to speak of its distinguished
natural to it the capacity of sustain-advantages which impart
Valuable, rathering some hundred thousand yeomen. or
invaluable, as it is, we ought without hesitation to surrender
if justice support that claim to it whichit we cannot with
the difficulty of anunfortunately now stands opposed under
ingenuity which has endeavored to obscure the line, and an
opposition, I trust, you will dispassionately authorizewhich,
cautious and prudent,to be resisted under the limitations of a
yet decided policy.
" The the State, with the exemplary mode-Government of
has for years reration always creditable and necessary,
rights. It has beenfrained from the exercise of many of its
induced to do so, as may be inferred, from its anxious desire to
accommodate the federal administration, andto the wishes of
unfortunate, inits disposition to avoid collisions, inevitably
itsany result. At the same time, it cannot abandon obliga-
tions, its title rights. It cannot allow the citi-deeds, and its
zens The State wouldto be incarcerated in foreign gaols.
shrink most dreadfully under the shame of such a submission.
For the sake of being fully informed, it has for several years
solicited general governmentthe documents possessed by the
thatin relation to this subject. It is with great confidence
I urge its consideration now, inasmuch as all that has been
requested what was understoodhas been supplied agreeably to
to be the wish of the last Legislature. That invaluable mass
of documents, now in the Secretary's Office, and the copies
of others contain nearlycommunications between myself and
all that I can offer. The delicate nature of the subject indu-
ces me to ask examination in reference to publi-a particularis no wish on myif that shall be proposed, yet, therecation,
disposedwhat has been written by myself shall bepart that
preference the other. On the mostin one way in toof
from my existingthoughtful revisal, I find no past deviations
rigorous respon-am bound to sustain the mostsentiments, and
sibility.
thatviews urged, has been a primary one ofAmidst the
for correction, ifnature, requiring it? being submitted to you
unde-It is in relation to the undefined and perhapsdesired.
States'rights between States' and Unitedfinable line of
is constantly urging dis-authority, along which construction
the advantage inclaims, and, in general, has muchputed
hasupon the States. The Executive of the Unionirruptions
thedisposed to sub-nit the question ofbeen considered a>
friendly intent, butboundary of Maine, with a perfectly
foreignregarding her as aparty, to the umpirage of awithout
of ansubmission itself admits the possibilityauthority. The
While it is not presumed tounjust and disastrous decision.
with which thatshadow of suspicion on the integritycast a
anybe exercised, nor upon the motives ofauthority may
has, nevertheless, been deemed a suita-person whomsoever, it
It cannotble precaution to urge the following propositions.
monumentarrogance which asserts them as materials of abe
bywhich will become firmof the rights of our employers,
by your reflec-time, when propeil) combined and cemented
on part, it hastions. If any feeling has been displayed my
it waswith view eliciting results whichbeen indulged a of
acceptable. At the same timebelieved would be salutary and
prudential con-has been no intention to abandon thosethere
whatentirely consistent with a free assertion ofsiderations
through their Representa-it might be supposed the people,
sustain.would eventually approve andtive-,
" Massachu-period of 'forming the treaty of 1783,At the
aswere independent of each other,and the other Coloniessetts
notsuch, didto territorial rights. The United States, as
• •f i t\
" formcommon agents toAlthough the colonies constituted
did not, by virtuethat treats', the territorial rights secured
but were merelyof that accrue to the nation,instrument,
confirmed by it to the existing individualacknowledged and
grants, crown landscorporations, according to pre-existing
(ml- I.in.
j excepted.
" thatV» Union of the States was framed, in happyhen the
whichstill witness, and crea-arrangement we are permittedto
•<•• « without extinguishinga particulareral lardianship,ted a
the Proprietor.compact left Massachusettsindependence, the