The Daily Madisonian

NORTHEASTERN BOUNDARY--MAINE
LEGISLATURE.

Office of the Boston Atlas,
2 o'clock, P. M., May 27, 1842.

We have just received the following letter from
our obliging correspondent at Hallowell. The proceedings of the Maine Legislature are deserving of
great commendation. We entertain little doubt, now,
that the Boundary Question will be speedily and satisfactorily adjusted. The Board of Commissioners
appointed on the part of the State of Maine are intelligent and judicious men--and we have no doubt
they will do all they can towards a pacific arrangement of the questions submitted to them.

Correspondence of the Atlas.

Hallowell, Thursday, May 25.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS.

I am gratified to announce to you the fact, that the
Report of the Committee, recommending the choice of
Commissioners to treat with the General Government
upon the Northeastern Boundary Question, and investing them with full powers, has passed the House
of Representatives, in concurrence with the Senate,
with but eleven dissenting votes. This day, at 12
o'clock, both branches of the Legislature met in
Convention, and selected with great unanimity the
following gentlemen to act as Commissioners, viz.
Hon. Edward Kavanagh, and Col. John Otis, of the
Senate, Judge Preble, of Portland, and Hon. Edward
Kent, of Bangor. The selection is a judicious one,
and gives great satisfaction. The gentlemen designated are admirably qualified to discharge the trust
confided to them--and, while, on the one hand, they
will guard the rights and honor of Maine, they will
present no factious opposition to an honorable arrangement of the important questions in controversy.
The people of this State are anxious that this vexed
question should be settled, and never was a more favorable opportunity than the present to accomplish
that object.

Yours, in haste,

Augusta, Thursday Noon, May 26, 1842.

I enclose you herewith a copy of the report and resolves in relation to the Northeastern boundary, adopted by the Legislature of Maine this day. Immediately after the passage of the resolves, the two branches of the Legislature met in convention, and elected
the following gentlemen as commissioners:

Hon. EDWARD KAVANAGH, of Newcastle
Hon. EDWARD KENT, of Bangor
Hon. WILLIAM PITT PREBLE, of Portland
JOHN OTIS, of Hallowell

In great haste, yours, &c.

Resolves in relation to the Northeastern Boundary
of this State.

Whereas, the preceding Legislatures of this State,
in conformity with the well-settled conviction of all
the people thereof, and with incontrovertible evidence
before them on the subject, have uniformly declared
that the boundary of Maine, on its northern and
northeastern frontiers, as designated in the treaty of
1783, can be laid down and fixed according to the
terms of that treaty; and that such line embraces all
the territory over which this State claims property,
sovereignty and jurisdiction; and the Executive and
Congress of the United States having recognized the
validity of that claim in its full extent, this legislature
renews such declarations in the most solemn manner;
and

Whereas, for a series of years, every attempt to adjust the vex'd questions in regard to the establishment
of the said boundary having proved ineffectual, it has
been represented to the Government of this State that
the Minister Plenipotentiary and Special of Her Britannic Majesty, at Washington, has officially announced to the Government of the United States
that he has authority to treat for a conventional line,
or line by agreement, on such terms and conditions,
and with such considerations and equivalents, as may
be thought just and equitable: and that he is ready to
enter upon a negotiation for such conventional line as
soon as the Government of the United States shall
say that it is authorized and ready on its part to commence such negotiation; and

Whereas, the Government of the United States
not possessing the constitutional power to conclude
any such negotiation without the assent of Maine
has invited the Government of this State to co-operate, to a certain extent and in a certain form, in an
endeavor to terminate a controversy of so long duration:

Now, considering the premises, and believing that
the people of this State, after having already manifested a forbearance honorable to their character, under
long continued violations of their rights by a foreign
nation; and, though not disposed to yield to unfounded
pretensions, are still willing, in regard to the proposal now made by the General Government, to give
additional evidence to their fellow-citizens throughout
the United States of their desire to preserve the
peace of this Union, by taking measures to discuss
and conclude, if possible, the subject in controversy
in a manner that will secure the honor and interests
of the State, this Legislature adopts the following resolutions; with the understanding, however, that, in
the event of a failure in such endeavor toward an
arrangement, no proceedings thereunder shall be so
construed as to prejudice in any manner the rights of
the State, as they have been herein asserted to exist:

Resolved, That there shall be chosen, by ballot, in
convention of both branches of the Legislature, four
persons, who are hereby constituted and appointed
commissioners on the part of this State, to repair to
the Seat of Government of the United States, and to
confer with the authorities of that Government touching a conventional line, or line by agreement, between
the State of Maine and the British Provinces, having
regard to the line designated by the treaty of 1783, as
uniformly claimed by this State, and to the declarations and views expressed in the foregoing preamble,
and to give the assent of this State to any such conventional line, with such terms, conditions, considerations and equivalents as they shall deem consistent
with the honor and interest of the State; with the
understanding that no such line be agreed upon without the unanimous assent of such commissioners.

Resolved, That this State cannot regard the relinquishment by the British Government of any claim
heretofore advanced by it to the territory included
within the limits of the line of this State, as designated by the treaty of 1783 and uniformly claimed by
Maine, as a consideration or equivalent within the
meaning of these resolutions.

Resolved, That the Said commissioners be furnished
by the Governor with evidence of their appointment,
under the seal of the State.

Resolved, That the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Council, have power to fill
any vacancy that may occur in said commission, by
death, resignation, or otherwise.

Resolved, That the said commissioners make return of their doings herein to the Governor, to be by
him presented to the Legislature, at its next session.

[Approved May 26, 1842.]