. 
 
 SPECIAL MESSAGE 
 
 OF 
 
 GOVERNOR LINCOLN, 
 
 Hefltslattti c of 
 
 MARCH 17, 1832. 
 
 AND CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN HIM AND THE 
 
 i 
 
 GOVERNOR OF MAINE, 
 
 IN RELATION TO A 
 
 NEGOTIATION FOR THE TERRITORY NORTH EAST 
 OF THE ST. JOHN. 
 
 lioston : 
 
 DUTTON AND WENTWORTH, PRINTERS TO THE STAT*V 
 
 No. 4, Exchange Street. 
 
 "7832." 
 
HOUSE No. 56. 
 
 To the Honorable Senate, 
 
 and House of Representatives : 
 
 Immediately upon J6ceivmg;ti)e, -request to me by the 
 two Houses of the JLegisJaJur.e, to apply to the Execu 
 tive of Maine, foV-a- ioi^rtunitatibiV .o// the correspond-, 
 ence which he had had with the Government of the 
 United States, and with the agent of that State, upon 
 the subject of a negociation for a cession of the territo 
 ry North East of the St. Johns, I despatched, by a spe 
 cial Messenger, a Letter addressed to His Excellency 
 the Governor, a copy of which is herewith transmitted, 
 for your notice. This Messenger returrfed the last 
 
 1 h 
 
night, with an answer, which also accompanies this 
 communication. 
 
 From this correspondence, it will painfully be percei 
 ved, that the only ground of the proceedings of the Go 
 vernment of Maine, which were confidentially commu 
 nicated by the Letter of the Governor of the 5th inst, 
 covering the Resolutions of the Legislature, approved 
 by him, was in Letters from Mr. Preble, the Agent of 
 that State at Washington, expressing his opinion in re 
 gard to the expediency of the proposed arrangement, 
 and that of the Representatives of that State in Con 
 gress, in Letters addressed to him, which opinions were 
 formed from circumstances unofficially within their 
 knowledge, and that these communications are now 
 considered by the Governor, so far private and confi 
 dential, that he does riot feel himself authorized to make 
 them public, without the permission of the persons from 
 whom they were received. He has therefore declined 
 affording the information, which was sought, by the or 
 der of the Legislature. 
 
 We are thus left without any knowledge of the change 
 of circumstances, which has induced to the recent un 
 expected and extraordinary manifestation of change of 
 sentiment and policy, on this most interesting subject, 
 in the State of Maine. We learn, neither, by what au 
 thority a proposition to negociate for the Territory is 
 made ; nor the terms which are to form the basis of 
 such negociation ; nor who are to be the parties to it ; 
 nor how far the compromise which may be contemplat 
 ed is within the Constitutional power of the National 
 Executive, with or without the consent of the States. 
 Maine asks from us no consent or countenance to the 
 bargain, which is now offered. Indeed, it cannot es- 
 
 M72486 
 
cape remark, that in the leading Resolutions of her Le 
 gislature in reference to this subject, a joint concern in 
 Massachusetts, even in the disposition of the property 
 in the lands, is no otherwise adverted to, than by an ad 
 monition contained in the resolution which proposes 
 notice to us of the intention to negociate, that we may 
 take charge of our own interest. The remembrance of 
 former relations is no longer invoked. No appeal is 
 made to a sense of mutual interest; to the principles of 
 liberality, of magnanimity, and of friendly regard to a 
 Sister State; nor is the generous, disinterested, and 
 spirited response, which was given to that appeal for aid 
 and co-operation, in the defence of the rights of jurisdic 
 tion and State sovereignty, acknowledged or recognized. 
 Under all these considerations, I respectfully submit to 
 you, that no further proceedings here, are, at this time, 
 required, for the dignity, honor, or interest of the Com 
 monwealth. The deliberate and explicit opinions ex 
 pressed by the Legislature upon the whole subject mat 
 ter, at an earlier period in the session, fully assert the 
 rights of the State in the property in question, and a 
 confidence in the obligation of the National Govern 
 ment to defend us in its possession and enjoyment. 
 The Resolutions which were then passed, are in the 
 hands of our Senators and Representatives in Congress, 
 who will not fail to have the first notice of any hazard 
 to our true interest, and faithfully to advise to the most 
 effectual measures for its protection. 
 
 LEVI LINCOLN. 
 Council Chamber, 
 
 March \lth, 1832. 
 
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF MAS 
 SACHUSETTS. 
 
 BOSTON, MARCH 13, 1832. 
 
 Sir, -In compliance with a request of the Legisla 
 ture of this Commonwealth, expressed in a concurrent 
 order of the two Branches, a copy of which I have the 
 honor herewith to transmit, it is made my duty to ask 
 of your Excellency, to furnish, for the information oj this 
 Government, copies of all the correspondence between 
 the Governments of the United States and the State of 
 Maine, and copies of any communication from the 
 Agent of the State of Maine at Washington, in relation 
 to the territory North and East of the St. Johns and St. 
 Francis rivers, which were the occasion of the recent 
 proceedings of the Legislature of Maine, confidentially 
 communicated in their Resolutions which accompanied 
 your letter of the 5th instant. The equal right of pro 
 perty which this Commonwealth has in common with 
 Maine, and the earnest, and I may be permitted to add, 
 generous manifestation of sympathy and interest by this 
 Government, in the assertion and vindication of the ju- 
 risdictional sovereignty of the sister State to the territory 
 in dispute, warrant a confiding expectation, that the de 
 sired communication will frankly and cheerfully be 
 made. 
 
6 
 
 I pray you also to be assured, that in view to the im 
 mediate adjournment of the Legislature, after an un 
 usually protracted session, a compliance by the return 
 of the special Messenger, who is charged with the de 
 livery of this despatch and to wait your Excellency s re 
 ply, will be very gratefully appreciated. 
 I have the honor to be, 
 With sentiments of the highest respect, 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 LEVI LINCOLN. 
 His Excellency Gov. Smith of Maine. 
 
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF MAINE. 
 
 AUGUSTA, MARCH 15, 1832. 
 
 Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt 
 of your Excellency s letter of the 13th of this month, 
 requesting to be furnished with copies of all the cor 
 respondence between the Government of the United 
 States aiftl this State, and copies of any communica 
 tions from the Agent of this State at Washington, in 
 relation to the territory North and East of the rivers 
 St. John and St. Francis, which were the occasion of 
 the recent proceedings of the Legislature of this State, 
 confidentially communicated to your Excellency. 
 
 The only correspondence which has been had with 
 this Department, in relation to these proceedings, is 
 contained in letters from Mr. Preble, the agent of this 
 State at Washington, expressing his opinion in regard 
 to the expediency of the proposed arrangements, and 
 that of the Representatives of this State in Congress 
 accompanied also with letters from them directed to 
 himself. In these letters they also state the grounds of 
 their opinion, which they have formed from circumstan 
 ces inofficially within their knowledge. These com 
 munications are considered as private and confidential, 
 rather than as official documents, and I do not consider 
 myself at present authorized to make them public, 
 
without the permission of the persons from whom they 
 were received. 
 
 I make these suggestions from an anxious desire to 
 comply with the request communicated to me by your 
 Excellency, so far as can be done consistently with my 
 official duty and the public interest. 
 
 The measures which have been so promptly adopted 
 by our Parent Commonwealth in favor of the claims of 
 this State to the territory in question, cannot fail to be 
 gratefully received, and will tend to strengthen the 
 friendship, and good understanding, which, it is to be 
 hoped, will ever continue to exist between the two States. 
 With the highest respect, 
 
 I have the honor to be, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 SAML. E. SMITH. 
 His Excellency Levi Lincoln. 
 
M72486 
 
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