line from the north-west angle of Nova Scotia, along those highlands which divide the waters that empty into the River St. Lawrence from those that fall into the Atlantic Ocean, according to the Treaty of 1783, to be prosecuted with the utmost speed, vigour, and certainty, to its definite and absolute conclusion, and that the same should be completed, and the true line run and marked, within the period of the present year.

Resolved, That the Governor be requested to transmit a copy of these Resolves, together with this Report, to the President of the United States; and that similar copies of the same be transmitted to the presiding officers of the two branches of Congress, and to the Executives of the several States and the presiding officers of the several Legislatures of said States, and to the Senators and Represensatives in Congress of this State and of Massachusetts.

Inclosure 2 in No. 23.

ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE.

Resolves to repel British Aggression.

WHEREAS, the State of Maine is now suffering the disgrace of unresisted British invasion, begun in 1839, repeated in 1840, and continued up to this hour, in violation of the most solemn stipulations; and whereas we have no faith in the efficacy of negotiations with a Power which has so repeatedly disregarded its deliberate pledges, and believe that further forbearance on our part to assert the rights and vindicate the honour of our State, will prove as unavailing as it will certainly be humiliating; therefore,

Resolved, That the Governor be authorized to take immediate measures to remove the troops of the Queen of Great Britain, now quartered on the territory, called disputed by the British Government, but by the Treaty of 1783, by the Resolutions of both Houses of Congress passed in 1838, and by repeated Resolves of the Legislature of Maine, clearly and unequivocally a part of the rightful soil of this State.

Resolved, That the resources of this State be, and they hereby are, placed at the disposal of the Governor, and the specific sum of 400,000 dollars be, and the same hereby is, appropriated out of any money in the treasury, for the purpose of carrying said Resolutions into effect.

House of Representatives, February 3, 1841. These Resolutions (laid upon the table by Mr. Delesdernier,) were read and referred to the Committee on the North-Eastern Boundary.

Sent up for concurrence,

(Signed)

GEORGE C. GETCHELL, Clerk.

In Senate, February 13, 1841.

The Senate non-concurred the House in its reference of these Resolves, and amended the same as on sheet marked A, and the same were referred to the Committee on the North-Eastern Boundary.

Sent down for concurrence,

(Signed)

A.

DANIEL SANBORN, Secretary.

ten.

Amend, by striking out word four in line 3d, of Resolve 2, and insert

House of Representatives, February 15, 1841.

The House receded from its vote of February 3, adopted the amendment proposed by the Senate, and referred the same to the Committee on the NorthEastern Boundary, in concurrence.

(Signed)

GEORGE C. GETCHELL, Clerk.

Resolve for Repelling Foreign Invasion, and Providing for the Protection

of the State.

Be it Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested and urged to cause the immediate removal of the foreign armed force by which this State is invaded, stationed upon the upper valley of the St. John, and that the Government of the United States be earnestly invoked to relieve this State from the present heavy, needful burden of its own defence.

In Senate, February 13, 1841.

This Resolve (introduced by Mr. Daveis) was once read, and referred to the Committee on the North-Eastern Boundary. Sent down for concurrence.

(Signed)

Sir,

DANIEL SANBORN, Secretary.

IN compliance with the request of the General Assembly of this State, I have the honour to forward a copy of their Preamble and Joint Resolutions in relation to the North-Eastern Boundary.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient Servant,
(Signed)

DAVID WALLACE.

His Excellency the Governor of Maine.

A Preamble and Joint Resolutions in relation to the North-Eastern

Boundary.

WHEREAS, the General Assembly of the State of Ohio have adopted and caused to be laid before this General Assembly the following Resolutions, to wit:-"Whereas, by the Declaration of Independence, on the 4th of July, 1776, the United States of America became a sovereign and independent nation, with full power over the territory within her limits; and whereas, at the Treaty of 1783, between the United States of America and Great Britain, the northern and north-eastern boundaries between the two Governments were fairly designated and distinctly described; and whereas the said British Government has since set up claims to a part of the territory of these States, and now lying within the State of Maine; and whereas, the subjects of the British Crown have recently invaded and trespassed upon the territory of the State of Maine, and within the limits of this Confederacy, and destroyed the property belonging to the State. Therefore, be it resolved by the General

Assembly of the State of Ohio, That we view with united approbation the prompt and energetic action of the authorities of Maine to protect the rights and honour, not only of their own State, but of the whole Union. Resolved, That the Act of Congress, conferring upon the President of the United States ample power and means to protect this nation from foreign invasion, has our full and most hearty assent. Resolved, That while we highly approve the efforts made by the President of the United States, to avert from this country the calamities of war, and earnestly hope that they may be, as they have been heretofore, successful; yet, should a collision take place between this Government and Great Britain, in the settlement of the pending dispute, Ohio tenders her whole means and resources to the authorities of this Union, in sustaining our rights and honour. Resolved, That the Governor be directed to transmit a copy of the foregoing Preamble and Resolutions to the President of the United States, and to the Governors of the several States."-March 18, 1839.

THEREFORE

Be it Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That we fully concur in and heartily approve of the above Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio.

Resolved, That while we cherish the hope that, in the adjustment of the question of our National Boundary, the integrity of our soil, and the national honour, may be preserved inviolate, without an appeal to arms; yet we will ever prefer honourable war rather than dishonourable peace.

Resolved, That should a collision take place between this Government and Great Britain, in the settlement of the pending dispute, Indiana tenders her whole means and resources to the authorities of the Union, in sustaining our rights and honour.

Resolved, That the Governor be directed to transmit a copy of the foregoing Preamble and Resolutions to the President of the United States, to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress, and to the Governors of the several States.

(Signed)

J. G. READ,

Speaker of the House of
Representatives.

DAVID HILLIS,

President of the Senate.

Approved, February 24, 1840,
(Signed)

DAVID WALLACE.

Sir,

1

Inclosure 4 in No. 23.

ALABAMA RESOLUTIONS.

Executive Department, Tuscaloosa,
January 15, 1841.

I HAVE the honour to inclose you Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Alabama, responsive to certain resolutions of the State over which you preside, in relation to the North-Eastern Boundary. With perfect respect, I am, your obedient servant, A. P. BAGLEY.

To His Excellency the Governor of Maine.

(Signed)

Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Alabama, in response to certain Resolutions of the State of Maine, in relation to the North-Eastern Boundary Question.

BE it Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State. of Alabama, in General Assembly convened, 1st. That we hold it to be the solemn and imperative duty of the Federal Government, faithfully to maintain

toward the State of Maine every obligation she is under, touching the establishment of the North-Eastern Boundary Line of said State.

2nd. That said Government is further bound in defence of her own honour, to not concede to Great Britain any claim not strictly founded in right and justice in the matter aforesaid.

3rd. That we sincerely deprecate a resort to force, until every honourable peaceful expedient has been exhausted, in this and in every other like controversy.

4th. That the question of the North-Eastern Boundary concerns the whole Union, and is not one local in its character to the State of Maine, although she is confessedly more interested than any other in its adjustment; and that, for the reason here set forth, it is the duty of the State of Maine to trust the decision of the matter to the councils of the Union, and abide thereby, whatever it may finally be, whether exactly consistent with her own wishes or not. If Congress says go to war, we will cheerfully obey the mandate, but we should deeply regret to see the State of Maine take any rash step, which might tend to plunge her sister States into war, more through mere feeling and sympathy than from deliberate choice and determination on their part. 5th. That the Governor of this State be requested to forward to the Governor of Maine a copy of the foregoing Resolutions as the response of this General Assembly to her Resolutions of the 18th of May [March] last communicated to us by the Governor of this State, agreeably to a request contained in her said Resolutions.

I HEREWITH present, to your consideration, a Report and Resolutions, from the State of Maryland, in relation to the North-Eastern Boundary.

To the Senate and House of Representatives.

EDWARD KENT.

Resolved, That the Legislature of Maryland entertains a perfect conviction of the justice and validity of the title of the United States, and State of Maine, to the full extent of all the territory in dispute between Great Britain and the United States.

Resolved, That the Legislature of Maryland, looks to the Federal Government with an entire reliance upon its disposition to bring the controversy to an amicable and speedy settlement; but if these efforts should fail, the State of Maryland will cheerfully place herself in the support of the Federal Government, in what will then become its duty to itself and the State of Maine.

Resolved, That after expressing the above opinions, the State of Maryland feels that it has a right to request the State of Maine to contribute, by all the means in its power, towards an amicable settlement of the dispute upon honourable terms.

Resolved, That if the British Government would acknowledge the title of the State of Maine to the territory in dispute, and offer a fair equivalent for the passage through it of a military road, it would be a reasonable mode of adjusting the dispute, and ought to be satisfactory to the State of Maine.

Resolved, That the Governor be and is hereby requested to transmit a

',

t:

copy of this Report and these Resolutions to each of the Governors of the several States, and to each of the Senators and Representatives in Congress from the State of Maryland.

Inclosure 6 in No. 23.

MASSACHUSETTS RESOLUTIONS.

Council Chamber, March 27, 1841.

I HAVE received from the Governor of Massachusetts a Report and "Resolves concerning the North-Eastern Boundary," and herewith present them for your consideration.

To the Senate and House of Representatives.

EDWARD KENT.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.-1841.

Resolves concerning the North-Eastern Boundary.

Resolved, unanimously, if the Senate concur, That the right of the United States, and of the State of Maine, to require of Great Britaiu the literal and immediate execution of the terms of the Second Article of the Treaty of 1783, so far as they relate to the Boundary from the source of the St. Croix River to the north-westernmost head of Connecticut River, remains, after a lapse of more than half a century, unimpaired by the passage of time, or by the interposition of multiplied objections.

Resolved, unanimously, if the Senate concur, That although there is no cause to apprehend any immediate collision between the two nations, on account of the controversy respecting the said Boundary, it is nevertheless most earnestly to be desired that a speedy and effectual termination be put to a difference, which might, even by a remote possibility, produce consequences that humanity would deplore.

Resolved, unanimously, if the Senate concur, That the late Report made to the Government of Great Britain, by their Commissioners of Survey, Messrs. Featherstonhaugh and Mudge, though not to be regarded as having yet received the sanction of that Government, is calculated to produce in every part of the United States, where it is examined, a state of the public mind highly unfavourably to that concilitary temper, and to that mutual confidence in the good intentions of each other, without which it is hopelsss to expect a satisfactory result to controversies between nations.

Resolved, unanimously, if the Senate concur, That the interest and the honour of Massachusetts alike demand a perseverance, not the less determined because it is temperate, in maintaining the rights of Maine; and that we now cheerfully repeat our often-recorded response to her demand that the justice which has been so long withheld should be speedily done to her, and that whilst we extend to her our sympathy for her past wrongs, we again assure her of our unshaken resolution to sustain the territorial rights of the Union.

Resolvep, unanimously, if the Senate concur, That his Excellency the Governor be requested to transmit a copy of these Resolves and the accompanying Report to the Executive of the United States, and of the several States, and to each of the Senators and members of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts, in the Congress of the United States.