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The Commissioners, appointed on the part of this State under the Act of Separation, have recently had a meeting with those of Massachusetts, to make preliminary arrangements for a division of the property between the two states : Their doings will be laid before you as soon as received.

It gives me anxiety, to be obliged to inform you, that in consequence of the disagreement of the American and British Commissioners under the treaty of Ghent, in relation to the true boundary between the United States and the British Provinces, the final division of the lands, owned in common by this and the parent State, will necessarily be delayed to a period uncertain, though it is to be hoped not distant. In addition to this it is understood that the claims of the British Commissioner cover a tract of country, heretofore confessedly belonging to this State, and over which it has exercised jurisdiction. Although we have no reason to apprehend that there will be any thing like acquiescence in this claim, but on the contrary that it will be resisted throughout as it has been at the threshold, yet I submit to the Legislature, whether it may not be well to request the particular attention of our Senators and Representatives at Washington to this subject, so far at least, as to collect the facts and transmit a statement for our information. I view this as the more important, inasmuch as neither the Commissioner nor agent on the part of the United States belongs to this State, and the subject in controversy is of consequence to us, both as it respects jurisdiction and property.

To a State situated like this, with several hundred miles of seaboard and frontier, whose inhabitants have fresh in recollection the incursions of an enemy, the importance of an energetic, well armed and well disciplined militia, will be duly estimated. To the many experienced members of both branches of the Legislature I refer this subject, in perfect confidence that when viewed in relation to our position in the Union, it will merit and receive all proper consideration.

I feel it my duty to call your attention to sundry resolutions of the legislature of the State of Maryland, relative to the appropriation of public lands for the purposes of education, which resolutions were laid before the last Legislature of this State. By the several acts of Congress, authorizing new States to be formed out of the Territories of the United States, one thirty sixth part of each State so formed has been appropriated for the support of common schools, and an additional quantity for seminaries of a higher grade. The vacant lands in each Territory being the property of the United States, it follows that such appropriations have been made out of the common interest for the benefit of individual States. To this there can be no just reason of complaint, provided a corresponding benefit results to the original States.

But when it is recollected that this common fund was acquired by conquest in the Revolution or by purchase since, and that too, before the new States, which are now reaping its benefit, were in existence as such; that the price, whether of blood or treasure, was paid by the States that effected the Revolution, the reason for this appropriation for the benefit of the new States exclusively, seems wholly to fail. The policy of granting a due proportion of vacant lands for the purposes of education, is unquestionably correct. A diffusion of knowledge being highly important for (the stability of any Government, so necessarily dependent as is ours upon public opinion, no friend of a republican form of Government could doubt the propriety of its encouragement by all proper means. The proposition from the State of Maryland is, by an application to Congress, to procure an appropriation of a corresponding proportion of the public lands to each of the States, to which such an appropriation has not already been made. In the furtherance of this application,. so just and equitable in its nature,in which we are equally interested with Maryland, the Legislature of that State invites us to unite. Taking into view either the claims, the importance of the object, or the benefit that would result from its acquisition to this State, I cannot doubt but the Legislature will consider the subject entitled to their particular attention. I have received from the Governor of the State of New-Jersey a copy of a report and sundry resolutions~ adopted by the Council and General Assembly of that State, expressing their cordial co-operation in the propositions of the. Legislature of Maryland; which report and resolutions will be laid before you by the Secretary.

In connection with this subject, it is proper to add, that our principal literary institutions at Brunswick and Waterville merit, and I have no doubt will receive, the favorable consideration of the Representatives of an enlightened people. The situation of their fiscal concerns will be made known to you by those, who have their immediate superintendance. While knowledge is power of the highest influence and first importance in a free Government, the true friends of that Government must

ever be its patrons; the friends of that Government have only, in the incipi.mt slages, to give to such power and such influence its proper direction, and the Government is invigorated by the application of its force. That direction we have every assurance is given in the institutions under the patronage of this State. The laudable zeal recently manifested in various parts of our State in the establishment of societies for the promotion of Agriculture, cannot fail of resulting in the most beneficial effects in relation to either individual or general interest. 'Vl}ife these associations afford the means of concentrating ifnportant information, the result of experiment and improvement, they also give facilities for itf? dissemination among the whole population of the State. In some parts of our country they have received legislative encouragement; with us I trust, they will ever be the object of individual support, and at a suitable period, should public sentiment justify il, of such public patronage as our resources may admit. In consequence of the general revision of the laws, the last session of the Le~islature Was of unusual length. I trust we shall be able to transact all the necessary business of the present session in a much shorter time. "Whatever aid, within my power, to despatch the public business and to bring the session to a harmonious termination, will be afforded; and it will be my most anxious desire, afJ I have no doubt it will be yours, that the result of our united labours may conduce to the peace and security of our followcitizens. The situati~n of the financial concerns of the State, and several other subjects, which 'will claim your attention, will be reserved for a future communication. Blessed with a healthy climate, a geod s~l, and superior COI11- 122 GOVERNOR'S MESSAGll:. mercial advantages, "We have every reason to look forward to the high destinies of our State with pleasure. Our extensive territory will afford subsistence for a vast popula~ tion; our large and lengthy rivers facilitate the intercourse' . between the Agricultural and Commercial portions of our citizens; and the almost innumerable sites suitable for the application of water power to machinery, combined with other favorable circumstances, hold out great inducements for the investment of capital by the manufacturer. . The prosperity of this risiug State, its harmony at home, and its character and reputation abroad, should interest our warmest feelings. And while we discharge our duty to our country with fidelity, we have reason to be grateful that we form a portion of a country in which the soundest principles of Government have taken deep and permanent root; that those principles h1,tve recently been recognised here and engrafted into our Constitution, and still more fecently re-examined by some of the elder members of our union, and again stamped with their approbation. They are principles, which our fathers incorporated in the Cone stitution of our country, and which, like ancient monuments, no honest statesman will approach but with reverence, will attempt to remove but from the most urgent necessity.

ALBION K PARRIS. COUNCIL Chamber January 5, 1822.