.MTgzNQ.MjM2OTE

IV

tory belonging to the United States, it is expressly provided, that nothing in the constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice the claims of any particular State. On the other hand, the individual States are prohibited without the consent of Congress, to keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, to enter into any agreement or compact with a foreign power, or to engage in was, unless actually invaded or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay. When the government of the United States entered into the negotiations with Great Britain for ascertaining the boundaries between this State and the British Provinces, as defined by the Treaty of 1783, they considered, it would seem, that the settlement of the question belonged exclusively to that government, and the convention of 1827, for submitting the points in deference to the King of the Netherlands was agreed to notwithstanding the remonstrance from the Executive of this State. In accordance with these views, the President has often recommended and enjoined upon the government of this State to abstain from all act in relation to the disputed territory, that might be calculated to embarrass the pending negotiations or lead to collision with the British authorities. The United States having thus assumed the exclusive management of the controversy, they are bound, in definitely settling it, to regard the rights guaranteed to Maine, and have no power by the Federal Constitution to alienate, by negotiation or otherwise, any portion of the territory of the State, without its consent. As the grounds of our title to the territory in dispute have so often been under the consideration of previous Legislatures, and of late have so frequently been the subject of able public discussions, it is believed unnecessary on the present