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7 adopted declaring the right of this State to the territory in dispute, and expressing their opinion that the award of the King of Netherlands was not obligatory, and that its acceptance would be a violation of the constitutional rights of Maine. copies of these resolutions I transmitted to the President of the United States by a special agent, who was appointed in pursuance of the resolve for that purpose and who was also instructed to communicate such other information in regard to the north-eastern boundary as was considered for the interest of the State. Copies of the same resolutions together with other documents relating to the subject have been forwarded to the Governors of the several states and to each of the Members of Congress. In compliance with the recommendations of the Executive of the United States and urgently expressed, the Government of Maine has uniformly refrained from the forcible exertion of jurisdiction over those portions of the disputed territory where it would necessarily lead to collision with the British authorities; and have continued with confidence to rely on the General Government for the enforcement of our rights and the protection of the territory, who we not only claim but to know to be within the limits of Maine. I am aware that the opinion is generally and perhaps justly entertained, that if a different course had been adopted by Maine before the negotiations respecting the boundary had commenced, the unfortunate question, by which the integrity of our territory is endangered, would never have arisen. But in the present state of the controversy, much difficulty and embarrassment would be the consequence of disregarding the earnest recommendation of the National Executive, and adopting measures to enforce our jurisdiction over the small settlement at Madawaska. Measures for that purpose, to be effectual, would require a detachment of the Militia to be stationed at that place, in which event we should not only be in collision with Great Britain but acting in opposition to the expressed wishes of the Government.