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strongest assurances that no innovation would be countenanced, on the part of its provincial functionaries and that on the part of the United States, good faith, as well as the protection of the frontier from unauthorized mutual inroads required the same course of conduct. Copies of the documents and correspondence in relation to the transactions at Madawaska, will be laid before you.

The necessity of exerting, at this time, all suitable means within our power, to prevent the dismemberment of our territory and to preserve inviolate the constitutional rights of the State must be obvious to all. I would therefore respectfully recommend to your consideration the expediency of adopting further measures, in addition to those already taken, for the purpose of making known our rights, and communicating your sentiments in relation to this subject to the Government of the United States reasonable measures for this purpose might have a beneficial effect upon the decision of the question and a more full knowledge of your views to our Senators and representatives in Congress whose utmost exertions, we have every reason to believe, will also be ably devoted to the defence of the rights and interests of the State.

The position of Maine as a frontier of the United States, with her extensive borders immediately exposed in times of national collisions, to aggression by both sea and land demonstrates the necessity of a well organized and efficient Militia. So frequently has the subject been under the consideration of previous Legislatures that I am confident without any remarks of mine, every measure will be adopted for the improvement of an establishment, on which we must rely for the execution of our laws and the defence of our rights and liberties.

As the public attention has become much directed to this subject in other parts of the United States, and memorials have been presented to Congress, praying for the adoption of an uniform system for the regulation of the Militia, I would