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To ilie uinu Hid iovi.il:—Ilo conmil—iijiun llmt fnir voting brow Wore oiiiliorinj lliick anil fart Tlic of dentil—ono algli «as hoard—Anil liu from earth Iwil iiokmjJ! IHath, June, 1S3S.ggitlt; jr« pVtribe from the circumstance of the copper boing discovered, must have bad some acquaintance with the English settlers on the Kcunebeck, or as it was then called Snga-dahoc, and no doubt if tradition informs us right, they hud, as a small party consisting of about one hundred persons, emigrated from England under Sir Georgo Pophnro, and commenced a settlement at the mouth of. the Kenncbrck, then called Sagadahoc, as early as 1007,being 231 years of age. They were scnl out by the Plymouth colony, and the expedition consisted oftwo vessels; they landed August 11th on Stage Island, and afterwards removed to n place called Atkin’s Bay near whore the Port is situated, whcro they remained during tho winter, which was very inclement and severe, j Sickness prevailed amongst them, and before the ensuing spring, more than ono half of their number had died including I heir President. They then returned to England, and tho next year another Colony arrived, but they were so disheartened by the ioss of their leader, Sir Georgo i Popham and tho encroachments which the Indians were making upon them, that they soon embarked for England, and carried tbe remains of their President with them. It is very probablo that the tribe of Indians whose hones were recently disinterred by the while man, were ill existence at this time, and perhaps at n later period. It was by accident t'.iat these relieka were discovered. The sand had blown away and left one of the bones in sight of the people who visit that part of tho river, and this induced them to make researches, and tho result tins been os above related. They were buried between three and four feet under the sand.The fiiltowinjj i« die cunclusiuB of the elite letter of i fiev. Kent, to die President, on die subject of llic IV. E. boundary, the lirel purl of which, appeared io our leit.The people of Maine, sir, are no! desirous ofcunliict or war. Both in their habits and their principles they love and wish for peace and quiet within their borders. They are not ambitions to win laurels, or to acquire military lory, by waging war with neighbors; and least of ull are they desir-'ous of border warfare, which ntay be the means of sacrificing human life, and engendering ill-will ami had passions, without bringing the controversy to a conclusion. They arc scattered over our thousand bills, engaged in their quiet und peacefulINDIAN REMAINS.It was our Intent ion to have made a few remarks in ..ur lout, in relation to die recent discovery of the hones J labors audit is the first wish of their hearts nnd many relics of die hlmrigines of our country, nl or (0 |jvc peaceably with all men and all na-lien'r die Furr,at Haiuiewcllsl’oiut— a disiauco ofnvelvc I, jnns Xhev have no anxiety to extend ourmiles from this place'. Rot owiiig to our absence und roiiseipuHit inability to attend to the siihjccl then, we rm.cludcd 10defer it till the present week. Since then, liowever, our friend, the printer of tho Haverhill Gazette, (who was hero at the time, mid who it appears look notes” of tlic circumstance, Which lie lias printed,) having covered ulost of die ground, which we had laid out, we ah’ inclined to make an abridgement of tho story, from his very entertaining article on die subject. The mure important parts of this discovery was made by a young genllcman, named l'ultcngill, who has the relies now in his possession.Among tho hones wore some of immense magnitude, which it is supposed by those of the medical faculty who have examined them to have belonged to a person not less than 7 feet in height. There are a number of skulls in a perfect slato of preservation, tho teeth remaining firm in die jaws, so that it is with considerable difficulty they can be started. One of the skeletons when found was in a sitting posture, and covered in different parts of his body with pieces of n copper kettle the bottom being on his head./ From tho different articles found deposited on the covering of tho head, it is supposed he was one of the chiefs; there being a large quantity of bet ds, and points of arrows made of stoinj/1 The beads were composed of something very hard, and by rubbing them a beautiful polish could lie produced. Tho skull of this person has been examined by those acquainted with anatomy, and from the appearance of the teeth which are worn down to the gums and are very smooth, it is supposed ho must have been nearly or quite a hundred years of age. There were eleven of the gtaves opened, all of which contained more or less bones, n a great many of which on being exposed to the air, soon dropped to pieces; but wo saw four skulls in a perfect state of preservation, from the child of four yoars of age to the old man of a century. By referring to Williamson's History of Maine, we are told that at the time of the first settling of Sagadahock, the Indians had a burial .place at the mouth of the river, but no one had been able to discover it, as all traces had been carefully obliterated, and il was difficult to ascertain the precise spot where it was. But it seems after these bodies had been deposited more two centuries they have been accidentally brought to light by some of the enterprising people of Maine, and will no doubt be ere long deposited in some Museum or disposed of to sorfte antiquarian, to fill a place in his private Collection of natural curiosities. Thelimits, or to gain territory by conquest Hut there is a firm and determined spirit in this people which cannot brook insult, and will notsubpiit to intentional injury. They know tlicir rights, nnd knowing dare maintain them” with culm determination and deliberate purpose; and they appeal, with unshrinking confidence, to their sister States, lyid to the Government which binds theip together, for effective support in this their purpose.Tlic crisis as we believe, demands firm and decided languaage, end the expression of a determined design. Maine lins never refused to acquiesce in any fair and honorable mode of fixing the line according to Hit treaty of 1783. 1 liuvc no doubt (butupon this 1 speak according to my individual belief) that the mode proposed to Great Britain, of establishing tbe treaty line upon the face of the earth, by u commission composed of impartial and scientific men. to he selected by a friendly Power, would be satisfactory and acquiesced in by Ibis Stale; but that we should neither ask or agree tlmt any preliminary points should be yielded by either hands, with directions to ascertain and run and fix tbe lino according to its plain lungungo and obvious meaning.Maine can never consent, as I apprehend, to yield the main points of the case, and then refer it lo enable the judges to divide the subject-matter of the controversy.We feel that we now stand on tho high vantage ground of truth and justice; nnd that it cannot be that any nation, professing to act on tho principles of right nnd equity, can stand up before the civilized world and contest, with unyielding pertinacity, our claim. We huve too much respect for the nation from which we descended to believe that she will sully her reputation by such persevering resistance.I am conscious that tho language and style of this communication are unusual, and probably undiplomatic; that there is more of the fervor of feeling, and the plain language pf direct appeal, than is usual in such papers. But it is a subject of such vast importance to the Slate whose interests have, in part, been intrusted to me, und whoso organ 1 am, that I cannot speak in measured terms or indefinite language. On this subject we have no ulterior views, and no concealed object. Our plans and our policy are open and exposed lo the view of all men. Maine lias nothing either to conceal or disguise. She plainly and distinctly asks for specific and definite
Newspaper Details
Lincoln Telegraph
Bath, Maine, US
Thu, Jun 14, 1838
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Anonymous
ME, USA 03 Feb 2025
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