The Sun.
London, England, 1838-02-02 00:00:00

States :

Recent experience on the southern boundary of the United
Stales, and the events now daily occurring on our northern
frontier, have abundantly shown that the existing laws are in-
sufficient to guard against hostile invasion, from the United
States, of the territory of friendly and neighbouring nations.
The laws in force provide sufficient penalties for the punish-
ment of such offences, after they have been committed, and
provided the parties can be found ; but the Executive is
powerless in many cases to prevent the commission of them,
even when in possession of ample evidence of an intention on
the part of evil-disposed persons to violate our laws.
Your attention is called to this defect in our legislation. It

is apparent that the Executive ought to be clothed with ade-
quate power effectually to restrain all persous within our juris-
diction from the commission of acts of this character. They
tend to disturb the peace of the country, and inevitably involve
the Government in perplexing controversies with foreign
powers. I recommend a careful revision of all the laws now
in force, and such additional enactments as may be necessary
to vest in the Executive full power to prevent injuries being
inflicted upon neighbouring nations by the unauthorized and
unlawful acts of citizens of the United States, or of other per-
sons who may be within our jurisdiction, and subject to our
controul.

In illustration of these views, and to show the necessity of
an early action on the part of Congress, I submit herewith a
copy of a letter received from the Marshal of the Northern
District of New York, who had been directed to repair to the
frontier, and take all authorized measures to secure the faith-
ful execution of existing laws.
M. VAN BUREN.

Washington, Jan. 5, 1838.
The Message, with the accompanying papers, having been
read by the Secretary—
Mr. CLAY rose to express his full conviction of the neces-
sity of some early action on this important subject. No
spectacle could be more revolting to the feelings of a free
people, than a war either among themselves or with another
country. The views of the Executive met his highest appro-
bation, but it was the duty of Congress to examine, and, if
the existing laws were not adequate to prevent the alleged
interference of our citizens, others should be forthwith en-
acted for the full accomplishment of an object so desirable.
If the people of this country choose to renounce their citizen-
ship, it was perhaps allowable ; but any interference with a
rebellion in a country with which we were at peace, should
meet the earliest attention of our Government. We might,
as citizens, freely, and in any msnner we thought proper, ex-
press our sympathies with either belligerent party, but in no
case lend them aid or countenance. He did not c ,r4der he
had any right to express an opinion relative to the course of
the Canadians. They might be right, or they might be
wrong in the course they were pursuing. It was the
duty of every citizen to remain quiet, nor even express
opinions, till such expressions had been made by
the Government. He hoped that to whatever Com-
' mittee the subject might be referred, they would examine
whether or not the action of our citizens had not been li-

mited to some disputed ten itory, or whether arms, munitions
of war, or supplies had been furnished, and which, if proved
such conduct roust be viewed by Government as in the highest
degree reprehensible.
Mr. CALHoUN had felt from the beginning of the troubles
in Canasta, the greatest anxiety, and a fear that it might re-
sult in difficulties to this country. He hoped the existing
laws, prohibiting the interference of our citizens, would be
rigidly enforced ; and if, on examination, they should be found
insufficient to meet the exigencies of the case, that new ones
would be speedily enacted. He woull set forth in the strong-
est light the terrible consequeeces of a war with Great Bri-
tain at the present time. He urged, in the most emphatic
manner, the necessity of clothing the Executive with all need-
ful additional power, if the laws in fence in this respect were
too limited.
Mr. NORVELL said that no portion of the people of the United
States were more deeply interested in ties subject than the in-
habitants of the State which he had the honour, in part, to
represent. Between a part of that State, and the Upper
Province of Canada, there was a river, the dividing line, only
of one mile wide. The peace of our citizens in that quarter
was daily and hourly exposed to violation in the progress of
this civil war in the aejacent Province. Pen ons b,:longing to
both of the parties in this foreign contest would seek refuge,
sympathy, and aid from our people, among whom there might
be individuals disposed to jeopard the neutrality and peace of
the country, in their anxiety to strengthen the cause which
they espoused. It was exceedingly desirable that this should,
f possible, be prevented. Our own riehts and berties wore
too precious to be jeoparded in those premature and badly
digested civil broils between different portions of the same
foreign people. But the laws were inadequate to the object,
and ought to be revised and made stronger.
Mr. Davis must heartily concurred with the sentiments of
the Senators who had preceded him, and also in the views of
the Executive, on this momentous subject. Congress, he
considered, were under the most sacred obligations to pre•
serve the present pacific relations between ourselves and foreign
powers. It was a duty we owed to ourselves and to other na-
tions, to preserve to the utmost, obedience to the treaties
existing, and to enforce rigidly their observance on the part of
our citizens with such nations, while with them we continue at
peace. It seemed to hint there had been too long manifested
by our citizens a disposition to interfere with the affairs of our
neighbours of the frontiers; and it would appear that the ef-
forts of those whose duty it was to enforce the law s, had urged
on and encouraged such measw es, rather than labouring to
suppress them. Some definite and decisive mea,ures had now
become necessary, in order effectually to preserve our good
faith and character a; a nation. If the Executive Pocru was
not strong enough, by all moans enlarge it, by enacting new
laws on the subject. Of all evils that could now befall this
nation, the most deplorable in its effects would be a war with
Breat Britain. We all well know the strength and power of
that country, and equally well we know that our progress, im-
provement, and success, is but a growing weakness.
After s ,me remarks by Mr. Renton in favour of the motion
to cornme, the documents were referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
NORTHERN FRONTIER.

A message, in writ'ng, was received from the President of
the United States, by the hands of his private Secretary, A.
Van Buren, Esq.
The Message, and accompanying letter, having been read,
were, on motion of Mr. Howard, referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Fillmore then asked leave, to offer the following reso-
lution :
And be it further resolved, that the President be requested
to communicate to this House any information in his possession
of acts endangering the amicable relations between this Go-
vernment and that of Great Britain, either by the subjects of
Great Britain, or by our own citizens on the Canadian fron-
tier, and what measures have been adopted by the Executive
to preserve our neutrality with said kingdom, or repel invasion
from a foreign country, and that he furnish the information
callud for by Bach of these res,Autions in separate communi-
cations.
Mr. [lnward thought the resolution not necessary after the
Message just read.
Mr. Fillmore said be should press it, but withdrew it at that
time to give an opportunity to the Committees to report.
Mr. Carnbreleng, from the Committee of Ways and Means,
reported a Bill making appropriations for the. suppression of
Indian hostilities for the 3ear I 838.
The resolution of Mr. Howard coming up in order, Mr.
Adams moved his amendment as follows :—And be it further
resolved, that he be also requested to communicate copies of
ents and officers of Mexico
411 instructions to the officers of the Government of the United
states, and 411 correspondence with them, with the Governors
of the State, and with the CoVernlll
and Great Britain, concerning the preserv4iPn pf the neutm-
lity of the United States, in the civil wars and insurrections
in Mexico, and in any of the British provinces north of the
United States, since the year 162 fir 44, particularly of a let-
Lei from the President of the United States to the 4oprptary
of the terriimiy Rf Arkansas, datc4 on pr about the Oth or L)e-
cpmber, 1830, •

Mr. Flimore then moved his resolution as Riven above.
On these distinct propositions a long deba►e ensued, in
which Messrs Hamer, Adams, Filimor, Howard, Sibley,
Cilley, Patton, Bronson, Smith, and Cushing participated,
after which,
The amendments of Messrs. Fillmore and Adams were-se-
verally agreed to, and the question recurring on the original
resolution as amended.

From the Washington Correspondent of the New York
Daily Express.)
WASHINGTON, JAN. 6.

The affairs of Canada arc awakening an interest here,
second only to that aroused all along the frontiers of
New York and Canada. Men are now enlisting their
feelings and sympathies eit'ier upon the one side or the
other. The Canadian French and the Canadian English—
Patriots and Royalists—find both warm friends and warm
v.ndicators among not merely the citizens of Washington, but
among members of Congress and the officers of the General
Government.
Mr. Fox, the British Minister, as I learn, up to yesterday
morning, when the news of murdering of Americans and the
destruction of American property upon American ground, by
British soldiers, first reached the city, was loud in his expres-
sions of complaint of a violation of neutrality on the part of
the frontier citizens. The story, however, of demanding his
passport was all moonshine. The President andthe Secretary
of State have gore as far as the law gave them power to go, in
demanding the strictest neutrality, and now that the laws of
the land allow them to go no further, they call upon Con-
gress to revise the existing laws, inasmuch as the President in
his message says, they are " insufficient, powerless, and
shotAl therefore be revised, with additional enactments," Sz.c.
The British Min'ster knows all this, and knows, as I be-
lieve, that the Government, in the affairs of Canada,
whatever it may have done in the affairs of Mexico, is
more willing to suffer wrong than to do wrong. The story
then of demanding passports is preposterous. The United
States are the proper complainants--the United States,
whose north-eastern territory, in spite of pledge, faith,
right, and everything else, has been wantonly and unjus-
tifiably occupied by British soldiers from New Brunswick.
So long as the British, unmolested, can march over our
territory--so long as British soldiers can leave the head-
quarters of the British army to attack American citizens—
not American soldiers—at midnight, and destroy American
property under the cover of darkness, so long I imagine the
British Minister will be content to remain in the Ur.ited
States without demanding his passports. The Americans,
not the British, are now to call for redress. We have violated
no law—mode no attack—approved of no lack of the observ-
ances of the strictest neutrality—disapproved of all improper
expressions of feeling ; in short, done all the law allowed us
to do, and are now about to clothe the Executive with new
powers to enforce neutrality. We have done both through the
General and States' Governments, all that we had the power
to do, and it is now time that Great Britain should meet the
United States half way in the observance of neutrality. Such,
at least is the opinion of the many here ; for the many here,
as I believe everywhere else, when well informed of Canadian
matters, are in favour of the Patriots of Canada. At least the
many wish them well, and sympathise with them, and will re-
joice at their success. None, however, would violate, or aid
in :the violation of a single requisition demanded upon the
ground of neutrality. As it was said in the. House of Repre-
sentatives, during the discussion of yesterday—" We will
speak—we must think—and we cannot but sympathise—still
we are for the strictest observance both of the letter and spirit
of the law."

Mr. Cushing thought, and upon just grounds, that there
was no danger of a conflict with Great Britain. " England,"
said he, " holds her North American colonies by a thread, and
a war with us severs that thread for ever and ever. She will
not be the aggressor."
The discussion of yesterday in the House, as you will
observe, gave rise to a strong expression of opinion in regard
to the north-eastern boundary. The members from Maine
will take this occasion to demand a settlement at the hands of
the Government. ES B.