The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-16 00:00:00

• h tlf in support of the other side ; but it was a curious
anomoly that the lion. Baronet did not divide his speech
into equal parts, but gave one sentence in favour of pro-
' tection, and the next for unqualified free trade.—(Cheers
and laughter.) He was not inclined on the present oc-
casion to go into so vast a question as the Corn-laws,
but he must say that whatever opinions he had heard
on the subject, he never before heard any one
say that it was a question of small consequence.
Now that was so extraordinary a doctrine that he knew
not how to deal with it. He had always thought that
that branch of trade connected with the prime necessary
of life was the one of the highest importance, and that
unless it were established on a wise basis all the in-
terests of the country would be injuriously affected. The
Ministry had not brought forward measures rash, reckless,
and dangerous, as was imputed to them, but had long and
deeply considered the course which they had taken.
These alterations had not now been contemplated for the
first time ; and for his part, it had been his intention in
the Customs' Bill of the year to have proposed many
other important alterations. He believed that they had
now no other choice than that of reducing their prohi-
bitory duty or witness the ruin of many of the most
important branches of our manufactures.—(Hear, hear.)
He could state, as President of the Board of Trade, that
his:rooms had been for many months crowded with de-
putations from the manufacturing classes, comprising
men of all parties and opinions, urging upon him the
necessity of at length adopting some measures for re-
lieving the pressure upon the commerce of the country.
With regard to the motion then before the House, he
approved of its principles ; but as he did not consider it
could lead to any practical result he would advise his
Hon. Friend to content himself with the discussion
which had taken place, and not press it to a division.
He was aware of the many important considerations con-
nected with the measures which the Government had
brought forward, and he did not regret the course they
had taken. For his own part, he could not submit to
the humiliation of occupying the position of a British
Minister while .he left so many dangers unprovided
for as now threatened the national prosperity. He did
not know what might be the effect of those measures
upon the state of parties ; and, comparatively speaking,
he did not care. Not, however, that he was indifferent
to the fate of the great party with which he was connected,
but he felt that the Government, by bringing forward
these questions, had contributed greatly to their triumphs.
—(Hear, hear.) The subject was now fairly before the
public, and he had never known the people of England
engage in a just cause which they did not carry to a
triumphant issue.—(Cheers.) Upon that head he had
the fullest confidence, whatever party might be in power.
Mr. BAINES regarded the present question, although
it was not likely to be attended with any practical re-
sult in the House, as one which would have a practical
effect in the country. The present discussion would be
serviceable, in his opinion, inasmuch as it would enlighten
the public mind upon the feelings of parties and of indi-
viduals. He could speak from experience of the lament-
able effect of the present system of taxation, in alienating
the minds of the labouring classes from our present in-
stitutions. A Committee had lately been appointed in
Leeds, to inquire into the present state of distress in the
town, and it was found that there were' in all 10,000 in-
dividuals in Leeds out of employment, or depending on
those who were in that situation. A meeting was after.
wards held, at • which the chairman of the committee
of unemployed workmen, made a statement which
was well worthy, of consideration. He said that
_

inless the children of the labouring classes
could be supplied with bread, they would be under the
necessity of seeking it somewhere, no matter by what
means, and that opinion he shared with his fellow-work-
A remonstrance having been made to him against
no evils to which such a doctrin,a would lead, he stated
chat the opinion he had expressed was that of nine out
of every ten operatives ; and he did not wish to con-
ceal it.

men.

Mr. Baines was proceeding with his address when
Sir S. Canning moved that the House be counted. It
having then been found that there were but twenty-four
Members present, the House adjourned.

LATEST NEWS FROM AMERICA.

FURTHER EXTRACTS FRO3I THE AMERICAN PAPERS..
THE CASE OF MIL APLEOD.
(From the New York Morning Herald.)
APLeoci still remains in prison, awaiting the decision
of the Supreme Court, which will be given next term.
This decision will either order his liberation under the
laws of nations, or his trial according to the laws of this
State.
The whole difficulty grows out of the different views
taken by the General and the State Governments. The
annexed correspondence between the Governor of New
York and the President of the United States, which has
never yet been published, indicate this position. The
Governor sets himself up against the laws of nations, and
refuses to make the delivery.
The Governor to the President of the United States :
STATE OF NEW YORK.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, ALBANY, MAY 4, 1841.
Sin—l have just learned from the public prints that
the District Attorney of the United States for the
Northern District of New York, is in attendance upon
the Supreme Court of this State, in behalf of Alexander•
M'Leod, who is indicted for murder committed in the "de-
struction" of the boat "Caroline," and which indictment
is pending in the courts of this State. As the Attornoy-
Gemsral of this State, and the District Attorney of Nia-
gara county, have charge of this prosecution in behalf
of the people of the State of New York, the unseemly as-
pect is presented of a conflict between the Federal Go-
vernment and that of this State, which I respectfully sub-
mit to you is not calculated to inspire confidence among
the common constituents of both in the harmonious rela-
tions and views of the two Governments, nor to chal-
lenge that respect from Great Britain to which our in-
stitutions are entitled, and which it is so essential to pre-
serve, particularly in the present state of the controversy
with her.
I am sure I need do no more than call your attention
to the subject, to insure such a disposition of it as will
manifest the regard which there can be no doubt of your
entertaining for the rights and character of this State, in
the conduct of a prosecution for an offence against her
sovereignty.—Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
The President of the United States.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE

GOVERNOR.

WASHINGTON, MAY 7TH, 1841.
SIR,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your Excellency's letter of the 4th inst., in which you are
pleased to say, that "you have just learned from the pub-
lic prints that the District Attorney of the United States
for the Northern District of New Vaubois is in attendance
on the Supreme Court of this State (New York), in be-
half of Alexander M'Leod, who is indicted for murder
committed in the destruction of the boat Caroline, and
which indictment is pending in the Supreme Court of
this'State." and that " as the Attorney-General of this
State, and the District Attorney of Niagara county,
have charge of the prosecution in behalf of the people of
the State of New York, the unseemly aspect is presented
of a conflict between the Federal Government and that
of this State, which I respectfully submit to you is not
calculated to inspire confidence among the common con-
stituents of both in the harmonious relations and views
of the two Governments, nor to challenge that respect
from Great Britain to which our institutions are entitled,
and which it is so essential to preserve, particularly in
the present state of the controversy with her."
In reply, I have the honour to say, that the District At-
torney of the United States for the Northern District of
New York, has received no orders from this Government
to appear as counsel in defence of M'Leod—nor can I be-
lieve that in the absence of such orders, hejias undertaken
to assume that task in his official character. So far as
I am informed, Mr. Spencer acts entirely in his private
capacity as a practising attorney of the State of New
York, in consequence of a retainer which dates back
from a period antecedent to his having had official station
conferred upon him. lam sure that in this you will see
nothing unseemly, or calculated either to encourage a
belief of the want of harmony in the relations or views
of the two Governments, or in any way to diminish the
respect of any foreign Government for our institutions.
This Government has done no more in reference to the
trial to be had before the Supreme Court of New York,
than to furnish the counsel for the accused, upon their
requisition, with such documentary evidence as was to be
found in the State Department, and which was believed
by them to be necessary to be used in the defence.
In giving your Excellency the foregoing explanation,
I am not to be understood as denying to this Govern-
ment, in order to the fulfilment of its international
duties and obligations, the right to resort to all consti-
tutional and legitimate means within its power. The
confidence which I feel in the learning and justice of the
Supreme Court of New York, and in the tribunals insti-
tuted by her for dispensinn, full and perfect justice,
would cause me to avoid the commission of any act
which would bear a doubtful construction.

I pray your Excellency to accept assurances of my
high consideration and respect.

JOHN TYLER.

His Excellency Wm. 11. Seward.

LETTER FROM ALEXANDER APLEOD.
(To the Editor of the Scottish Journal.)
DEAR SIR,—My attention has been often called to
several false allegations relative to me that have become
part of the history of the M‘Leod case ; one that I had
boasted at Lockport that I was at the burning of the
Caroline, and was the actual murderer of Durfee, and that
the indictment has been found and ulterior proceedings
predicated on said boast.
The absurdity of the allegation was so apparent, I
thought it unworthy of notice. Even a Lockport jury
would not indict a man upon any such assertion.
I never said I was at the destruction of the boat, or
anything of the sort ; nor dues any witness against me
say that he ever said that I said such a thing, till after
they heard I was arrested.
_ .

f WEIS indicted at Lockport a few days after the burn-
ing. of the boat along with several others, and lam the
only person that was directly sworn to on that occasion,
as having been recognised at the boat, which can be seen
by reference to the evidence taken before the Grand
Jury in Jan. 1838, in the Secretary of State's office at
Washington,
I was arrested on the 24th clay of September last.
Kept two days and nights a prisoner, as a felon on that
indictment. I applied to a Judge on a writ of Habeas Cor-
pus, and after an examination held in Lockport, on the 26th
September, I was discharged, as there was a mistake in
the indictment, the Christian name being Angus, in place
of AlexanderAPLeod. I then said to 11,1r.Woods,theprose-
44orney, before the judge and a number of people,
" Sir, I be1124,p iris indictment was intended for me, and
although I am 4iseharged in consequence of the
misnomer, yet as I have iniss4lt;,gs pf importance to me in
this and the adjoining county to settle, I 4113 arixious to
refiite the charge of murder and arsen; That has been
brought agvist me. by the patriots, of which I am in
no way guilty--acid yptl or they will bring an indict-