Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-04-11
GENERAL SCOTT AND COL. HUGHES.

commanding her majesty's forces on the
niagara frontier. Although spirit of be-
coming courtesy and forbearance pervades
the letter, yot it has all the attributes which
have hitherto denoted the lofty American
character of the writer. Its tone and sen.
timents afford an ample relutation of the
false and malicious charges against Gener.
al Scott. made by Speaker McNab, and
the members of the provincial house Of as
semby.
We copy from the Montreal Gazette of
the Oath ult.
HEAD QUARTERS, Eastern Division,
u. S. Army-Buflalo, Jan. 20, 1888.
Sir-I had the honor to receive by the
hands of Captain Maitland, your letter OF
the 10th instant, which enclosed one of the
same date from Capt. Drew Of the Royal
Navy, and have SIM &c received the CON-
munication Of c.. McNab, commanding
her maiesiy's militia and naval forces Oh
the Niagara frontier, dated the 18th.
begged Capt. Maitland, 10 offer you
my numerous and pressing engagements
as an apology for not giving, at the time
more formal acknowledgement of the
first and second notes and the same apol.
ogy was repeated through Captain Glasgow
whom have since had tho pleasure to re.
ceive as visitor. tI
Both Capis. Maitland and Glasgow had
opportunities (and | was pleased that it was
SOY to witness the character of my occupa-
tons, which had for their object the defeat
by harmonzng all the authorities, civil and
military, both of the general and state gov.
ernments, of the hostile expedition on foot
within our jurisdiction, against her males.
tvs neighboring provinces.
From the measures taken, and ready 10
be applied, | am happy to repeat what !
orally communicated through Capts.
Maitland and Glasgow, that | entertain a
well grounded hope that we shall be able
to prevent the embarkatien of any consid.
cradle portion of the men and arms Of that
expedition, on this side of Cleveland and
Brig. Gen. Brady, U. S. Army under my
command at Detroit, has taken measures
in conjunction with his excel'ency the Gov.
ernor of Michigan, TO maintain the obliga.
tons Of neutrality in that quarter.
At this place, | think we shall be able to
prevent any hostile embarkation; and the
steamer Barcelona has already been out
and will proceed again, the moment the
wind shall permit, with detachment ofthe
U. S. troops and the proper civil officers
as high up the lake as Dunkirk, looking in
to Cattaraugus and Silver Creek on the way
Another and better steamer, the Robert
Fulton, will follow to night, or early in the
morning, with large detachment. The
latter may 20 as far as Detroit, and certain
ly, the weather permitting, as high as
Cleveland. The object Of both boats and
detachments is the same--to prevent The
embarkation of the hostile expedition.
AS was explained to Cap:s. Maitland
and Glasgow, my powers to effect that OBJ.
iect have been much enlarged since had
the honor TO address you my former note
and we (the civil authorities and myself,)
daily in expectation Of recevino new act
of Congress, giving us yet more ample au-
thorty.
The steamer New England, lying in this
port, and understood to be engaged 10 take
off portions Of the hostile expedition from
points above. we hope to find the means OF
OBTAINING. / have, in the act of writing
this sentence, the further hope Of hiring
and taking her into the service of the Uni
Ted States.
! give these details in the spirit Of ma.
tional amity, and in the sincere hope that
the neutral relations ofthe two countries may
long be maintained.
1t is with reluctance that advert, and
shall merely advert, to certain points in
the three communications acknowledged a
bove.
| / cannot stipulate. as you have proposed
as the price of your respecting the sovc
reigniy of the United States, ''to stop TIN
Barcelona, or any vessel which may b.
employed in the same cause, and have he
examined, 10 ascertain whether or no
they may have any Of the rebels on boar'
lately in arms upon Navy Island, or an,
of theirAarms or other munitions Of war,
and so said orally through Captain Matt
land, and added:-that whilst should b,
happy to do all that our laws would perm
10 maintain our neutral relations with Grea
Britain, had another high duty to perform
, that of preventing, by all the means
could command, the violation of the sove
rcignty ofthe United States.
! said, in my note of the 18th instant, t
the commanding officer of the armed Brit
ish vessels in the Niagara tha; it gave m
pain 10 perceive the armed vessels anchor
, ed in our waters, with the probable inten
ton to fire upon the expedition movin
within the same waters, and that ! shout
"be obliged to consider discharge of she
or shell from or into our waters, from tn
armed schooners Of her majesty, as an ae
/ seriously compromising the neutrality {
the two nations"
II Captain Drew, in the reply which | al
thus acknowledging, has been pleased I
|. mistake my point, and to raise anothe
a which certainly, in time of peace, no fune
!. tiary in the United States will ever que.
;. ton, viz: the common right of both ns
a tons to navigate, in all their breadth, tn
a waters of the Niagara. mo 8
q Colonel McNab, who will pardon m
e for not addressing myself directly to him
|. indeed have not the time without negle'
/. ling some urgent duty Of neutrality,--h'
e opened upon me wide field of complain
!, and controversy. What may be his pee
= liar views ofintcrnational laws, as applies
q Bile 10 recent AMI present circumstances G
At this frontier, Ihave inthe way Of dscussio
4 nothing to do. That code is also open