The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-05


undertaken. The authorities ia Canada, from intell
gepce received Of such intended movements among
citizens have felt themselves obliged to take precau
,onary against them have actually embodied
tho militia and assumed attitude repel the INVASION
to which they believed the Colonies exposed from
the United States state Of feeling on both sides OF
the frontier has thus been produced, which called Tor
promp. and vigorous Interference. II an lnsurrecton
existed IN Caads the smcable disposition OF The United
States towards Great Britain as well as their doy to
themselves would lead them to maintain street neu-
raiy aud TO their citizens from all violations oil
the laws which have been passed for It's enforcement.
But this Government recognizes still higher obligation
to reprcss all attempts the part Of s citizens to dis
tub the peace Of country where order prevails, or has
been re-estabished. Depredations by citizens upon
nations at peace with THO United States, combinations
for committing them, have at all times been regarded by
the American Government and people with the greatest
adherence. Military ncursions by our citizens into
countries situated and the commission Of acts OF vo
ence the members thereof order to effect change
in It's government under any pretex whatever have,
from the commencement Of our Government been held
equally criminal the part Of those engaged IN them.
and as much deserving Of punishment as would be the
disturbance OF the public peace by the pcrpeation oil
similar acts within our own territory:
BY country persons have these invaluable prin-
cples Of international hwprinciplea tho strict obser-
vance OF which is Indispensable 10 the preservation
of social order in the wod-been earnestly cher
shed sacredly respected than those great and good
men who first declaHd, ard finally established the IN
dependence OF our own country. They promulgated
and maintained them early and critical period in
our history they were subsequently embodied in legs-
laye enactments of highly penal character the faith
full enforcement of which has hitherto been. and will
trust always continue to be- regarded duty nsepa
raby associated with the maintenance Of national
honor. That the people of the United States should
feel interest in the spread of political institutions
free they regard their TO be- natural nor can
sincere solcude for the success Of all those who are.
at any time, in good faith struggling for their sequisi-
ton, be imputed to our citizens crime. With the
entire freedom Of opinion and undisgused expression
thereof their part the Government has neither the
right nor, trust, the disposition to interfere But
whether the interest the honor of the United States
require, that they should be made party TO any such
struggle, and, by inevitable consequence, to the war
which waged in its support, question which, by
constitution, is wisely left 10 Congress alone to de-
eide. 1t Is by the laws already made criminal In our
citizens to embarrass anticipate that decision by I'M
authorized military operations on their part. Offences
Of this character, IN addition to their crimnay yo-
latlons OF the laws OF our country, have direct ten
dency to draw down upon our own citizens at large the
multiplied evils Of foreign war; and expose to inuri-
GUS mpuations the good faith and honor Of the coun-
try. As such they deserve be put down with prompts
tude and dec ison / cannot be mistaken, am conf
dent counting on the cordial and general concurrence
Of ellow-c,zens in this sentiment copy Of the
proclamation which have felt my duty to issue, is
herewith communicated Cannot but hope that the
good sense and PATRIOTISM the regard for the honor and
which they have themselves enacted for their CO.
yernment, and the love Of order for which the Of
people have been long and Justly distinguished
will deter the comparatively few who are engaged IN
them from further prosecution Of such desperate
terprises. In the mean time, the existing laws have
bcen and will continue to be, faithfully executed and
every effort will be made carry them in their full
extent. Whether they sufficient or not to meet the
actual state of things the Canadian frontier, it is for
Congress to decide
[ tha here
mltted, that the Government Of Russia declines
newal Of tho fourth article Of the convention OF April,
1924, between the United States end His Imperial Ma
jesty by the third article Of which it agreed that
hereafter there shall be formed by the citizens of
the United States, under the authority Of the said
States, any establishment upon the northwest coast Of
America, in any Of the islands adjacent, to the north
Of 81 deg 40 min. of north latitude; and that in the
same manner there shall be none formed by Russian
subjects, under the authority Of Russia south of the
parallel" and by the fourth article, ",ha du-
ring term Of ten years, counting from the signature
OF the present convention the ships OF both powers or
which belong to their citizens subjects respectively,
may reciprocaly frequent, without any hlndance what
ever the interior seas, CULTS harbors, and creeks upon
the mentioned IN the preceding article for the pur
Poee uf fishing and trading with the natives of the
try The reasons assigned for declining to renew the
provisions of this article, briefly that the only
made by citizens Of the privilege secures them,
has been TO supply the indians with spurious liquors,
ammunition and FIRE that this traffic has been
excluded from the Russian trade and the supplies
furnished from the United States injurious TO the
Russian establishments the northwest coast and cal
cuated to produce complaints between the Govern
mcnts, His Imperial Majesty thinks for the of
both countries not to accede to tho proposition made by
the American Government for the renewal Of the article
last referred to.
The correspondence herewith communicated will
show the grounds upon which contend that the cili-
OF the United States have independent of the pro-
visions OF the convention ofls2 right trade with
the natives upon the coast in question: at unoccuped
places liable, however, it is admitted 10 be any lime
extingushedb BY ecreaon of Russian establishments
at such points This right is denied by the Russian
Government, which asserts that, by the operation of
the treaty OF 1924 each party agreed to waive the
general right 10 land on the vacant coasts on the
spective sides OF the degree of latitude referred to-
and accepted in lieu thereof, the mutual privileges
mentioned in the fourth article. The capital and
tonnage employed by cstiZens in their trade with
the northwest coast of America, will, perhaps,
adverting 10 the official statements of the commerce
and navigation Of the United States for the last few
years, be deemed too inconsiderabe in amount 10 at
tract much attention yet the subject may, in other
respects, deserve the careful consideration Of Con-
gress.
regret to state that the blockade of the principal
ports on the eastern coast of Mexico, which, in con-
sequence OF differences between that Republic and
France, instituted in May last unfortunately
still continues, enforced by competent French
naval force, and is necessarily embarrassing 10 our
trade in the gull, in common with that OF other
nations. Every disposition, however, is believed 10
exist on the part OF the French Government, to rem
der this measure as little onerouS as practicable
TO the interests of the citizens of the United Staes
and 10 those of neutral commerce. and il is to be
hoped that an early settlement of the difficulties be-
tween France and Mexico, will soon re-estabsh the
harmonious relations formerly subsisting between
THIN, and again open The ports of that Republic to
the vessels OF all friendly nations
A convention for marking that part Of the boun-
Diary between the United States and the Republic Of
Texas, which extends from The mouth Of the Sabine