Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-03-21
cREAT pUBLIC MEETTNG.

1
President, A. S. fonrER, and Theodore
RoMEyN, Vice Presidents, CHARLES
PELrIER and ANTHONY Ten EycK, Sec
retaries.
The meeting having been called 10 order,
David Il. llarbaugh, Esq, from the COM
mitee Of twenty-one appointed at the last
meeting, made the following report, which
was read, and on motion of Peter Morey,
Esq. accepted.
The committee appointed at the meeting
of the citizens of Detroit, on the 7th OF
March, inst, to collect information in rel.
crence to the insults and outrages alleged
10 have been committed by the British au-
thori,ies on the rights of American citizens,
beg leave to report, that they appointed a
subcommittee Of five to visit Sandwich and
Maiden, TO ascertain the truth Of these al
legations and rumors, aud their report IN
reference TO these matters. is herewith sub
united to this meeting, and made part and
parcel of this your committees
REPORT.
The subcommittee appointed to visit the
Canadian side for tho purpose OF collecting
information. in reference 10 the insults and
outrages alleged to have been committed
on the rights Of American citizens, beg
leave TO submit TO the general committee,
the following report;
That on the ninth day of March, inst,
your committee crossed The river, opposite
Detroit, and Immediately proceeded, with
out the slightest molestation from any per.
son, to ascertain if any batteries or other
Notifications were being erected. Your
committee passed up the river for short
distance, and could not discover that any
preparations were making or had been
made, for the erection of batteries or for
tiications-that they did not see any per-
sons engaged at work upon the bank, nor
could they discover any circumstances that
would Justify, for single moment, the ru'
NOR that such preparations were IN progress
or that they had even been commenced.
Your committee then proceeded, without
obtaining pass, and unmolested, to Sand
| witch. and there met with considerable
number of the magistrates of that place.
They were received and treated with the
! utmost kindness and courtesy The inter-
view of your committee with them was free
and unreserved. They exhibited perfect
willingness TO give any explanation that was
desired, of The course they had pursued in
any particular case, and the reasons which
| had induced them 10 adopt ii. Your CON-
mittee deem il unnecessary to go into a de-
tail Of the different conversations which
were held with the magistrates, and OF the
explanations which were made by them, as
well as by your committee, of crcumstan.
ces which had occurred on both sides, and
TO which some slight Importance had been
given by the misrepresentation which eX'
cited feeling is always prompted TO make
But your committee would beg leave to say
that they are satisfied that the respectable
citizens of Sandwich, Windsor and Maiden
are DESTROYS that those friendly feelings
which have so long subsisted between then
, and the inhabitants of Detroit should be pre-
served, and that the efforts of few design
ing and desperate men, should not interrup
, that free and social intercourse which 1t II
Tho interest of all To cultivate and maintain
Your committee would also state, tina
every facility in the power of the magis
{ trates, was freely offered, in order that the.
might obtain all the information they dc
7, sired. Your committee were accompanies
I by them TO the Jail, and the different room
and apartments shown to, and examined b
. them. Your committee found no Amer
r can citizens in prison, having, at the re
e quest of the magistrates, Intercepted ever
j. prisoner as TO his place Of residence and hi
S citizenship. The Jail, the different room
j. and apartments were clean, warm, and we
d lighted, and their entire appearance pre-
Fl sen:ed an air Of comfort and cleanliness
l. seldom seen in buildings erected for sin
liar purpose. In closing this portion of ii
s report, your committee think it due to ii
d persons who have charge Of this prlso
G f., state, that they are satisfied, not on
Il from; its appearance, but from their conve
@ sotion and department, that their trcatme
;. nc prisoners has been, and is now chara
at terissed by mildness, humanity, and benev
/. lence.
5. Your committee proceeded from San
,. wich to Maiden, and were received by u
.. military in command, at that post, with Il
If same feelings Of kindness and courte'
il which were extended to your committee
Y, the civil authorizes of Sandwich. 10 d
re tail the MANY unfonnded rumors that hi
reached Maiden, and tic numerous clrcur
n stances which had occurred, and which, u
as explained, would naturally tenq 10 creo
{. feelings of distrust in the minds of mcn
u. that our state and general government HI
not used its appropriate means nor exer'
ne scd its legitimate powers to preserve a
I'D maintain our neutral relation, would occ
'c- Nv more time than your committee are
Iot ling to consume. They can only say Il
they endeavorcd to explain, and it is hop
satisfactorily, the numerous causes, viii
ope,atedto produce results discountenanc
do and deprecated by the friends of order
ii, of law, and by all who are anxious TO p
N. serve, un,arDished, the plgh.cd faith a
rly honor of our country.
u Your committee, through the politon'
ay OF Col. Townsend, the officer second
the command, and who is entitled to this pul
by acknowledgment, had permission to see
an. converse freely with the prisoners that w
my taken in the engagement at Point au Pei
hat island. 1t may not be improper 10 sl'
ers that none OF the prisoners are citizens
ion Michigan. Those that were not wound
nm. are confined on board of schooner ly
ri. at the wharf at Maiden. They had b
an. furnished since their capture with Ger
1900 x,,,., onnora1 md fo nil