Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-12-18

tween this government and that 81 Great Britain
has paSssi since that communicated % Congress-
towards the close Of their last session. TIE Q8ei
q negotiate convention for the app6iptuler IS q
Joint commission Ofsurvey and exploration sSas
10 ever, assured will Be met b her Nm $50
vsFnmenl n conc lalc.y and friendly pint, ead
i, lions. & enuble tss Brlfsh minister here 70
concluds such "a aIlalRemenl. will Be transmit
ted 10 him without needless delay. IL IS hoped
and eEpecleo taat these lIelion1 viii Be- Uf b
liberal character and that this negotiation, If sue
Cesiul. WIII prove an important step towards the
satisfactory and ina adjustment Of the conlroveF.
~.
had hoped that the respect FOR the laws aud
regard for the peace and honor Of their own'c0u
Try, which has ever characterized the citizens Of
ihs Unasd States, would have prevented any poF-
ton of them from using any means to promote in
surTection 10 the territory Of power with which
We are al peace, and with which the United States
are DESTROYS Of maintaining the most friendly re-
iations. regret sincerely. however. to be oblig-
ed to inform you that this has not been the case.
Information has been given to me, derived from
official and other sources, that many citizens of
the United States have associated together to mike
hostile incuTsons from our territory into Canada.
and to aid and abet instruction there, in open VIE
Olation Of the laws Of the United States, and in
open disregard Of theft duties as citizens. This
information has been in part confirmed, by q hos
tile invasion actually made by citizens oil the o.
States, in conjunction with Canadians and others,
and accompanied by forcble seizure ofahe pro-
perry Of our citizens, and an application thereof
10 the prosecution Of military operations against
| the people Of Canada.
The results DC these criminal assaults upon the
peace and order Of neigboring country have been
as expected fatally destructive 10 the misgud-
ed or deuded persons engaged in them, and highly
injurious 10 those In whose behalf they prOiessed
| 10 have been undertaken. The authorities in Cam
ada, from intelligence received Of such intended
movements among our citizens, have felt themselves
obliged 70 take precautionary measures against
them; have actually embodied the militia and as
sumed ca attitude to Fepel the invasion To which
they have believed the colonies were exposed from
the United States state OF feeling on both
sides Of the frontier has thus been produced, which
called for prompt and vigorous interference. II
insuFFectiOn existed in Canada the amicable dispO
siiions Of the United States towards Great Britain,
as well as their duty to themselves, would lead
them 10 maintain strict neutrality, and to restrain
their citizens from all violations Of the laws which
have been passed for its enforcement. But this GO
vsrnment recognises a still higher obligation 20 re-
press all attempts the part Of its citizens 10 dis
iuFb the peace Of country where order prevails,
has been re-established. DepredatiOns by our clti
gems upon nations at peace with the United States,
or combinations for committing them, have at oil
times been regarded by the American Government
and people with the greatest ahhOrrence.-Miitary
incursiOns by citizens into countries situated
and the commission Of acts Of violence the MEM
beFs thereof, in order 10 effect change in its gov
eminent, or under any pFetext whatever, have,
from the commencement of our government, been
held equally criminal on the part Of those engaged
in them, and as much deserving OF punishment as
would be the disturbance OF the public peace by
the preparation Of similar within territory
BY no country or persons have these invalua-
Bile principles of international law-pTinciples,
the strict observance Of which Is so indisPenSa-
bic to the preservation Of social order m the
woTld-been moro earnestly cherished sacred.
" respected than by those great and good men
who first declared, and finally established, the in-
dependence Of our own country. They plOmul-
gated AMI maintained them at an early and crit
cal period in cur history they were subsequently
embodied in legislative enaclmenis Of highly
penal character, the faithful enforcement Of which
has hitherto been, aud will, trust, always con-
tinue TO be regarded as duty inseparably asso-
cialed with the maintenance Of our national no.
nor. That the people ef the United States should
feel an interest in the spread Of political insttu
tons as free as they regard their own TO be, is
tural; nor can sincere solicitude for the success
Of all those who are, at any time, in good faith
struggling for their acquisition, be imputed to ou
citizens as a crime. With the entire freedom oil
opinion, and an undsguised expression thereof
on their part the government has neither the right
/ nOr, l trust, the disposition 10 interfere. Blu
whether the interest or the honor Of the Unitet
States require that they should be made party
to any such struggle. and, by inevitable cOnse
quence, 10 the war which is waged in its support
IS question which. by our constitution. Is wisely
. left to congress to decide. It's by the laws, al
l ready made criminal IN our citizens to embarras
o. anticipate that decision, by unauthorized militia
~ operations on their part Offences Of thi
character, in addition TO their cTiminality as VIC
lations Of the laws Of our country, have drec
tendency to draw down upon our own citizens q
: large, the multiplied evils Of foreign war, an
expose to injurious imputations the good faith an
honor Of the country. As such they deserve /
: be put down with promptitude and decision.
3 cannot be mistaken, am confident, in countin
!. on the cordial and general concurrence Of ou
fellow-cilizens IN this sentiment A copy Of th
0 proclamation which have felt i my duty to Is
: sue, is herewith communicated. / cannot bu
{ hope that the good sense and patriotism, the re
scctd for the honor and reputation Of their couU
try The resn,t for The laws which they have them
4 selves enacted for then own government, and III
+ love Of order for which the mass 81 qYT peoRi
! have been so justly distinguished. will deter -.
! Comparatively few who are engaged in them iron
4 a further prosecution Of such desperate enteTpns
4 es. In the mean time, the existing laws haV
been, and will continue 10 be. faithfully executed
a and every effort will be made to carry them on
T. ia their full extent. Whether they are suficieu
or not, TO meetthe aclual state Of things on th
. Canadian frontier, 10 Cor congress 10 decide.
Z Il will appear from the correspondence here
. with submitted, that the governmental Russi
4 declines a renewal Of the 4th article Of the cou
I veuiiOn Of April. 1924. between the q. State
: and his Imperial Maiesiy BY The third articIe
i which Il ia agreed that hereafter there shall nc
]. IA En-o.a h.. .o ci.izane of lie Lnilaa Slatas