Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-12-14


growing out of injuries to individuals. There is, |
at present, also reason to believe that equta-
bic settlement of all disputed points will be at
tanned without further difficulty or unnecessary
delay, and thus authorize the free resumption OF
diplomatic Intercourse with our happy Republic.
With respect to the northern boundary OF the
United States, no official correspondence be.
tween this Government and that OF Great Britain
has passed since that communicated to Congress
towards the close Of their last Session. The
offer to negotiate a convention for he appoint
ment OF joint commission Of survey and eX-
ploration, ! am, however, assured will be met by
her Macsty's Government in a concliiatory and
friendly spirit, and instructions to enable the
British Minister here to conclude such an ar.
rangement will be transmitted to him with ut
delay. 1t is hoped and expected that these m
sructions viii be of liberal character, and that
this negotiation, if successful, will prove to be
an important step towards the satisfactory and
final adjustment OF the controversy.
| had hoped that the respect for the laws and
regard Tor The peace and honor of their own
country, which has ever characterized the cltI-
zens of the United States, would have prevent
ed any portion OF them from usln., any means TO
! promote instruction in the territory OF Il pow.
er with which we are at peace. and with which
the United States are DESTROYS OF maintaining
the most friendly relations |, regret deeply,
!
has not been the case. Information has been
given to me, derived from official and ether
sources, that many citizens Of the United
! StatCs have associated together TO make hos
! tile incursons from our territory into Canada,
and to aid and alet Instruction there in violation
of the obligations and laws of the United States,
and in open disregard Of their own duties us
citizens. This information has been IN part
! confirmed by hostile invasion actually made
IL.
with Canadians and others, and accompanied
by torcble seizure of the property Of our ciii-
zens, and an application thereof to tho prescott
ton of military operations ag linst the author-
ties and people OF Canada.
The results Of these criminal assaults upon
the peace and order of neighoorlng country
have been, as was to be expected, fatally de.
strucvc to the misguided or deluded persons
engaged in them and highly injurious to those IN
whose behalf they are protested to have been
undertaken. The authorities i. Canada, from
intelligence received Of such intended move
menls among our citizens, have felt themselves
obliged to take precautionary measures against
them; have actually embodied the militia, and
assumed an attitude to repel the invasion to
which they believed the colonies were exposed
from the United States. A state OF feeling on
both sides the frontier has thus been pro-
duced, which called for prompt and vigorous
interference. If an instruction existed in
Canada, the amicabe dispositions of the u.
} States towards G. Britain,as well as their duty
to themselves, would lead them 10 mnnun q
strict neutrality and TO restrain their citizens
from all violations of the laws which have been
passed for its enforcement. But this Govern
ment recognizes a still higher obligation to re-
press al attempts on the part of its citizens Il
f disturb Ill, ace Of country where order
prevails o. has been rc.osrabIished. Depreda
: tons by our citizens upon nations at peace VIII
, the United States, or combinations for commit
: ting them, have al all times becn regarded b,
: the American Government and people with tint
D creates! adherence. Military ncurslons by GU
c citizens into countries so situated, and the com
il mission facts Of violence on the member
h thereof, in order effect change in It's Govern,
s men, or under any pfcteXt whatever, have
from the commencement OF our Government
c been held equally criminal on the part of thOs
y engaged in them and as much deserving G
st punishment, as would be the disturbance of I'll
l. public peace by the preparation Of similar act
al within our own territory.
:. BY no country or persons have these nvalui
p, bic principles of international law--principe;
i the strict observance oil which is SO indspcnsi
IF bic to the preservation Of social order in til
e. world--beon more earnestly cherished or 81
ID credy respected than by those great and goo
W mon who first declared, and finally established
10 inc independence OF our country. lNey pToHlu
O. gated and maintained them at an early an
u critical period in our history;they were subs
&C qucnty embodied in legislative enactments
- highly penal character, the faithful entorccme
ch OF which has hitherto been, aud will, | trus
We always continue to be, regarded as duty inse
- erably associated with the maintenance of Of
lip national honor. That the people OF the u.
ur should feel an interest in the spread Of polite
sc institutions as free as they regard their own
n be, is natural; nor Can sincere sohcude
the success Of all those who are, at any time,
rs, good faith struggling for their acquisition,
ed imputed to our citizens as crime With Il
1sl entire freedom Of opinion, and an uTdlsngus
nd ed EXPRESSION thereof, on their part, the Go
Ne, eminent has neither the right, nor, trust, t
disposition to interfere. But whether the
ms, tercst the honor of the United States requi
OF that they should be made party TO any su
us struggle. and by inevitable consequence, to
nc; war which is wagcd IN lis support, is que sli
pie which, by our Constitution, is wisely left
zee Congress alone 10 decide. 1t is, by the lay
ing already made criminal to our citizens to emb
BUS rass or anticipate that dCci SION, by unauth
rms lied military operations on their part. Oilen
ate OF this character, in addition to their criminal
"a violations of the laws of our country hay
ign direct tendency TO draw down upon our o
ca, oiizcns at large the multiplied evils of
AIRY eign war, and expose to injurious mputat
az the good faith and honor of the country.
i'm such they deserve TO be put down with prom
utude and decision. ! cannot be mistaken
, be am confident, in counting on tho cordial
iov. general concurrence of our fellow ci,z
ave in this sentiment. \ copy of the proclar
last ton which l have felt it my duty to is
lion is herewith communicated. ! cannot
e a hone that the good sense and patriotism, the
gard for the honor and reputation of their CO
that try, the respect for the laws, which they J
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