Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1838-12-15

yey and exploration, am, however, assured
will be met by Her Maiesty's Government in
a aconciliatory and friendly spirit, and irstruc-,
tions to enable the British Minister here to
conclude such,an arrangement will be trans
mitted to him without needless delay. 1t is
hoped and expected that these instructions
will be of a liberal character, and that this ne
gotiation, if successful, will prove to be an i'm
portant step towards the satisfactory and final
adjustment of the controversy.
Z, ] had hoped that the respect for the laws and
regard for the peace and honor Of their own
country, which has ever characterized the ci-
tizens Of the United States, would have pre-
vented any portion of them from using any
means to promote insurrection in the territory
of power with which we are at peace, and
with which the United States are desirous of
maintaining the most friendly relations. re-
gret deeply however, to be obliged to inform
you that this has not been the case. lnforma-
tion has been given to me, derived from official
and other sources, that many citizens Of the
United States have associated together tomake
hostile ihcurtious from our territory into Can
ada, and 10 aid and abet insurrurection there,
in violation of the obligations and laws of the
United States, and in open disregard of their
own duties as citizens. This information
has been in part confirmed, by hostile lnva-
sion actually made by the citizens of the Uni
ted States, in conjunction with Canadians and
accompanied by forcible seizure Of the pro-
perty of our citizens, and an APPLICATION thereof
to the prosecution of military operations
against the authorities and people OF the Can
adas.
The results of these criminal assaults up
on the peace and order of neighboriDg coun-
try have been, as was to be expected, fatally
destructive to the misguided or deludod persons
engaged in them, and highly Injurious TO tliose
in whose behalf they are protested to have
been undertaken. The authorities in Canada,
from intelligence received of such intended
movements among our citizens, have felt them
selves obliged to take precautionary measures
against them; have embodied the militia, and
assumed an attitude to repel the invasion to
which they believed the Colonies we're exposed
from the United States. A state of feeling on
both sides of the frontier has thus been produ-
ced, which called for prompt and vigorous in
reference. If an insurrection exists in Can
ada, the amicable dispositions Of the U. States
towards Great Britain, as well as their duty
to themselves, would lead them to maintain a
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 still higher obligation to re-
press all attempts on the part ofits citizens TO
disturb the peace Of country where order
prevails or has been re-establshed. Depre-
dations by our citizens upon nations at peace
with the United States, and combinations for
committing them, have at all times boen re-
garded by the American Government and peo-
pie with the greatest adherence. Military in
cursons by our citizens into countries SO sit
uated, and the commission Of acts of violence
on the members thereof, in order to effect
change in It's government, or under any pre-
text 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 per-
petration of similar acts within our own terri
By no country or persons have these invaIu-
able principles ofinternational law--principles.
the strict observance of which is so indispen-
sable to the preservation of social order in the
world-been more earnestly cherished or sa-
credly respected than by those great and good
men VINO first declared, and finally established,
the Independence Of our own country. They
promulgated and maintained them at an early
and ethical period in our history; they were
subsequently embodied in legislative ehact-
ments ofa highly penal character, the faithful
enforcement Of which has hitherto been, and
will, thrust, always continue TO be, regarded
as a dlty inseparably associated with the main
tainarre of our national honor. That the peo-
pie of.he United States should feel an interest
in The spread of political institutions as free as
they regard their own to be, is natural; nor
can u sincere sollcitude for the success of all
those Who are, at any time, in good faith strug
Cling br their acquisition, be IMPUTED 10 our
citizens as crime. With the entire freedom
of opinion, and an undisguised expression
thereof, on their part, the Government has
neither the right, nor, | trust, the disposition
to interfere. But whether the interest or 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 is waged in its support, is o question
which, by our constitution, is wisely left to
Congress alone to decide. tt is, by tho laws,
already made crimitalin our citizens to embar-
rass OF anticipate tilat ueclsiol, ny uhauIhori-
zcd military operations on their part. or
fences Of this character, in addition to their
criminality as violations of the laws Of our
country; have direct tendency to draw down
upon our own citizens at large the multiplied
evils of foreign war, and expose to injurious
imputations the good faith and honor of the
country, As such they deserve to be put
down with promptitude and decision. y can
not be mistaken, Fam confident, in counting
on the cordial and general concurrence Of our
|fellow-citizens in this sentiment A copy Of
the proclamation which have felt tiny duty
to issue, is herewith communicated. I cannot
but hope that the good sense and patriotism,
the regard for the honor and reputation of their
co,, n 81 tho, c>r . Il Z, IL ~ I,