Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-10-18

Fsiiow Citizens cffhs Senate
and House Of Represenfafires


our various duties, by eDaciing such laws as
the wants Of our constituents require. by e.
Letting 10 cffice such men as are capable,
faithful and honest, by equalizing the public
burdens and by administering the govern
meni with due regard TO frugaliiy and econ
omy, we give good evidence that we enter
tain proper estimate Of the responsibilities
OF our several stations
The general prevalence Of health the be-
nignam smiles Of merclful Providence on
the labors ofthe husburdmsn, and the pros
periiy which has attended our citizens in their
varied pursuits. demand grateful rcmem-
bfanec Of that Being from whom are ali our
blessings
Circumstances. which. a few months since.
in neighboring State, threatened to disturb
the friendly relations subsisIing between this
country and Great Britain. have happily.
through the wisdom and moderation OF the
two countries. been put in train oil amfcablr
adjustment This result. to nation like
ours. whose habits and pursuits make il al
all times their interest TO be al pence with
the resi- Of the world. and whose incInaiions
correspond with their Interests, is n malier OF
sincere congratulalioD.
The continuance Of the political dituIban.
ces ia the neighboring Province OF Canada.
and the nlledged cruelty with which the
contest had been carried on, was made the
apology FOR a system of inccndiafism Of the
most reckless and desperate character. on the
frontier between this State aud Canada
The design OF the perpetrators Of those mu-
iual acts ofsggression. was. evidently. 10 pro-
yoke and eAasperale the public mind. and
thus bring on u state Of feeling between the
inhabitants olthe two countries which would
ultimately result in war. The continued
succession Of these airocious acts from De-
eembeT TO April. goes Ear TO show tina, those
engaged ia them.on both sides OF the line. had
THE object in view. Ia the progress Of this
disgracrful business. a number OF the unoi-
tending citizens OF this state have been sub.
jrclrd TO heavy losses by the destruction OF
their buildings and other properly b. FIRE
In consequence OF the alarm occasioned
by these repeated acts Of violence. Brigadier
General Mason and the civil authorities in
ihat vicinity deemed il necessary. on three
several occasions. to call out portions OF the
militia 10 project the persons aud property Of
our citizens. and quiet public apprehension
was early apprised ofihc fact, and without
Delay assumed the responsibility OF ordering
the delivery Of arms from the Arsenal for
their use. The frsi detachment called out
in February. after remaining on duty several
days. was at my request, relieved BY regular
troops. mustered into the service OF the Uni
ted States, paid and disc harerd by order Of
Major General Scott ofIbe Army Applica-
lion was made TO the officer IN command al
Plaisburgh. 10 hErelhe same course pursued
wah those subsequently, called out. have
not y,t been apprised ofihe result
In February last. one George Holmes,
charged With the commission Of an airocious
murder in the Province Of Lower Canada,
was arrested in the town Of Burlington, and
there detained TO await the result OF demand
upon the President OF the United States for
bis surrender 10 the authorities Of Canada as
fugitive from justice. The President, in
the absence OF any conventional arrangement,
on the subject between this country and
Grea, Britain, declined interfering OF com
plying with the application; upon which the
Governor Of Canada addressed me on the
subject, and requested that. ia accordance
With the laws OF nations and The comfy here
toiore subsisting between the State Of Yer
mont and the Province OF Canada. the said
Holmes might be surrendered to the author
tiles Of that Province that he NIGH, be tried
for the crime with which he was charged.
Considering the practice which had here.
toiore prevailed between the authorities of
that Province and this Stalc--which. so far
as could ascertain. had been in favor OF sur
rendering. on application. persons charged
with the commission OF atrocious crimes
and also the consequences which must ine-
vitality result 10 the inhabitants of the re-
speciive territories from u contrary decision,
| was induced TO make an order for the de-
livery Of said Holmes 10 the Agent OF the
Canadian Government The execution OF
this order was prevented By wri, of Habeas
Corpus from the Supreme Court ofthis Stale.
The authority OF the Executive 10 make the
surrender. and consequently the obligations
Of national law on the subject. were BY some
denied. The legality Of the order. | under.
stand. Is now IN course Of judicial investi-
garion.
This may be proper occasion to remark, |
that. II the laws OF nations and the comfy |
which is supposed TO subsist between conn. |
tries ut peace. whose territories are contiguous, |
do no, warrant the exercise of the power
necessary to make surrender Of alrocious
criminals escaping from one government TO
the other II the foreign irlon can force him.
self upon US. claiming protection under our
laws from mcrited punishment, and thus
make our country refuge for the vilesi Of
tenders; and il, rs is commended by some. all
laws emanating from State legislatures on the
subject a re a M onxii, tional nj ,nonara,;,.