Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-03-22
VOL. XH-.No. 613

| W. Wusl iOok W the law OF h'|oHS 'oT tHe
character and degree of necessity, and the
conditions annexed TO its exercise. Now
oil publicists agree that the necessity.
which can justify tho invasion Of neutral
territory. must be imminent and extreme,
and involving impending destruction. tits
never permitted for purposes Of conven.
fence, OF ordinary defence, or as measure
of retaliation. however atrocious the injury
may have been which it is intended TO pun
iah. Wherever, thcn, there has been
clear invasion Of neutral tcrrtory,,he proof
lies upon the party to bring himself within
the exception, and show the character of the
necessity under which the violation took
place.
| Was the present such a case' Was the
necessity, even remote, much less extreme
and imminent What advantage was
gained by the destruction OF this vessel, but
to revive and swell the deep excitement,
which then existed on the American ffon~
tier, aud which the Government of the U.
States was using its best efforts to assuoge'
None certainly. On the contrary, TO sup
pose for moment that such q measure was
dictated by the extreme necessity of SELF
preservation, which was in fact not even
useful, or in any manner conducive 10 such
an end, would be preposterous, 1t can
hardly then be presumed hat her Majesty's
Government will maintain that this was
a case embraced within the exceptions and
justified by tie principles of public law, or
the usage Of civilized nations. There is
not feature in the proceeding TO warrant
such an opinion. On the contrary, the
case, as proved, is one Of open and admit
ted invasion Of the territory and sovereign.
| u IF m ipIo b, ho po1
forces Of n friendly power, and the de-
struction Of the lives and property Of its
citizens, under circumstances of peculiar
aggravation, not less injurious to the char
acter and interests Of her maiestv's govern.
mcnt than those of the United States
That such will he the view which her ma.
jesty's Government will take of this pro.
ceeding, the undersigned cannot doubt.
To the alleged breach Of neutrality by
the American government, il is not neces-
, sary nor would it be proper that the UNDER
, signed should at this time do more than
briefly advert. Although attempts have
, been made by the perpetrators Of this out
J rage. and others Of her majesty's provn-
clal government, to involve the United
, States and its officers in the odum Of coun-
y ,enancing, if not participating in the breach
1 of neutrality, the undersigned is happy in
r knowing :ha. they have signally failed -
;, They were made without the slightest evil
dence of their TRUTH and under circumstan.
). ces which entitled them TO no credit
@ Her ma jcstys government have not been
II lnsensbie to The Efforts that we~s-saa1as b's
d both the general and state governments to
re enforce and preserve their obligations Of
d neutrality. Faithful to the principles which
it has always protested, and on which it
d has ever acted, the American government
), determined from the first moment Of tho
n contest to maintain the strictest neutrality.
:. Every thing was done which her ma jest 3
d government had a right TO expect; and TO
e the prompt and vigorous measures adopted
by the United States, are in great meas
e ure to be attributed the cessation of hosti.
IF Ilties within the Canadian provinces. The
" sincerity of the American government in
Is preserving its relations of neutrality and
c peace, will therefore be best seen in the
f. early manifestation Of its views, aud the
steps taken to restrain its misguided c,i.
, zens from interfering in the Disturbances
n of her majestvs colonies. These efftr,s
70 moreover. were spontaneous and uucaIed
~ for. So far from being Influenced or slim.
- ula'cd by any rcquisltIon on the part of
=. her Majestys Government, they were
" prompted solely by its own views of duty
Is and interest. and lis love Of peace. IT.
- however, the United States, had failed to
preserve its neutral relations it would still
have afforded no ground of defence or Jus.
Ie ,lfca,on for this proceeding. Tha, would
:" have been matter for adjustmen, between
y the two nations and not left to the rash
~ ness and caprice Of subordinate officers,
such as those concerned in the preparation
III OF this outrage, and upon whose discretion
IS, and judgment little reliance is TO be placed,
OF II there had, indeed, been any breach of
r neutrality on the part Of the United States.
5, 1t was for her majostys government alone
a to have vindicated its rights upon the prin.
~ clplcs Of international law. The case then
A. is one of open, undsgulsed, ard unwarran
re table hostility.
ID The undersigned has, therefore, been in.
~ suucted TO invite the early attention of her
Y, majosty's government to the subject, and in
ns appealing TO its sense of honor, justice, and
/. magnanimity to express the confident expec.
of lation Of the President of tho United States
I'd that the whole proceeding will not only be
j. disavowed and disapproved, blu, that such re-
\. dress as the nature of the case obviously re-
pa quires, will be promptly made.
I'd The undersigned prays Lord Palmerson 10
ID accept assurances Of his distinguished consid-
q GRAFTON and respect.
70 (Signed) A. STEVENSON.
re LORD PALMERsToN TO Mr.. STEvENsoS.
Foreign Office, June 6, 1888.
- The undersigned, her ma esty . pr ncipa secreta.