The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-01-01

sequence Of the expectations raised by sucl
promising patrons. We hardly know what END
such men will make.
Mn. VAN BUREN's PRocLAMArIoN.-The fol-
lowing very able arIirIc, says The Franklin Mes
senger, is from the Philadelphia Ledger which
we copy, ms embracing, in the main, our own
sentiments. Rend it, we supporters OF the AID.
nIinIstralion Ye who call us federnliss, and
ARE disposed to claim all the democracy" read
it, and suy il Mr. Van Buren, does not show him.
self TO he tory, and not democrat IN feeling
Rend H. ye who have resolved that they have
unshnken and implicit confidence in the P.4IRL
OTHS.H IF MARTIN VAN buren,
Tue Presidents PRoCLAMATIoN.-Ths is
nn extraordinary document The President of.
hcIBly informed thar American citizens were
making military preparations within our own
territory, against nation with whom we are at
peace, WINS bound TO issue his proclamation, cal
ling upon all citizens TO abstain from such pro-
ccedmgS. But why should he issue such proc
nnntInn Because such military preparations
violate an Act OF Congress, and treaty with II
iutcIgn nation, both OF which are laws Of the
Union, aud the President, as the executive OF the
Federal governments is bound To enforce the
laws. But here his duty ends. He is bound TO
speak IN reference to our owl laws, but no turth
foreign quarrel, in which American citizens @.
vince disposition To engage, or TO The rights,
wrongs. or means of either of the conendne
parties, is II supcrerogatory,a and therefore crong!
Has the President kept witnin these limits
We think not. lie has iravell, our of lis nppro.
pirate path 10 express his individual opinion up
on The character Of the contest and the means
Of the insurgents. With these points the exc
cutivc has no concern for whether the Cana
dams are right or wrong, able or unable TO eff
feet Their olJect, he has no official right OF judg
ni"nt hetween them and the British government.
IL they feel oppressed, and able to break their
chains, no foreign functonary has II right 10 tell
Them officially, that their own government il
just, or that they too weak to contend gaust
II. This is that very Interference between the
heliigerenI parties, which the President iorbids
ia American citizens. We admit that his inter.
terence consists merely in an expression OF opin-
ion. But this being deviation from his APP
propraie province, is Inconsistent with his pro-
hibitiun of the same thing TO American citizens;
for 10y torhiding all coumtenance to the Cana
dlans, he torblds any expression Of opiulon in
their favor Then if the President cannot eX-
press his opinions upon such points officially,
his expression of them in an official document,
Ifnot usurpnion, is somewhat indecorous
What opinion has the President expressed
He says that the canadian insurgents have for
iced their claim to the protection of their own
country. How does he know /? This is point
tn he decided 10y the judicial tribunals of their
country md To prcjudcate their case, to con
denim them before trial, is uni ust in any one, IL
especially unjust in the Chief Magistrate of IA
mother country, speaking officially. MIR Van
Buren, has right, in private conversation or let
terS, to express his opinion upon Canadian at
fnirs but the Chief Magistrate of the United
States has no right. in official document, 10
denounce The Canadians rs traitors or pirates
by saying that they have forfeited the protection
ia
particularly exceptionuble in the chief magistrate
of n republic, whose funda mental principles for
bid nny nbrdgpment OF the least right, wthou;
trial and conviction. AS another opinion, he
says the Canadians cannot succeed without for
eigu aid, that they cannot expect to obtain II, "
that they are fatally injured by attempts of Amer
lean citizens to aid them. How does he know
all or any of this ? And if he thoroughly I'M
derstand it, what right has he say it officially?
None I; for he has right to speak in the case
beyond the maintenance of our own laws ; and
with such laws, the rights, wrongs or prospects
of the Canadians have no concern.
The President warns all American citizens
who may aid the Canadian insurgents, to expect
no protection from their own government. This
is right ;-ior the Americans who so Interfere,
forfeit their right to this protection, and incur all
the liabilities which the British government
may impose upon its subjects in revolt Accord
ing TO the laws OF nations, such men cease TO
Bun if they choose to incur this risk,
have they the moral right to interfere Certain-
~. TIL IN the President has exceeded official
proprieiy, if not official right, in prono'nclng
their interference nefnrious. Have they a legal,
right tn interfere They have, both under the
laws of nations and the laws of the Uuited
SIn'es il they commit no act OF hostility wiihln
their own country. The laws of nations allow
men TO interfere privately in any national quar-
rcs. Thus il France and Great Britain be at
pence, aud France be at war with Spain, British
subjects have n right to join Spanish armies or
nnvies aud fight against France, ii they leave
Britain privately, without oslensIhle military
preparation Should they muster in the streets
OF London, the French government would have
n RIGHT to complain {; but should they he cap |
tnred in battle between French and Spanish
army, while ighlipg for the latter, they could
not be treated AS pirates, innrderels, traitors, or
other criminals, but would he entitled 10 all ne
lmnnnilies of Spanish Subjects. So II tiiey
should Join the insurgents in French province,
against the French governments they woilid DC
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