Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-10-16
,ctoberl6 1897

,vos made the apology Tor system OF IN
W"d;orism OF the most reckless and des-
60" -, character, on the frontier between
y" Safe and Canada The design ofthe
w. "roy,rators Of those mutual acts of ag-
g.,s.on, was, evidently. TO provoke and
s..sneraie the public mind, and thus
Inv on state OF feeling between the in
S.h;iants Of The two countries which
. ~onId ultimately result in war. The
.oatinued Succession of these atrocious
.els from December to April. goes Far 10
.bow that those engaged in them, on both
.Jss 81 the line. had this object in view.
i the progress Of this disgraceful bust.
'S.. q number of unofending citizens of
~. State have been subjected to heavy
o,es by the destruction of their buildings
md other properly by fire.
Ia consequence of the alarm occasion.
.dbv these repeated acts of violence, Brio.
,der General Mason and the civil author
iies in that vicinity deemed it necessary
an three several occasions, TO call our Dor.
ions Of the militia TO protect the persons
and property Of our citizens, and ouie.
rubIc apprehension. was early an.
rrsed Of the fact, and without delay as
,pmed The responsibility of ordering the
delivery Of arms from the Arsenal for
their use The first detachment called
Oh, in February, after remaining on duty
seyeiaIdays was, at my request, relieved
BY regular troops, mustered into the SER
vice Of the United States, paid and dis.
charged BY order of Major General Scott
| oflhe Army. Application was made TO
The officer in command at Plausburoh, TO
brethe same course pursued with those
subsequently, called out. have not vet
Nen uppristd of the result.
lnFebruary last, one George Holmes.
darged With the commission of an afro
Gous murder 10 the Province of Lower
Caaada, was arrested in the town of Bur
ngon. and there detained 10 await the
r'ut Of demand upon The President Of
be United States for his surrender to the
authorities of Canada as a fugitive from
sice. The President, in the absence Of
lay conventional arrangement on The sub
r, between this country and Great Bri-
bio, declined interfering or complying
Eah. lEe application upon which the
Governor oil Canada addressed me on the
ubject and requested that, in accordance
With. The laws of nations and the comfy
heretofore subsisting between the State of
Vermont and the Province of Canada, the
aid Holmes might be surrendered to the
authorities of that Province that he mig h,
be tried for the crime with which he was
charged.
Considering the practice which had
ereioi0re prevailed between the authori.
Of that Province and this State
hich, so far as | could ascertain, had been
b favor Of surrendering, on application,
persons charged with the commission oil
rociOus crimes-and also the conse-
laences which must inevitably result to
be inhabitants of the respective terrific
les from contrary decision, | was in
aced 10 make an order for the delivery
said Holmes to the Agent OF the Cana
pan Government. The execution of this
Tder was prevented by writ OF Habeas
Corpus from the supreme Court of thi:
late. The authority of the Executive L
Make the surrender, and consequently thu
hIgations Of national law OIL the subject
Pre by some denied. The legal.t,
The order, | understand, is now in
0urse OF judicial investigation.
This may be a proper occasion TO re
bark, that, il the laws Of nations and th
0nity which is supposed 10 subsis: be
peen countries at peace, whose territorie
e contiguous, do not warrant the exel
Sc Of the power necessary 10 make SUI
'nd,r Of atrocious criminals escapin,
pm one government 10 the other; if th
arrlgn ielon can force himself upon u:
aming protection under our laws fror
nerlted punishment. and thus make GU
Fountry refuge for the vIest offenders
md i, as is contended by some, all law
manating from State legislatures on III
uolect are Unconstitutional and inoper;
yer becomes our Immediate duty, as
leasure OF self.protection, promptly {
adNe snch representations 10 the gener;
@emment, for whom all power and al
nnly on this subject are claimed, as wi
aase proper measures TO be taken, eithe
legislation Of Congress. or by treat
'pOIatlon with neiohboring and friend
overs, 10 enable the proper auihoriti
UUually 10 demand and surrender pe
VnS Charged with the commission of ore
,'nesn one government and escapir
~" ~, we territories of the other.
= e policy of despoiic governments
Keep their subjects in ignorance of the
gus as men, and of their physical al
NV power. In this lies the foundati
%eF security. In republic, all POI
Inherent in the people, no individu
."Altd to pre.eminence over his fello
"yP Tor superior moral or inIeileclu
a .s The happiness and secu
VI the npnnlsa N ra tho l,,x;,:.xc,o ...,l.