North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-08-07

ciple, so essential To the supremacy OF law
at home, and TO the preservation of peace
abroad. The correspondence OF MIR. JEFF
ierson, under the direction of President
Washington, with the British and French
ENJOYS, is full and conclusive to the point
in question. Common sense and common
humanity equally inculcates its sacred OBJ
servance. The domestic tranquility of
states, the question of peace or war with
their neighboring or distant powers, could
never safely be allowed 10 repose in the
hands Of few individuals, without the
authority of law, and contrary To its high
Obligations. The blood and treasure OF
millions OF human beings, the incaculable
calamlties OF war ought never TO be com.
United TO the will, to the passions and the
resentments, oil irresponsible persons, when
responsible governments, instituted by the
people themselves, have those great inter
ests entrusted TO their exclusive charge.
While, however, the grand jury con-
denim the repeated violation oil the neutral
laws fthe country, and view with deep
concern and regret the predatory incur
slons from our shores into neighboring
province, perceiving in their progress and
results nothing but individual suffering,
they are free TO confess, that their sym
palhles, in common with those of their
fellow citizens, are always enlisted with
those OF any nation earnestly engaged in
the assertion of its liberty and indepen-
dence. They hold the right of self gov
eminent to be inherent in every people;
and whenever they see, in any oppressed
country, the banners Of freedom uniured,
their anxious solctudes, their best wishes,
their most iervent hopes, attend the efforts
OF that country to relieve itself from the
letters oil tyranny and oppression.
The attention of the Grand Jury has
also been specially attracted to complaint,
that combination was entered into some
months ago, in this city by certain British
subjects and others, to the effect that in the
event Of war between the United States
and Great Britain, the persons engaged in
the alleged combination would enter the
BRUSH service and assist the enemy TO sub
due the aims OF this nation in battle. A
great number Of witnesses have been ex.
amned on this subject. The only evil
dence, except rumor, which the Grand Ju-
ry have been able to obtain of the reality
OF the charge is letter written by Brit
lsh subject in Detroi, to another in Toron~
to, dated in December, 1887, in which the
writer states, in substance, that in case Of
a war, between two and three hundred per-
sons had agreed to join the British against
the United States. Called, however, be-
fore the Grand Jury, this person admitted
That ne had written such letter, but sta
ted that he knew nothing Of the fact him.
sell having derived his information from
another individual. That individual. 10
on his examination, said that he had been
invited to sign an agreement in writing,
giving the pledge to join the British in case
OF war, but that he had not seen the
agreement. The person aledged to have
given this invitation declares upon oath,
that he neither invited that nor any other
individual to sign such an agreement, nor
does he know of the existence Of any agree
ment, verbal or written, Of the kind He
admitted that he had expressed the opn-
ION, that IN the event of a war between the
two nations, four or five hundred British
subjects, on this side, would 90 over and
join the British standard on the other side;
that he would himself do so, because he
was British subject and that he beev-
ed about one hundred and fifty persons, he
among them, did 60 over, during the late
troubles on this frontier. His testimony,
however, was very vague and general as
to Indivuals, duplicating no citizen, native
or naturalzeds in the nefarious intentions
imputed 10 some, nor any British subject
either of responsibility or known to this
community generally. He himself went
over in his business capacity.
Another complaint was incidentally
brought to the notice OF the Grand Jury.-
1t was stated that young gentleman, in
respectable standing, had called upon a
colored person in this city TO induce him
and other persons OF the same description.
to unite and take up arms on the side of
the British government, in case of war.
The Grand Jury have been able, neither
from the two individuals in question, nor
from any source, 10 obtain one particle of
truth Of The complaint.
Upon the whole, the Grand Jury have
been unable to found any further proceed
ing upon the information received on these
subjects, Than 10 remark, that the names
oil lew Of our most honest and faithful
naturallzed citizens have been coupled with
those imputed transactions, and that they
have, no doubt truly, disowned all agency
IN any Thing Of the kind, expressing the
utmost Indignation at the imputaIion, as
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