North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-01-15

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boat, Caroline, Doci. Fl. Il. STAGe was
appointed President, J. B. YouNG, j.
Fl seGERTY and H. WHTE, Fice Prest-
dents, Il. j. NEVIS and p. CHURcHILL
Secretaries.
The objects Of the meeting having been
stated a committee Of ten was appointed
10 draft memorial and resolutions ;~who
made the following report, which was
unanimously adopted
The committee 10 whom has been en-
trusted the duty Of drafting a memorial
and resolutions, relative 10 the destruction
of the steamboat Caroline, and the muir
der of our citizens, beg leave TO report the
following
MEMORIAL
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
lives in Congress assembled
Your memoralists, citizens Of the county
Of Erie, OF the State of New York, res
pectiully represent-That they deem the
burning OF the steam boat Carolue aud
the murder Of unarmed American citizens
at Schlosser, on the night of the 29th OF
December, 1887, by British soldiers, and
the immediate and unhesitatlng approval
OF that dastardly outrage upon our nation
al rights, which admits Of but one aIterna-
tive for the American Government-eilher
humby to yield her sovereignty and her
national honor, or 10 demand of Great
Britain that she discaims the outrage and
delivers over It's perpetrators to our trIbu-
nails for trial and punishment. Any salts
faction less than a compliance with this
demand, would be inadequate and compro-
mise our national honor. To receive any
pecuniary consideration rs an atonement
for this outrage, and thus make the lives
Of our citizens objects OF traffic, by Govern
ments fixing price 10 the crime Of muir
dering them, would be humbing American
lreemen to an equality with the serGs Of
Europe, to which they have not as yet,
and we trust in God they never will sub
NIT.
We view the promptness with which
Great Britain has rewarded with titles of
honor the perpetrators of the Sch0sser
outrage, as adding insult to aggression
and the disposition Of that Government TO
pratroot tho adjustment Of This and other
subjects Of national difficulty, should be
met with prompt, firm and specific de-
mand OF full reparation and although we
would deprecate the exigency which should
make resort TO arms the final arbler OF
our wrongs necessary, yet we solemnly de-
clare that even such a caIamlous result
would be preferable 10 national dishonor
or a longer continuation Of our controver-
sizes with Great Britain.
Entertaining these views, and believing
that sufficient time has been allowed our
nj II al,
Schosser outrage, and for the British au-
thorities to make known this determination
in that respect, your memorIalists request
your honorable body to ascertain if an an
swer 10 Mr.. Stevenson's letter had been
received from Lord Palmerston, and in the
event Of dsproporionate reparation hav-
ing been offered, 10 instruct President Van
Buren, TO make an immediate and specific
demand Of such redress as our honor, our
rights and the safety of our citizens require.
RESOLUTIONS.
RESOLVED, That this meeting entertain
the same views in relation to The SchIosser
outrage, as were expressed in the resolu-
tons adopted at the last anniversary oil
that event, held not only in this county,
but along the whole northern frontier oil
this Republic and that we will not cease
to reiterate those views at each succeeding
until our Government shall
have done its duty, vindcated its honor. |
and the individual authors Of that outrage
or their Government shall have atoned for
The murder Of our citizens.
ResolUed, That the neutrality law passed
in 1888 is wholly unnecessary and contrary
to the spirit OF the constitution that !; |
was inyidious, as only intended for this
frontier, while different laws and different
POLICY have governed our intercourse
with inferior powers and as it expires by |
its own limitation in 1910, we trust that
the same, or a similar law, will never again
disgrace the statutes of Republican Co
vernmenf.
Resolred. That the foregoing memorial
and resolutions be sent 10 each member oil
Congress from this State; and thai the
from this district be especially re-
luested TO lay the samebefore the represen-
tatves OF the people at Washington.
ResoIred, That the proceedings of This
meeting be signed by its officers and rur-
nished for publication in all the papers in
this city.
HENRY R. stage, President.
]. B. YoUse,
J.HaeorRrr, nee Priests.