The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-12-16
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
WASHINGTON, Dc. ;

NASHlNGION, DEts q.
At twelve O'Clock This day, the President
Of the United States transmitted TO both
Houses of Congress hefollowiug Message:
To the Senate and House Of
Representatives. Of The United States:
ln coming together, fellow. citizens, to er.
ter again upon the discharge OF the duties
with which the people have charged US,
severally. we find great occasion to rejoice
in The general prosperity Of the county,
We are in the enjoyment of all the bless
luss of civil aud religious liberty, with un
exampled means of education, knowledge,
and Improvement. Through The year
winch is now drawing 10 close, peace has
been in our borders, and plenty in our hab
llations and although disease has visited
some few portions of the land with distress
and mortality, yet ~ general the health OF
the People has been preserved, and We are
all called upou by the highest obligations
! Of duty, to renew cur thanks and our deyo
ton to our Heavenly Parent, who has con.
tuued TO vouchsate TO Us The eminent bless
/ lugs which suTroun5 Us, and who has SO
signally crowned .ae year with his good
ness. Ii we find Ourselves increasing, be.
yond example, ~ numbers, in strength, IN
wealth, IN knowledge, IN every thing which
promotes human aud social happiness, lie,
us ever remember our dependence, for all
these, on the protection and merciluI dis
Densaluns of Divine Providence.
5 nee your last adjournment, Alexander
Mcleod, a Brush subject, who Mas indie
ted for the mdrder OF an American citizen,
aud whose case has been The subject Of a
correspondence heretofore COMMUNICATED 10
YOU, has been acquitted by the verde, OF
an impartial and intelligent jury, and has,
undor the judgmen: Of the court, been res.
ularly discharged.
Great Britain hayng made known TO
,hls Government that the expedition which
was fitted out from Canada for the destruc.
lion Of the sieanboa, Caroline, in the win.
ter Of 1887 and which resul,ad IN the de.
slructIon of said boat and 10 The death oil an
American citizen, was undertaken by or.
ders emanallng from the authorities Of the
British Government in Canada, Ind de.
handing the discharge Of Mc Leod upon the
ground that, il engaged in tina, expedition,
lie did but fulfil the orders OF his Govern.
men,, has thus been answered III the only
way 10 which she could be answered by a
Government, the powers OF which are dis
ssuied among It's several departments b.
The fundamental law. Happily for the
people Of Great Britain as well as those Of
The United States, the only mode BY which
an individual srraigned for criminal Of.
fence, before the courts of either can obtain
his discharge, is by the independent action
o. the judiciary, and by proceedings equal.
y familiar to the courts Of both countries.
Il 10 Great Britain power exists in the
Crown 10 cause 20 be entered nolle prose
qui which is not the case With The Executive
power Of the United States upon prosecu
ton pending IN State court, yet there, DC
more ihsn here, can the chief Executive
power rescue prisoner from custody
without 90 order Of the proper tribunal, d.
rectiDg bis discharge. The precise stage
V
be made IS matter Of municipal regulation
exclusively, and not TO be complained OF by
any other Government. In cases Of this
KIND, Government becomes politically re.
sponslble ouly when lts tribunals Of last re-.
SORT are shown TO have rendered unjust and
injurious judgments in matters not doubtful
To the establishment and elucida,lon o.
this principle, no nation has lent its nuthorl
" more efficiently than Great Britain
Alexander Mcleod having his option eth
, Gf to prosecute a writ Of error from the de
clsinD Of the supreme court Of New orb
which had been rendered upon bis applIca
llon for discharge, TO the Supreme Cour
Of The United States, or 10 submit his cas-,
10 the decision Of lgfy, preferred the lat.
; ter, deening II the resdieat mode of obtain
lng his liberation; and the result has iuy
sustained the wisdom Of bis choice. The
nanner in which the issue submitted va!
tired will satisfy the English Government
that he principles Of justice will never fat
% govern the enlightened decision Of on
American tribunal. cannot fail, however
to suggest TO Congress the propriety, am
IN some degree the necessity, of making
Such provisions by law, so far as they may
consIltulionnIIy 90 so, for tho removal a
their commencement, and at the option o
the party, Of all such cases as may hefeaf
ter arise, aud which may involve the faith
col observance and execution Of our inter
national obligations, from the State 10 tht
Federal Jodclary. THIS Government, BY
cur institutions, IS charged with the main
tenance of peace dSd the preservation o
anlcabe relations with the nations Of the
, earth, and ought to possess, without, ques
| uon, all the reasonable and proper mean,
Of maintaining the one aud preserving In,
f other. Whist just confidence Is felt in the
Judiciary Of the States, yet his Govern
nent ought to be competent in itself fol
the folhlment Of the high duties which have
been deyoIved upon it, under the organic
law, by the States themselves.
In the month Of September, a party o
armed men from Upper Canada invaded the
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