Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-12-16

struction OF which. in December, 1887, by an
armed force fitted out in the Province OF Up
per Canada, you are already made acqnalnt'
ed. M such aionemcnt as was due ior the
public wrong done 10 the United States by
4 this invasion of her territory, 80 wholly ir-
reconcinbe with her rights as Oh lndepcn'
dent power. has yet been made. In the view
taken by this Government, the inquiry wheth'
er the vessel was ia the employment of ihos"
who we've prosecuting an uuauthorlsed war
against that province, or was engaged by The
owner in the business ofiransporing passen
gers To and from Navy Island in hopes of
private gain, which was most probably the
ease, in no degree alters the real question o,
issue between the two governments.
/ This Government can never concede To
any fore ign Government the power, except
~ n case Of the most urgent and extreue ne.
cessiiy, of invading its territory, either to
arrest the persons or destroy the property OF
those who may have violated The municipal
laws Of such foreign Government, or have
dIsrcgard-d their obligations arising under
The law of nations. The territory of the U.
States must be regarded as sacredly secure
agninst oil such invasions, until they shall
voluntarily acknowledge their inability To
acqnit themselves Of their duties 10 others
And in announcing this sentiment, do but
affirm principle which no nation on earth
would be more ready to vindicate, at all haz.
ards, than the people and Government of
Great Britain.
\ If. upon a full investigation of the facts, il
shall appear that the owner of the Caroline
was governed by n hostile intent, or had
made common cause with those who were
IN ,hcpccupancy of Navy Island, then, SO far
as he is concerned, there can be no claim to
indemnity for the destruction Of his boat,
which this Government would feel itself
bound 10 prosecuic-since he would have
acted not only ia derogaton Of the rights OF
Great Britain, but in clear violation Of the laws
of the United States but this is u question
which, however settled. in no manner in
wolves The higher consideration Of the viola
( ton of territorial sovereignty and jurisdiction
To recognize II as an admissible practice
that each government, ~ it's turn, upon any
sudden and unauthorized outbreak, which, on
q frontier, tho extent of which renders IL i'm e.
/ possible for either 10 have an efficient force
on every mile OF IL, and which outbreak
therefore, neither may be able TO suppress in
day, may take vengeance into is own
hands, and without even remonstrance, and
IN tho absence Of any pressing or overriding
necessity, may invade the territory of the
other, would inevitably lead 10 results equally
to be deplored by both.
| When bUrder collisions come 10 receive
| the sanction, or To be made on the authority
of either Government, general war must be
/ the inevitable result. While it is the ardent
desire Of the United States to cultivate the
re elaiions Of peace with all nations, and To ful
, i'll all the duties OF good neighborbood to.
wards those who possess territories adon.
lug their own, that very desire would lead
them 10 deny the right Of any foreign power
10 invade their boundary with an armed force.
The correspondence between the two Go.
vcrnmens on this subject will, at future
day OF your session, be submitted TO your
consideration and IN the mean time. can.
not but indulge the hope that the British Go.
vernnent will see the proprety of renouncing
~ rule OF future action, the precedent
which has been set in the affair at Schosser.
! herewith submit the correspondence
which has recently taken place between the
American Minister ut the Court OF ST. james,
Mr.. Stevenson, aud the Minister Of Foreign
Affairs of that Government, on the right
claimed by that Government To visit aud dc
tain vessels sailing under the American hag
and engaged IN prosecuting lawful commerce
~ the African seas. Our commercial inter
derable increase, and have become an object
IT much Importance, aHd il is The duty OF his
Government 10 project them against all in.
proper and vexntious interruption. However
deslrons the United States mny be for the
suppression CT the slave trade, they cannot
consent TO interpretations into the maritime
code, at the mere will and peasuse of other
governments. We deny the right Of any
such interpolation 10 any one, or all the na.
tons Oi the earth, without our consent.
We clam To have voice in oil amend.
meD;s or alterations OF that code-and when
we are given 10 understand, as in This IN
stance, by foreign government, that its
treaties cannot be executed without the Il
establishment and enforcement Of new prin.
cIpIes OF maritime policy, 10 be applied with /
out our consent, we must EMPLOY lam
gnoge neither OF equivoca import, or suscep. 4
Ilble of mlsconstruction. American citizens
lawful commerce in the African
seas, under he flag Of their country. are no,
-eSponslbc for the abuse or unlawful use OF Il
hat fiag by others nor can they on account II
Ii any such alleged abuses, be interrupted. L
noIested and detained, while pursuing hon
Est voyages, in the usual way, and violating H
10 law themselves, they are unQnrstionaby Il
entitled to indemnify. This Government has
It's repugnance to the slave trade, L
u manner which cannot BE- misunderstood H
By It's fundamental law, it prescribed limits
n point of time TO its continuance and n.
yainst It's own citizens, who might so far for. II
get the rights OF humanity as to engage in
hat wicked traffic, it has long since, by lis
laws, denounced the most condlgn
Many Of the States composing
his Unlon,have made appeals to the civilized
world for IT'S suppression, long before the
moral sense Of other nations had become
shocked by the lnlquties Of the traffic
Whether this government should now enter
INTO treaties containing mutual stlpula,iuns
rpon this subject, ls question for III mature
icl5erat ton. Certain It is, that If the right II
10 dctnIn American ships on the high seas can
be justified on the plea Of necessity for
such detention, arising out Of the existence
ot treaties between other nations, the same
plea may be extended and enlarged by the
new SilpulatioDs Of new treaties, to which
he Unlied States may not be n party. The II
Government will not cease ,o urge upon that
pf Great Britain, full and ample remuneration
Tor all losses, whether arising from detention
" otherwise, TO which American cltlzens
have heretofore been, or may hereafter be I
subjected, by the exercise of rights which \
ms government cannot recognise as legiil.
n,nb