Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-08-28

attacking and destroying the Caroline"
thew will consider that the laws of the U.
States are such as the undersigned has now
represented them, and that the Government
of the United States has always manifested
a sincere disposition to see those laws eff
fectuay and impartially administered. If
there have been cases in which individuals,
Justly obnoxious to- punishment, have es-
capped, this is no more than happens in re-
gard to other laws.
Under these circumstances, and under
those Immediately connected with the
transaction itself, it will be for her Males
tvs Government TO show upon what state
of facts, and what rules of national law,
the destruction of the "Caroline" is to be
defended. 1t will be for that Government
to show necessity Of self-deience, instant,
owe, whelming, leaving no choice of means
and no moment for dolibcration. 1t will
be for il to show, also, that the local author
tiles of Canada, even supposlng the neces-
stv of the moment authorized them to en-
ter the territories of the United States at
all, did nothing unreasonable or excessive;
since the act. justified by the necessity of
self-aefence, must be limited by that neccs-
sitv, aud kept clearly within it. 1t must be
shown that admonition or remonstrance to
the persons on board the Caroline" was
ippracticabe, or would have been una
yailing: it must be shown that daylight
could not be waited for; that there could be
no attempt at discrimination, between the
innocent and the guilty; that it would not
have been enough to seize and detaln the
vessel; but that there was a necessity, pre-
sent and inevitable, for attacking her in the
darkness of the night, while moored to
the shore, and while unarmed men were
asleep on board killing some and wound
ing others, and then drawing her into the
current, above the cataract, setting her on
fire, and. careless to know whether there
might not be in her the innocent with the
guilty, or the living with the dead, commit
ting her to a fate which fills the magma
ton with horror. A necessity for all this
the Government of the United States can.
not believe to have existed.
All will sec that if such things be allow
cd to occur, they must lead to bloody anC
exasperated war. And when an individu
al comes into the United States from Can
ada, and to the very place on which thi
drama was performed, and there chooses t.
make public and vain-glorious boast of The
part he acted in it, it is hardly wonderful
that great excitement should be created, anc
some degree of commoton arise.
This republic does not wish to disturb
the tranquility of the world. Its object il
peace, its policy peace. 1t seeks no ag
grandizement by foreign conquest, because
it knows that no foreign acquisitions coulc
augment its power and importance so ra
pidly as they are already advancing by it
own natural growth, under the propitiou
circumstances Of its situation. But it can
not admit that its Government has not boil
the will and the power to preserve its owl
laws upon its own citizens. 1t is Jealous o
its rights, and among others, and most es
pecially, of the right of the absolute i'm
munity Of its territory against aggression
from abroad; and these rights it is the du
~ and determination of this Government
fully, and at all times, to maintain, while a
the same time as scrupulously refrain from
infringing on the rights of others.
The President instructs the undersigned
TO say, in conclusion, that he confidently
trusts that this, and all other questions OF
difference between the two Governments
will be treated by both in the full exercise
of such spirit of candor, justice, and mu
tual respect, as shall give assurance of the
long continuance of peace between the
two countries.
The undersigned avails himself of th
opportunity to assure MIR. Fox of his higl
consideration.
DANIEL WEBSTER.
HENRY S. Fox, ENJOY, &c. dc. dc.