The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-04-30
United s,n,c. md EnaInnd.

Tho foreign news by the steamers British
Queen and Acadia, has doubtless created fresh
anxietics relative 10 the difficulties between this
country and Europe.
The movements Of the British Government
in this affair, cannot but be regarded as an at
tempt on her part to intimida,e our government,
and cause it to interposc its power for the re-
lease of Mcleod before the authorities ofN. York
decide upon his guilt or innocence, notwithsan-
ding England does acknowledge the murder and
arson committed by her subjects to have been per
pctrated by her orders, and significantly tells us
to "get reparation The best ,oay zoe can
The New York New Era meets this question
in proper manner, and shows plainly that
Mcleod must first have u trial, and should he be
found guilty it will then be time enough for this
government to assume jurisdiction and cognizance
Of the case; release Mcleod, and hold his naughty
and pompousGoycrnmcn responsible for the muir.
der Of peaceful American citizens in the dead
hour ofnight. The New Era says;
"Had we been at war with Grea. Britain when
Mcleod, with his fellow pirates and murdcrcrs
landed at Schlosser and did their deadly work, or
had the Governor of Canada given notice that he
had commissioned them for that purpose, then
indeed Mcleod might with some propriety be
considered prisonc. OF war-and the United
States might discharge him and look to Great
Britain for reparaon; but this was not the case
and no one knew that Mcleod acted by authority
till after he was taken and then, like convicted
felon, the British Government, through her
minister confessed that she did the deed, and that
she used Mcleod as her instrument for the pur-
pose of its accomplishment. Then she busters
largely about one of her subjects being deprived
of his liberty, and so forth, and threatens fire and
sword if he is not delivered up Immediately This
clustering devotion of hers for her abused subjects
is loudly expressed when they happen TO get into
scrape on her account; but let them ask for
their rights and meet together like frecmen to as
sert them, and they are surrounded by her hired
soldiery, and shot down like wild beasts or ban
ished as convicted felons to Botany Bay Blu,
we are DEPRESSING. This er post Jacto acknowledge
ment Of her crime will not answer her purpose
by long shot She desires to obtain the dispu.
ted Territory and if she cannot get it by fair means
abe will endeayor to by means the most foul. If
she cannot Brighten into the shameful act Of re.
leasing Mcleod, she may, or she may not-but
most likely may not-commencc war with us.
and that war will lie for the disputed territory and
McLeod's name and suffering will be the pre,cx,
for it. The humbug pretcnsion Of n desire to
protect her subjects and her commerce has been
made the cover Of the most outrageous acts tina,
were ever committed by any nation on the face Of
the globe, civilized or barbarous: and the war
against the inoilensivc Chinese was declared and
waged WITH cowardly cruelty, because certain out
laws sailing under her flag were detected SNUG.
Cling opium, contraband article, into their coun-
try. But sue cannot do so with us, for we know
her Of old
"lf she sends men among US in the guisc Of pi.
rates, she must expect that when they are taken,
.hsy will he treated as such, notwithstanding she
may come in just before their execution and take
he crimes upon her own shoulders. The in
snimeris will Be punished - the real criminals,
md II he operator wishes % take . part in the
,