The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-01-12
...,enrsrlNG DEBATE IN CONGRESS.

of Representatives on Ihursuay '"' 90
STEAMER cARioLNE'
NJ, pi,lror. ofN Y. asked the printing OF hve
=, '..I na,,ies oc n latter aud other uncument'
g. ,he sa,o department in reference !" W i,"o'' |
char ed with aiding in tho buF"'ns o. VIC va" i
~ sshr,cos a correspondence between mo amer |
IL Xii;s,cr at london tho British Minlster here
and ,he gocrotary of State. After the hVe thou'
sand copies had been ordered to lie prlhted, mo
lion to reconsider was offered by Mr. Aho'o' "
Georgia. , ,,o,, ra,d |
and tho reading was commenced by the cletK'
send you a synopsis Of the correspondence ,,
The documents werc FIRST, b'iei message ''"'"
tho president, transmitting the correspondence oo
,wesn the IunctionarIcs Of the Nv" governments
Secondly n letter from MIR. Stevenson at Lon
don addressed to The Secretary of state saying
that no answer had been receive" 10 me quesaon'
submitted from, the United States Government re-
rnectinp the Burning Of the Caroline
The Third letter from MIR Fox to MIR. r"r,
sytb stated that The British government w"u'o
probably answer the q"esN"ns suo'''''o" "''''1'
delay, .a.,o,,Ja,co
Same limo lntoryenod, when correspondence
,pon tho arrest OF Mcleod, now IN prison III view
York was commenced. The hrst Iei'cr concern
,no No arcs, is one which will excite some a,ten'
t,on in The country. It liz addressed by the brtsh
Minister to the Secretary of State ana IN II nc
complains orthe arrest of subject OF Hreai Dit
t,;p md his INN risonment in Now York. ITO do-
mands The reIense of the prisoner, and proceeds to
avow the principle or fact, that THE burning oI
THE CAROLINE WAS AN ACT COMMITTED BY THE
BRITIsH AUTHORITIES: ,; ,t
Caroline which he very much doubts, was employ
ed by authority The British authorities therefore
he proceeds to say, are Responsible ana hot NC
yeod The question: as a CONSEQUENCE, II ltpe CO"
1rove,,ed becomes one which must be settled by
,be two Governments, and not by the prisoner
This was we'll known, he 'hought,-or cer,n'hy
was more than minated a. the tune; 40 II hau noeh
since and upon many occasions MT FOX eHiafS
ed upon the idea that he acted upon ana
that the subject matter Of complaintwas ono Tor me
two 20, ernments to settle In conclusion again ne
expresses the hope that the prisoner will be speed
ally released
is the repy Of the Secretary Of State to tho pritish
Minister Mr. + 's,th, in courteous terms, nc
knowedges the reception Of The letter OF Mr rex,
and reeTntes the ground Of complaint. Under the
advice and direction o! the Pres'den', ne pFoceos
10 answer the complaints. Always nes'Lous l."
Governments, he Processes 10 DO full desrous
10 terminate the present controversy in the same
fiinedy spirit. o speaks Of the delicate Questions
hich have been brought before me uovHrhmen'
in times past, and appeals to Mr.. fcx 10 pear tes'
tmony TO the friendly disposition OF the president
and The United States towards Great Britain
1t is with unfeigned regret, he says, mat ne can.
not now compl, with the request submitted but ne
connot, and for reasons given at length. Ihe CIR
cumsances connected with the arrest of the prison
1er forbid it. lie was charged with arson, commit
ed upou sAmerican soil and American property.
The history Of the burning Of the Caroline was the
history of a great outrage, and the prisoner was
confined or arra gned under the chargeof being one
Of a band of lawless maranders. tie made ms ap'
mission of the offence, and was imprisoned as one
of the guilty party. The President, continues MIR
FORSYTH, knows Of no principle ofincrn atlona law
which calls for The release OF such an offender
MIR Forsyth, proceeded to comment in becoming
temper upon The acknowledged for the first
time officially made, that the Caroline burnt
under the authority Of the British Government.
No such avowaI has before been officially made,
and it now comes from one speaking by authority.
1t becomes the United States, therefore TO act as
complainant.
The reading Of the correspondence excited some
feeling in the House.
MIR Afford of Georgia, who moved tho reconsid-
Grafton was the first to break silence. lie was
glad that he had submitted the motion to rcconsd
err, and the more from the character IF the car
responderce. For one he was ready to approve of
the letter of the Secretary of State, and do cheer
fully approve of it, said Mr. A lford-and the more
readily since 1t is tho first official act which |
remember which has been submitted by this Ad'
mnstration which has met my appreciation. My
party binscs are not so strong, but can appreciate
the good done by opponent.
Mr. Afford in tone of high feeling began to
comment upon the conduct OF Great Britain in all
her recent territorial relations with this Govern
ment. AS an American he felt humbled. The
course of Mr. Van Buren, had been to degrade the
nation, and to bring the Flag of America 20 the fett
of the Lion of England The President was humbled
by the Queen and brought lew. He hailed the
high toned letter of the Secretary as re.estnbllsiI.
ing proper feeling Of Independence in the United
he regarded tho conduct of Great Britain towards
us as unjust and oppressive.
Mr. Holmes Of 5. G. replied and with some feel.
ing. am delighted with this debate, said Mr.: H.,
moi because The doctrines of State Rights have
been alluded to during the dsoussion-Qha sub.
ject had been spoken by Mr. Stanly, Plckens and
Afford, before the motion to reconsider) tor any
man now interpres State Rights doctrines as he
pleases. Like the Constitution the doctrine was
construed gentlemen choose TO understand IT and
every man understood it for himself
Bat am glad, said Mr. Holmes, for another rea.
son. We have hoard from a gentleman of inAu-
ence and standing, who represents the South, some
thing Of the policy OF the new Administration.
am sorry that the gentleman speaks in a tone so
Ivahike,io prospects so belhgerant am for
pence. Ifihere was war, we at the South would
be ruined by it. am therefore opposed to-, and
fear that 1t will be policy of the Administration
for presume the member from Georgia speaks
by authority. s
Mr. Alfsrd replied. GA single word ia explara'
ton othe honorable aid distinguished member
from South Carolina. When upon the floorbefore,
spoke, not advisedly, with any knowledge of
what would be the policy Of General Harrison;
spoke for myself only Tho sentiments / gave
vent to were my honest convictions. 1 did
ou,;th ho oph