Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-07-05

Gus advantage as 10 make up false issue like this
Why unto all her classes, and every man in every
class in what they must think n holy war ? Why
ulienate the sylnpathies of the world by such
thing d? Why commit bunder us well as crime
Why forget that he is trebly armed that has his
quarrel just Why shock and shame Amerl-
ca by turning AWAY from England to strike down
Nc Leod Sir, if you speak of blows, believe
the people Of this country would choose to he seen
aiming full at the front of the proud and giant
master, rather than dragging the servant unarlncd,
unfrended aud landcuffed, to The gallows. They
feel that 30 aurels are to be won in such field by
nation of gallant men, of men OF honor, aud OF
Christians. They will seek those laurels rather
where they do naturally grow, far up OH the "pcr-
ilous edge of battle when it RACES" Sir, was
Just now told that the late Chief Magistrate Obser
we'd to friend some time during that fieetIng
month of his administration, that in just cause,
Congress would give him men aud money, ne nau
no objection to going INTO II war with fnglanu, Vu'
that he could not bring himseIfto buckle on nus
armor aud take the field against Alexander VIC
LeOd. | can appreciate the Discrimination OF the
kind brave, and Just Old man to such service.
repeat, then sir, that il, on The l2t1 March, Nc
Lend had been awaiting tlial in the courts oi tn
United States, we ought to have replied to the de.
mauI of her Nlajesty's Minister thus: We ndm't
your proposition Of international law /; we know
the cemency Of the code that knils the families OF
earth together. From this accusation OF munlrl-
pal offence your subject is safe. And now will
you in your turn inform us (or three years we
have waited in vain to know on what pre,cnce
her Majesty's forces at the dead hour ofthe night,
crossed the invioate limo OF our boundary invaded
our soil, dshonorcd our flag, wasted the property
and shed the blood of American citizens.
1t happened however, that at the time when Ill's
demand WINS made, Nc Leod was awaiting ls trial
in the cour;s oiNew York. lie was III New YORK
prison, under New York process and the dlstin'
gushed Senator from Pennsylvania insists that for
this cause, at least, the Government should have
done nothing, and said nothing TO tho demand, bur
just have directed MIR. Fox to tell his story aud car
ny his law to New York. We should haze made
no concessions Of the legal principle; we should
not have dared to communicate to the Executive
of that State the official evidence OF the clam and
of the doctrine Of Eng and, and our own opinion
Of it we should not have lifted II finger we
should have stood speechless, unconscious, inho-
cent and diguifed, to see England, New York,
and Mcleod settle this little concern OF national
law, peace, war, life and death, among themselves.
Sir, the position Mcleod stood in to that great
and admirable state undoubtedly limited the rights
aud embarrassed tho action of the general gov
eminent. But because we could not do all that
we would, wee VIC not 10 do the little that We
could? Were we TO do nothing? Whom have
we offended? The State ofNew York? How
by desiring 10 secure to the prisoner, to whose
fate interests so large and precious were A.
iached, fair trial? Sir, cannot believe it, N
York wns proceeding against him III the ordinary
course Of he administration of criminal law. L,
recognize her jurisdiction over him, which in III,
ampIest manner this government did, and then tt
wish for him Just what New York wished for bin
that first Of social privieges--a fair trial wa,
there any thing in this to uffront her pride o
character any thing to rufe feather in tie
plume of her acknowledged prcrogaiive?
But we sought to operate on the government d
that state by communicating our opinion on ia,
points Of international law, and in effect, advising
it what course to pursue. Well, sir, does tie
conveyance of advice imply disresprct toward.
the object of il, disrust of his integrity 81
capacny1 Does it prove any thing more thar
that you feel Il deep solCitude that, in grea
crisis of his fortunes and yours, he shall, Tor m
sake and yours, make no mistake? Sir, here wa
state with the physical power of engaging you
in national war; II hostilitlss follow ed the exc
cution of Mcleod, it would not have been n wa
on New York alone, but on Louisiana, on Soul
Carolina, on Maryland, on Massachusetts. ]
they shopd be more Immediately aimed at her
your valor and your treasure must have uuet
with hers for her defence. A S:nte, then, nigh
plunge you in a general war and, yet under The
Constitution, no state has the legal and direc
right to make war for you or herself. She has NJ
right TO terminate it hy treaty after it has begun
That grent prcrogarivC is yours alone. Those
transcendent, imperial powers, by which anC
through which we are known TO the nations, are
your powers Aud now is it possible that stat,
prohibited by the Constitution from making war
from making treaties, may consumnlne an acl fol
which we must answer with our best blood, or
the field and on the deck and yet that this gov
ernmein, clohed by the constitution with all these
great trusts, charged win the conservation q
pence, with the conduct, expenditures aud hazard
of war-thIs Government, whose flag alone ii i:
that valves over the universal American family
whereSOever n member of it wanders on land %
sea that we cannot respectfully opproach an.
State with the communication Of advisory sug
gcstion, and deliberate with iler on a subject o
great novelty, difficulty and importance? hav
no great opinion of such iranscendehaism of del
icacy this good for winning electoral vote
possibly, bet uniting Il man or Il government 70
manly and useful action. Sir New York is ALL
represented here, by gentlemen of both poIiIica
parties, aud they can answer for her but be
iieve she will laugh 10 scorn the suggestion "
hear OF out of DOORS that any disrespect has bee
shown or felt for her government or her people
for her judicial learning or for the ,emper feel
ings and views OF any portion OF her widespread
community.
in judging on this part Of the subject, in Vii
inquiry how far this Z vernment has exceeded II
powers invaded state rights or BETRAYED intleco
rous anxiety AMI haste 10 save his person from lli
gallows, ask you to take one thing into consit
Grafton. Sir, II is no answer nj all to England
say this is the affair of New York. She know
nothing even OF that magnificent empire rs
separate state. We do not allow her to know a
thing Oft any State 10y Our Federal constitution
that capacity. We do not allow her 10 have d
plomalic access to any. To attempt TO make
treaty with any would be clear ground of WA
We inform her that by our Federal Constitute
the foreign relations of New York are repos,
here: and il she has any cause OF COMPLIANT
against her, she will please to leave her card
our door. England, of COURSE ell the nn,io,
must hold us to this; aud if any state affords h
ground of war, it is against Us that we onrsely
direct her to turn her steel, At the same tiu
therefore, that our federal relations TO New 70
lindered us from doing much, our Obligation
tile laws Of nation to England 10 do every hi
was not in the least degree essened by the
The clear course Of the government thereto
was to do what it dill; to apprize that parrio