Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-12-25

regaid for justice. The correspondence
which passed between the Department ct
State and the British Envoy, Mr.. Fox, and
with the Governor OF Vermont, as soon as
the facts had been made known to this De-
partment, are herewith communicated.
regret that it is not in my power 10
make known TO sou an equally satisfactory
conclusion in the case Of the Caroline stea-
mer, with the circumstances connected
with the destruction OF which, in Decem-
Der, 1887, by an armed force fitted out in
the Province Of Upper Canada, you are
already made acquainted. No such atone.
ment as was due for the public wrong done
10 The United States, by the invasion OF her
territory, so wholly irreconcilable with her
rights as an independent power, has yet
been made. In the view taken by this
Government, the inquiry whether the YES
sci was in the employment Of those who
were prosecuting an unauthorized war
against that Province, or was engaged by
the owner in the business Of transporting
passengers to and from Navy Island, IN
hopes Of private gain, which was mos, prob.
ably the case, in no degree alters the ques.
ton at issue between the two Govern
mentS. This Government can never con-
cede TO any foreign Cover nment the power,
except in the most urgent and extreme ne
cessity, of invading its territory, either to
arrest the persons or destroy the property
'of such foreign Government, or have disre
garded their obligations arising under the
law of nations The territory of the U.
States must be regarded as sacredly secure
against all such invasions, until they shall
acknowledge their inability to acquit them
selves of their duties to others. And in
announcing this sentiment, do but affirm
a principle which no nation on earth would
! be more ready to vindicate. at all hazards
than the people and Government OF Great
Britain.
If, upon full investigation OF oil the acts,
it shall appear that the owner Of the Cai ohne
was governed by hostile intent, or had made
common cause with those who were in the &C.
cupancy 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 Go.
vernment would feel itself bound to prosecute
since he would have acted not only in oero-
CATION of the rigs of Great Britain. but III
clear violation of the laws OF the United Sla,es
but that is question which, however settled,
in no manner involves the higher consideration
ju risdicion. To recognise it as an admissible
practice that each government, in its turn, up.
on any sudden and unauthorized outbreak,
which, on a frontier, the extent Of which rem
dors it impossible for either to have an efficient
force on every mile OF il, and which outbreak,
therefore, neither may be able 10 suppress in a
day, may take vengeance into its own hands.
and without even remonstrance, and in the
| absence Of any pressing or overruling neces.
sity, NAV invade the territory Of the other
would inevitably lead to results equally to be
deplored by both. When border collisions
come to receive the sanction, or to be maize on
the authority Of either Government, general
, war must be the inevitable result. While it is
) The ardent desire Of the United States to cult
vate the relations Of peace with all nations, and
to fulfil all the duties of good neighborhood to-
wards those who possess territories adjoining
their own that very desire would lead them to
deny the RICH; any foreign power 10 invade
their boundary with an armed force. The cor
respondence between the two Governments on
this subject will, at future day of your ses
sion, be submitted TO your consideration; and
in the mean time, cannot but indulge the hope
that The British Government will see the pro.
preiy Of renouncing, as rule future action,
the precedent which has been set them in the
affair at Schlosser.
! | herewith submit the correspondence which
has recently taken place between the American
Minister at The Court of St. James, Mr.. Sic
venson, and the Minister of Foreign Aifiirs Of
that Government, on the right claimed by tina,
Government to visit and detain vessels sailing
under the American flag and engaged in prose
cutting lawful commerce in the African seas.
Our commeI ciaI interests in that region have
Ieynerienred considerable incrtuse and have
be come an object of much Importance, and i is
the duty of this Government to protect them
agains, all improper and vexatious interruption.
However DESTROYS the United States may be
fer the suppression OF the slave trade, hey
cannot consent to interpretations into the mari
time code. at The mere will and pleasure of o.
! her governments.
| We deny the right Of such Interpolation 10
any one, or all the nations Of the earth, ihoul
our consent We claim TO have voice in all
/ amendments or alterations Of that code-and
when we are given 10 understand, as in this in.
stance, by q foreign Government, that its trea-
ties with other nations ce rnol be executed with.
out the establishment! aud enforcement of new
; principles Of maritime police; TO be applied
without our consent, we must employ Ian
guage neither Of equvocal import, or suscep
5 tible Of misconstructlon American citizens
prosecuting a lawful commerce in the African
: seas, under The flag Of their country, are moi
responsible for the abuse or unlawful use u
? that flag by others; nor can they rlghtlully on
/ account oil any such alleged abuses, be inter
2 rupted, InolesIed or detained while on the o
ccan; and il thus molesled and detained, while
A pursuing honest voyages, in the usual way.
q and violating no law themselves, they are UNI
= questonabiy entitled 10 indemnity.