The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-08
OFFICIAL.
APPOINTMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT.
DEPUTY POST MASTERS.
George HALL, at Brooklyn, New York.
SYLvANus r. LYMAN, at Portland, Maine.
OFFICIAL.
THE WARLIKE SPIRIT OF THE
r..t. .afae CT LORE

Inc Globe has become notably beligerent of
late since the retirement Of the late parlike adj
mlnistration. Pray where was all this spirit,
whlchls now so ready for fight, during Mr.. Van
Buren's administration Where was il during
the months and years when the blood of the
citizen killed on board the Caroline at Schlos-
ser, remained -unatoned, unavenged and unnoti-
ced by the British Government Where, we
ASK was that spirit, when Mr.. Stevenson was
allowed to remain so long at the British Court
without receiving even an answer to his notes
asking redress2 This vapouring is too disgust
ing to be witnessed with patience, coming from
the organ of a craven-spirited administration,
which by its own puslanimity, in the first place,
got us into difficulty by its fear and neglect to
vent such outrageous breaches of neutral rights
and obligations as took place on both sides, and
then when the British committed an outrage on
the lives and property of our citizens, and upon
our neutral rights within our own territory, dared
not vigorously demand and seek redress, for fear
Of offending the "Patriots," and Of jeopardsing
the reelection Of the then President! ..,
We do not think it probable, or scarcely posi-
Bile, that war should grow out of this matter
JUSTICE AND LAW will have their course be the
consequence what they may, but still we cannot
conceive that there is will be any thing to fight
about. s%5 s#.. ts,. 49, a.
There has been much of violence and much of
wrong, committed during years past, ON both
sides along our Canadian frontier 1t cannot be
denied that the invasion Of those provinces by
refugee citizens from that side, uniting with Boz
dies of men on this, was illegal, grossly and un-
justifably so, and we believe that all proper
minded men, even among the patriots them
selves, now view it in this light. We believe,
however, that the motives of some of these men
were pure, mistaken as they were. They
were, as they supposed, aiding the cause
Of human liberty, and THEY were culpably
ignorant of their legal duties and obliga-
tons as citizens of neutral country
But they must learn that Ignorance of the law
excuseth no man." At the same time it is true
that most of them were actuated by any other
than laudable motives, in disturbing the quiet of
a hitherto peaceful country, carrying war and
the firebrand and death into the very heart of
country with which we were at peace. And
many, too many, were the precious lives of mis-
guided and brave young men sacrificed after
being deserted by their leaders-and many are
the widows and orphans on that side, made by
the deadly American rife, at Point au Pelee
and at the Windmill Dearly has Justice been
satisfied by the gibbet and by Punishment. The
burning of the Caroline in American waters,
was anillegal and unjustifable outrage, commit
ted by detachment of the British army from
Chippewa-and whether there were excusatory
or palliative circumstances for such an outrage,
it is for the British Government to show. But
we cannot conceive that Mcleod, or any other
soldier of that expedition, is amenable either to
our Government or that oil tho State sf Ns-.'
York. The matter was made one of national
negotiation between the two Governments by
Mr. Van Buren,, and it would be both illegal and
cowardly and cruel to infict punishment on a
single individual who, if he was present, acted
in this matter under the orders of his superior
officer, and would have been hung or shot for
dsobedience had he refused so to do.
We take it, that this Government is both hon
orable and just enough to do right, without fear
either of the charge of cowardice by enemies
abroad or at home, and strong and brave enough
to maintain and defend her honor and her rights
at all hazards, and against any foe.
We are much mistaken in our estimate of the
character of President Tyler and of the Secre-
tary of State and of the rest of the Cabinet, if
they do not possess not only the courage and pa
triotism to maintain the honor and dignity of the
American nation and of the laws, but to act
cooly and firmly and Justly, without regard to
the base attempts to make political capital out of
this matter, by men who would burn city to
warm their hands by its blaze.
1t is true that little has been done of late to
fortfy our coast or to increase our navy, but
whose is the fault if fault it is? The Globe
says it is that Of Mr. Webster, of Mr.. Critten-
den, and Mr.. Bell. The two former gentlemen
did, precisely as bold and honest men alone,
would have done, in the case alluded to.
Mr. Bell did amend the Fertilization bill of
MIR. Benton on the other occasion mentioned by |
the Globe, as alleged. We remember it well, as
we were present at the time, and admired the
skill displayed by Mr.. Bell on that occasion.
But will the Globe tell US what party was in
large majority at that time in both branches ?
The Senate was composed of large majority
Of Gen. Jackson's and Mr. Van Buren's friends
who were quite too Submissive to the dictates of
the Executive, and so Of the House
But It is matter of little consequence whose
fault it was. Our country is not dependent
alone upon Notifications and bitches and stand
ing armies Her strongest Notifications are the
hardy frames and fearless spirits of her sons,
who will stand about her as wall of defence,
she can never be conquered, even by the united
powers Of the world. So long as Concord,
Lexington, and Bunker's Hill, remain-so long
ne Sarafo0o anI Dr;oooton ,nJ V,ua,, Eorra