The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-20

Mr.PICkENs having moved that the hePoi' 10 $50
, on thttable and printed
, MrEVERET'F said that, as the Report embraced
the csc of the Caroline as well as that OF Mcleod
(whin alone had been submitted } he should move TO
printd the documents relating to both cases hey
had zen heretofore published, from time to lmeI az
communicated TO the House. He desired 10 bring
themtopether on this occasion, to enable the House
and ne country duly TO appreciate the report, anu
the leasures taken by the Executive to preserve our
. mentality He thought that, since the ahar OF TUG
Carline every thing had been done which the means
within the control of the Executive enabled IL TO 90
EIathen sent 10 the Chair list Of the Documents
(Hnse Doc 25lh Cong. I'd Sess. Nos. "a, 70 ~
iron page 25 to the end TO- 3O2, and OF 20th Cohg
2d less No 49, of 18th Dec. 1910 and 4th Jan Io4i
Individuality Act of March TO- 1888, and the fIes
deh's Proclamations OF 9th Jan; ana zis' Do
} which he moved to have printed with the Report
Mr. GRANGER Mr.. PIcKENs, and MIR. ADAMS
} too part in the debate on the Report
Nr. EVERETT said that, but for the remarks OF
thehonorable Chairman of the COMMITTEE on oIeigh
Afairs he should not have taken part in the debate
f now ft il due to himself as a dissentent member
of that committee state in part the grounds OF MS
dissent
The Report relates to matters of the gravest import
AMI which are now the subject of diplomatic discus
sion between the two Governments discussion con.
! 6ded by the Constitution to the Executive. lie lelt
great in debating subjects OF this cha
racter and importance with open doors 1t was DIM
cult if not impossible do full justice to the SUBJECT
or 10 ourselves without danger OF saying things that
should not be heard beyond these walls. YIELD SAID
he TO the resr,int imposed the time and the place
| shall endeavo to say nothing that should not he
heard by all. La the committeeman there was no
restraint | said things there that shall not say
here Perhaps ought rather TO congratulate myself
on being thus restricted, than to complain OF IT.
as in some of ny views stood alone in the COM
mittee.
Sir, in my Judgment the report is uncalled for-ill-
timed-and than useless interference with the
duties of the Executive The discussion is now pend
ing between ths two Governments The documents
were communicated merely in answer TO call OF the
House. The Executive has not asked either for its
opinion action AT this time, why should either be
desired And what is the time chosen to put forth
the gratuitous opinions of the majorltyand as the
honorable chairman has said, of bare maJorlty-oi
political majority Of the committee One Admins
traton is about going out of power In twenty days
it will expire and another succeed. Without intend
ing any dsrespect to the majority, of the committee,
ask is it proper is it decorous thus to attempt to EN-
barrass the incoming Administration compromit
its course subjects so delicate-so mportant4 The
report is little short CT ofcous interference OF one
Administration with things that belong to another
But sir, without regard to change of AdminstTa-
ton this interference proper useful Our foreign
relations are committed to the Executive. Negotia-
ons be conducted only by the Executive. When
they ale at an end, this House-both Houses must
act. Congress alone can dictate the ulterier mea-
sures. | do not mean to say there are not cases In
which either House may pending a negotiation, ex-
press its opinions. If the Executive be remss In his
duty--f he pursue course deemed wrong In prIncl-
pie or dangerous in its csnsequencesor If the Exc
cutive seek its opinion with view to give effect to
its measures may be very proper for either House
to express it. But, sir the report has none OF these
grounds for its support 1t is entirely uncaled for,
and its effect may be to compromit the Executive to
that its better judgment would decline; and TO
produce excitement in the country that may create
adj ennha and obstacles to the
final adjustment of controversies with Great Br-
tain.
pass the discursive character of the reportits
ferences to subjects not referredits o me somewhat
exceptionabe language-and come TO the matter re-
ferred--the case Of Alexander Mcleod. That case,
and that alone, referred to the committee, and to
thh ans shS Sn the Tage have been
Caroline, rests on different principles The case OF
/ Mr.. Mcleod, presented in the documents, is en-
trely separate and distinct from the question, whe-
ther the destruction of the Caroline not
| justifable.
desired that no report should be made while the
gotiations were pending between the two countries
! In my opinion opinion action of this House was
at this time, required. will now read to the House
statement of the negotiations TO this time far
and far only as is necessary to the case of Mcleod
land to show that his well as the Caroline
are the subjects of diplomatic discussion between
the two Governments. Before sit down will also
submit to the House the substitute submitted to, and
rejected by the committee will here take leave to
say that have given this subject the most careful
consideration without party views party feelings
1t is above and beyond all party considerations;
"THE CASE OF ALEXANDER McLEoD.-The facts
material to the subject submitted to the committee are
that, on the night of the 29th December 1887, de-
tachment of the British forces stationed at Chippewa,
in the Province of Upper Canada crossed the Niagara
to Schlosser, in the State of New York and there
made hostile attack the steamboat Caroline the
property of an American citizen, killed and wounded
number Of American citizens, captured the boat,
towed her into the current set her fire. and sent her
in flames the falls.
On the 9Th January, 1888, the Secretary Of State
communicated to Mr. Fox, the British Minister copy
of the evidence furnished to the Department of this
extraordinary outrage, committed from her Britannia
Najestys Propince If Upper Canada on the persons
and property of citizens of the United States tOtn
the jurisdiction Of the State Of Neo York;; and stat
ing that it would necessarily form the subject Of
demand for redress upon her Majesty Government
son the 9th February, Mr.. Fox communicated to
the Secretary of State despatch from Sir Francis
Head, Lieutenant Governor Of Upper Canada, con-
tanning the distinct ayowas, that the Caroline was
destroyed by order Of Col MacNab, commanding the
militia IN her Majestys service, and that he lSlr
Francis] approved the act
son the 22d May, Mr. Stevenson presented the
subject to the consideration OF her Majestys Govern
ment After referring TO those avowals, he said that,
under such circumstances, it was not to have been
expected that the whole proceeding could be regarded
by the Government of the United States in any other
light than manifest act of hostile and daring ag
erosion upon It's rights and sovereignty utterly incon
sstent will all the principles of national law, and
lphotty irreconclobIe NTH the friendly and peaceful
relations of the two countries; that the case, then, rs
one Of open undisguised and unioarYdntdble hoStit
~ He concludes by expressing the confident
pectation Of the President Of the United States that
the whole proceeding will not only be disavowed and
dsappoved but that such redress the nature of the
case obviously requires will be promptly made To
this our Government waits the final answer of the
Brit sh Government
ION the 18th November last, Alexander Mcleod,
British subject was arrested and imprisoned by the
authorities Of the State Of New York on charge of
arson and murder, as having been engaged in the
capture and destruction of the Caroline.
ION the 18th December, the British Minister made
demand on the President for the release of Mr.
Mcleod, on the ground thai the destruction of the
Caroline Cds public act ofpersons in her Majestys
serpce, obeying the order Of their superior authori
ties and that he act according TO the usaoes of ma