The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-06-23
marks relative 10 the internals. compact between
several States and the Federal Goyetnn.snt 4.
s s =. e. SIS d ...gss:ss
1MR. cRITITETNspEN's I[NsTRucTfoNs.;

6eVefaf states ana lne reuelal GoVernns9nt
MR.. cRITTENDENs INsTRucTIoSss ass:
InMr. Webstsf's letter to NE Fos he ers 10 m
sructions which had been given to the o. Attos-
ney. General We subjoin some exsracts yiahng = $
TO place all the most important poriops Of the do
commentary history of the affair before readers
as tho business may, at some du prove g matter
of national moment: 4 z :s4 - ~ -
1 There-is therefore, now, ainauthenti S.
declaration on the part Of the British
,Goyernment that the attack on ssheS Caro-
tline was an act, of public fnrce, done bysss..
military men, under the, orders q theiEs
Esuperinrs, and is recognized as 8 1clr Sun- 3
der the Queens Government. The ifi-,s
portance Of this declarationsis MOTTO be-.
| doubted, and the President is OF opinion 8
that tcalls upon him for the erformance 4
Of high duty. 6 ~ s:
That an individual forming part o a pub
lie fnrce, and acting under the aGth6rity
ofshis Government, is moi to- be held aI-l
swerabIe, as private trespasserSo or naIs
factor. is principle Of public law, safcs
tuned by the nsages Of all ciyilizesk Ra,
tions, and (which the Gyernmentd ahe lt.a
States has no inclination 10 dispute: This &
has no connection whatever wiihsthe alesss
lion whether, in this case, the attack on
the Caroline was as the British GoyerDz
ment think it,, ajustifable employ, y,aent af 2 2
force for the spurposel of defending tho :;
British territory from unproyoked atiack
or whether twas most unjusiifabie inss
vasion in time Of peace Of iheterritory oE
the United States, as this Government has
regarded it. ~ ly-s y s 80 -
Alrthat isintended to be said, at presDt, =
is, that since the attack OF the Caroline s
is avowed as a national actwlich may Z
justify reprisals, or even genera Savar. 81 =
the Governments of:. lhe, United States, sifi ~
the judgement which it.shail firm of the D
transaction, and Of its own duty shouldsss
see fl to decide, yet thal il raise q q,issss &
toneenlirely public, and spoiiticaI q qdessi
tion between independents nations, and 81
that individuals concerned Ia il t5canilot DO e
arrested and tried before the ordinary
bnhals, as for the vinlati6n of mpnicfpai q
law. If The attack on the Caroline was
unjHs,ifable, as this hisGoyernmeDfhas has as
serted, the law which has been lated is
the law Of nations, a d tie redress Which
is to be sotlghtis the redress aitftnfizgd in
such cases by the provisions Of that c6desx
The two questions afeiesseDtiully dit fer
en!; and, while acknowtedg dgingS that sssns
individual may claim i'm munity from She s
consequences Of acts done shy bin, by=s
showing that he acted under national sau.:sS
thority; this Government is not 80; be 1n-s
derstood as charging The opinions which
| |it.has heretofore exposed in egarda aodlfs
aeal natnre1 of the .rrnsactiop which re-
suited in the destruction of the Carolins:
That subject is not necessary for any pars
pose connected with tl,is conmunications
to discuss The views of this GoyefRs
mcnt in relation to il are known TO that Of
England; and we are expecting the answer
Of that Government to the cJmmunieatiUn
which has beer made to ii. q a ~ ~ ~
After stating thai the President has no S, !;
power to: arrest the proceeding On the
vii and criminal courts Of tile State
New York, and;ihatt weretb case pend
ing in one Of the u. S.. Courts, n61Ie
prosequi would have been entered inls
mediately on the receipt Of Mr.. 5Foss,s. list
letter, the Secretary proceeds To- saystbat
the Governor of the State Of Nes- York :
cannot inlerfere in a ciyifsuit, Thesein-
structions, however,, sares dated March i 6,
since which time tie reader is aware, the
civifsnit has been discontinued. The inr
strnctions are as follows: -
You will be furnished with, a copys6f
this instruction for the use of the Exeeu.
tive of.New York andthe Attorney Gene
raj ofthat State. YouwiII carfy ysWiff1 YOU
also authentic cSeyidenceso the Fscitgniiion
by The British Government Of the destrnc-S
ton Of the Caroline as an act of public &
force done by national authority
The PRESIDENTS impressed with spfoPri.
ETY. oftransfering thelrial from thescehe :.
"f:she principal excitement To- some other
and distant county. You@will take: care
that this be suggested TO the prrisoner's
counsel. The President is lera,ifedsao
learn that the Governor of New. York
has already directed thattbei trial shall
take place before the Chef Justiceof The
State. 4. sfs .::sssz s !, -
Having consulted with the COY edlor,
you will proceed TO Lock poft, or wher.
ever else the trial may be holden, and fur
nish the prisoner'sScouBset with fheS evi.s..-
dence of which you will *be in possession
- - r<vtS-s