The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-07
Washington, Jan. ., ls4l.
MR.. FOX TO MR.. FORSYTH,
WASHINGTON, Dec. 80, 1910.

WASHINGTON, Dec -, lo4U.
Sir have the honor to acknow ledge the receipt of
your letter of the 26th inst in which in reply to
letter which had addressed to you on the 18TH you
acquan that the President is not prepared to COM
ply with my demand for the liberation of Mr. Aexan
der Mcleod, Of Upper Canada, imprisoned at
Lockport in the State of New York pretended
charge of murder and arson, having been engaged
IN the destruction of the praca steamboat Caroline
on the 29th December 1887.
learn with deep regret that such is the decision Of
the President of the United States, for cannot but
oresee the very grave and serious consequences that
must if besides the injury already inflicted upon
Mr.. Mcleod of avexatious and unjust Imprisonment,
any further harm should be done to him in the pro-
gress Of this extraordinary proceeding.
have lost no time in forwarding to her majestys
Government in England the correspondence that has
taken place, and shall ait the further orders of her
majesty's government with respect to the important
question which that correspondence involves.
But feel it my duty not to close this communica-
prise at the expressions which find repeated in yonr
letter with reference to the destruction of the steam
boat Caroline. had confidently hoped that the first
impressions of the character Of that event.
imposed upon the mind of the United States Govern
ment by partial and exaggerated representations,
would long since have been effaced by more strict
and accurate examination Of the facts Such an in
vestigaton must yet, willing to believe, lead
the United States Government to the conviction
with which her maestys authorities the spot were
Of sefdefence rendered absolutely necessary by the
circumstances of the OCCASION for the safety and pro-
lection Of her majastys subjects, and justified by the
same motives and principles which, upon similar and
well known occasions have governed the conduct of
illustrious officers of the United States.
The steamboat Caroline hostile vessel en-
gagged in piratcal against her majesty's peo-
pie, hired from her for that express purpose,
and known to be beyond the possibility Of doubt.
The place where the vessel was destroyed was mo-
mina-, il is true, within the territory of friendly
power, but the friendly power had been deprived
through overbearing pratica violence of the use Of
its proper authority over that portion of territory
The authorities Of New York had not been able
to prevent the artillery of the State from being carried
off publicly, at midday, to he used instruments of
against her majesty subjects 1t under such
circumstances which il is to be hoped will re-
cur, that the vessel attacked by party other ma
jesy' people, captured, and destroyed.
A remonstrance against the act in question has been
addressed by the United States to her maesty's Co
vernment in England. l am not authorized to pro-
the decision of her majesys Government, upon
that remonstrance, but have felt myself bound to
cord in the mean time the above opinion in order to
protest in the most solemn against the spirited
and loyal conduct Of party of her majesty officers,
and people being qualified, through unfortunate
msapprehension, as believe, of the facts with the
appelation of outrage or Of murder.
avail myself of this occasion to to you the
assurance Of my distinguished consideration.
III. s. FOX.