Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-18

as 10 tie nature system,
pose that there any right i'll .hc Federal Executive
10 arrest the verdict of the one, hwcrt the ursdic
toh OF the other. Ii such power existed, and were
exercised 1t would etectually overthrow, and upon
VITAL point, the separate sovereignty and ndepend
ence OF these States. The Federal Executive III ght
be clothed with power TO deliver up fIetycs froa
justice Tor offences committed against foreign State,
but even then it light not be obligatory % do So IN.
less 1t were made matter OF treaty stipulation. This
duty and right in an Executive has generally been
considered as dormant until made binding BY treaty
arrangement. But when the matter is reversed, and
demand is made, of fugtves FROM justice for Of.
fences committed against foreign power, but for the
Liberation OF man charged with c:rpces against the
peace and dignity Of one of GU: States, then -,
That the demand becomes prc2osterous in the
trcme The fact that the offences were committed under
the sanction of provincial authorities, does no; alter
the case, unless in state of war. In such
cases as the present. the power 10 BE- deliver could
not be conferred upon the Federal Executive BY rt-
ty st'puatIons. II could only be conferred in those
cases over which jurisdiction is clearly delegated b.
the Federal Constitution Such, for instance as ,rca-
son, which is offence against the conjoiied soye-
reigny of the States, as defined in the Constitution
Over all cases except those defined in the Constitution,
and those coming clearly under the laws ofnatons the
States have exclusive jurisdiction, and the trial and
punishment for offences against thcm incident -
their separate sovereignty II is not pretended this
case, that there any treaty stipulation under which
the demand is made; and the Federal Executive,
under our system, has power bnt what is conferred
by the Constitution, b. special law of Congress
in the former, i declared that .the Executive power
is vested in President Of the United States" and that
power is then to be pointed out and defined by special
laws passed from time to time, imposing such duties
are thought proper and eXpcdient BY Congress
Your committee deem il dangerous for the Exccu.
tive TO exercise any power subject matter not
conferred by treaty or by law and 10 exercise it ana
in conflict with State Jurisdiction, wou.d be worse
thar dangerous it would se rpation.
But your committee forbcar 10 press these points CIR
tler present, and tlscy would have sa1 n;c'
on such clear questions Of international las. lat nat
in this case, the demand fer Liberation las been iade
ty the accredited agent OF great power. ind under
circumstances Of pecua. aggTa"ti1n ana eAcitciv
We have oi!,er points Of difference w.;h Gr,a: Fri.
taia, which add interest 6 every question ;ai
between Us at present. Neither Northeastern or
Northwestern boundaries are We. settled win her. md
tie subject rely free .fon difficulty. te las
recently seized vessels and exercised power
c"cing tic rigH of SsaFct, under the preteS a! sup
pressing the foreign slave trade which, il persercred
IN, will sweep our commerce from tie Of Africa,
and which is incompatible with rights maritime
power. She has recently in her intercourse viii Us,
refused indemnity and denied our rights . property,
subject ga! 10 one half the States 81 lbs
Confectionery, and which, considering her military po-
son at Bermuda, ard Ter growing power in 'he YVES,
Indies, is Of the last Importance t. national inae
prudence
All these subjects make every question between ~
AZ KRIS peculiar JuRctuTc, Oh the deepest
Besides this, we are both permanently destined 10
have, perhaps, the most extensive commerce Of mo.
dern nations Our flags Goat side by side, every
sea, and bay, and inlet q! the KNOWN globe.
She steadily upon her objects with AZ atll
biiion that knows M bounds. And Wherever she has
had conflict of interest she has rarely Welded
power.
At this moment she presents TO the civilized wcri
the spectacle of the greatest military and commerce.,
power il combination ever known
From her vast possessions III every quarter 81 tho
globe, and her peculiar commercinl system. She has
been made the reservoir Of the wealth OF nations.
Her internal resources, skill, labor and machinery,
with her capital beyond calculation. Her naiura.
position being about midway tie coast o. Europe gcs
her great control over the outlets and currents Of
.ncrce.
Her military occupation Of Gibraltar, Malta, the To-
man islands, and recently of ST. Jean dAcrc, her
ascendency on The Mediterranean and the Levant while
ST Helena and the Cane of Good Hope give her pos
session over the OF trade along those extensive
coasts Then Bombay, Calcutta, and ler immense
possessions the East Indies, together with her recent
in the China and islands, enable her
extend her power those vast regions that have
sumbered for ages in solitary and enervated nagnit-
cence She possesses Falkland Island but to control
the commerce that passes around Cape Horn
Trinidad gives her all she desires in the Caribbean sea.
Hafur at one point and Bermuda at another, stand out
in great force own coast from one extremity
to the other
Her positions all over tue WplId IL tilS
IN military point Of view, equal to million Of men
under arms Her continual conflicts in the mighty re-
pious of the East only enable her officers To become
sklfal and to improve in the o. war, while hcr great
armies and extensive fleets draw tier support from the
immense countries seized and occupied In the pre-.
sent nncture of affairs no statesman can overlook
these things. Steam power has recently bronght -
50 near together, that in the event Of any future
fict ,rar 10Th lis effects Will be precipa,ed upon VITA
much more rapidity than formerly.
Ayarce and ambition the ruling passions .: mo-
dcrn times and it is vain shut eyes TO the state
of things around /; remains TO Re what effect
eieam power is 10 have upon changing and modifying
the whole art of defence and war. !, may 10 great
engine for again lcveng mank md, and reducing every
thinr 10 contest of mere physical force. In that
il mirh he difficult to conjecture what system o:
tionai dfencc mW stunt tie test Of lime and experience
We have a deep stake in peace, and fondly hope the
rcpnse Of the world will not be disturbed. We haze
certainly not the least desire for any rupture Firm
ness, and wise preparation, will long preserve US
from such catastrophe. Bnt while temptation
should ever prompt 10 do injustice on the hand
so no consideration, the other hand should ever IN
duce TO submit to permanent wrong from any power
on earth, no matter what the consequences may be.
Your Committee would conclude hy expressing
firm belief that all our points of difficulty may be honor
ably and amcably adjusted, and that harmony may
long be preserved by both Governments pursuing H.
beral and generous policy congenal TO the interests
and feelings Of both people, and compatible with The
spirit and genius Of an enlightened age.
W,su,xeroy, Feb I3-The debate on the report Of
the Committee on Foreign Relations this afternoon
was interesting. 1t will be gwen hereafter II de
velcped the course of tue coming Administration upon
the subject of our difficulties with Great Britain The
s0mersets Of Nessrs Granger, Fillmore, and ADAMS,
from the horse 10 the 0tirc branch were amusing
TIE argument of Mr. Everett an able defence OF
the British side of the queson-as much SO as u nc
had been employed by Mr. FOX DIS MS e"uHset ~ s"e