Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1841-02-25

States, as defined in the Constitution.
Over all cases except those defined in the
Constitution, and those coming clearly un.
der the laws of nations, The States have ex-
elusive jurisdiction, and the trial aud pun
ishment for offences against them, are Incl
dent to their separate sovereignty. 1t is
not pretended in this case that there is any
treaty stipulation under which the demand
is made; and the Federal Executive. un-
der our system, has no power but what is
conferred by The Constitution, or by special
law of Congress. In the former it is de-
clared that 'uhe Executive power is vest
ed in the President of the United Sta'es,"
and that power is then TO be pointed out
and defined by special laws passed from
lime to time, imposing such duties as are
thought proper and expedicnt Thy Congress.
Your committee deem it dangerous for
the Executive to exercise any power over
subject matter not conferred by treaty or
by law; and 10 exercise it in any case in
conflict with Stale jurisdiction, would he
worse than dangerous; it would be usur-
patton.
But your committee forbear 10 press
these points further at resent, and they
would not have said as much on such clear
questions of international law, but that in
This case, the demand for Liberation has
been made by The accredited agent of
great power, and under circumstances oil
peculiar agravalion and excitement.
We have other points of difference with
Great Britain, which add interest 10 every
question that arises between us at the pre-
sent. Neither our Northeastern or our
Northwestern boundaries are yet settled
with her, and the subject is not entirely
free from difficulty. She has recently seiz-
cd our vessels and exercised power in
ROLLING the right fssarch, under the pre-
text of suppressine the foreign slave trade.
which, if persevered in, will sweep our
commerce from the coast of Africa, aud
which is incompatible with our rights as a
maritime power. She has recently, in her
intercourse with US, refused indemnify aud
denied our rights to properly, on a subject
matter vital 10 near one half the States of
the Conrederacy, and which, considering
her military position at Bermuda aud her
growing power in the West Indies, is Of llIe
lasl importance to our national iudepen-
dence.
All these subjects make every question
between us, al this peculiar juncture, Of
the deepest interest.
Besides this, we arc both permanently
destined TO have, perhaps, the most exten-
sive commerce Of modern nations. Our
flags float side by side, over every sea, and
bay, and inlet Of The known globe.
She moves steadily upon her objects
with an ambition that knows no bounds.
And wherever she has had conflict ofin.
lerest she has rarely yielded 10 any power.
At this moment she presents TO the civil
lized world the spectacle Of the greatest
military and commercial power in combi-
nation ever known.
From her vast possessions in every quar-
ter of the globe, and her peculiar CONNER
cial system, che has been made The reser-
voir ofrhe wealth Of nations.
Her internal resources, skill, labor. and
machinery, with her capital, are beyond
calculation. Her natural position, being
about midway the coast of Europe, gives
ssa,s ssa, GaR,Ea!e over The on!!e.s an CIR:
Her military occupation of Gibraltar,
Malta, the lonian islands, and recently of
ST. Jean d'Acre, give her lbe ascendency
on the Mediterranean and The Levani,
willie 81. Helena and The Cape Of Good
Hope give her possession over the currents
oflrade along those extensive coasts. Then
Bombay, Calcutta, and her immense pos
sessions in the Fast Indies, togethe. with
her recent movements in the China seas
and islands, enable her to extend her pow
er over those vast regions that have slum.
bered for ages in solitary and enervaled
magnificence. She possesses Falkland is
land, 10 control the commerce that passes
around Cape Horn-while Trinidad gives
her all she desires in The Caribbean sea.
Hdlifar at one point, and Bermada al ano-
tier, stand out i'll great force over our own
coast from one extremity to the other.
Her position all over The world are al
this moment, in military point Of view,
equal TO million OF men under arms. Her
continual conflicts in The mighty regions
of the East, only enable her officers 10 b :
come skilful and to improve in the art Of
war, while her great armies and extensive
fleets draw their support from the immense
countries seized and occupied. In The pre-
sent jiuncture Of affairs, no statesman can
overlook these things. Steam power has
recently brought US so near together, that
in the event of any future conflict, acar uih
its effects will be precipita'ed upon us with
much more rapidity than formerly.
Avarice and ambition are the ruling pas
sions of modern times, and it is vain to
shut our eyes 10 the state of things around
US. 1t remains to he seen what effect steam
power is 10 have upon changing and mo.
difying the whole ART of defence and war.
1t may he great engine for again level
ling mankind, and eiuciug every thing TO
contest of mere physical force. In that
event it might he difficult 10 conjecture
what system of national defence aciu stetnd
the test Of time and experience.
We have a deep stake in peace, aud
fondly hope the repose Of the world will
moi be disturbed. We have certainly no,
the least desire for any rupture. Firmness,
and wise preparation, will long preserve