The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-06-29
~, .n,n NAV be tho opinion of Her Majesty .

the conviction that il is important TO regaro o''
Iished distinctions, 81 to view the acts ana ono"'.'
OF individuals in the exactly proper hght' Du' ~
is not 10 be inferred that there is, on inc part "
this Government amy purpose OF ex'enua'"g'i" '
eighties, degree, the crimes of those persons, cit-
zens of the United States, who have joined IN NH
;,orv expeditions against the British Government
in Canada. On the contrary, the President dlrects
the undersigned to say that it is his fixed resoiu-
ton that ull such disurbers Of the national peace
and volaters of the laws of their country shall De
hror.ht N exempIary punishment. Nor will the
ac that they are instga.ed and led on to these ex
ceases by British subjects, refugees from the Prov
inces. be deemed any excuse palliaton; although
IL ia well worthy of being remembered that the
prime movers of these disturbances on the borders
are the subjects Of the Queen, who come within
The territories of the United States, seeking to
list the sympathies of their citizens, by all the mo-
iyes which they are able to address to them on &C
count of grievances, real or imaginary. There is
no reason to believe that the design any hostile
movement from the y. s. against Canada, has com
menced with citizens of the u. s. The true ORR
gin Of such purposes and such enterprises is on the
other side of the line But the Presidents resolu-
ton prevent these transgressons of The laws is
not on that account, the less strong. 1t is taken,
not only in conformity to his duty under the
provisions Of the existing laws, but in full conso-
nance with the established principles and pactice
Of this Government.
The Government of the United States has not,
from the first, fallen into the doubts, elsewhere en-
.ertained, OF the true extent of the duties Of neu
trality. II has held that, however, it may have
been in less enlightened ages, the just nterpreta-
ton of the modern law Of nations is, that neutral
States bound be strictly neutral; and that it
is a manifest and gross improperly for individuals
to engage in the civil conflicts OF other States, and
thus to be at war, while their Government is at
peace. War and peace high national relations,
which can properly be established or changed only
by nations themselves.
The United States have thought, also, that the
salutary, doctrine of non intervention by one
ton with tho affairs of others liable to be
TALLY impaired, if while Government refrains from
interference, interference is still allowed to its sub
jects, individually II may happen
indeed, that persons choose to leave their country
emigrate to other regions, and settle themselves
on uncultivated lands in territories belonging TO
other States. This cannot be prevented byGovern
nents which allow the emigration of their subjects
and citizens; and such persons, having voluntarily
abandoned their own country, have no claim to its
projections is it any longer responsible for their
ac,s.-Such cases, therefore, if they occur, show
no abandonment Of the duty OF neutrality.
The Government of the United States has not
considered it sufficient to confne the duties of
neutrality and non-interference to the of Gov.
ernments whose territories lilo adjacent TO each 9th
The application OF the principle nay be
necessary in such cases, but the principle itself
they regard as being the same, if those territories
be divided by half the globe The rulc is found.
ed m he i'm dac nj ail md,
vidnals TO make war on their own authority, or, by
-mingng themselves in the beligerent operations
OF other nations, to run the hazard of counteracng
TIE policy embroillng the relations Of their
government. And the United States have been
the first among civilized nations TO enforce the OBJ
servance of this just rule Of neutrality and peace,
by special and adequate legal enactments' In the
infancy of this Government, on the breaking out
of The European which had their origin in
the French Revolution, Congress passed laws with
severe penalties for preventing the citizens of the
United States from taking part in those hostilities.
By these laws, ii Is prescribed to the citizens
of the United States what 1t understood be their
duty as neutrals, by the law OF nations, and the
duty, also, which they owed to the interest and
honor of their own country.
At a subsequent period, when the American col.
onles of an European Power took up arms against
their Sovereign, Congress mot diverted from the es
tabIished system of the Government by any tempo
rary considerations, not swerved from duty by sym
patbes which il might naturally feel for one the
parties, did hesitate, aso pass acts applica
BILE TO the of colonial instruction and civil
war. And these provisions Of law have been con-
sinued, revised, amended, and are in full force at
the present moment. Nor have they been dead
letter, as it is we'll known that exemplary PUNISH
ments have been inflicted on those who have trans
crossed them. L, is known, indeed, that heavy
penalties have fallen individuals, citizens of the
Unitod States, engaged in this very disturbance in
Canada, with which the destruction ofthe Caroline
connected. And it is in Mr. Fox's knowledge
also, that the act of Congress Of March 10TH 1888,
was passed for the precise purpose OF more effecu-
ally restraining military enterprises from the Unit
ed States into the British Provinces by authorizing
Inc use OF the most sure and decisive proven tive
means. The undersigned may add, that it stands
on the admission of very high British authority
that during the.recents Canadian troubles, although