Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-10-07
Correspondence eide N. Yoys Com. Adssrtistf
Urea. Sept. 2ssh lssi.
q ,f~f..l u AZ
TiiE MCLEOD CASE.

1 some days ago, bat OF which | could not
Y before speak, had my fears that there
would be some failure in the arrival Of
certain persons who were expected 'FRONT.'
Canada on the part of the defence. Those
fears are removed by the return this eve.
ming Of the legal gentlemen who went into
Canada 10 take evidence. They have
not only mass Of documentary proof, but
the assurance Of the presence Of such per.
sons as are most ;ssential. My opinion
still is. that the trial will not come on i'm.
mi Monday. and then il will be driven las,
enough, Judge Gridley's steam mill being
now in lull operation.
! CorrcspoadeAes Of me N. York Com Advsrtiser'
CrIca, September 26lh.
Since | last wrote 10 you, nothing tnr.
Their has been done in tho case Of Mcleod
and il is now more Than probable that his
trial will not commence until the ensuing
week. A large number Of witnesses for
and against The prisoner have already ar
rived here, and several others are expect
ed. aud should it be found necessary TO
examine them, the trial must necessarily
occupy several days. Some Of the Cana.
dian militia are, as have been informed,
on their way 10 this city as WITNESSES, and
are travelling, dressed in the regimental
dress of Britisl. soldiers. A circumstances,
which if accidental, argues great want
Of foresight and prudence, on the purt of
those who sent them here, when il must
have been expected that they would prob
ably come ia contact with some of the
many persons, Interested in the fate Of the
Caroline, and still smarting under exus
Eperated feelings consequent upon that
event.
To such persons, tho sight of soldiers
in British uniform. travelling through the
country as witnesses, in lavorofone whom
they believe to be guilty, is to say the
least of it, but too well calculated to
awake unpleas mt "reminiscences and cause
excitement. tear however, if the cir
cunstance have referred to turns out TO
: be the fact, that il has no, been the result
Of accident or imprudence, but design.
For although the British and American
governments are so sincerely disposed to
be on terms of amity and peace, there is
at present large party in Canada, who
! for their own purposes would as long as
!, they possibly could, keep the two nations
in state Of suspended warfure. have
since my arrival here, conversed with ma
ny sensible and moderate men residing on
both sides of the Line, from whose com.
mnnications, il appears pretty evident to
me that the party alude TO in Canada, are
endeavoring to play the same game that
was so long and successfully played in
Ireland. Whenever nny serious popular
l lnu ~
teer military association called the yeo
many, composed exclusively of the high
Tory or Orange party, were immediately
placed on permanent pay, and continued
: so, until the popular excitement had cens-
ed, when they were dsbanded. These
, gentry finding that their pay et cetera de-
pended upon the country bling in dis.
: turbed state, did every thing they posi-
bly, could TO keep II SO, and by getting up
y sham plots, rumoss Of instructions and SO
forth, they continued for many years 10
keep themselves in comfortable quarters,
until at last the British government found
D It cheaper and more conducive to the
. peace of the country to institute regular
gems d'armerie, and employ troops of the
line, and ceased TO employ the yeomanry.
Catholic emancipation also took place,
: which by dividing the Offices and places
) under government, amongst several mil
lions oil people, instead Of few hundred
thousand, as had beer hitherto the case,
deprived the Orange party Of the patro-
mage which they had for long time ex.
: clusively enjoyed. In consequence Of
those occurrences and other causes, they
have emigrated TO Canada in large mum
bers within the last ten years, as did also
) great many half pay officers Of the Brit.
iSh army. When the insurrecticn broke
out ia Canada these men were all employ.
ed in some civil or military capacity, and
well paid for their services the necessity
for which would cease as the country be.
came Tranquil, and there was no longer
any prospect Of invasion from the United
States. Their interest, therefore, was
best promoted by keeping up an i'll feeling
between the two nations, and encourage
ing, or causing ouirages to be committed
along the lines. And that they did, and
are doing so, have scarcely doubt. In
proof OF what | say, S all state piece
OF information | received this morning. A
gentleman who accompanied me into a
room where there were about dozen OF
individuals, who had just arrived from the
frontier, began to speak about the pres-
Jents proclamation in relation to the
"Ilunters' Lodges" when almost the
whole company laughed at il, and said il
was now too late, for that the Hunters
1 Lodges had ceased to exist nearly two
years ago.
Most of them frankly admitted thalthey
had been members Of the Hunters Lodges,
told us where they had been located, and
showed us the countersign by which Hun
ters' Lodge men knew each other, and
then went on 10 tell US why they were
broken up. At "a large meeting which
took place in one Of them, at night, II was
discovered that the most prominent speak
er amongst them was an emssary from
the Orange party in Canada. The Hun.
ters' Lodge men Immediately seized the
fellow ana searched him, and found on his
person letter from an individual holding
high office under the British Govern
neut in Canada. This discovery led 10
others orlhe same character, and The Hun
,..ns r ,.lr,as Soon caaSsd IN eYist E.n,..