The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-19

possible contingency Of an invasion of portion of our
teIniory from the adjoining provnce-a calling 10
which must De permitted 10 say that distinguished
oficer already covered with glory by his deeds in
arms had added new illustration by his assiduous
ana successful Efforts TO maintain the tranquility Of
our frontier, and TO preserve from interruption. as yet
the peace OF two great and kindred nations
lbeg leave (sad Mr. R) TO ask the Senator from,
Pennsylvania in what proceedings of the Government
he finds the evidence of unbecomIng spirit Of con
cession to the demands of the British Government =
L he British Minister in the name of his Govern
inent formally demanded the immediate release of
! Alexander Mcleod" Was the demand granted p
no, sir 1t was firmly refused and that refusal vcto
i,ousy placed on grounds intimately connected with
s ne Saheuty OF American institutions The British
MINISTER informed the Secretary of State that her Ma
Jeslys Government is " of opinion that the captura
and destruction of the Caroline was Unsuitable en-
poyheh' OF iorce Tor the purpose of defending the
bnish territory IRON the unprovoked attack of band
oil British rebels and American pirates who having
been permitted TO ann and organize themselves within
the territory of the United States had actually inya-
ded and occupied portion of the territory of her Ma
Jesly How was this met BY controyertng every
point in the Justification intervening in the course OF
the reply, a new, just and powerful defence of the
high moral character of legislation and policy on
the subject of neutral Obligations and "holdng w
the mirror" TO the British Government, rejecting the
aggravations and enormtes of the destruction Of the
Caroline in light and colors vivid TO lead is
hoped to reconsideration of that act revolving alike
TO humanity and TO our national sensiby and honor
he honorable Senator complmented our minister
al London Tor the able and eloquent manner in which
ne mad presented this subject to the British Govern
ment Far be it from me to abate 'jot or title 4"
from the praises bestowed by the Senator upon this dis
tlnguished citizen of my own State hut without dis
paIagemen to him, may ask when bsfore has 10 pow
erful and graphic picture that outage speaking
the moral and almost TO the bodily sense been exhbi-
ted in the following extract of the reply Of the Sc
cretary OF State to Mr.. Fox
9 1t must be shown that admonion or renonstrance
TO the persons board the Caroline was impracti-
cable, would have been unavaing it must be shown
that day light could not be waited for that there
could be no attempt at discrimination between the in
nocent and the guilty that it would not have been
enough to seize and detan the vessel but that there
was necessity present and inevitable for attacking
her in the darkness of the night, while moored to the
shore and while unarmed men were asleep on board
killing some and wounding Others and then drawing
her INTO the current above the cataract setting her
hre and careless to know whether there might not be
IN her the innocent with the guilty OF the living with
the dead committing her to fate which fills the mag-
nation with horror"
Was there any want of Americon spirit in all this
No. sir, The destruction of the Caroline being at
length aVowed by the British Government as a public
act the administration could but feel that il was
unworthy OF It's own character and of the character of
the nation, to dignity miserable and subordinate in
strument who may have been employed in it, by making
HIM the selected object of national vengeance. Il
could not but feel also that the principle Of public law
which exempts these subordinate instruments from in
dvdual responsibility for acts done in obedience to the
competent public authorities is principle founded in
reason and humanity and recognized by the universal
practice OF civilized nations What then, did it be-
come hghmnded and honorable Government to do,
under these circumstances Frankly and unreser-
vedly to admit the prncipe-to put itself in the right
and to do whatever should devolve on it as a moral
and responsible Power TO fulfil and maintain the right.
IL had higher game-a nober mlssion-than to make
upon Mcleod
II would not comply with the demand to release
him, for that not of its province but think
that the courts in the exercise of their proper
jurisdiction, ought to release him, and charged with
the international relations of the country felt itself
called without interfering with the functions of
independent department of the Government to con-
tribute It's moral influence in support of great prnci
pie OF International intercourse, the due observance
Of which the harmony of nations essentially depends
The Attorney General of the United States was
therefore, furnished from the archives of the Govern
ment, with authentic evidence of the avowal by the
British Government of the destruction of the Caroline
pa9e act dG ne scene snae 81 ITS
siut,onaIprosison which secures to "the accused in
all criminal prosecutions the right to speedy and pub
lie trial by impartial jury to be confronted with
the witnesses against him to have process tor obtain
ing witnesses in his favor and to have the assistance
of counsel fer his defence. To have done less, under
the of the case would have been to be-
tray a sacred duty which the Government owes to it
self TO the country TO the cause OF humanity ana 10
the peace and harmony Of nations
But the Senator from Pennsylvania thinks that the
Administration should have been restrained from
yielding these dictates of duty and humanity bya
sentiment of self respect consequence OF what no
denominates a rnenance contained in the communca-
ton of Mr. Fox. In what does the gentleman find
this menance In these words Her Mnjesty's
Government enfreats the President OF the United
States take into his most deliberate consideration
the serious nature of the consequences which must
ensue from rejection Of this demand. Now sir,
however earnest this language, must say see more
Of depreciation than of menance IN IT. From whh
school Of diplomacy the honorable Senator has drawn
the sensitive and fastidious standard he applies TO
this communication, know not But have thought
that in this practical and Unitarian age, notions so
Jealous and sublmated had given place TO directness
and simplicity of speech, and that an appeal TO the
candid reflection foreign Government on the conse-
quences which might ensue from the omission or per
torrance Of certain acts if made in tone OF cour-
tcsy and friendly e1postuatlon, was always held TO
be admissible, and sometimes, indeed proper.
1t is little remarkable that language almost iden-
teal with this in a letter Of Mr. Fox TO Mr.. Forsyth,
Of 10Th December last should have passed without
arousing the slightest degree, the jealous senspi-
ties OF gentlemen. In that letter, VT. roA says "
Mr. Forsyth
81 cannot but see the rery grare and serious con-
Seoences that must enste it. besides the injury already
inflicted upon Mr. Mcleod, of vexalious and unjust
imprisonment, any further harm may be done nm IN
the progress of this extraordinary proceeding
But must saw Mr. President, that punctios like
these are not Of substance sufficient, in my OPINION to
occupy in this age of the world the grave discussions
of a body like the Senate OF The United States ! ne
calm dignity OF conscious strength Is not prone 10 pe
as,ute IN imagining suspectlng insult II 10 ever
scpoiseJ and collected reposing on the sense oil It's
power and the Justice of It's Such, trust VIII
ever be the attitude and bearing OF this gallant Re
public of ours Least of all will permit itself to be
restrained from doing what is ri ht by the most I'M
worthy of all ears-"the fear OF being thought afraid
The Senator from Pennsylvania seems TO have for
gotten the usrious and honored name which was at
the head Of this Government when its course