Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-01-07
MR.. FORSYTH TO MR.. FOX.
DEPARTMENT OF SrArE,
wAsuIseros. D,c,Mp,,a an M

the outrage committed in New York when the
steamboat Caroline was seized and burnt. Full
evidence of that outrage has been presented to her
MeJesty's Government with n demand for redress,
| and of course discussion Of the circumstances
here can be either useful proper, can I sup
pose 1t to be your desire invite it, Itake leave OF
the subject with this single remark that the opinion
so strongly expressed by you the facts and prin-
eiples involved IN the demand for PREPARATION on her
Malesty's Government by the United States would
hardly have been hazarded had you been possessed
oil the carefully collected testimony which has been
presented to your Government in support of that
demand.
avail myself OF the occasion to renew to YOU the
the assurance Of my distinguished consideration.
JOHN FORSYTH.
The reading having been concluded
| MIR. FILLMORE moved that the message and ac-
companying documents be referred to the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs, and that they be printed;
and also that 900 extra copies thereof be printed
Mr. F., before taking his seat said he had one re-
mark 10 make, and that in relation TO the facts
stated by the British Minister in relation to the
steamboat Caroline.
That boat, he mir. F.) was informed from the
best authority, belonged man in the city of Buff
| falo, by the name of William Wells, who was then
and IS now, very respectable, peaceable citizen.
The boat neither belonged TO the patriots, as they
were called, or the insurgents from Canada was
II in any manner under their control or authority
| and what reason there for the appelation that
was given to il by the Minister of Great Britain.
he IN. F.) could not conceive. The Minister had
called II piratical vessel, in the employ of those
who had been dsnominated Canadian patriots.
This he MT F.) believed was an entire mistake.
The simple facts of the case he understood 10 be
| these:
William Wells, during the time that these insur-
gents were occupying Navy Island, in the Niagara
| river. (Which was on the Canadian side and within
her Britannia Maesty's Dominions.) was owner of
the steamboat, which was then at the city of Bufa-
| 10, nearly twenty miles above. He applied TO the
| nj n hrapra 10 10, H.,
Schlosser, on the American shore, to Navy Island.
(wherc these patriots had their Notifications 10
which she was to ply simply as ferry boat, un
armed. The boat was licensed, and went dow the
river on the day previous to its destruction stopping
at Schlosser, the last stopping. place above the
Falls The boot then passed over that afternoon
once or twice, carrying passengers; but, he (Mr
! FL was informed, without any or munitions
! OF war on hoard. She returned again TO our own
shore, and was moored at our shore, not with
IN the nominal territory of the United States las
expressed in the communication of the British Mi
nlSter,) but within the undoubed territory of the
United States, much was this spot on which
that House was now standing She was moored AT
the wharf, and was there left in charge of the usual
watch of the boat, who were wholly unarmed.
There was only one piece of arms on board, and
that was pocket pistol not loaded ihere being no
ammunition.
While thus moored in the night she was attacked
by armed force, which, II appeared was sent
from the Canadian shore under the direction of Her
MajeSty's authorities. She was attacked without
warning, and one or two certainly one) of the
boats hands were killed, and others were driven
from on board without resistance. The boat itself
was towed into the current, set fire, and in that
condition, sent over the Falls.
This was the outrage complained OF; this was the
arson complained Of; and this the murder com
| of. One Of our own citizens, wholly unarmed, had
his brains blown out, and found next morning
on the wharf. There also good reason 10 sup.
pose that others in the boat went over the Falls
/ being unable TO escape.
He aware that this was a difficult question
between the two Governments. By the laws ofthe
State Of New York, this q murder; and the
person committing that murder and that arson was
liable 10 be tried and punished for these crimes and
neither tins Government, nor the Executive OF this
Government, that he could see had any control
over the matter, unless the Government of Great
Britain should see ht TO respond TO the claim made
ia relation to this outrage, by entering into some
treaty stipulation. Possibly by the tIeaty-making
power between this Government and Great Britain
las treaties, so soon as ratified became the supreme
law OF the land, the individual now implies ted ME hi
be pa'dcned. He tMr. F. could not see that there
was any other way IN which II could be done nor
dli he know that it could he done even in this
But he did oresee that, II the same spirit was mani.
tested by the people al home that was exhibited by
the Minister of Great Britain here, the necessary
course OF events must almost inevitably lead TO a
collision, if Mcleod should be convicted. That he
would be tried he MIR. F. had lao doubt. He hoped
he might be innocent, and that If he was So he
might not be convicted. But il he should be found
guilty, he would no doubt be executed, unless a
force, stronger than he Mr. F) conceived could be
brought were sent from the other side TO prevent it,
unless the could be prevented by the ,Iea ..
making power.
He would now take his seat, having risen merely
to correct what he supposed to be false impression
! to the facts OF the case.
MIR PICKENS (who spoke so low as to be MI
most inaudble amidst the confusion which peryaded
the House, understood TO urge chat the papers
should be referred 10 the Committee on Foreign
Affairs without further discussion especially as ano.
Their delicate subject OF negotiltIon was pending be-
tween the two Governments, ard as a demand had
been made on the Government Of Great Britain in
relation TO tins very outrage, TO which demand a
reply had not yet been received.
tSeverai voices here cried out, "Call the Previous
Question:" but the Reporter did not understand
that motion TO have been madeI
! MIR UNDERWOOD objected TO the printing OF
5000 extra copies Of these documents, and wished
to state what he considered would DO the proper
course.
The principles involved in the correspondence
| between the two countries were TO his mind mat
ters Of very great importance; and he thought that
these papers should he referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, who should make report on these
principles; and that then that report should be sent
out, 10 large numbers as possible fos the infor.
| nation Of the American People.
! What were the principles avowe ed on either sde3
lMr U. here recaptu,ated them, forth in the
| correspondence, and then proceeded:l
What was necessary to bring the case within the
principles Of national Jurisprudence, laid down
| by tne British Government IL was that the order
should be given TO come or, at least that the sane.
ton of the chief authority Of the country
that sent her forces within territory should be
gwen Had we any such orden No. The gen.
| temnn from Massachusetts, (Mr Cushing) had him
| self told US the other day that Lord Palmer.
\ ston had maintained profound silence. We had
recognition Of this under the authority Of the
/ Supreme Executive Of Great Britain and he I'M
/ w. disposed 10 think that, that II an Officer
should enter our territory and sacrifice the lives o
our citizens without such authority, he was in every
| sense a murderer and liable to be punished as such
| He (Mr W wshss that the especial attention o
the Committee On Foreign Affairs should be turne,
TO this pOint-that they might spread before US th
principles Of international law in relation to it; an,
l that they might do il with view TO any uterio
measures which might hereafter he adopted between
the two countries.
There were other questions Of deep interes, in
vOlved, growing out OF the jurisdiction Of the natiO
and Of the States. To that point a so he would b
CAD that the Committee on Foreign Affair
should turn its attention. This Transaction had oc
cured at the time whef there was no treaty between
US and Great Britain providing Tor such case. an
he, therefore, was not ex1cty prepared 10 say, Is
the gentleman from New York MD Fillmore
had done, that treaty stipulation now entered inf
would have a. post faeio operation so as TO draw
this question beyond the limits Of State nuthorit,
or diVcst the State courts Of New York Of thei
jurisdiction by having re- ation back t. thing whic
has already happtned, ard thereby prevent IN
State authort es from Furnishing murderer With
her jurisdiction. He did not make any positiv
assertion on this pOnt-he merely threw out the In
] "a -uI he uuttfH - - ~