Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-12-16

correspondence which passed between the
Department of State and the British En-
voy, Mr.. Fox, and with the Government
of Vermont, as soon as the facts had been
made known to this Department, are here
with communicated.
| regret that it is not in my power to
make known to you an equally satisfacto-
ry conclusion in the case of the Caroline
steamer, with the circumstances connect
ed with the destruction of which, in De-
cember, 1887, by an armed force fitted
out in the Province of Upper Canada, you
are already made acquainted. No such
atonement as was due for the public
wrong done to the United States by this
invasion Of her territory, SO wholly ire.
concilable with her rights as an indepen.
den: Power, has yet been made. 10 the
view taken by this government, the inquiry
whether the vessel was in the employment
of these who were prosecuting an unau-
thorized war against that Province, or was
engaged by the owner in the business OF
transporting passengers to and from Navy
Island in hopes Of private gain, which
was most probably the case, in no degree
altersthe real question at issue between The
two Governments. This Government can
never concede to any foreign Government
the power, except IN u case of the most
urgent and extreme necessity, Of invading
its territory, either TO arrest the persons
or destroy the property of those who may
have violated the municipal laws of such
foreign Government, or have disregarded
their obligations arising under the law Of
nations. The territory OF the United
States must be regarded as sacredly Sc
cure against all such i%nvasions, until
they shall voluntarily acknowledge their
inability to acquit themselves Of their du-
lies to others. And, in announcing this
sentiment, | do but affirm a principle which
no nation on earth would be more ready
to vindlcate, at all hazards, than the PEG.
pie and Government Of Great Britain.
If, upon a full investigation of all the
facts, it shall appear that the owner Of the
Caroline vas governed by a hostile intent,
or had made common cause with those
who were in the occupancy Of Navy Is
land, then, so far as he is concerned, there
can be no claim to indemnity for the de.
siruc,ion of his boat which this Govern
ment would feel itself bound to prosecute
since he would have acted in derogatlon
of the rights Of Great Britain, but IN clear
violation of the laws Of the United States
but this is q question which, however set.
tied, in no manner involves the higher con-
sideration Of the violation of territorial
sovereignty and jurisdiction. To recog-
Mise il as an admissible practice that each
Government, in its turn, upon any sudden
and unauthorized outbreak, which, on a
frontier the extent Of which renders il inn
possible for either TO have an efficient force
on every mile of it, and which outbreak,
therefore, neither may be able to suppress
in a day, may take vengeance into It's own
hands, and, without even a remonstrance.
and in the absence Of any pressing or
everything necessity, may invade the ter
ritory of the other, would inevitably lead
to results equally to be deplored by both.
When border collisions come to receive
the sanction or TO be made on the author
i,y of either Government, general war
must be the inevitable result. While II is
the ardent desire OF the United States 10
cultivate the relations Of peace with all
nations, and TO fulfil all the duties Of good
neighborhood towards those who possess
territories adjoining their own, that very
desire would lead them to deny the right
OF any foreign Power to invade their boun-
Diary with an armed force. The cores
pondence between the two Governments
on this subject, will, at a future day OF
your session, be submitted TO your consId-
GRAFTON and, in the meantime, cannot
but indulge the hope that the British Gov
eminent will see the propriety of renounc-
ing, as a rule of future action, the prece.
dent which has been set in the affair at
Schlosser.
herewith submit the correspondence
which has recently taken place between
the American Minister al the Court Of ST.
James, Mr.. Stevenson, and the Minister
ofForeign Affairs of that Government, on
the right claimed by that Government to
visit and detain vessels sailing under the
American flag, and engaged in %prosecut-
ing lawful commerce in the African seas.
Our commercial interests in that region
have experienced considerable increase,
and have become an object of much i'm
portance, and it IS the duty of this Gov
eminent to protect them against all I'M
proper and vexatious interruption. How.
ever DESTROYS the United States may be
for the suppression of the slave trade,
they cannot consent to interpretations into
the maritime code at the mere will and
pleasure of other Governments. We de.
ny the right of any such Interpolation to
any one, or all the nations of the earth,
without our consent. We claim TO have
a voice in all amendments or alterations
Of that code and when we are given to
understand, as in this instance, by a for
eign Government, that its treaties with
other nations cannot be executed without
the establishment and enforcement of new
principles Of maritime police, 10 be APP
piled without our consent, we must employ
a language neither Of %equivocal import
nor susceptible OF characterization. Amer.
lcan citizens prosecuting a lawful com
merce in the African seas, under the flag
of their country, are not responsible for
the abuse or unlawful use Of that flag by
others nor car they rightfully, on &C.
count of any such alleged abuses, be in
..-d rnoles,ad or detained. while on