Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-02-24
From the New Hampshire Patriot.
BURNING OF THE CAROLINE

BURNING OF THE CAROLINE. |
The circumstances attending the burn.
ing ofthis steamboat by Inaraudefs and
pirates from the Canada shores, made
such an impression at the'time,as to need
but bare aIlusion, to recall the recollec-
ton of the particulars ofone of the most
high-handed and brutal oatrages known
in the annals of British governmental IN
fanny. The deep and. strong feelings Of
indignation which that deed of savage
atrocity then excited, could have been
Gained only by the conviction ard assu-
rance that our government would pro-
Is demand and exact adequate repair "a
for the injury. The demand was made /: /
but action on the subject has been defea-
ted by the procrastinating policy OF British |
diplomacy, and satisfaction withheld By |
the proffer of promises of speedy adj |
iustment. The course of our government |
has been prudent and cautious, and more
forbearing than would have been that of
any other government in Chrlstendpm
under the infiction upon its citizens of
such cruel wrong, if it had equal power
Ito enforce redress. We have no. acted
rashly, though the provocation was calcu-
lated to lead TO open and immediate hos
tiliiy, in case of refusal to render full
and complete justice.
| Our conduct was to be regulated in
some measure by the fact of the British
Government avowing or disavowing that
the act was committed under the di.
rection Of its authorities. Application
was made, with the demand of redress, to
know how this thing was but it was eva
ded till a recent event brought on the
truth.
A short time since, Nov. 12) Alexan-
der Mcleod, charged with being one of
the banditti engaged in the burning Of the
Caroline, was arrested at Lewiston New
York, and after full examination COM
mitted to the Lockport jail for trial for this
, offence. The Colonial authorities applied
to Mr. Fox, the British Minister, TO pro.
cure his release.
Mr.. Fox Immediately addressed Mr..
Forsyth. demanding the release of Nc
I Leod. Mr. Forsyth replied by telling him
that the general government had no pow
f er to interfere This correspondence was
= communicated to the House of Represen.
tatlves on Thursday of last week.
The letter of Mr. Fox is important, as il
now avows, =" that the destruction OF the
steamboat Caroline was a public act Of
persons in her Maesty's service, obeyins
the order of their superior authorities.
He asserts that Mcleod was not one O.
IL those persons, but demands his release
v whether lie was or not, because the &C
:. was committed by direction of the British
: authorities, and the latter are responsible
. and not the persons employed since the,
were bound to obey.
n Mr Forsyth, under the advice and di
IN reetion of the President, replies, that th
is President cannot comply with the demand
a that the crime of murder and arson, wit
a. which Mcleod is charged,was commute
" within the territory and against the law
~ and citizens of New York, and is on
re that comes clearly within the competenc
ly of her tribunals; that the Federal Gov
ernments has no Jurisdiction in the cas-
We and if it had it would be improper to il
wv terfere under the circumstances that ii
a President knows Of no principal Of inte
nal law which calls for the release of sue
an offender. He then comments in
right temper upon the acknowledgment
ng for the first time officially made, that Il
Caroline was burnt, and our citizens c
board of her murdered, under the autho
Mt ity of the British government, and sa.
TO that it now becomes our government
treat the outrage as the act ofthe BIRTHS
rht government.
- 1t is now proclaimed officially that Il
~ British government was the perpetrator
TN that atrocious outrage, the violation ofo
territory, the murder Of our citizens, al
ten the pIratical burning of our property
Let that government lie held answered.
wv. as the author of the injury, and requlr
TO make full and instant amends. If i'll
. fuses or delays isstice, then this count
ought to vindicate its rights and IFS hon
by those means which God and natl
'o'0 have placed within its power.
co. AS for Mcleod, ifhe be guilty, let b
ing be punished. A participation in the d
len truction of the Caroline makes him a fel
I'VE and murderer, and the fact that he ac
under British authority cannot screen b
NV, from the punishment due to his crimes
4 ri IF the proof of mis- guilt be clear. let him
: " hanged By The neck for the perPetratlon
the same acts for which Colonel Men
, , was knighted in England.