The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-03-03


| line were aiders and abettors Of otherse en-
gaeed in rebellion. And the committee
are totally at a loss to know upon wha
authority rebellion is recognized as piracy
Such confounding of terms is resting the
case upon epithets, instead Of sound law
or facts. But even surprising it to be a
"piratical boat" as the Minister asserts ),
to be, yet the moment it touched our soil
lit fell under our sovereignty, and no
power on earth could rightfully invade it.
There is no doctrine more consecrated
| in English history than that everythuman
being who touches the soil of Great Bri-
tain is Immediately covered by British
law. Suppose one of her vessel were
cut from the banks of the Tharnes and
burnt by Frenchmen. and British citizens
were assassnated at night, and the French
Minister were to avow that they acted
under the orders of his Government. and
that the vessel was "piratical," and the
citizens murdered were ou,laws-then
there is not an Englishman whose heart
would not beat high TO avenge theSWrong,
and vindicate the rights of his country
The law there is the law here. And there
is nn international law consistent with tho
separate independence of nations, that
sanctions the pursuit of even pirates to
murder and arson over the soil and juris-
dictlon of one of the States of this Con-
federacy. No greater wrong can be done
to country than invasion of soil. If it
can be done with impunity at one p,int,
and on one occasion, it can be done at
another, and the nation that submits to it
finally sinks down into dwelling imbccili-
ty. If representation Of the state OF
things at Schlosscr, and the conduct OF
those who had control Of the Caroline,
had first been made to the proper antho-
rites Of New York, or of the United
States; then there would have been spme
show at least of respect for our sovereign
ty and independence, and disposition to
treat US as an equal. But in this case. aslf
to treat our authorities with contempt,
there was no preliminary demand or re-
presentation made.
1t was hoped that the outrage was per.
petrated byfa party in sudden heat and
excitement, upon theh own responsibility.
But the British Minister now avows that
"the act was the public act OF persons
obaying the constituted authorities of her
Majesty's Province" and again 4afhrms
that lit was public act Of persons iE her
Majesty's service, obeying the orders Of
their superior authorities"
IF this had beer the first and only point
of collision with Great Britain, it might
not have excited such interest; but there
is an assumption in most of our inter
course with that great Power, revolving
to the pride and spirit of independence in
free people. If it be her desire to pre-
serve peace her true policy would be to
do Justice, and show that courtesy to
equals which she has always demanded
from others. The committee do not de-
sire to press views on this part of the SUBJ
iect, particularly as a demand has been
made by our Government upon the Co
vernment of Great Britain for explana-
ton as to the outrage committed, the an
swer to which, it is hoped, will prove sa-
tisfactory
As to the other points presented in the
demand marle BY the British Minister for
the "liberation" of Alexander Mcleod,
the committee believe the facts Of the
case to be, that the steamboat was seized
and burnt as stated before, and that a
citizen or citizens Of New York were
murdered in the affray. And there were
reasons to induce the belief that Mcleod
was pa,ticeps criminis. He was first ar
rested, and upon various testimony being
taken, was then discharged. He was af-
forwards arrested a second time. Upon
the evidence then presented, he was in.
prisoned to await his trial There was no
invasion of British territory to seize OF
take him. But, upon his being voluntarily
within our territory, he was arrested a;
any citizen of the United States, charged
with a similar offence, might have been
We know of no law of nations that would
exempt man from arrest and imprlson'
ment for offences charged to be commit
ted against the "peace and dignity" OF
State, because he is a subject Of Great
Britain, or because he committed the
crime at the instigation or under the au:
thority of British Provincial officers; much
less do we, know of any law that would