Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-03-13
FWihr Extracts Of the NecS cChe President.
DEBATE Or THE BHKTIsu PARLIA-
MENT.
Imurisonment of NIcLeod.

imprisonment OF MCEeO6.
The Earl of Mountcashel wished to draw their
1.ord.hips' attention TO the case of Mr.. Mcleod,
a British subject, who had been seized by the au-
thoritcs in the United States, and imprisoned for
hoVcins as listed in destroying the steam boat Caro-
line during the late Canadian troubles. He hid
been taken into custody by the AmeGc N 0uthori-
ties on charge of murder ana arson. He Che
Earl of Mountcashod) had learnt from the public
papers that correspondence had taken place he
tween Mr.. Fox, the British Minister at VI ashing
ton, aud Mr. Forsyth, the American Secretary of
State on the subject, the American Government
having refused to deliver him up. Most violent
epeeches had been made on the subject in the A.
moricsn Congress, not only against this country
but attacking Mr.. Mcleod himself, so that it would
tie impossible almost bu; that he should fail victim
II the prejudices excited against him.-Hc (he
Earl Of Mountcashe) had communication with
Captain Drew, who had attacked the Caroline, and
had understood from him that Mr.. Mcleod was
not one ofthe party engaged in capturing the Caro-
line, but that he was on shore at the time, in the
execution of his duty. He trusted the Gov rn>
dignity of the country if they did not the nation
would be degraded, and British subjects would be
liable to all sorts of insults in the United States.
Hear hear.) The Caroline was engaged i'll an
act of piracy and rebellion the time she takon
and therefore, those who assisted in capturing her,
or Russian, taken British vessel engaged as the
Caroline had hcen, and had destroyed the ship and
hanged the crew, the British Government would
never have though, of interfering. Had the Caro-
line auy letters of marque, or had she any arthori.
ty from the Government of the United States No; ;
she could not have had from a country pretending
90 he at peace with US. The Government of Amc-
rca seemed dcsirous of picking quarrel with US
All he wantal was that she should act up to the
principles which she herself rrotcssod Their Lord
ships would rCcocct tie case OF the Floiidas, in
1918, when two British subjects had assisted the
Seminole Indians, end took them mms and ammu.
milton, as had been done by the parties in the Car
oline in the instance before them. Wha, did Gen.
Jackson on that occasion, under those circumslan-
-ccs Why, he had them hanged and very pro.
perry and the British Government did not inter
fere, because they were British SUI iccts. Tie an
swer of the President was II refuse altogether to
admit the claim of Mr. Fox on behalf of Mr.. Mcleod
fur his liberation principally tie ground llat The
Federal Government had no power to interfere with
the authority Of the several independent States, and
also on the ground that if it had the right 10 inter-
tre this would not be the for them TO exercise
such authority, inasmuch as questions Of intorna-
tional rights btlwCen two countries in no degree
inteIiered with the administration of justice by
these several States. Mr.. Fox closed the CORES.
poEdcnce by the strongest expression of rsgr,. at
the views which the rrcslden, had taken upon the
mater. He said be not authorized to express
the views OF his Government, but on his part be
made the strongest protest in his power against
these views, and without loss Of time weud lay the
whole before her Majesy's Government for Its o.
Inon. Sir, this is the position in which the mat
ter at present stauds:-A British subject ar
rested in the month OF NCVemteT; the asszes vii
take place during the present month III February
and at this hour (and this is my yindcallon iol
interfering, in any degree, in tLc matter in which
the communications hGvo taken place between two
great nations, and which are now in very critical
s,1e) at this moment, the life of a British subject
may be in jeopardy in consequence OF his having
acted in defence OF his native country, aud under
the orders aud by the authority of the superior
powers Of his country to whom he compelled Il
give obedience in re[elling invasion and rebellion
The question ! wish TO put to the noble Lor,
are-inasuueh this negotiation has commenced
so early as January 1889, wish to ask the noble
Loid whether he has any objection to lay on ia,
table OF The House the correspondence helween he
Mse.D's Government and the United States rela
tive 10 the destruction of the schooner Caroline OF
che night of the 2Oul December 1877 Whethe