The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-06-23

CAM volunteers, and says that thoaghlhey
were already violating theSlaWs Of their
country, they were Certainly not. pirates,
nor does the. undersigned inkstfiat it can
advance the purpose Of friendly dis
cussion, or hasten the accommodation Of
national difficulties, so TO ominate them.
Their offence, whatever it was, had no
analogy to cases Of piracy. The fact that
for the last two centuries subjects Of the
British crown have been permitted 10 en-
gage in foreign wars, and the recruiting
of whole regiments for the Spanishservice,
openly in England is forcibIy alluded to-;
and yet il has not been gined that Eng
land at any time allowed her subjects to
turn pirates.
The Government Of the United States
has not, from the first, fallen into doubts.
elsewhere entertained, of the true extent
of the duties of neutrality. 1t has held
that, however il may have been in less
enlightened ages, the just interpretation
Of the modern law OF nations is, that
neutral states are bound to be strictly neu.
trail; and that il is a manifest and gross
improperly for individuals to engage in
the civil conflicts Of other states, and thus
10 be at war, while their Governments
peace. War and peace are high national
relations, which can properly be'establish.
ed or changed only by nations them.
selves. =
After quoting instances from the whole
history cf the republic. to show the sim
certy with which The United States have
carried out the principle above stated, the
letter of Mr.. Webster thus concludes:
Under these circumstances, and under
those Immediately connected with the
transaction itself, twill be for Her Ma
jesty's Government to showaupons
state Of facts and What rnlesgof natiepal
law the destruction of theszzn Caroline"
is 10 be defended 1t will be for rthatG ov-
ernment to show a necessity Sof stlfde-
fence, instant, overwhelming, leaving no
choice of means and no mument for deli
beralion. 1t will be for it to show, also,
that the local authorities Of Canada. even
supposing the necessity Of the moment
authorized them to enter the territories Of
the United States at all, did nothing ur-
reasonable or excessive; since the act
justified by the necessity of seli-defence,
must he limited by that necessity, and
kept clearlyswill,in it.
1t must be shown that admonitiOn or,
rcmonstrance to the persons OH board the
-" Caroline" was impraclicable, or would
have been unavailng; il must have shown.
that daylight could not be waited for;
that there could bcno attempt at discrimln-
alton between the innocent and the guilty;
that it would mot have been enough 10
seize and detainthe vessel-but that there
was a necessity, present and inevitable,
for attacking her, in the darkness Of the
night, while moored TO the shore, and
while unarme1 men were asleep on board;
killing some and wounding others, and
then drawing her into the current, above
The cataract, setting her on fire, and,
careless 10 know whether there might not
be in her the innocent with the guilty, or
the living with the dead, committed her TO
a fate which fills the Imagination with hor.
ror, necessity for all this Government of
the United States cannot believe 10 have
existed. ,.s-.
All will see that if such things be allow.
ed to occur, they might lead to bloody
and exasperated war; and when an. indi-
vidual comes into the United States from
Canada, and TO the very place on which
this drama was performed, and there choos:
es to make public and vain glorious boasts
Of the part he acted in it, it is hardly
wonderful that great excitement should be.
created, and some commolion arise.
This Republic does not wish to disturb
the tranquility of the world. Its object is
peace, its policy peace. 1t seeks no ag-.
grandizement bv foreign conquest, be.
cause il knows ,halno foreign acquisition
could augment its power and importance
SO rapidly as they are already advancing
BY lis own natural growth under the pro.
pilous circumstances Of ills situation.
Blu, il cannot admit that lis Govern
men, has no, both The will and the power
to preserve its own neutrilily, and TO- en-.
force the observance of itsown laws upon
its own citizens. llis jealous Of its rights,
and among others, and most especially, of
The right Of The absolute immunity Of its
territory against aggression from abroad;
and these rights it is the duty, and the
determination of this Government fully
and at all times to maintain; while will,
at the same time, as scrupulously y refrain
from infringing on the rights of others.