Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-07-06
CORRESPONDENCE
IN THE MCLEOD CASE.
Mr.. FoE 10 Mr.. Webster.
WASHINGTON, March IL, lS41.

The undersigned, her Britanic Majes-
ty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary, is instructed by the Gov
eminent to make the following official
communication to The Government of the
United States:
Her Majestys Government have had
under their consideration the correspond
ence which took place at Washington in
December last, between the United
States Secretary of State Mr.. Forsyth,
and the undersigned, comprising two Off
cial letters from the undersigned to Mr..
Forsyth, dated the 18th and 26th of De-
cember; and two official letters from Mr..
Forsyth TO the undersigned, dated the
26th and Both of the same month, upon
the subject of the arrest and impIison-
ment. Of Mr.. Alexander Mcleod, of Up
per Canada, by the authorities of the
State of New York, upon a pretended
charge of arson and murder as having
been engaged in the capture and destruc-
ton Of the steamboat "Caroline" on the
29th of December, 1887.
The undersigned is directed. in the first
place to make known to the Government
of the United States, that her Majesty's
Government entirely approve ofthe course
pursued by the undersigned in the cor
respondence, and of the language adopt :
ed by him in the official letters above
mentioned.
And the undersigned is now instruct
ed again 10 demand from the Govern
ment of the Uuited States, formally in
tho name Of the British Government, the
immediate release Of Mr.. Alexander Nc.
Lsod.
The grounds upon which the British
Government make this demand upon the
Government of the United States are
these: That the transaction OH account
of which Mcleod has been arrested and
is TO be put upon his trial was transac-
lion of public character, planned and
executed by persons duly empowered by
her Malestys Colonial authorities 10 take
any steps and TO do any acts which might
be necessary for the defence of her Maj
esty's territories, and foI the protection
Of her Msiesty's subjects, and that conse-
quently those subjects of her Majesty who
engagedin in that transaction were perfor-
ming an act Of public duty for which they
cannot be made personally and individu-
ally answerable to the laws and tribunals
Of any foreign country.
The transaction in question may have
been, as her Maiesty's Government are OF
opinion, that it was, justifa6le employ
ment offorce for the purpose of defend
ing the British territory from the 'unpro'
Voked attack Of band of British rebels
end American pirates, who, having been
permitted to arm and organize them
selves within the territory Of the United
States, had actually invaded ahd occupi
ed portion Of the territory of her Majes
ty, or 1t may have been as alleged BY
Mr. FORSYTH in his note to the under
signed Of the 26th Of December, "a mos
uniustiiable invasion in time ofpeace o
The territory of the United States. y
But this is question essential
.Ofa political and inter national kind
which can be discusted and settled onl
between the two Governments, and whlc
the cOnrts Of justice ofthe state of Me-
York cannot by possibility have any mean
Ofjudging OF any right Of deciding
Itwould be contrary to the univers'
practice OF civilized nations TO fix indlvi'
ual responsibility upon persons who, wi
the sanction or by the orders Of the co
stituted authorities of State, engaged
military or naval enterprise ID their cou
try's cause :and it is obvious that the lntr
duction Of such aprinciple would aggrava
beyond measure the mseries, al
would frigbtfully increase the demoral
ing effects Of war;by mixing up with
national evaporation the ferocity ofpt
sonal passions, and the cruelty and b
terness Of individual revenge.
Her Maiesty's Government cannot /
lieye that the Government Of the Un
edStales can really intend to set an Z
ample SO fraught with evil to the comm
nifty ofnations, and the direct tenden
Of which must be 10 bring back into I