The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1841-12-11

the British Envoy, MIR. Fox, and with the
Governor of Vermont, as soon as the
facts had been made known to this De-
4 partment, are herewith communicated.
regret that it is not in my power to
make known to you an equally satislac-
tory conclusion in the case of the Caro-
line steamer, with the circumstances con-
nected with the destruction of which, i'll
December, 1897, by an armed force fitted
out in the Province Of Upper Canada,you
are already made acquainted. No such
atoncment as was due for tho public
wrong done to the United States by this
invasion of her territory, SO wholly ire
conclable with her RIG hts as an indepcn-
dent power, has yet been made. In the
view taken by this Government, the inqui
ry whether the vessel was in the employ
ment of those who where prosecuting an
unauthorized war against that Province
or was cngagedby the owner i'll the bust
ness of transporting passengers TO and
from Navy Island in hopes of private gain
which was most probably the case, i'll no
degree alters the real question at issue
between the two governments. This
Government can never concede to any
foreign Government the power, except in
a case of the most urgent and extreme
necessity, Of invading its territory, either
to arrest the persons or destroy the pro-
party Of those who may have violated the
municipal laws of such foreign Govern
mcnt, or have dsregardcd their obligations
arising under the law of nations. The
territory of the United States must be re-
garded as sacredly secure against all such
invasions, until they shall voluntarily
acknowledge their inability to acquit
themselves of their duties to others. And
in announcing this sentiment, do but al-
firm principle which no nation on earth
would be more ready to vindicate, at all
hazards, than the people ann Government
Of Great Britain.
IT, upon full investigation of all the
facts, ii shall appear that the owner of the
Caroline was governed bya hostile intent
or had made common cause with those
who were in the occupancy of Navy Is
land, then, so far as he is concerned, there
can be no claim 20 indemnity for the des-
tructon of his boat, which this Govern
ment would feel itself bonnd to prosecute
since he would have acted not only in
derogation of the rights Of Great Britain,
but in clear violation of the laws of the U.
States; but that is question which, how
ever settled, in no manner involves the
higher consideration of the violation of
territorial sovereignty and jurisdictch.-
TO recognise !. as an admissible raclice
! that each government, in its turn, upon
any sudden and unauthorized outbreak,
which, on frontier, the extent of which
renders it impossible for either to have an
efficient force Oh every mile of it, and
which outbreak, therefore, neither may
be able to surpass in a day, may take
vengeance into its own hands, and with
out even remonstrance, and in the abb
scnce Of any pressing or everything ne
ccssity, may invade the territory Of the
other, would inevitably lead TO results e.
qualify to be dcplorcd by both. When
border collisions come to receive the
sanctoa, or to be made on the authority
Of either Government, general war must
be the inevitable result. While it is the
ardent desire of the United States to cul-
tvate the relations of peace with all ma
tons, and to fulfil all the duties of good
neighborhood towards those who pos
sess territories adjoining their own, that
very desire would lead them to deny the
light Of any foreign power, to invade their
boundary, with an armed force. The
correspondence between the two Govern
mcnts on this subject, will, at future day
of your session, be submitted to your con-
sdcration; and in the mean time, cannot
but indulge the hope that the British Go
vernment will see the propriety of re-
nouncing, as a rule of future action, the
precedent which has been set in the al-
fair at Schlosser.
herewith submit the correspondence
which has recently taken place between
the American Minister at the Court of ST.
James, Mr.. Stevenson, and the Minister OF
Foreign Affairs of that Government, on the
right claimed by that Government to visit
and detan vessels sailing under the Amer
lean flag and engaged in prosecuting law
full commerce i'll the African seas.
Our commercial interest in that region
have experienced considerable increase,
and have become an object Of much i'm
portance, and it is the duty of this Go
vernment to protect them against all i'm
proper and vexatious interruption. IIowev-
err DESTROYS the United States may be for the
suppression of the slave trade, they cannot
consent to interpretations into the maritime
code, at the mere will and pleasure OF 9th
any such Interpolation to any one, or all
er governments. We deny the right Of
the nations Of the Earth, without our con-
sent. We claim to have voice in all
amendments or alterations of that code
and when we are given to understand, as