Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-01-30

being defective perhaps, in treating the let
ter of the British minister with courtesy
that its style gave it no claim to. He IN
forms Mr.. Fox that the jurisdiction of the
several States forming the Union is, within
their appropriated sphere,-perfectly indie
pendent of the Federal Government, and
as the offence with which Mcleod stands
charged was committed against the laws
and citizens of New York, the President
has no authority to interfere in the case.
Mr.. Forsyth after saying to Mr.. Fox that
his admission that the Caroline was de-
stroyed by order of agents of the British
government, was the first acknowledgment
of that fact, denies the assumed ground
that, because Mcleod acted shy authority"
he is not culpable or responsible. lie
states that he is not aware of any principle
of international law, or indeed of reason
or Justice, which entities such offenders to
impunity before the legal tribunals, when
coming voluntarily within their independ-
cnt and undoubted jurisdiction, because
they acted in obedience to their superior
authorities, or because their acts have be-
come the subject of diplomatic discussion
between the two Governments. These
methods of redress, the legal prosecution
of the offenders, and the application of their
Government for satisfaction, are independ-
ent of each other, and may be separately
and simultaneously pursued. The avowal
or justification of the outrage by the Brit
ish authorities, might be ground of COM
plant with the Government of the United
States, distinct from the violation of the
territory and laws of the State of New
York. The application of the Govern
ment of this Union to that of Great Brit
ain, for the redress of an authorized outrage
of the peace, dignity, and rights of the
United States, cannot deprive the State of
New York of her undoubted right of vim
dicating, through the exercise of her judi
cial power, the property and lives of her
citizens.
On the 3lst December, Mr.. Fox replies
to the letter Of Mr. Forsyth, stating his
deep regret that such was the decision of
our Government-that he could not but
foresee the serious consequences that must
ensue if, besides the injury already inflicted
on the Prisoner by unjust Imprisonment
any further injury should be done him
that the steamboat Caroline UaS a hostile Ues
sci engaged IN piratical ,Car; hired from
her o,cners for that cypress pupose-tha
the place 1chere she ,caS destroyed acaS onl,
nomiaaHy an the United States, &c. &c
Mr.. Forsyth in reply, takes leave of the
Esubect by remarking that as the matter ha:
been submitted to the English government
a further correspondence on the part of the
minister and himself is unnecessary.
The statement of Mr.. Fox that the Caro-.
line was hostile vessel engaged in pratt.
cal war ;--hired from her owners for that
express purpose is, we apprehend, not sus.
tanned by the facts of the case. We have
always understood that the boat belonged
to very respectable citizen by the name
of Wells, of Buffalo, who, during the timc
theinsurgents were occupying Navy Island
in the Niagara river, (within the British
dominionD applied to the Custom House
for license to run the boat from Schlos
ser, on the American shore, to Navy Island
(the point where the patriots had congre
gated to which she was to ply as ferry
boat, unarmed. The license was granted anc
she went down the river upon the day pre-
vious to its destruction-stopping at Schlos
ser the last stopping point above the falls
The boat then passed over that afternoon
once or twice, carrying passengers bu
without any arms or munitions of war or
board. She returned again to our owl
shores, and was moored at our own shore
not within the nominal territory of the
United States, Gas expressed in the commu
nication of the British Minister) but within
the undoubted territory of the U. States
She was moored at the wharf, and wa!
there left in charge of the usual watch o.
the boat, who were wholly unarmed. There
was only one piece of arms on board, anC
that was pocket pistol not loaded, there
being no ammunition. While thus moored
in the night, she was attacked by an armed
force, which, it now appears, was sent from
CHI Al