Southern pioneer, and Carroll, Choctaw and Tallahatchie Counties advertiser. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-13
ALEXANDER MCLEOD.

III the United States House OF RepreSen
tatives, Mr.. Pickens, from the Committee OIL
Foreign Affairs, asked leave to make a repor
from that committee, in relation to the cor
respondence between the Governments of the
United States and Great Britain in relation to
the destruction of the steamboat Caroline
during the troubles on the Canada frontier, in
the winter of $3.50; as also in relation TO
the arrest and Imprisonment of Alexander Nc.
Leod, British subject, for being concerned
in the destruction of that boat.
No objection being made, Mr.. Pickens sent
in the report as follows:
The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to whom
was referred the message of the President,
transmitting correspondence with the Brit
iSh Minister, in relation to the burning of
the steamboat Caroline, and the demand
made for the liberation of Mr. Alexander
. Mcleod, respectfully report:
1t appears that the steamboat Caroline was
seized and destroyed in the month of Decem-
Der, 1887. The committee are induced to be-
lleVe that the facts of the case are as follows:
The boat was owned by, and in possession of,
a citizen of New York. She was cleared from
the city of Buffalo, and on the morning of the
18th of December, 1887, she left the port of
Buffalo, bound for Schlosser, upon the Ameri-
can side of the Niagara river, and within the
territory of the United States. The original
intention seemed to be to run the boat between
Buffalo and Schlosser, or perhaps from Black
Rock dam to Schlosser, and should il seem pro-
htable, it was intended to run her also to Navy
island, and touch at Grand island and Tona-
wanda. Her owner was Mr.. Wells, said to be
a respectable citizen of Buffalo; and it is OBJ
Vlous his intention in putting up the boat was
one OF speculation and profit entirely. The
al this period, had collected a great many in
the nelghborhood, some from curiosity, some
from ldleneSs, and others from taking an in
tereSt In the unusual and extraordinary coIIec-
l,oi OF adventurous men gathered together at
mat time on Navy island. Navy island was
"nomnally" in the British "territory."
The owner of the Caroline took ADVANTAGE
of these circums tances, to make some monev
with his boat, by running her as a ferrv-boat
over to Navy island. All these facts appear
from testimony regularly taken, (see r. Fl.
Doc No. 3O2, pages 46 and %, I'd Session 25th
CongreSS,) and the committee know of no legal
evidence to contradict them. There is no proof
that any arms or'munitions of war were car
rled IN the boat, except, perhaps, one small six
FOUNDER held-plece belonging to passenger
The principal object was to run the boat as
1erry-boat from Schlosser, on the American
SIDE, TO Navy island, on the British side. 1t is
OelleVed that even in a war, a neutral Power
has the right to trade in contraband articles.
subject OF course, to seizure and confscation.
II taken within the Jurisdiction of either of the
contending parties. What is contraband of
war IS not always certain. Treaty stipula-
tons frequently include some articles. and ex-
clude others recognized in the law of nations
Trading IN contraband articles is no excuse
Tor invading the territory and soil of a neu-
tlai and independent power, whose private
citizens may choose to run the hazards of such
a trade. In this instance there were no two
Iorelgn Powers engaged in war; but ali con-
cerned In the outbreak or excitement within
the British jurisdiction claimed to be British
suUJecls, IN resistance OF the authorities of Can
ada, a province OF the British Empire. Even
admitting then, that the Caroline was engaged
IN contraband trade. yet it was with citizens
who claimed to be subjects of the same EN-
pre- with those who were STYLED the leoiti-
mate officers of the province AbstractIv
speaking, how was a private citizen to decide
who were right and who wrong in these local
disputes! And which portion of citizens of
the same province must our citizens refilso 70
hare any communication with? But the boat
WIS merely used for one day as a ferrv-boat
an on the night of the day she commenced
running she was seized, while moored at the
war; III SchloSser, and burnt Several men
wre aSsaSsnated; certainly one, who fell dead
Hon the deck. Now, the nsinuation of the +
1ltSn minister that Schlosser was s.noninal.
~ within the territory of the United States
nay well be retorted, as we can with equal
tnth say, that Navy island was ..nomina1Iy,
within the "territory" of the British Govern.
ment; for, at the period to which we aIlude.
Inc people collected there, had effectualJv de- Il
pea canada authorities as any portion Of our
people mad disregarded ours. Yet British Am. /,
,horty thought proper to pass by Navy island 7,
.nei - lts nominal" territory, and, in the
Fen'i'ude OF its power, to cast the seeis of of
g1xen 10 a puDIlc LIlall, Ilus esxycrrII,g-
FEietoE e. this Office per. 3. /