Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-12-15
MESSAGE.
Fellow citizens of the Sc nate
and House of Re preSentatives:

In coming together, fellow citizens, 10 en-
ter again upon the discharge OF The duties
with which the People have charged us,
severaly, we find great occasion 10 rejoice
in The general prosperity Of The country
We are in The enjoyment of all the blessings
of civil and religious liberty, with unexam-
pied means of education, knowledge, and
impro, ement. Through the year which is
now drawing 10 close, peace has been in
our borders, and plenty in our habilaliOns;
and although disease has visited some few
portions Of the land with distress and NOR
tality, yet in general the health of the PeO-
pie has been preserved, and we are all called
upon, by the highest obligations of duty, 10
renew our thanks and our devotion TO our
Heavenly Parent, who has continued 10
vouchsafe 10 US the eminent blessings which
surrounded us, and who has so signaly
crowned the year with His goodness. If we
find ourselves increasing, beyond example,
in numbers, in strength, in wealth, in knowl
edge, in every thing which promotes human
and social happiness, let US ever remember
our dependence, for all these, on the protec-
ton and merciful dispensaiions of Divine
Providence.
Since your last adjournment, Alexander
Mcleod, British subject, who was indicted
for the murder of an American citizen, and
whose case has been the subject of a cor
respondence heretofore communicated to you,
has been acquitted by The verdict of an i'm
partial and intelligent jury, and has. under
the judgement of the Court, been regularly
discharged.
Great Britain having made known TO this
Government thai The expedition which was
fitted out from Canada for The destruction of
The steamboat Caroline, in the winter of 1897,
and which resulted in the destruction Of said
boat, and inihe death of an American citi-
zen, was undertaken by orders emanaIing
from the authorities Of The British Govern
meni, in Canada, and demanding the dis
charge of Mcleod upon the ground that, if
engaged in that expedition, he did but fulfil
the orders OF his Government, has thus been
answered in the only way in which she could
be answered by a Government, the powers
of which are distributed among its several
departments by The fundamental law. Hap
pily Tor the people of Great Britain, as well
as those of the Uriied States, the only mode
nv which an individual arraigned for a GRIM
inal offence. before the Courts Of either, can
obtain his discharge, is by The independent
action Of the judiciary, and by proceedings
equally familiar to the Courts of both coun-
tries.
If finsGreat Britain power exists in the
Crown TO cause TO be entered nOAe proseqm,
which is not The cause with the Executive
power Of the United States upon prosecu-
ton pending in a State Conrl; yet there, no
more Than here, can the chief Executive
power rescue a prisoner from custody with
out an order of the proper tribunal directing
his discharge. The precise Stage of the pro-
ceedings at which such order may be made,
is a matter of municipal regulation exclusive
Iy, and not 10 be complained Of by any other
Government In eases Of This kind, CO.
vernment becomes politically responsible on
ly when its tribunals of last resort are shown
10 have rendered unjust and injurious Judge
ments in matters not doubtful TO the es-
adjustment and calculation Of this principle,
no nation has lent lis authority more efficient
" than Great Britain. Alexander Mcleod