North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1841-04-16
MCLEOD.

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The case Of this individual, as connects
with the destruction oil the Caroline, COZ
tinues to excite no small degree oi interest
not only in the United States and Canada
but in Great Britain, where the foarmes
feelings are evinced for his protection ans
Liberation, although confined for an alledg
ed participation in one Of the most shame
full, cowarhiy, despicabe and wanton act,
ever perpetratsd by any human being, in
q civilised country. Mc'Leed, If guilty in
relation to this matter, has no excuse to
plead or palliation to offer in extenuation
Of his offence. For If he participated In
that. bloody and disgraceful deed, it was
on his part, free and voluntary act, as he
neither belonged to the regular army nor
was he mustered into the Queens service
with the provincial militia. Had he been
attached TO the regular army or even to
the sedentary forces, he would then have
had the semblance Of an apology to plead
in justification Of his per6dious and dam
ming deed Of cold-klsoded murder and
wholesale butchcry. But he is deprived
Of even this subterfuge, as it is a well
known fact, that up to the time Of the de-
siruction OF the Caroline, he only acted in
a civil, and not in military capacity. He
was not then, as some OF their I.ordships
have been pleased to declare ,"acting under
orders and in obedience to the commands
Of his superior officers" but obeying The
impulse OF his own tory feelings, freely and
without constrainl! This being the case,
he stands before the world, Justly indicted
as murderer, and if convicted, will share
a murderer's fate!! This he may expect
and this, we hope, will be his doom, il he
be guilty of the foul crime with which he
now stands charged. We are not so pref
udced against all who bear the name oil
tories as TO wish any one Of them TO suffer
illegally or unjusty. We only wish JUS
lice and equity TO overtake them! Yes,
although they have waded in The blood OF
our countrymen-theugh the cold damp
walls Of British tory dungeons, have wit
messed the heart-rending sufferings OF our
friends, inflicted upon them by tory ven
geance-though our countrymen have
been imprisoned, murdered and 5anished
through tory influence, we turn from those
revolving apd exciting recoIections--we
treasure not up vengeance unjusily--
would not prejudice or bias the public mind
but let justice, free and unprecedented, take
it's conrse-let Mcleod have a fair and
impartial trial, and if found guilty, let him
Ieel the full penalty Of those laws which
have been SO wantonly violated! But i'll
the Charges cannot be substantiated, then
let him go free-lei him return to his coun
lrymen, and proclaim TO them in the langua
&c of truth, that though American citizens
were allowed only mock-trials, when ar
Taigned before their blood stained tribunals,
yet he bad received fair and honorable
rial, even while the judicial murders OIL
Kingston, London and Sandwich, were
fresh IN the memories OF The American iu-
rors, by whom he was tried and acquitted
bui we most earnestly hope, that while
he American people, Judges, Jurors and
Rulers are disposed To allow Mcleod a
ar honorable and impartial trial, they will
lot be induced, by the threats or n,enaces
d Great Britain, 10 allow him TO escape
With impnnity IL proved guiHy,l!
The position, which England has taken
n this matter, is peculiarly calculated TO
excite the already too irrciabIe feelings oil