Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-07-27
THE STANDARD.
GEORGETOWN, JULY 81. ls4l.
THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT
BRITAINe

country deplore the necessity of war, but
few, very few, would desire TO sac, ifice
right, justice and Independence to avoid
it. Such sacrifice is now demanded by
the British Government; and We are
threatened with the "serious nsture Of
the consequences" in case of refnsaf''9aA-
The offence for which we are threatened
is The lawful arrest and confinement Of a
British subject on charge of having COM
mitted murder and arson in one of the
States Of the Union, while the two gov.
ernments were in a state of profound
peace towards each other. The question
whether the vessel burnt and the citizen
or citizens murdered had been engaged
in an illegal transaction, has nothing 10
do with the question of the Jurisdiction
of the State OF New York over the crime
Of which Mcleod is charged or the terri.
tory in which it was committed. The
avowa Of the act by the British Govern.
ment has rather the effect Of exciting in.
dignaion in every American bosom n
gainst their arrogance and insolence, than
To furnish an argument in favor of the
release of Mcleod. If, in time Of peace,
ihe E0gIsh Government can, under any
circumstances or suspicion, extend her
jurisdiction INFO the United States, where
shall it endo or whero shall ours com.
nence? But that Government has ack.
nowledged our independence and our ex-
elusive jurisdiction over the territory in
which the crime was committed. We
have enacted reasonable laws for the pro.
lection Of ourselves in this territory. Let
these be firmly aud fearlessly enforced,
and lei encroachment from abroad be met
aud repelled at the Threshold, and we
may still preserve our Union and our in
dependence. Protection is the grand
American policy. A mutual spirit of pro-
lection gave rise 10 The Declaration of
Independence: il animated our ancestors
in their struggle for liberty, and led them
to glorious success. 1t founded the Con
stitution and cemenied the Union. With
out its firm exercise, we would soon be.
come again mere colonies of that Govern.
ment whose calling yoke we have once
thrown of, and which still seeks to en-
slave the world TO enrich its privileged
and pampqred nobility,
For proof of our peaceful policy, and
for contrast Of it with the ever ell
croaching policy of Great Britain, it is
only necessary TO glance at a small part
Of her conduct towards us during the last
half century. For many years after ack
nowedging our independence, she claim.
ed and exercised the privilege, under the
most frivolous pretencos, Of searching
American vessels and impressng into her
service American seamen. Our con.in
ued remonsirances were scarcely needed,
until, b7 force of arms, (tho strongest Of
arguments with that government,) we
compelled her to abandon the prac lice,
md convinced her that we were still able
md determined to maintain our rights.
Another strong contrast of the conduct
i the two governments is afforded by the
circumstances of the late disturbance in
'anadl, ou! of which The present Difficult.
has grown. During the rebellion
lumber Of citizens Of the United States
ere arrested by the authoritiesin in Canada
lder charges Of having violated their
ws by aiding in the disturbance. Some u
them were hung up by the neck, with, c
i having had fair legal nvcsligaiion,
limo to defend themselves by evidence
nt might have been produced in their Ct
'or: Rnd others we're condemned and :!
ut to Van Deiman's Land, where ihey n,
W are, suffering the punishment Of he BE-
'0nest criminals. All this was done Ia
Ihont rem"nstrance from our Govern. ~ -
mt Now one solitary British subject bn
arrested under as serious charges by sin
authorities Of enc Of the States; but lie
different is the conduct Of the British ter
vemment! We are threatened with pu'
and sword it hair of his head is in.
ID by us, We believe that there are
few Daniel Websters among us; that s,,
mass Of the people are desirous that wb,
law should have its course; and tha, vii
British Government will find thai their
,a's are feared as little in this county I
heir principles ARC Ioro5