Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-06-11

those territories be divided By half the globe Inc
rule founded in the improperly and danger OF allow
ing individuals TO make their authority,
or, by minging themselves in the begerent opera.
lions OF other nations t. run the hazard Of counterfeit
ing the policy, or em5rolling the relations of their
own Government. And the U. s. have been the first
among civilized nations to enforce the obsers ance of
this just rule of neutrality and peace, by special and
adequate legal enactments In the infancy of this Co.
vernnent, on the breaking out Of The European
winch had their origin the French Revolution, Con
gress passed laws with severe penalties for prevent
ing the citizens Of the u. s. from taking part those
| iostilltes.
By these laws, it prescribed 10 the citizens Of. the L
y what tunderstood 10 De their du'y, neurals by
The law OF nations and the duty, aso, which obey owed
TO the interest and honor Of their country.
AT subsequent period, when the American colonies
OF an European Power took up arms against their So
verelgn Congress, not diverted from the established
system of the Government by any temporary consie-
rltlons not sweryed from its OF justice ard of
duty by any sympathes which il might naturally iiel
oF of the parties dad not hesi,a., aso pass
applicable ,he nj colonial and cy,l
And these provisions OF law have been continued,
revised, amended, and in full force the present
moment Nor have they been dead letter, II ~ well
known that exemplary punishments have been lnlct-
ed on those who have transgrassed them II known,
indeed that heavy penalties have fallen on nGvIdual.,
citizens OF the U. ) 1ed THIS disturbance
Canada with winch the destruction of the Caroline
connected And II is in Mr.. Fox's Knowledge, asn,
that the act VI Congress Of March, l0h, ISIS,
passed for the precise purpose ci e!cctuaily
straning military enterprises from the L. S, into tho
| British Provinces by authorizing the of the most
sure and decisive reventve means. The undersigned
NAV add, that stands the admission Of very high
British authority, That during the recent Canadian
troubles although bodies Of adrcn;urers appeared
the border making necessary for The people Of Cana
ia to keep themselves IN state Of seid-f-nce, yet
that these adventures were acting b. in
codance with The feeling Of The grea, Of the hme
rcan, people OF tn" Government Of the l. S.
| THIS Government, therefore, not only holds itself
above reproach in every thing respecting the preserya
ton Of neutrality, the observance OF the principle
nf on-in,crventIon, and the strctest conformity
these respects the rules q international law, but
il doubts not that the world vii d, il the Justice 10
acknowledge that it has example not unfit
10 be followed by others, and that, BY its steady lie
yislaon this most important subject, II has done
something 10 promote peace and good ncighbofhood
among nations and TO advance the civilization Of man
| kind.
Mapstv's Government shall presen: the grounds, At
length on which they Justify the LEGAL authorizes Of
Canada in attacking and destroying the "Ciro!ine,
they Will consider that tho laws Of the I. > are such
as the undersigned has represented them, and that
the Government Of the u. ). has always manifested
sincere disposition those laws crcually and
pa rtiay administered. Ii there have been
which individuals, justly obnoxious to punishment,
have escaped, tins than happens III regard 10
other laws.
dately connected with the transaction itself, It will he
for her Maestys Government to show upon what state
OF facts aud what rules Of national law the destruction
Of the "Carone" is to be defended 1t will be tor
that Government 10 show necessity of nee,
instant, over wheming leaving no choice Of means and
no moment for CELEBRATION. IL will be for II 10 show,
also that the local authorities Of Canada, even sup
posing the necessity OF the moment authorised them ~
enter the territories Of the IT, S ALL did nothing
reasonable or excessive; since the act justified by the
necessity Of sclt-drience must be aitcd by that
cessty and kept clearly within it. Ii must be shown
that adonon remonstrance to the persons on board
the "Carone" was mpracticable. or would have been
ayang; 1t must be shown that day light could not
be waited for; that there could be a,tempta DIS
elimination between the innocent and the guilty; that
il would not have been enough 10 seize and dctan the
vessel; but that there necessity, presen, ana IN
eyitabe for attacking her, in the darkness Of the night
while iSoored 10 The shore, aud while unarined men
were asleep on board, killing and wounding
others and then drawing her INTO the current, above
Inc tarac setting her on fire. and, careless 10 know
whether there might not BE- in her the innocent With
the guilty, or the living vith the dead, committing
her IL fate which fills the Imagination with horr1r.
necessity for all this the Government OF the I. >
cannot believe 10 have existed.
All will see that if such things be allowed TO occur,
they might lead to bloody and exasprraied war; and
when an individual comes into the I. ) from Canada,
and 10 the very place which this drama perform
ed and there chooses :ake public aud vain gorious
bons Of the part he acted in it, It IS hardly wonderful
that great excitement should be created, and some de-
gree Of comDotion arise
This Republic does not wish 10 disturb the tranquil
ltv Of The world Its object pence, liz policy peace
Il seeks M ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by foreign conquest, be-
cause II knows that foreign acquisition could aug
ment lis power and Importance so rapidly as they are
already advancing by its own natural growth under the
prop,tlos circumstances 81 lis situation. But II cannot
admit that It's Government has not both the w and
the power to preserve neutrality and 10 enforce
the Observance Of lis own laws upon rs own citizens
II Jealous Of lis rights, and anon. others, and most
especially Of the right Of the absolute immunity Of us
territory against aggression from abroad ana 'n,ss
ryhts il is the duty and The determination Of this Go
vprumcnt fully al all times 10 !iantain while It
WILL at the time, scrupuously refrain from in
frnrinc the rights OF Others.
The President Instructs the undersigned TO say, in
conclusion that he confidently trusts that this and all
o,her questions Of dltie between the Govern
nents will be treated BY both in the full Of
such spirit of candor justice, and mutual respect
shall give OF The long continuance Of peace
between the two countries.
The undersigned ayals himself Of this opportunity 10
assure Mr. Fox Of his high consideration.
DANIEL WEBSTER
Henry s. Fox, Esq, &c, &c, &c.
Cam of Instructions to Mr.. Crucndca, enclosed IN the
aborc.
DrpARrNxsT STATE,
WASHINGTON, .fnSch 10, ISL.
Sir: Alexander Mcleod, Canadian subject Of her
Britannia Majesty ,s now Imprisoned At L"ckpoft, III
the State Of New York, under 'ndc'men, tor muir
der alleged To have been committee by hm N The at
tack on and destruction Of the steamboat Caroline, at
Schosser in that State. the night Of the 2JIh Of
Dec 1897; aud his trial is expected 10 take place at
Lock port the 22d INST
You are apprzed Of the correspondence which took
place between Mr. Forsyth late Secretary Of State, and
MIR Fox her Britannia Majesty VI MISTER here, on tins
subject, in December last.
In his note to Mr.. Fox Of tit goth OF that month,
Mr. FORSYTH saws: elf the destruction Of the Caroline
was pubic act of persons IN her MsJestys service,
obeyino the order OF their superior authorities THIS TACT
has mi, bcen before communicated to the Government
nc the L. $ by a person authorized to make The adj
mission and il viii BE- for the Court which has taken
! copnizance Of the offence with which Mr. Mcleod il
chsrgrd TO decide upon It's validity when legally esab
lished before II.
..lhe President deems this 10 be proper occasion
To remind the Government Of her Br'tann'c Majesty
,hat the case Of the Caroline has been long
brought, TO the Of her Majesty Principal Sc
cretary OF State for Foreign Affairs, who up 10 this
day. has not commun Gated its ecisI"n thereupon II
,l,aC of hal aioc