Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-06-22

occasion, does him great honor ndced. htiea'e" ~
.c,upis were made c induce the Brush Government, 10
answer this remonstrance, but all III VAN u IS true
II has been STATE. in the British House u Commons,
nv me ii The British Ministers, that the American Co
yernment had finally given NJ the question, ana 90
no, intend 10 insist upon an answer lhe Pf"hct Tor
making this staeinen. has most probably arisen from
4 custom common among US Of publishing d'l'o-
matte correspondence, wh Isl The negotiation 10 when
i, relates is still pending. Mr. Stevenson, in his lei
ter To Mr. Forsyth Of The I'd July, loi, employs this
language:
ii regret to say that no answer has yet been given
to my note, in the case oi the Caroline have ho'
deemed il proper under the circumstances, TO press 'e
subject without further instructions IRON your Deparl
ment lii is the wish ofthe Government TINT should
do So pray 10 be informed of II, and the degree o UT
gency that | am to adopt
To which Mr.. Forsyth replies under date OF Sep'em'
Der II, 1882 as follows:
"With references to the closing paragraph OF your
communication TO the Department dated ID OF July
last, it is proper to inform you that no instructions
are at present required for again bringing forward the
question ol the Caroline. ibarc hal frequent conrer
sa,oas ,cih Mr. For in regard TO Ms S3cJecf, one q
pery recent dne and from its tone, the President expects
the British Goctrnment aoW aasreF your dPpcaon IN
the case, ,rithout much further delay
The Senate will thus perceive that there is no foun-
da,on in this correspondence for the pretext that the
American Government had abandoned the pursuit OF
this question: unless it may be by garbllng the note OF
Mr.. Forsyth and snppfessihs me Sehtehce "nie" !
have just read
Whether The Administration of President Van Bn-
rem pursucd its remonstance with sufficient energy IS
not for me to say although believe they did, but That
forms no part of the question now before the SENATE IL
seems that from the conversation OF MIR. Fox Mr.,
FORSYTH induced to believe that speedy answer
would BE- given
On the : of November, lSi0 this unfortunate man,
Alexander Mcleod, came voluntarily within the Ju'
risdlc,ion of the U. 5. | induced 10 believe thnt
the vain boasng of this man, as TO his presence and
participation in the attack OF the Caroline, has occa-
stoned all the difficulty which now exists do moi
think he present at the capture OF that vessel ahG
this fact, If it had been wisely uscd would have al
torded the means of busting the difficulty to the sa-
tisfacton of both parties. But he came upon we
American soil, and, the company OF American Gnu
zens, openly boosted that he had belonged TO Drew S
capturing squadron In consequence OF these asser-
tons he was arrested by the local authorities ana IN
dc,ed for murder This state OF things gave rise 10
correspondence between Mr. FOX ana MI fof'ytl,
from which intend to read bret extract The cor
respondence resulted IN THIS that MI torsy.h
ed i, as his OPINION and that Of the President OF the
y that under the law Of nations the arowa by the
British Government of the capture OF the Caroline,
! should such an avowal be made, would not Tree Me-
Leod from prosecution IN the criminal courts oil Inc
State of New York It's effect merely cumnla
tive 1t did take away the offence Of Mcleod, but
added thereto and made It national as well rs an m
dyidual offence. The legal prosecution OF alcLeoi
and the application the British Gororamen! Tor 81
tisfacton were independent Of nch other, and might
be separately and simultaneously pursued: But who
Their this were the principle d national law or nu
Mr. Forsyth very properly SAID, that the question must
be decided by the judiciary Of New ork, and iha u
the position Of Mr.. Fox were well founded, Mcleod
would have the full protection Of that doctrine before
the court He could plead that his act had been re-
cornised nv the British Government and II the plea
were allowed, he would be set at liberty. That was
the position of the business u the close Of Mr. Van
Burens administrations; and happier, safer, ana more
secure position Of the question nr American rights aud
even for the honor OF England aso could not have
bee desired. When the trial came on, Mcleod would
then two grounds Of defence rs that he had not been
present at the capture OF the vessel and next that
this capture had been recognised BY the British CO.
vernment public act, done under It's authority IL,
in this state of things, there had beena little prudent
delay the question would soon have settled itself to
the satisfaction Of both parties But inquiries had been
addressed in Parliament, TO the British ministers on
tins subject and high excitement had been produced
throughout the British nation. Tins can always be
done in that country every controversy with Anne
rica because side OF the question appears IN
their public journals have been Tor years III the Ia
bit of reading of the English journals; and, 80
far as have observed, side Of The question, even
in relation to the Northeast boundary, had never, 10
this day, been presented I" the British public.
No Englishnlan can obtain from OF these Jour.
mails which have seen, any distinct idea whatever as
/
An excitement had been raised the McLcod qles-
ton, and loud dcances had been uttered on Tie floor
of the House of Commons. Threats had been made,
in case the American Government should dare to re-
tain Mcleod in custody. An attempt had been made
on both sides of the water, produce the belief that
war was mpending and so far with success, that The
American fleet in the Mediterranean, or at least por-
ton OF it, had actually returned home, while all our
vessels that had passed the straits and gone into
the Atlantic Some people here even, other than the
Id a
upon coast and lay cities in ashes marvel
lous panic prevailed for time among those who had
weak nerves. and then, 10 crown all, came the letter OF
MIR. Fox 10 Mr.. Webster The British nation has, J
freely admit, much TO recommend il, bat We all know
that their diplomatic policy unlike that Of other Euro
pean Nations has been Of character bold, arrogant,
and ove,bearing John Bull has preferred 10 C.
compllsh that by main force which other nations would
have attempted by diplomacy. come now 10 the let
ter of Mr.. Fox and such letter. This letter is the
imposing from the fact that It was not Mr.. Fox :
own composition, but is official communication from
the British Government This fact appears from its
first sentence, which is as follows:
1.-THE undersigned, her Britannia Majesty's Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Pcnpo,en,ary, instruct
ed by his Government TO make the Joiio'riag ctcial
communication to the Government Of the Z. s..
1t is then official communication from The British
Government themselves. 1t is not my desire this
occasion to excite either here elsewhere any feelings
which should not be excited merely state facts. To
what IS this letter an answer: If to any thing, 1t Is to
the letter Of Mr. Forsyth addressed to MIR. Fox the
Goth Dec, lS40. viii not trouble the Senate TO read
that paper, they may find it in document 81, page T..
And what is the character Of the letter Of Mr.. Fox;
1t commences with peremptory and conclusive settle
ment of the whole matter far the British Govern
men ~ concerned. 1t not Sufficient for that Govern
say that they take tho responsibility Of the act
Of Mcleod upon themselves hut they even justify in
the strongest terms the capture of the Caroline itself
Yet here - Mr. Webster on the oath of April arguing
question which the British ministry had settled SIX
weeks before They do not say surrender Mcleod and
the question Of the Caroline shall be left open That
would not be according to the manner Of John Bull,
when he puts mseftairly in motion. lie does stop
to argue but at cuts the knot without the trouble
Of giving any Mr. Stevenson had demonstrated
in the most urgent manner, and had submitted to the
British Government at London, mass of testimony,
but no notice whatever taken ohis communications
and reasons given for their determination. Mr..
Fox, or rather that Government, in half sentence set
ties the question.
"The transaction in question: (says the leter) may
have been, as her uaestys Gerer"ment are Of opinion
that it cas, jusffabie employment IF force for the
purpose ot dsfcndinr the British ttrritoru" &C.