Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-05-25
IS Federal prescription, Let the people judge be-
tween the two.-H
THE CAROLINE AFFAIR.
q IL In

IN the Argus OF The eth instant The signature If
"Onc of the People, touching the "Carone Affair
and agreeing with the writer that the People are be
the Judges in the last resort Of this question: laso beg
10 be permitted 10 present the following facts s'and
reflections for their candid consideration =
FACTS.
| Navy Island, in Upper Canada, was taken posses
sion of on the 18th 10th Of December, 1887, by
party of armed men from the T. ), and not exceeding
forty, in the of the Provincial Government of the
State Of Upper Canada The Executive members Of
which, seli-consuted no doubt, had all then recently
been residents of that Province, and The occupation
hostile TO the colonial authorities and British Crown
continued TO the 18th Of January, loS. About the Goth
of December, 1885, enrolment and licence in the
usual form made at the collectors Office al Bui
10, for the steamboat Caroline, and the both of the
month, delivered 10 the which day she
proceeded down the Niagara river, with freight and
passengers, and when leaving Black Rock harbor the
steamer was fred from the Canadian shore, at time
when she was displaying the American colours, but
damage was done.
The boat proceeded down the river touched al Navy
Island, landed her freight and passengers and between
That Time aid O'Clock III the afternoon made two
trips between the Island and Schos>er, the Amer-
can shore OF the Niagara river Not more than four
oil all the passengers carried TO the Island by
ths boat had arms of description, ard these
known TO be citizens Of Buffalo, destined for Grand Is
land on hunting excursion. On making one trip
from Schosser to the Island, she took six pound
mounted field piece belonging 10 passenger, and
does not appear aiirma,ireiy that such was the fact
The boat aud her entirely unarncd and du.
ring the night Of the 9Th of December, 1917 after
all board had retired for the night except the watch
and Is lille laying the wharf Of SchlosScr, made fast
10 it by chain cable, she attacked by four or five
British armed boats, containing some sixty men, and
was captured and destroyed The assallants wounded
American the mate, very severely and tao others
slightly, and killed three, If not more, OF the persons
ni board at the time OF the attack They also carried
mn md n Y o boat
Before she lonscd from the wharf and set fire 10,
five SIX mattresses and all the bedding in the deck
cabin Of the boat taken out by Of The armed
party and put into the British boats, under crcum-
stances strongly eyincing on the part OF the assaants
an intent to plumber.
The writer OF this article has UNREASONABLE autho
rity sustain him in the assertion, that at this time
the party Navy Island could not muster three hun-
bred effective me n and almost state o! star
vaton and that such the restitution of this party,
and utterly hopeless the prospect Of success, five
days after this tragca event, that the indivdu-
al who had been designated and acting RS the Com
manding General, called, left the Island with his
baggage and proceeded to Buffalo, avowing his inen.
ten To abandon the expedition, but he was prevailed
upon to the Island, and was promised sup
Plies Of provisions. The Island was evacuated on lie
i of January, 1888, the numerical strength Then De-
nr about hundred and the party retired WITHIN
the American territory, "ndrmed and dtSoyg"m-ed, ana
scattered in different directions. The officers Of the
customs acting in accordance with the advice OF the
Lave officer of the Government for this District, were
active and jealous their exertions on the occasion,
and succeeded in Selling large quantities 81 arms anu
munitions of war which had been brought from the
Island, that condemned and sold by due course
Of law.
"Mr. Pickens, in his famous report" yonr
correspondent has been pleased TO designate that truly
patriotic state paper, had the best authority, the tcstt
mony of witnesses carefully and scrnpnlonsy taken,
for asserting The Caroline steamboat was ferry boat
and nothing She was not "cut out ut the Ice
al Buffalo, has any one any authority for saying
she was scharcred by certain prominent individuals
The estate arsenal BATAVIA was not plnndcred OF
its contents both artillery and muskery, or any other
warlike muni,ion or implement, until long atttr me
Caroline Steamboat Gcsroyed II IS no doubt true
that from the first occupation CT the Island 10 the time
the boat was destroyed, men armed or unarmeu ana
sngy or in SINAI! bodies had gone on to the Island ana
Joined The party there and that and munitions Of
war and provisions had been taken from the United
States.
COMMENTARIES.
| shall purposey at this time avoid any remarks
other than what apply strictly TO the capture and
destruction of the steamboat, and now ask IN what
respect this Transaction be likencd 10 the pursuit
and destruction Of hostile marauding band OF IN
dams who had, after invading orr territory, killing our
citizens and destroying their property retired within
neutral territory TO secure themselves from attack ana
chastisemen BY the forces under Gen. Jackson? laver
the t.so cases unlike in every material iect relied
on by Gen. Jackson, the then President OF the Y )
and Secretary o! State, under the rule OF halohai "a"
set up by them.
If The Spanish authorities Of Florida had met the re-
firing hostile Indians at the boundary line with com
petent military force to have dsarmed them, and had
done 80, or about to do it-conid tie American
Government have found any rule in the code oi nations
TO Justify the invasion of neutral territory under
such circumstances Most clearly not. The Caroline
was OF an armed vessel, and did not at any time dur
np her trips 10 and from the Island carry the elements
of resistance She wholly powerless tor aggfs
sion when LAYING at Schlosser, and had no means Of
procuring hostile armament, and the owner had no
int nton of procuring II he could. IL tins vessel
had been carrying articles contraband OF war, she
might lawfully have been captured on the high sea-,
Or within the jurisdiction of the enemy country, or
in fact any where else, far could be concern
ed We complain Of the wanton and unnecessary IN
vason n territory, aud the reckless destruction OF
/ the property Of our citizens. The MUNICIPAL laws o.
the country had been violated and the civil officers Of
Government were in pursuit Of the Offenders but no
act had been done cargeabe to the Government; ana
IN truth long enough before this uncalled-ior niac-
ton of our territorial sovereignty and national rights,
TO have reached the coona! authorities oil PIPER cana
d. the Executive of the United States notified Tie
British minister at Washington, and proclaimed 10 the
world that Government disavowed ana disappFoVed
every act of invasion of the territory dominons Of
the British Crown from our country. Al this time
also it is indeed true, and "pIty tvs, lis true Navy
Island was occupied by few ha-starved and ragged
human beings bidding insoent defiance 10 The pFowess
Of the British Lion out-bragging the greatest British
bragger in all Upper Canada and holding the assem-.
blsd forces Of the United Empire at bay BE It re-
mcmbercd all the while that Tins force sneh as y was
did not advance into the Canadian territory, ki'hs'
burning and destroying far IS they went and 'hsn
returning into the neutral eoanr as in Genera General, Jack
81 ~ - and dignity Of The British Crown, 10 call on
our Government to invade its dominions and dsarm
and disperse few acting IN hostility to It Bah
It'll i not in Gath" The truth Isl DIR Editor, your
correspondent, took up the wrong book this time More
: anon, If necessary ..
May lOm, ISL
(Fiom Tie ". y. IournG! # Commerce.)
/ THE Mcleod CASE
The Mcleod case has occupied 80 mech of public at
,ention and been often discussed in the ewspapers
that it cannot be deemed improper TO offer
upon H. notwithstanding the tendency Of motion for
| his discharge, before our Supreme Court.
II is commended that the sanction of the British Co
vernment, subsequent to the act for which Mcleod
was indicted, operates justification to Mcleod
and that proceedings against him must therefore be
discontinued.