The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-05
Mr.. FOX TO MR. FORSYTH.

WASHINGTON, Dec. ~, lS4O.
SIR: l have the honor to acknowledge the re-
cept of your letter of the 26th inst in which, in
reply to letter which had addressed to yeu
on the 18th, you acquaint me that the President
is not prepared to comply with my demand for
the liberation of Mr.. Alexander M'Leod, of Up
per Canada, now imprisoned at Lockport. in the
State of New York, on pretended charge of
murder and arson, of having been engaged in the
destruction of the piratical steamboat "Caroline"
on the 29th December, 1887.
learn with deep regret that such is the de-
cision of the President of the Uuited States, for
| cannot but foresee the very grave and serious
consequences that must ensue if, besides the inu-
nv already inflicted upon Mr.. Mcleod, of a vex-
atious and un just imprisonment, any further harm
should be done to him in the progress of this ex-
traordinary proceeding.
| have lost no time in forwarding to her
Maiesty's Government in England the correspon-
dence that has taken place, and shall await the
further orders Of her Majesty's Government with
respect to the important question which that cor
respondence involves.
But feel it my duty not to close this commu-
nication without likewise testifying my vast re-
gret and surprise which find repeated in your
letter with reference to the destruction of the
steamboat Caroline. l had confidently hoped
that the first erroneous impression of the charac-
ter of that event, imposed upon the mind of the
United States Government by partial and exag-
gerated representations, would long since have
been effaced by more strict and accurate exam
ination of the facts. Such an investigation must
even vet, am willing to believe, lead the Uni
ted States Government to the same conviction
with which her Majesty's authorities on the spot
were impressed, that the act was one in the
strctest sense OF self defence, rendered absolute
ly necessary by the circumstances of this occa-
sion, for the safety and protection of her Males
tvs subjects, and justified by the same motives
and principles which, upon similar and we'll
known occasions, have governed the conduct OF
illustrious officers of the United States
The steamboat Caroline was hostile vessel
engaged in piratical war against her Majesty's
people, hired from her owners for that express
purpose, and known to be SO beyond the possibi-
lily OF doubt
The place where the vessel was destroyed was
nominally, it is true, within the territory of
friendly Power, but the friendly Power had been
deprived, through overbearing piratical violence,
of the use of its proper authority oyer that per-
ton Of territory. The authorities of New Yerk
had not even been able to prevent the artillery
of the State from being carried off publicly at
midday, to be used as instruments of war
against her Majesty's subjects It was under
such circumstances, which it is to be hoped will
never recur, that the vessel was attacked by a
party of her Majesty's people, captured, and de-
stroyed.
remonstrance against the act in question
has been addressed by the United Statss to her
Msjssty's GsvsTnmsat in Epglssd. an not