The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-29
Hurting of the Caroiinc---Wnr will, Great
Britain.


Rurr ing Of tho Cnroisnc---Wnr with Great
Britain.
The burning of the Caroline and tho murder Of
her crew by troop of British soldiers, was an
outrage that cannot be justified and may yet lead
TO serious consequences. Should the view the
British Minister at Washington takes Of the sub
ject be sanctioned by the British Government
and should Mcleod, arrested and indicted for
murder aud arson by the authorities OF New y ork
be found guilty and executed, there will be no
other alternative but with England.
The history OF the Inflated Caroline is brief
and will enable every one to understand fully the
nature of the difficulties between the two coun-
tries. We viii give it in as condensed form as
possible.
During the late rebellion in Canada, the Patriots,
it will be recolleced, occupied Navy Island, in
the Niagara river. The island belongs to the
possessions of Great Britain. During this time a
citizen of Buffalo applied TO the Custom House
officer for a license to run the steamboat Caroline
from Schlosser on the American shore, to Navy
Island. as a ferry boat The boat made several
trips on the day previous to her destruction, and
returned in the evening and moorcd at the Anne
rcan shore, where she lay unconscious of having
committed offence to the British troops in Cana
da, as she was during the whole Of her voyatc
unarmed and simply acted the part of a common
carrier. While thus moored III the night, she was
attacked by an armed force, which, it how appears
from the letter Of the British Minister was sent
from the Canada shore under the direction of her
maIcstys authorities. She was attacked without
warning, and one OF two of the boats hands were
killed. and others were driven from on board with
out resistance The boat itself was towed into
the current, set on fire, and, in that condition,
sent over the falls Of Niagara. How many Anne
rican citizens were on board is not known, but
we have every reason to believe that a portion Of
the crew and probably some vino sought shell
ter from the inclcmcncy OF the weather at that
time, were on board, who concealed themselves
from the armed bandiiti who sought their blood,
and Knocked and snecred at the stars and stripes
Of our country. On the following morning one
American citizen was found at the wharf where
the boa, was moored, wholly unarmcd, with his
brains blown out in attempting to make his O.
cape from their murderous hands.
Immediately after this transaction had taken
place, her majesty's government was informed of
it, and atonemcnt required for the murder of our
citizens and the destruction OF their property No
n -. 1
satisfaction for the deprcdations committed by her
subjects.
The citizens Of Lockport, n. Y, on the 10Th
Of last December arrested Mcleod, who was then
in that place, and upon an examination, conduc-
ted in strict accordance with our criminal code,
was bound over to take his trial before the proper
tribunal. At this stage of the proceedings, ano-
Their actor takes part in the business of the
This is 10 less parsonage than the representa-
tive of the British Government at Washington,
Mr.. Fox. He indites diplomatic note to Mr..
Forsyth. the Secretary of State, requesting that
the President should libcratc the prisoner and stop
all proceedings in the case. This Mr.. Forsyth
very properly informed the Minister that the Pre-
sident had no power to do, as Mcleod was inditt-
concerned, the issue Of life and death was in the
hands Of the laws Of that state. TO this Mr.. Fox
replies with something more than diplomatic
tact, and officially acknowledges that the dcstruc-
vcrnment. This announcement has aslonished
and surprised all who have heard it, and has
placed the question in differcn, light. After an
interchange of communications between the Sc.
cretary of State and the British Minister, the lat
ter has transmitted his proceedings to her majcs-
tvs government, where the matter rests until in
formation is received from that country.
II will be recollccted that the United States
used every means within their power during the
revolt in Canada TO preserve the s,rctcs, possible
neutrality between the contendng parties. The
whole northern frontier was involved more or less
in inquictude and difficulty, and it was notorious
ly beyond the power Of the local authorities both
of the respective states bordering on the boundary
line, and Of tho u. s. stationed there To exercise
that wholesome and necessary control which the
cxigeEcies Of the case demanded. "rhc u. s.
posts had mostly been abandoned and the inya.
sion having been determined on in the winter
season, II was almost impossible for the War De-
rastment 10 transport the necessary force, to the
northern and northwestern frontier. This ws
peculiarly the case in the state Of Michigan.
Eighty miles above Detroit, at the commence
ment Of The river 81. Clair, is situated Fort Ora.
dot where, al tho time Of the Disturbances there
wers two pieces Of U. 8. ordnance, some fixed
ammunition. and some arms, protected by SER
SAINT and sutlsr. The came was the case a,
psssbcmvilb Arsenal, twelve miles south cast Of
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