Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-12-17

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any foreign Government the rover, except
in case Of the most urgent and extreme
necessity, of invading its territory, either TO
arrest ihc persons or destroy the property Of
those who may have violated the municipal
laws OF such foreign Government, or have
dlsregardcd their obligations arising under the
law Of nations. The territory Of the United
States must be regarded as sacredly secure
against all such inyasons, until they shall
voluntarily acknowledge their inability to
acqnit themselves Of their duties TO others
And in announcing this sentiment, do but
| alilm a principle which no nation on earth
would be more ready to vindca,e at all haz-
ards, than the people and government ofG.
Britain.
II, upon full investigation of all the facts,
it shall appear that the owner of the Caro-
line was governed by hostile intent or had
made common cause with those who.s1 eie. in
the occupancy of Navy Island Them. 50 far
as he is concerned, there can he no claim to
indemnity for the destruction Of hiA bbat,
which this Government would feel nstll
bound to prosecute-since he would have
acted not only in derogation of the rights of
Great Britain, but in clear violation of the
laws of the United States but that is ques-
ton which, however settled, in no manner
involves the higher consideration of the vio-
la,on OF territorial sovereignty and jurisdic
tion. 10 recognize it as an admissible prac-
tice that each government, in its turn, upon
any sudden and unauthorized outbreak which
on a frontier, the extent of which renders it
impossible for either TO have an efficient force
on every mile of il, and which outbreak
therefore, neither may be able to suppress in
a day, may take vengeance into It's own
hands, and without even remonstrance, and
in the absence of any pressing or overruling
necessity, may invade the territory of the
other, would inevitably lead to results equal
| y 10 be deplored by both
When border collisions come TO receive the
sanction, or 10 he made on the authority Of
either Government, general war must be the
inevitable result While it is the ardent de-
sire OF the United States to cultivate the re-
lations Of peace with all nations, and to full
| I'll all those duties OF good ncighborhood to-
wards those who possess territories adjoining
their own, that very dcsirewould lead them
10 deny the right OF any fore gn power 10 in
wade their boundary with an armed force -
The correspondence between the two Gov
crnments on this subject will, at future day
of your session, be submitted 10 your consd-
Grafton and in the mean time. cannot but
indulge the hope that the British Government
Will see the ptoprioty of lenouncing, as rule
OF future action, the precedent which has
been set in the affair at Schlcsser.
herewith submit the correspondence which
has recently taken lace between the Amcr-
can Minister AT the Court of St. James, MIR
Stevenson, and the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of that Government, on the right
claimed by that Government 10 visit and de-
tain vessels sailing under the american
flag and engaged in prosecuting lawful Gem
merce in the African seas. Our commercial
interests in tina, region have experienced con-
siderable increase and have become an object
of much importance, and it is the duty Of
this Government to protect them against all
improper and veXatous interruption. How
ever DESTROYS the United States may be for
the suppression OF the slave trade, they can
not consent 10 interpretations into the maritime
code, al the mere will and pleasure OF other
governments We deny the right of any
such Interpolation TO any one, or all the ma.
lions of the Earth, without our consent
We claim II have a voice in all amend.
ments or alterations OF that code-and when
we are given 10 understand, as in this in
stance, by foreign Government, that lis
treaties with other nations cannot be execut-
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ment of new rrinciples of maritime notice
10 he apulied " Without our consent, we mus
employ a language neither Of couivocal i'm.
mort, or susceptible of demonstration. Anne.
rican citizens prosecu,iup Il lawful commerce.
| in the African seas under tl,e n,c nj ,b.;r
country. are no, RESPONSIBLE for The nLu.r mr.
unlawful use of thai flag BIZ others. nor can
they on account Of any such alIcged abuses
he n,rrruu,ed ,nules,cd nr detained yhile on
the ocean and if Tim, molcsted and dc,oin.
cd while nursu,np honest vov,ges IN ito
usnol way and Violating M law themselves
they are uuoues,ionablv entitled to ;nJem'
nity. This Government has manifested lis
reuuruauce 10 ,he slave trade in , Manu. or
which cannot be misunderstood
By lis fundamental law il rrcscribcd Il.
mi,s IN min, nj ,imc IN i,s con,inu,nce. mad
against It's own citizcns. who mirh, go ca,
forget the rights OF humanity as TO engage
in that wicked traffic. il has long since. by
lis municipal laws. denounced the most ron.
dign punishment. Many of the States com.
posirr this Union. had made appeal, ia the
civilized world for lis suppression. long he.
fore the moral sense Of other nations had be.
come shocked by the mantle. Of the traffic
Whether this covernmeui should now enter
into treaties containing mutual stpula,ons
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