The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-12-17

The United STATES
In coming together, ieow-cilizens, to enter a.
gaia upon the discharge Of the duties with which
the people have charged us, scverally, we find
great occasion to rejoice in the general prosperity
of the country We are in the enjoyment OF al!
the blessings of civil and religious liberty, with I'M
examined means of education, knowledge and I'M
provemeut Through the ear which is now dlaw
ing to close. reacc has been in oar borders, and
plenty in our hnbi,alions; and although disease has
VISITED some few portions Of the land with distress
and mortality, yet in general the health orthe Pco-
nile has been preserved and we are all called up
on by the highest obligations Of duty, to renew
our thanks and our devotion to our Heavenly Ia
rent, who has continued to youchsale 10 us the EN-
men, blessings which surround us, and who has 50
spnnlly crowned the wear with his goodness. II
we fad ourselves increasing, beyond example, in
numbers, in strength, in wealth, In knowledge, IN
in every thing which promotes human and social
happncs,, let US ever remember our dependence,
for all these ON the protection and mcrciiul dis
pensations of Divine Providence.
Since our last adjournment, Alexander Mcleod,
n British subject, who was indicted for the murder
an American citizen and whose case has been
The subject of correspondence heretofore commu-
nica,ed to vou has been acquitted by the verdict
ofan impartial and intelligent jury, and has, under
the Judgment Of the Court, been regularly d!schNr-
ged,
Great Britain having made known to this Gov
eminent that the expedition which was fitted out
from Canada for the destruction Of the steamboat
Cao!me, in the winter Of 1887, and which result
cd in the destruction Of said boat, and in the death
of an American citizen, was undertaken by orders
emanating from the authorities olthe British Gov
eminent, in CANADA, and demanding the discharge
of Mcleod upon the ground that if engaged in
that expeditions he did but lulilI the oderS OF his
Government, has thus been answered in the only
way in which she could be answered by Gov
eminent, the powers Of which are distributed IL
mong lis several departments by the fundamental
law, Happily for the people of Great Britain, us
well us those of the United states, tbs only mode
by which an individual, arraigned for cIimiaa
offence. b,1re the coulis of either, can obtain his
discharge, is by The independent action of the il-
dietary, and by proceedings equally familiar 10 the
courts Of both countries,
If in great Britain power exists in the Crown
to cause TO be entered nol'e ProSequi, which Is
not the case with the Executive power Of the Uni
ted States upon prosecution pending IN "A state
court: vet there, no more thln here, can the chef
Executive power rescue Il prisoner from custody
without an order of the proper tribunal directing
his discharge. The precise stage OF the proceed
luss mt which such order may be made, is mat
ter of municipal regulation exclusively, aud not TO
be complained of by any other Government. In
eases of this kind, Government becomes political
Is responsible only, when its tibunlls iast resort
are shown to have rendered unjust and injurious
judgments in matters not doubtful. To the estab-
lishment aud calculation orhs principle, no nation
has lent its authority more efficiently than Great
Britain Alexander Mcleod having his option ci-
Of Fen, II,
of,he Supreme Coult of New York, which had
been rendered upon his application for discharge,
to the Supreme Court Of the United States, or to
snbrnit bis case to the decision Of jury, preferred
the latter, dcrming it the rcadiGs, mode Of obtain
ing his liberation, and the result has fully sustain
ed the wisdom Of his choice The manner in
which the issue submitted was tried, will satisfy
the English Government that the principles Of JUS
tee will never fell to govern the decision of m
American tribunal. lcannol fail, however, to sug-
uesl To Congress the proprie,y, and in son,c de-
gree, the necessity, Of making such provision by
law, so fir rs they may ccns!uiionaliy Go So for
the removal at their commencement, and at Me OPP
lion Of the party, of all such cases ms may hrleu-
Ter arise, aud which may involve the faithful OBJ
seryancc aud execution of our international obga-
linns. from the stare to the Federal IUdnury---
This Government, hy our Institutions, is charged
,inn ~ "a o"h" reI,,ions ,yb ,hn uatjons Of lha
,,, oI n,nh, to nns,,s, ,yi,hou, nnrs,ion. NH
, 'oJ nro,.r ,rr,ns oC u,int,ipiua
the one and preserving the other. Whilst Just COLI
GJoWne J., ri, in IN, lnIi,i,ry or ,ho STATES 60,
;. r',,,,,,, ,,,,, IN II" r,n,n,cr, IN i,ss,ft,r
I, c,,ryI,,',n, ,f,Lo Il, III Jn,ins ,ybrh b,yr heno
",oi ,,on :, ,,,lar ,hs or,,t, nw Ly ,hn
,,,.,n, ,'.'ir,ni,o,
In the month Of september party niurmgd men
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y, orsiol L;,,, Io,,,l ,b, lj,
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'"I'' W. ~ ,,,',o'i,,r, ii, 70 L.,,I7,,
,; VIII, ,L5, ~, -,
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