Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-12-18

owner in tho business Of transporting passenger
J. to and from Navy Island in hopes OF private galu
h which was probably the case, ~ no degree after
! The real question at issve between the two gov
y ernments. This Government can never conced'
i to any foreign Government the power, except II
h a case of the most urgent aud extreme necessity
4 of invading its territory, either TO arrest the per
v sons or destroy the property OF those who may
have violated he municipal laws OF such foreIgr
= Government, or have dlsregarded their obiiga
tons arising under the laws of nations. The
E territory Of the United States must be regarded
as sacredly secure against all such invasions, un
til they shall voluntarily acknowledge their ina
bili,y to acquIt themselves OF their duties 10 9th
ers. And III announcing this sentiment, | do not
affirm 4 principle which no nation on earth would
be more ready to vindlca,e, AT all hazards, than
the people and Government Of Great Britain.
=, Ii, upon a full Investigation of all the facts, 1t
shall appear that the owner OF the Caroline was
governed by q hostile intent, or had made com
mon cause with those who were in the occupancy
of Navy Island, then, SO far as he is concerned,
there can be no claim 10 indemnity for the des-
truction OF his boat, which this Government would
feel itself bound 10 prosecn,e-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; bu, that is a question
which, however settled, in no m1nner involves
the higher consideration Of the violation of terri
ritorial sovereignty and jurisdiction. To recog-
Mise it as an admissible practice that each gov
ernmeut in its turn, upon any sudden and unau-
,horized outbreak, which, on a frontier, the ex-
tent of which renders it impossible for either to
have an efficient force on every mule OF 1t, and
which out break, therefore, neither may be able
to suppress in a day, may take vengeance into
lis own hands, and without even a renonsirance.
and in the absence o. any pressing or overriding
necessity, may invade the territory OF the other.
would inevitably lead to results equally to be de-
plored By both. When border collisions come to
receive the sanction, or to be made by the author
ivy of either Government, general war must be
the inevitable result. While il is the ardent de-
sire of the United States to cultivate the relations
of peace with nil nations, and 10 fulfil all the du-
ties Of good neighborhood towards those who pos
sess territories adjoining their own, that very de
sire would lead them 10 deny the right OF any
foreign power TO invade their boundary with az
armed force. The correspondence between the
two Governments on this subject, will, at n future
dav of your session. be submitted TO your consid-
Grafton; and in the mean time, | cannot but IN
dulge the hope that the British Government will
see the propriety of renouncing, as a rule OF tf-
ture action, the precedent which has been set in
the affair of SchIosser.
herewith submit, the correspondence which
,a- recently taken place between tho American
Minister at the Court Of 81. James, Mr.. Steven
son, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Of tina,
Government, on the right claimed by that Gov
eminent to visit and detain vessels sailing under
the American flag and engaged in prosecuting
awful commerce IN the American seas. Our com
mercial interest in that region have experienced
considerable increase, and have become an OBJ
Ject of much Importance, and II Is the dnty OF
this government to protect them against all inn
proper and v~exatious interruption. However de-
sirous the United States may he for the suppress
sion of the slave trade, they cannot consent to
interpretations into the maratime code, at the mere
will and pleasure Of other governments. We de-
ny the right of any such Interpolation to any one
or all of the nations of the Etrth, without our
consent. We claim to have a voice in all amend
ments or alterations of that code-and when We
are given to understand as in this instance, by a
foreign government, that its treaties with other I
nations cannot be extended without the establish
ment and enforcement of new principles of mar. :
atime police to be applied without our consent, we I
must employ a language neither of equivocal i'm c
port: or susceptible OF mIsconstructlon. Ameri- T
citizens prosecuting a lawful ommerc in c
the American seas. under the flag of their coun- |
are not responsible Cor the abuse or unlawful /
use OF that flag by others: nor can they Tlghttul-
" on account Of any such alleged abuses, be in I
molested or detained while on the a. 9
ccan; and If thus moles.ed and detained, while g
pursuing homes, voyages. in the usual way, and P
lola ling 10 NV themselves, they are unQues.ion- i
entitled TO indemnity. This government /
has manifested its repugnance TO the slave trade. t
IN n manner which cannot be Misunderstood. By a
It's fundamental law II prescribed limits IN point a
ot time TO It's contlnuince; and against its own n
citizens, who might 50 far forge, the rights OF hui I
nanity as 10 engage in that wicked traffic, it has q
ong since. by its municipal laws, denounced the g
most condign punishment. Many of the States Il
this Union, had made appeals to the c
world for its suppression, long before the t.
moral sense of other nations had become shocked
" the iniquIties Of tho traffic. Whether this II
should now enter into treaties con- S
aiming mutual stipula,ions upon this subject. is a "
question for lis mature deiiberation. Certain it c.
:, that If the right to detain American ships on g
ne high seas can be justified on the plea of a ne b
,essity for such detention, arising out of the ex- oil
stence of treaties between other nations, the d.
anne plea NAV be extended and enlarged BY the oil
lew stipulations Of new treaties, to which the p
JnIieo States may not be a party. This govern OIL
nent will not cease To urge upon Great Britain, IL