Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-10-23
/ WHOLE NUMBER 562.

ne boat was tlen as liable 10 destfuc ton ri
Schinsser as If she had been noorod a Navy Isl
and SO Tar as II respected iudiv ual responsib:li
~. Indeed IL was now proved that Sch!ossrr was
the very rendezvous oil the patty OF the !ny adefs
Of the Island. or of those who were continually
carried over TO the Island. We shall contend shea
that the boat, while at Sohosser. was there tor
as hostile purpose as II at Navy Island, and thar
the British authorities were therefore us much
JUSTIFIED III destroying her there If she had
been at The latter place; aud asl, every Amer-
can citizen If he would have regarded the desiruc-
ton of the boat nj Navy Island as an offeucc2-
Might not the Island have been jas.iiiabiy inva-
ded and the persons on Ii taken prisoners aud
slaughtered without The persons invading II
being chhrgab!e wth the crime OF murder, or any
other offence against the laws whatever? Whe-
Their the insurgents ca the island were right or
wrong is wholly immatefial. Whe Their Tho Bri-
iish government had been tvrannicai and had
driv en- these people TO desperation Is who'll i'm.
material The Canadian subjects of Great Bri-
tain Ia seen fit 10 revolt. and with the assistance
of American citizens had made open war in Ca
Cada, and whether /, was right RYeGr. il was
a war, and all the rights and mmuniies tina, be-
!ouged 10 those engaged IN war pefiaincJ TO them.
We will show IN you, Gentlemen, that The Co
vernment Of the United States took this view of
the ease--thnt they tool, cognizance e this of
fence, and demanded PREPARATION from tho Govern
ment OF Great Britain--and that al n later dav
the British Government acknow lodged The re-
spoons blI,y of that act and declared that ii was
done in obedience TO the British provincial gov
eminent, ard justified il necessary act for
the protection of tho subjects of Great Britain
then living in Canada. Tho Federal Government
then under the Constitution had taken full cogui.
zance of this whole matter, embracing not only
the Invasion of our territory, but also the des,ruc-
ton OF the steamboat, the property Of one Of our
citizens. and tho taxing away Of the life of
Their. All, all these considerations were present
ed 10 the notice of Great Britain. and cur Gov.
ernmen, mindful of the nations rights and ready
10 vindicate them, had demanded full and entire
satisiaci ion for The injury which our country has
received. But the individual no formed part OF
tba cubic force of Grert Britain stands excused.
rs he always must, from all the consequences Of
his action under those orders. As an individual!
offender he is not nnswerablc o any tribunal.
Passing from this, will now take up another
branch of the case, and when ON well pursua-
ded the intelligent Judge Who pres:des here, ana
myself shall have difference of opinion, whats
ever may be our respective views OF tho other
FEATURES CI Inc case, auo his teufoid deep
ly interesting question Of constitutional right
and thu, is the point MS 10 whether Mcleod had
any thing TO do with tho transaction or not |
am willing, aud | intend 10 call your attention
more mnutely to tho evidence sustaining that
ground of defence, than 10 that pertaining 10 tho
other position which we have assumed. Because
that evidence sustaining the latter, is not in any
degree susceptible Of dispute Every word of
evidence given on the part of The prosecution,
has gone TO establish case, aud what is veto
ready. But the point which call you now is,
that Alexander MLeod had no more TO do with
the destruction of the "Caroline,' with the
killing of Darfee, han either Of you, Gentlemen
of The Jury. Not any more. Aud speak with
n knowledge of the facts, and " i'll satisfy YOU that
what have said is fully and literally true.
| confess that | am somewhat surprised by tho
results Of this trial which we have yet /
anticipated much greater strength OF the part Of
the prosecution. | will say to the Attorney gen.
/ hon II H. i mill
say to his associate, that am astonshed at the
feebleness of their cause, conducted i, has been
with such an array Of talent.
Without making any exiravagant pretensions
10 that of skill in matters Of this kind, yet
would venture feariessy 20 enter on the argument
on the evidence ii is now before you, without
the slightest dread Of verdict against my client.
But at liberty TO play a, hap hazard in
such a case as iha. am hero TO defend a
" hose life is dear 10 him yours is to you,
and 10 whom you bound 10 give n fair trial
a patient hearing-and faithful and impartial
" rdlct, Jus, much if he were an Amer lean
citizen. ask no favor at your hands because he
is foreigner. We expect nothing whatever
from your hands account OF the difficulty IN
which your verdict may place the governments
of the two countries. We ask only that you will
listen to The evidence, cautiously weigh II, and
then pronounce whether Alexander Mcleod is a
murderer not.
First, then we will lay befc re- you a mass Of
evidence taken by the commission under the Of
der Of The Supreme Court, and which. singular as
it Is, have been attended to in the execution by
gentlemen on both sides And here lie, me re-
mark, that The opposite counsel have enjoyed all
the advantages which perfec, knowledge Of our
~ hole case, from beginning TO end, could afford,
whilst xe have been kept in profound ignorance
OF theirs
Yes, had they enclosed the case in the heca-
,ombs Of Egypt 1t could not have been more rei-
eiously concealed from oGT view. None Of the
me- witnesses who are relied upon 10 sustain the
wen, before the Grand Jury. There
NAV be a few exceptions, but believe my asser-
ton will be found correct. And permit me 10 ado
tha, in my Judgment If this case were tried as Of
zen as the moon changed, new witnesses could be
found to prove the case, as strong 1t has been