Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-01-19

ia the city of Bsffalo named William
Wells, who was, and is now, considered a
very Peaceable and respectable citizen ol
that city. Tie boat did not belong TO the
Patriots, or the insurgents Of Canada,
nOr was it ia any way Whatever under
their control or authority. THIS being
the case, he could not conceive why the
appellation bestowed upon it BY the Mn.
lister Of Great Britain could have been
given. There was no reason for il. Yet,
said Mr.. F. be has thought proper to cali
the boat Piratical vessel, in the employ
of those persons denominated Canadian
Patriots.
Mr.. F. then proceeded TO state what
he maintained were the zeal facts in re.
lation TO the burning of the Caroline,
which were as follows:
Mr.. Wells, at the time the insurgents
we're in the occupation Of Navy Island, in
Niagara river, on the Canadian side, was
then in the city Of Buffalo, twenty miles
above. lie there applied to the custom
house authorities for permission to run
boat, as ferry boat, ffon1 SchlOsser across
to Navy Island. Permission being Civ.
en-, the Caroline commenced running,
simply as a ferry boat, being totally IN.
armed, aBd having no connection with
the insurgents. Neither did the boat
carry any arms OF munitions ofwar Of any
kind to those on Navy Island, but was
engaged merely in the carrying of passen-
gers. After making several trips, the
boat was at night safely moored and Sc
cured within the wharf on the American
side-not within The "nominal" territory
of the United States, but within the un-
doubted territory Of this Government; as
much so, said Mr.. F. as this hall, in
which we are now assembled, is in the
territory of the United States. After
being thus safely moored at the wharf in
our territory, it was left in The charge of
watch, unarmed, and without any arms
whatever being on board, excepta single |
pocket pistol not loaded. Well, while |
the boat was thus lying within our terrific
ry, it was attacked in the night by an arm
ed force from Canada, sent, as it now ap-
pears, by the authority Of her Maiesty.-I
One man was murdered, others injured,
the boat set on FIRE, turned adrifl, and
sent over the falls. This was the "arson"
of; this was the "murder"
of. One of our citizens was
unaFmed, and had his brains
Inocked out; and there was every reason
10 believe that others were killed, or so
injured as to be unable to leave the vessel
before il went over the falls.
Now, by the laws Of the State Of New
York, said Mr.. z. this was. murder, and
nothing less than murder; and the perpe-
rators, on being apprehended, would be
tried by the laws of that State for the
crime. 1t was a matter pertaining 10 the
State; and neither this Government, nor
the Executive of the Government, could
have any control over il, unless, indeed,
the Governmsn snt ofGreat Britain should .
see fit to repeal its present law, and, en-
tering into treaty stipuations, make laws /
which should be truly applicable to the q
case. Ifso, Mr.. F. was understood to G
say, the matter might perhaps be COM S
promised. But, apart from that, if the S
same spirit was manifested by the powers s
1t home as was exhibited by the British
Minister here in relation to this matter,
le, Mr.. F. conceived that the necessary
Of the conviction of Nc
4eod would be serious indeed.
Mr.. F. said he had no doubt but that q
Mcleod would be put upon his trial, /
vhen he sincerely hoped he would be {
onnd innocent Bit If he should be
ound guilty, he had no doubt but that a
le would be executed, unless, indeed, a +
orce much larger than common should
10 brought from the Canada side TO his L
escue. f
After some further debate, the mes 4
age, with the documents, was referred
o the Committee on Foreign Affairs. =
The motion to print the extra copies /
les over. a
The Houss then adjourned. v