Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-07-08


lacking and destroying the "Carolme,' they
Will consider the laws of the United States
are such as the undersigned has now repre-
scented them, and that the Government of the
United States has always manifested a sim
cere disposition to see those laws elcctually
ana impartialiy administered. If there have
oeen cases In which individuals, Justly OBJ
noXious to punishment, have escaped. this is
no more Than happens in regard to other laws.
ohIer tnese circumstances, and under those
immediately connected with tho transaction
Itself, 1t will be for Her Majesty's Govern
mentto show upon what state offacts and what
rule OF national law the destruction of the
"Caroline' IS to be defended. 1t will be for
that government to show necessity of self
ueiehce, instant, overwhelming, leaving no
choice OF means and no moment for delibera-
ton. 1t will be for it to show, also, that the
local authorities of Canada, even supposing
the necessity OF the moment authorized them
TO enter the territories of the u. =. at all, did
nothing unreasonable or excessive; Since the
act, justified by the necessity of self-deence,
must be limited by that necessity, and kept
clearly within it. 1t must be shown that
| adinonltion or remonstrance to the persons
on board the ''Caroline" was impracticable,
! or would have been unavailing. il must be
shown that daylight could not bewaited for;
that there could be no attempt st discrimina-
ton between the innocent and the guilty !;
that 1T would not have been enough to seize
and detain the vessel; but that there was a
necessity, present and inevitable, for attack
ing her, In the darkness of the night, while
/ moored to the shore, and while unarmed men
/ were asleep on board, killing some and wound
Ing others, and then drawing her into the cur
rent, above the cataract, setting her on fire,
| and, careless tn know ~ bptbar tlpr.s iul
not be in her the innocent with the guilty, or
/ the living with the dead, committing her to
a fate which fills the Imagination with horror.
A necessity for all this the Governmentbfthe
| u. >. cannot believe to have existed.
All will see that if such things be allowed
TO occur, they might lead to bloody ana eXas-
perated war; and when an individual comes
into the u. ). from Canada, and TO the very
place on which this drama, was performed,
and there choose to make public and VAIN
glorious boast OF the part he acted in it, il is
hardly wonderful that great excitement should
be created, and some degree of com,notion a.
rise.
This Republic does not wish to disturb the
tranquility of the world. lis object is
peace, its policy peace. 1t seeks no aQgran-
dizement by foreign conquest, because it
knows that no foreign acquisition couli aug
ment its power and importance so rapidly as
they are already advancing by its unnatural
growth under the propitious circumstances of
ITS situation. But it cannot admit that its
Government has not both the will and the
power to preserve its own neutrality, and to
enforce the observation off its own laws upon
Its own citizens. 1t is jealous of its rights,
and among others, and most especially ofthe
right OF the absolute immunity of its territory
against aggression from abroad and these
rights 1t Is the duty and determination of this
Government fully and &, all times to main
tain; while it will atthe same time, as scru-
pulousiy refrain from infringing On the rights
of others.
| The PRESIDENT instructs the undersigned to
say, In conclusion, that he confidently trusts
that this and all other questions of difference
between the two Governments will be treat
en- by both in the full exercise of such a spir
IL OF candor, justice, and mutual resp ct as
shall give assurance of the long continuance
of peace between the two countries.
The undersign avails himself of this on
rortuniiy to assure Mr.. Fox of his high con-
sderation.
DANIEL WEBSTER.
HENRY 5. Fox, Esq. &c. &c. &c.