Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-06-21
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
THE CASE OF MCLEOD.
THURSDAY. June 10, isiI

The question before the Senate being the motto
OF Mr.. RNEs to refer 80 much OF the President
message as relates to foreign affirs TO the Com
mi,tee on Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Buchanan havin
concluded his remarks on the subject, as publishes
in yesterdays paper
Mr. RIVES rose in reply, and commenced b,
observing that, rs a member OF tho Committee oil
Foreign Relations, II was ut AMI necessary that h
should offer some remarks on the subject which ha
thus been urged on the notice OF the Senate. No
thing could present a more striking example OF thu
tendency of all subjects discussed in our public DO
dies TO assume party character than the remarks
of the honorable Senator from Pennsylvania, M
Buchanan) which had Just been submitted TO tn,
Senate. The gentleman had commenced by a dis
clamcr-most honestly uttered, Mr. X. had M
douht-oi the influence ofany thing like party feel
ings in what he should say; aud yet he had hardl,
entered upon the threshold OF his subject when tn,
habitual and unconscious bias OF n pdriy man, a:
the Senator frankly avowed himself 10 be, exhibit
ed itself in n manner too unequlvoca TO be mis-
taken.
All who have had occasion to treat in our legis'
lative halls, questions such that now presented
to the notice OF the Senate, must have felt how diff
fcut It often is to reconcile the impulses OF an A
mercan spirit with the measure and reserve which
nigh, seem TO bc Que TO the natural suseepubiite:
OF Foreign Powers. In the view taken by the hon
orabe gentleman OF the aggravated character OF the
outrage perpeirated in the destruction of the Ca
roIine," MIR r. said he heartily concurred. The
gentleman had not uttered woEd IN repropatlon oil
that transaction to which his heart and his ud ment
did not respond But the very terms in which the
Senator denounced and characterized the aggression
made Il national wrong, TO be redreSSed by national
means and not 10 be avenged by visiting the rcspon-
slbles OF this public offence on the head OF such
an instrument as Alexander Mcleod, if, indeed, he
were at all an actor in the scene, there is every
reason to believe he was not.
Mr. RIyEs said he should endsavor, in the outset,
10 recall the discussion TO lis true merits-to the
o. rtf-
from Pennsylvania had adveTted 10 only in the close
OF his remarks. De should place II in the fore
ground Of the argument; because by II only can the
conduct Of the Administration, IN the particular in
which II IS impusned, bo fairly tried and Juds-
cd. lie would not 20 back TO recaptuIate the his
tory of the controversy respecting the destruction
OF the Caroline, further than 10 show the new po-
sitlon which the question assumed Immediately
upon the accession OF the present Administration 10
power
This unwarrantab,e outrage, involving viola
Of the nsiona. sovereignty over our territory,
as wei as the destruction OF the lives and property
o. American cItizens, was committed IN December,
1897, aud aroused general feeling Of Indignation
throughout the Union. Our minister Al London,
under the Instructions OF the Government mere, ad-
dressed, N MAY, lSSS, 4 representation TO the Bril-
iish Government on the subject, TO obtain "disa-
Toira! ana GsaPPr5ra! Of the act, and also such
dress the nature OF the case required" Nolwi;h-
standing the enornity Of the outrage, as painted IN
this very communication OF our minister al London,
inE;on the late Administration, the Senator'S pOliI
ca ftIeniS, IA whom he thinks there toGNi Of
energy ~ prosecuting the demand for redress
ally sip: over this national injury from May, lS3S,
10 March, 1911, when they went out OF power
And SO pfoiOund was their S!umber that, IN n late
debate IN the House Of Commons the British Secrs-
Iary OF State for Colonial AifArs Lord John Rus
SELL stated that the plant of the American Co
vernment was, Tor long period, considered drop.
ped Ii is true that MIR Stevenson, VINO could not
ttttf sats I'd hat I,fr,.
tone of his communication TO Lord Palmerston, IN
May, 1888, and the patient acquescence which fol-
lowed IN the long continued silence of the British
Government, did, in July, 1889, write to MIR. For
syth to know II he should renew the subject with
Lord Palmerston, and, # So the degree or urgency
he should adopt. To which Mr. Forsyth replied no;
"the President expects, from the TONE Of MIR FoX's
CONVERSATION, that the BRUSH Government will
answer your application In the case, WITHOUT MUCH
FURTHER DELAY" But, in pcint OF fact, no answer
was given by the British Government down to the
period of the late Administrators exit from power
A this while, then, the destruction Of the ga
roine" stood unexplained aud unGUoIoed by the Bri
fish Government, and there was nothing of con-
elusive nature determine whether il was 10 be
viewed an unauthorized act Of individuals or as
the public act OF the British authorities In this
state of things, Mcleod, in November last, came
into the Stlte Of New York, and having from his
Idle, and, rs Is now universally believed, false boasts
incurred the suspicion Of having been guilty and
conspicuous actor in the destruction of the Caroline
he was arrested and indicted therefor upon charge
ofmurder and arson. Mr. Fox, on the 9Th of Decen.
Der, demanded OF the Government Of the United
States the liberation of Mcleod, on the ground
"thnt the destruction Of the steamboat Caroline is
well known TO have been public act OF persons in
Her Majesty's service obeylng the order Of their
superior authorities" The demand was refused
because the Government OF the United States had
no right 10 Interfere with the judicial tribunals of
New York, which had taken cogniz lnce of the case;
and in regard to the declaration Of Mr. Fox, Mr.
FORSYTH stated that "if the destruction Of the Ca.
TJlne public act Of persons IN Her Majesty's
service, ObGying the order OF their superior author
ties, the fact has not been before communicated to
Inc Government OF the United States by person
authorized to make the admissions and it will be
for the court which has taken coguizlncc of the of.
fence with which Mcleod is charged TO decide upon
its validity, when legally established before H."
MIR Fox, recurring TO the same subject, IN his letter
to Mr. Forsyth Of the 29ih December, 1870 stated
that che was not authorized 10 pronounce the dec-
sion OF Her Mojesty's Government upon the remon-
STRANGE which had been addressed TO II by the Uni
ted States ogains, the act IN question"
Thus stood the question at the accession OF the
present Administration. The destruction Of the
Caroline had not as yet been ayowej by the British
Government rs a public and authorized act But on
Of President HARRISON, Mr. Fox addressed a letter 10
MIR Webster, Secretary OF State informing him that
he WIS then instructed by his Government 10 state
that "the transaction" (the destruction Of the Ca.
Satcs,) con account Of which Mcleod was arrested.
was transaction Of n public character, planned
and executed by persons duly empowered by Her
MaIesty's colonial authorizes TO take any steps and
to do any acts which might be necessary FOR the de-
fence Of her MaJCsty's Territories and for the pro-
tccOn Of Her Maiesty's subjects; and consequent-
ly that those subjects Of Her Majesty who gagged
IN Lhat transaction we're performing an act Of public
duty, for which they cannot be made persona "
and Individually unswcrab'C to the laws and tri.I.
nuIs any foreign country" Upon these grounds
he was instructed TO demand again from the Go,
yernment Of the United States the immediate release
Of Alexander mCLtoI.
This communication Of the British minister gave
nnew aspect 10 the subject and presented for th,
consideration oithe AmJrcin cabinet grave uues.
ton, Of the FIRST importance On the intercourse and
responsibilities Of nations. The destruction of N,
Caroline, for supposed participation n which Me
Jeod had been arrested and indicted In the court
Of New York, was now ayowed by the British Go
vernment TO have been an oct Of public u!lIi.er,
force, planned and executed by the compcten, puS
lie authorities IN alleged defence Of Her Msles,v'
territories, and, rs such, was justified by IICr Ma
icstys Government al home. However unwaTrant
able the act, from that moment IL could be We've
only as a national wrong, the full responsibility ,
which was assumed by the British GOvernmrn
and IN winch the individuals concerned were but ID
responsible instruments, acting under orders whic
they were implicitly bound 10 obey.
Under these circumstances, tho present Admin.
uauon was called on, within the first week Of II
oihcaI existence 70 decide what course was due /
the national honor in this new attitude Of tLIng
IH iHf not D.. lot al. IL