Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-01-15
H. s. Fox, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
Mr.. Foe to Mr.. Forsyth.

WASHINGTON, Dec 20, 1910.
.Sin-l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
Of your letter Of the Goth inst. in which, in reply to
letter which had addressed to you on the 18TH you
acquant me that the President is not prepared to COM
ply with my demand for the liberation of Mr.. Alex
ander Mcleod, of Upper Canada now imprisoned at
Lockport, in the State ofNew York, on pretended
charge OF murder and arson, as having been engaged
in the destruction of the piratical steamboat Caroline
on the 29h December, 1887.
learn with deep regret that such is the decision of
the President of the United States, for cannot but
foresee the very grave and serious consequences that
must ensuei if besides the injury already inflicted upon
Mr.. Mcleod, of a vcxatous and unjust Imprisonment
any further harm should be done to him in the pro-
gress of this extraordinary proceeding.
have lost no time in forwarding to her Majesty 8
Government in England the correspondence that has
taken place, and shall wait the further orders of her
Majesty's Government with respect to the important
question which that correspondence involves.
But feel it to be my duty not 10 close this commu-
ncaton without likewise estifyng my vast regret and
surprize at the expressions which find repeated in
your letter with reference to the destruction of the
steamboat Caroline. had confidently hoped that the
first erroneous impression Of the character OF that
| event. imposed upon the mind Of the United States
Government by partial and exaggerated representa-
tons, would long since have been effaced by more
| strict and accurate examination Of the facts Such
an investigation must even yet l am willing to be-
leve, lead the United States Government to the same
| conviction with which her Maesty's authorities on
the spot impressed that the act was in the
sriceSt sense OF Selfdeience rendered absolutely
necessary by the circumstances of the occasion, fol
the safety and protection of her Maestys subjects
| and justified by the same principles which, upon
similar and well-known occasions, have governed the
conduct of illustrous officers Of the United States
The steamboat Caroline was hostile vessel engag
ed in praca war against her Maiestys people, hlret
from her owners for that purpose, and known TO be
| so beyond the possibility Of doubt.
| The place where the vessel was destroyed was no
minay, it is true, within the territory of friend
| ly Power but the friendly Power had been deprived
| through overbearlng pratcal violence of the use o.
its proper authority that portion of territory
The authorities of New York had not even been able
to prevent the artillery Of the State from being carried
ofpublcly, at midday to be used as instruments O.
| war against her Majesty's subjects. 1t was undc
such circumstances which it to be hoped will neve
recur that the vessel attacked by party Of he
| Maiesty's people, captured, and destroyed.
remonstrance against the act in question has beer
addressed by the United States to Her Majesty
Governmental England. | am not authorized to pre-
| nonncc the decision of Her Majesty's Government
upon that remonsirance but have felt yself bounc
to record, in the meantime, the above opinion in or
der TO protest in the most solemn against tn,
spirited and loyal conduct of party of Her Majesty
officers and people being qualified through an unfor
| tunate msapprehenson, as l believe, Of the facts
with the appellation of outrage or of murder.
avail myself of this occasion to renew to you tn
assurance Of my distinguished consideration.
II. S. FOX.