The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-24


that the act OF Congress of March 10th, 1885, was
passed for the precise purpose of more etecually re-
ST aiming military enterprises, from the United > ates
INTO the British provinces, by authorizing the use OF
the most sure and decisive preventive means. The
undersigned may add that 1t stands On the admission
ofvery high British authority, that during the recent
Canadian troubles although bodies of adventures APP
peared on the border, making it necessary for the
people of Canada TO keep themselves in state pre-
pared Tor selidefence, yet that these adventures
were acting by no means in accordance with the ieel
ing of the great mass of the American People or oil
the Government of the United States
This Government, therefore, not only holds itself
above reproach IN every thing respecting the preser
walton of neutrality, The observance Of the principle
Of non-ntervention, and the srictest conformity, in
these respects, to the rules Of international law, but
il doubts that the world will do it the justice to
acknowledge thai ii has set an example not unfit to
be followed by others; and that by its steady legisa-
ton this most important subject it has done some
thing to promote peace and good neighborhood among
nations and to advance the civilization of man
kind
The undersigned trusts that, when Her Britannia
Majesty's Government shall present the grounds, at
length, which they justify the local authorities OF
Canada in attacking and destroying the +" Caroline"
they will consider that the laws of the United States
are such the undersigned has represented
them, and that the Government of the United States
has always manifested sincere disposition to see
those laws eiectually and impartially administered
II there have been cases in which individuals, justly
obnoxious TO punishment, have escaped, this Is no
more than happens in regard to other laws.
Under these circumstances, and under those imme-
diately connected with the transaction ITSELF it will
be for Her Majestys Government to show upon
what state of facts, and what rules of national law
the destruction Of the Caroline is to be defended
IL Will be for that Government to show a necessity
OF self-deience, instant overwhelming, leaving no
choice OF means, and no moment for deliberation.-
II VIII be Tor 1t to show, also, that the local authori
ties OF Canada, even supposing the necessity of the
moment authorized them to enter the territories of
the United States at all did nothing unreasonable or
excessive, since the act, justified by the necessity of
selt-deience must be limited by that necessity, and
kept clearly within it, 1t must be shown that admo-
milton remonstrance to the persons on board the
Caroline" was impractcable, or would have been
unayalling II must be shown hatdaylight could not
be waited for that there could be attempt at dis
elimination between the innocent and the guilty :;
that it would not have been enough to seize and de-
tain the vessel; but that there necessity pre-
sent and inevitable, for attacking her in the darkness
of the night, while moored to the shore and while un-
armed men were asleep on board, killing some and
wounding Others and then drawing her into the cur
rent, above the cataract, setting her on fire. and
careless to know whether there might not be in her
the innocent with the guilty, or the living with the
dead, committing her to fate which fills the imagi-
nation with horror necessity for all this, the Go
vernment of the United States cannot believe to have
existed
n VIII sec lHat III SUCH DC allowed 10 occur, they
must lead to bloody and cxasperaied war. And
when an individual comes into the United States
from Canada, and to the very place which this
drama was performed, and there chooses to make
public and vaingorous boast of the part he acted in
IT. it is hardly wonderful that great excitement should
be created and some degree of commoticn arise.
This republic does not wish to disturb the tranquil.
Ety of the world It's object is peace, its policy peace.
Ii seeks no ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by foreign conquest, be-
cause it knows that foreign acquisitions could aug
ment its power and importance rapidly as they
are already advancing by its own natural growth,
under the propitIous circumstances Of its situaon.-
But it cannot admit that its Government has not both
the will and the power to preserve its neutrality,
and to enforce the observances of its own laws upon
It's own citizens 1t is jealous Of its rights, and
among others, and most especially of the right of the
absolute immunity of its territory against aggression
from abroad and these rights it is the duty and de-
termination of this Government fully and at all
times to maintain, while it will at the same time as
scrupulousiy 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 treated by both in the full
else of such spirit of candor justice, and mutual
respect shall give assurance of the long continu-
ance Of peace between the two countries
The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity
to assure Mr. Fox Of his high consideration.
DANIEL WEBSTER.
HENRY S. Fox, Esq,
Enpoy Extraordinary and Minister lenipotentiay.
To be continued