The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-01-25
SPEECH
or
c. RIyES, OF VIRGINIA,
THE TREATY wITn GREAT BRITAIN.
Delivered ia the United States Senate August ~
and 49, 1912
[Conclnded ]

So far IS this from being the case, that his own
minister plenpoteDtary IN the note addressed by him
TO Lord Palmerston in May, 1888, Sin obedience TO
instructions" expressly presented the outrage for
| which he was directed 10 demand redress, one
| committed by British boous from The province of
| Upper Canada" forming portion Of The Brush
force at Chip toa" and ''paaned aud srecuied toih
The knowledge and appreciation Of the Lieutenant Gooer-
nor Of Upper Canada" Whatever other reasons them
Mr.. Van Buren, may have had for his extraordinary
and patient acquescence in the ng-continued oms'
sion OF the British Government 10 return any
10 demand of reparation IN the of the Caro-
line he cannot take the benefit of after-hought
in contradiction with his deliberate official act
| lie may have thought, perhaps, that in case
where the justification of the British Government
rested question Of fact as 10 The degree aud urgency
Of that necessity Of ssLdtteaee under which their
thorites professed TO have acted, and In relation TO
which the testimony and statements relied on by the
respective Governments were directly at variance,
prudence and proper regard for the peace OF the
two countries forbade that their relations should be
brought to extremity point OF dubious and deba-
table evidence, where, amid the conflict of opposing
| statements it was difficult to ascertain the truth
But, conside ,khe gravity OF the occurrence, and
the danger 0katrPeing drawn into precedent by
powerful and baakhty neighbour he owed it to the
character Of the country aid journing evcy subordl
nate question of evidence, TO insist at upon
pros,p disavowa of any intentional disrespect of the
| national sovereignty, accompanied with an explicit
acknowledgment of those sacred principles of the
public law which guard the nvioability Of territory,
and upon the scrupulous observance of which the
peace aud dignity of nations SO vitality depend.
Nothing of this sort, however, done. The
question permitted to sumber in the most pro-
| found neglect during the whole period OF MIR. Van
Buren's presidency aud those now in power have
had the national dignity aud honor under all
the disadvantages arising from the long acquiescence
and virtual derelicton Of the last Administration.
The correspondence submitted to us shows in what
manner, and upon what principles, this controversy
so long the source of mutual irritation and heart
| burning between the two countries, has been at
length honorably terminated The British minister
gives his adhesion, in the most explicit and unequivo
| cal terms to all the principles of public law, which
we have laid down as applicable to the case. He
declares that respect for the npioiabie character Of the
territory Of Independent nations is the most essential fou
dation Of civilization )" and that in addition TO sense
of moral responsibility, the most obvious dictates of
po icy and interest would lead Great Britain to an OBJ
serv ance of this duty, Sin the of long conter
minous boundary OF some thousand miles with coun-
try of such great and growing power as the Unittd
States of America, inhabitated by kindred race,
gifted with all its activity, and all its susceptibility on
points of national honor ~ that while every con- idera
iio, leads the British Government to set as high
value as the Government of the United States can
possibly do con this paramount obligation OF recipro-
cal respect for the independent territory OF each,
is vet admitted by all writers pubic law, and by
| the occasional practice Of all nations, (our own
among the number) that strong orepo'certng necess-
| fu may arise when this great principle may and must
| be momentar suspended but sit must be so for
the shortest possible period during the continuance Of an
admitted ung necessity, and strictly confined Quinn
! the Marco limits imposed by that necessity"
Thus far. there is perfect and satisfactory
| accordance between the views OF the Govern
men Of the United States and those OF the Bri ISL
Government, as represented by Lord Ashourton both
as to the general principle and the narrow and limit
ed exception to il. The exception, within the limits
so astringently stated Lord Ashburton is admitted
both by Mr. Stevenson, in his note 10 Lord Palmer
ston in May 1888, and by MIR Webster, IN his note
10 Mr. Fox in April, leil and upon IT, indeed, rests
the yndicaton Of imp rant transactions IN our
own military history, which too deeply engraven
on the recollection of the country to make IT necessa
nv for me to recall them 10 the Senate. Mr. Steven
son defines the necessity which admitted 10 constr
ute an exception to the general nyioabiity oil neu-
trail territory, to be Imminent and Nireme, and ln-
yolyng impending DIES rtIction.n Mr. Webster, with
no less force describes IL TO be ga necessity OF self
defence instant, overwhelming having no choice Of
| mans and no moment for delIberatlon" Lord Ash
burton, distinctly asserting 10 the limits thus eau
tousy placed upon the admitted exception, seeks, by
a recurrence f. the circumstances of the case, 10
| show that the steamboat Caroline, being the means
and instrument by which "sccessIOns Of men, arms,
| and munitions of war, were hourly" brought IRON
the American shore the position OF the hostile and
invading force Navy Island the necessity for her
| CAPTURE and destruction was Of that inperious and
| oyerrung character, which brought the act fairly
within the limits Of the exception, as defined by the
Government Of the United States.
/ Still there was in the case, whatever may have
been the supposed necessity Tor it, Gas Lord Ashbur-
ton remarks with that just OF what belongs to
the honor and dignity Of both Governments, which
characterizcs all the communications OF tins able and
udicous ministcr) the grave fact OF "a violation Of
territory ~ which he is INSTRUCTED by her Majesty s
Government to assure the Government Of the Uni
ted States is considered by il most serious fact y
and that, far from thinking an event OF TINS KIND
should be lightly rsked, they uo'id uvegnedy dsrre-
cafe its recurrence :" that Il is 10 be regretted that an
explanation and apology for the occurrence was not
imme Jiatey made :" that he can most soemnly ai-
firm that no disres ec TO the sovereign authority OF
the United States intended !" and that che re-
peats the Of regret her Majesty Govern.
ment feel that the even, should have disturbed the
harmony they so anxiousy wish u maintain with the
Ameri an people and Government" After the Eek
planation, and assEancesn thus cordially given, he
concludes bis letter to the Secretary Of State, by eK-
pressing the hope that "all feelings Of resentment
and il-sill resulting from these truly unfortunate
events may be buried IN oblivion; and that they may
be succeeded by those Of harmony AID friendship
which Il certaioy the interest, and, be also be-
lieves, the inclination Of all to promote
II gentle men eau nothing frank aud honorable
explanations such these, proceeding from the rep
resentatye Of an cold and naughty nation, proud ~
armsn to satisfy the just sentiment OF national pride
and dignity in regard TO transaction long past, oye
which our own Government had slept with quiet IN
d ference for years, and where there - periec
concurrence OF both Governments in the great con
seryatiye principles which must guard and the
immunity Of their respective territories, differing
only as TO dobatable quest Of fact 10 the partcu
lar case, } can only say, that their moraI tempera
ment are constituted very differently from my own.
: The next subject treated in the CORES pOndenct
between her Britannia Majestys special minister au'
the Secretary Of State Is one Of peculiar delcacy
= as well as mportan the interference Of the Bri
o tsh colonial authorities with American vessels hav
ing slaves on board, the property Of American Cit
y zens under the laws Of their respective States am
driven by stress Of weather. or other uncontroabl
causes into the British West Indies, while passin
A from one port TO another Of the Union. The hrs
n cases Of this sort which occurred Of III ee We,
q sells whose n mes have unfortunately become fama
IL. l. IL l.. 80. 4