The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-01-24

the presence OF an American squadron will give
To our growing commerce on the coast Of Africa
a commerce susceptible of the most beneficial de-
velopmens, through the civilized colonial settle
ments already established there constitute an m-
pOrtant additional recommendation OF IT, This con-
sderaton early attracted the attention of the proper
department and see, from the report Of the Sec
Rotary Of the Navy at the Of the ses-
sion, that he proposed to enlarge materially the mum
Der Of vessels employed the African station, as
well In reference 10 this object for the suppress
sion Of the slave trade The extent If the squadron
stipulated to be maintained there, is probably not
greater than the Secretary would have deemed ex-
pedient in any event and the expense will be amply
repaid IN resulting benefits TO the commerce of the
country.
The last stipulation in the treaty which remains To
be noticed is that by which the parties agree mutu-
ally TO surrender iugityes from justice, in certain
cases. An arrangement OF this sort between neigh
boring States whose territories border ON each other
through All extended boundary-presenting to often
ders great facilities Of escape from jurisdiction
into The other-seems 10 be urgently demanded by
the interests of pc ce, law, and social order. So
just and proper Is II IN Itself that writers OF
high authority the law of nations have regarded il
as matter OF absolute obligation, independently OF
treaty stipuations. The modern and better. opinion,
however, considering how diversified and often ar
bllrary is the penal legislation of different countries
Is, that there Is no obligation TO surrender fugitiyes
from The criminal justice OF one country taking
iuge IN another, but in virtue of positive and precise
compact The want Of some conventional arrange
ment of this sort between the United States and
Great Britain has been particularly felt in the States
of the Union ad jacent to the Cauadas and other
British possessions on the continent where the pros.
Pect oi The easy mpunty gained by ssing from one
side TO the other OF the boundary line has been found
TO operate as great temptation and encouragement
T. crime, Several of those States have manifested
an earnest desire for such reciprocal arrangement
between the two Governments. The stipulation in
the treaty, II VIII be seen, Is confined exclusively to
crimes OF an aggravated character against life or
property-such as murder robbery, piracy, and some
two or three enumerated offences, carefully prefer.
milting all political offences aud lest
ioreseen abuse Inconvenience should arise in the
practical administration Of the agreement, the right
Is reserved to either party TO terminate il al will
This article closes tie circle of matters embraced
by the treaty. There other questions of much
interest TO both counties which have formed the
SUBJECT OF an important correspondence between
the Secretary OF State and The special minister of
Great Britain. This correspondence las been laid
btore the Senate with the treaty and must Decessa
rly enter into their consideration in disposng of the
treaty itself 1t has therefore, attracted the careful
attention OF the committee; and they have SEEN
with pleasure, that there has been amicabe and
honorable understanding, or important advance
to .uch understanding ultimately on each of
the questions which formed the topic Of that rres-
pondence.
The first of those questions that present them
selves to view, is the affair of the ST. amboat Caro-
line captured aud destroyed some years ago with
in the territorial limits of the United States and
forming part of the of an unsettled diplo-
matte account which the present Administration in
herlted from the last. II is part Of my purpose
(said Mr. to cast censure unnecessarily anyw here
or TO enter into partisan discussion of any of the
questions which now before us for a grave and
calm deiberation But as gentlemen have fit
To indulge IN very unsparing denunciatons of the
course pursued by those now in power, in regard to
this affair and have given the reins to their imagina
tons IN the most boundless and gratutous praises Of
the course Of the late Administration on the same
subject 1t becomes Indispensable to a Just under
standing OF he question, to restate facts the ma
kedness Of their historical truth.
The seizure and de struction of the Caroline occur
red at Schlosser, the Niagara frontier in Deem
Der, 1887 being the first year of Mr. Van Burens
administration. Ii led to a brief correspondence be-
tween Mr. Forsyth and Mr.. Fox, at Washington !;
and Mr.. Stevenson, our Minister at London, was in
struc,ed to make formal representation TO the Br-
fish Government on the subject, and to demand re-
dress. This representation made by Mr.. Steven
son, in note to Lord Palmerston dated the 22d Of
May, 1888. His note remaining without any other
answer than a mere acknow gment of its receipt
for more than twelve months, Mr.. Stevenson, very
properly, wrote 10 MIR. Forsyth, in July, 1899, stat
ing that he regretted TO say answer had vet been
>
desiring TO know "il IT the wish of the Govern
ment that he should press the subject again and, if
so, with what degree of urgency In answer TO
this communication, Mr.. Forsyth in September
1889, replied, that no instructions then required
for again bringing forward the question Of the Caro-
line that he had had frequent conversations with
Mr. Fox IN regard to the subect-one of very recent
date and "from IFS tone, the President expects the
British Government will answer your MIR Steven
sons application In the case without much farther
delay" But IN point of fsc the Presidents expec-
tation was not fulhed the British Government
gave no answer TO Mr.. Steyenson's application in
the case and so the matter stood-the formal repre-
seniation made by Mr.. Stevenson remaining wholly
unnotced by the British Gov rnment for eighteen
months longer, and down TO the close Of MIR Van Bu-
ren's administration For three long years Mr.. Van
Buren, patiently acquiesced ia this silence and slept
over an olt age which genemen-bis friends aud
euloglsts on this hoor-would persuade US, IN the
lofty flight Of their chyalry and eluquence, they
buried TO avenge by an instant recourse to arms.
What advantage has been naturally taken OF this
most extraordinary acquiescence Of the last admins
traton, to embarrass any renewed demand for re-
dress Is strikingy shown IN the follow ing passage Of
a note addressed by Lord Palmerston to MIR Steven
son on the I'd of September last, which is before
at appears, them that for nearly three years the
United States Government acquesced m the silence
Of her Majesty's Government on the subject for
though in September, 1889, Mr. Forsy ia stated, as
reason for not pressing her Malesty's Government
for an snseer, that the President had been led by
conversation of MIR. Fox, TO expect the British
answer without any further delay, yet that reason
necessarily ceased with the further lapse Of time,
and could not be said TO have held good as long as Til
the beginning Of ls40. MIR Stevenson, moreover,
specifically states IN hi, note Of the 3lst uti-
mo, that during the whole interval between
the date Of his note Of May, 1888, and the
time when the arrest Of Mcleod became known in
England, IN February lsil, no communication ever
took place between himself aud the undersigned on
the subject OF the CIrolme. Now, neither Mr..
Stevenson nor the late President an Buren, have ever
shown themselves deficient in watchiul aud active
attention 10 matters in which the just rights the
United States concerned the undersigned consi-
ders that he has not much erred in supposng sta
ted IN his former communication, that thu, long aud
Intentional Isncr of The Initcd States Gnyerpmept