Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-04-16

had not arisen from the fact TINT 1t was thought
desirable hiatt engaged in conducting it should
derive too much credit from 1t.
Connected with this subject of the boundary was
the Caroline and the Mcleod affair.
| AS to the former, he gave historical statement
| from Mr. Van Buren's own messages, showing that
lawless citizens Of the United States we're making
war on the lives and property OF British subjects IN
Canada. party came over and seized this boat,
the Caroline. Mr. Fox avowed the act as one OF
the colonial government For this violation OF our
territory, the United States Government could have
demanded reparation. A correspondence after
ward took place in regard to it, between Mr.. Ste
venson and Lord Palmerston
Thus the matter lay, till Mcleod was arrested
| for killing Durfee in that Affair." Mr.. Fox again
declared that McLeod had acted under authority,
as a soldier and that the British Government was
responsible for his act But it appeared that Mr.
Forsyth had taken the ground that the British Gov
erhment had not avowed the act, and 1t would be
! for the country to take the avowal int consldera
ton. But the British Government had declared to
Mr. Stevenson that the act was avowed, repeatedly
and Lord Palmerstou told Mr.. Stevenson that the
| British Government would make no apology or rep
aration for the interference against the Caroline
that the act was planned and executed by order Of
the Government of Canada. note to this effect
! wa1 addressed to Mr. Stevenson that the British
Government would make no apology or reparatlon
| for the interference against the CuroIne-that the
act was planned and executed by order OF the Gov
eminent of Canada note to this effect was adj
dressed to Mr.. Stevenson in May, 1896.
1t thus appears that Mr.. Van Buren's adminIstra
ton was early advised that the British Government
had avowed the act but never asked any reparatlon
for it. For three years that administration slept
over the wounded honor Of the country. At last,
the Mcleod affair ircshened it up in November,
l640 Then, the Government of the United States
said we never knelr that the &C, was authorised by
| tho british (fovprnp,ont Wa iii hplipVp thp
minister Mr.. Fox, when he avowed it. We never
thought it worth while to ask England whether she
aVowed it or not. The affair brought about great
| excitement in England. 1t was one OF those cases
which touch the hearts Of that people, as similar
case would have done here. At this time, Mr.. Fox
demanded the release of Mcleod, and declared
that it was contrary to the law of nations to arrest
a soldier for an act committed under the command
OF superior officer, for which his Government had
assumed the responsibility. Mr.. Forsyth, however,
SAID he had not before been aware that the act was
public one.
Thus stood the matter when Gen. Harrison as
sumed the Government. lie decided, as states
man and urst ought to do that the invasion OF oul
territory by Great Britain was an act that required
apology and atonement, and that 1t was contrary tc
national law to indct private soldier for an ac
done by order of his Government The note Of
Mr.. Fox demanding the release of Mcleod, was
thought too harsh Mr.. Fox informed thai
Mcleod must be discharged in legal way. The
Government could not enter mol. pros. because
the case was not in United States court. Upot
an appeal from the highest court Of the State, thu
case might have been brought, by writ of error, Il
the U. s., court. But the Government did not in
terfere at all. He should ask the Senator from
New York MR. Dickinson what he meant by say
ing that the Government had iuterered in an un
iustifiable manner in the judicial proceedings o
the State court Of New York. There was no in
reference at all.
Mr.. w. now asked Whether this not The
proper course. Was the Government of the Unitet
States to turn from the lion and fall upon the lamb
When the British Government han avowed the act
when the British authorities, both colonial and a
home, when the whole British people avowed tn
act, and cried 10 us-"i me, in me conrertite fer
rtm"-was it magnanimous in this Government
after three years sleeping over the insult, to seiz
upon one poor wretch and try him and punish hin
for murder?
Mr.. w. vindicated the feeling which the &c
had produced in England, and put in very for
chile and eloquent manner, the case of q citizen o
the United States, sent to Oregon or elsewhere
with the eagle above his head, who might, for
public act, be arrested and tried and punished b.
the British Governmental there a single A
merlcan who would not be ready to declare war
He never doubted,-Gen Harrson's Cabinet neve
doubted that the proceeding against Mcleod wa
illegal. He was surprised at the decision of thu
New York Court. lie would say, on his profes
sonal reputation, that the opinion of the Stat
court Of New York not a respectable opinion
either in It's object the reasons given for it. B
Mcleod was found not guilty. Congress evident
held the opinion that the proceeding of the New
York Court was unconstitutional, and made Law
accordingly to meet such cases. Mr.. Webste
took up the allegations of Mr.. c. j. Ingersoll whic
Mr. Dickinson had made part of his printed pam
phlet speech, read it, and denounced it as absoue
false in every particular, from beginning to end
that he (Nlr. W. wrote letter to the Governor o
New York, and told HIM to release Mcleod or tn
city Of New York would be laid in ashes that tn
Government employed counsel for cl.eod, &c
&C., all OF which was an utter falsehood.
lie read the letter which he wrote to the Govern
or OF New York, at the order OF Cen Harrison, [
thank him for the intimuton that he would direct
noHe prosequi IN McLeods case inasmuch as tn
act Of Mcleod had been avowed as a public ac
He reviewed some other portions of the allegation
in Mr.. lngersols speech that he proposed to sur
render the tariff in exchange for Oregon, &c
This was not SO. He never made any such propo
slion, as aledged, to the committee on foreign at
fairs, nor did he avow it in his Baltimore speech
He expressly dlsclaimed, in that speech, any pow
er on the pat Of the Government to make a treat
tariff.
Mr.. w. was exceedingly severe in his comment
upon Mr.. Ingersoll's attack and also upon MI
Dickinsons allegations.
In the course of Mr.. WIS remarks upon the Car
oline affair, Mr.. Allen asked it there any proc
that the Caroline engaged IN an Illicit employ
ment.
Mr.. Webster said there was abundant proof, an
he went on to cite it.
Mr. Dickinson said few words, and on his mo
ton the Senate adjourned.
HousE.-The House rejected the Cumberlan
road bill.
The bill TO raise a regiment of mounted me
was taken up, and Mr.. Levin moved that it be a
mended SO to require that the soldiers enlste
should be natives.
: Mr.. Dromgoole replied, and the House adjourn
ed.
"WEDNESDAY April s.
SENATE. Mr.. Claylon's resolution calling TO
copies of any farther Oregon correspondence, cam
mp, in course aud Mr., Allen moyed that it lie o
the table, Mr. Clayton said the adoption of tn
gon question. 1t would be found that the Senat