The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-28
l0l4

history for thirty years, and sec how the various
questions had bsen disposed Of Il had beer
already that all the rights Great Britain had u
Oregon were conferred by negotiation. A few year
since there four leading subjects Of difference
The northeastern boundary, the Caroline, or Me
Lsod affair, the right Of search, and Oregon.
The northeastern boundary first submitted tc
tho srbtrament OF the King OF the Netherlands
who instructed TO follow the highlands, but loca
ted his line in the bed Of the ST. Johns. Iii,
award was rejected and negotiations resumed. Grcs
Britain had more territory awarded 10 her than 4
map In her foreign Office showed she was entitled to
and this government paid to Maine and Massachu'
sets for the territory thus coded, $1,000 Ihis
was the history Of one concession by this TO the
British government.
In 1887 there were collisions between citiZens OF
New York and elsewhere, and the Inhabitants oil
Csnada--hostites having been exchanged TO some
extent between the parties, at least as was sup
posed, when an armed company, under inc uirec.
ton Of tho Canadian authorities, came over and
seized a steamboat lying within the territory and
jurisdiction Of the State Of New York, while the
hands were asleep board, cut 1t out, murdered q
portion of the hands, and who fed to the shore
was shot down aher he had reached il. The boa
and her crew were sent over the Falls Of Niagara
That was question which, at the time, raised the
indignation not only Of citizens Of New York
but Of the whole American people. The attention
of the authorities of New York, and Of the United
States were directed TO the subject reparation was
demanded, and how was Il procured
An individual named Mcleod, an inhabitant OF
Canada, ayowed himself the murderer, and being
in the State ofNsw York, was arrested and confined
in Jail. The federal government endeavored TO pre-
vent his trial by the authorities Of New York; anc
but for the eommendable frmness Of her executive
and judicial authorities. would have succeeded. Nc
repaaoD has yet been made; and Il is said TO have
been charged upon the floor OF the other branch oil
Congress that the fees Of counsel who defended Me
81 x.t1 fs...n h. NJ I'm.
nothing concerning the statement but hoped for the
honor Of the nation IL was not true.
Mr.. WEBsrER. IL is wholly false.
Mr.. DICKSON was happy to hear Il. He wished
10 be correct 10 the history of the past and If his
recollection served him, the federal government in
sisted that the authorities OF New York, under the
circumstances, had no right 10 try Mcleod, who
declared he had sent the missile which terminated
The life of one Of her citizens upon her soil.
Does the senator wish To explain
Mr.. WIDsrrR. Not at present; do not want to
interrupt the senator I shall think il necessary,
perhaps, to call on him hereafter for the authority
upon which he makes this statement.
Mr.. DICKINSON had understood there cor.
respondsnce between the authorities at Washington
and the governor Of New York TO that effect but he
alluded particularly to a letter addressed by Mr..
WEssrER, Secretary Of State, To Mr.. CnrIEspEs,
Attorney General, at that time, directing him TO
proceed TO New York and take charge Of the trial OF
Mcleod. He had il not then before him, and did
not recollect ia precise language, but would refer To
il before he should close. He would endeavor 10
speak Of the history Of the past truly and in perec,
kindness, but he wished to show what we had gain
ed by negotiations with Great Britain, and who had
made the concessions.
Mr.. ID. here gave way to a motion for executive
session.
WEDNESDAY, FEsRuARr 25.
Mr.. DIcKRsos said when he gave way yester-
d, in isctt Nal .x.d "a. h. k.l -.
dentslly alluded to statement which, he had under
stood, had been made in the other house of Con-
gress by the chairman Of the Committee on For
eign Affairs. The statement surprised him, as he
had previously stated for he thought, if true, it
was u great abuse which should be guarded against
for the future, and if not, it should be denied He
would produce and read the remarks to which he
had alluded, well in justification Of his statement
to allow the late secretary Mr.. WEBSTER a full
opportunity for explanation, if he desired.
Mr.. EVANS said it was not in order.
Mr.. DICKINSON said he had no desire to read if
objected to from the other side, and would waive it,
That part of the statement, however, as reported
which related to the late attorney Of the United
States for The northern district Of New York, did
that gentleman injustice, (unintentiona certninly,)
for he had undertaken the defence Of Mcleod be-
fore his appointment; and besides, Mcleod was
prosecuted State court by the attorney general
Of New York. whore the district attorney of the
United States had no official relation.
MIR. ID said he had also stated that the federal
government endeavored to the trial of Mcleod
by the authorities Of New York, on the ground that
If he committed the murder, it was by the direction
and under the authority of the Britain government
which had avowed the act, and that the government
and not the individual was responsible. He under
stood the honorable senator from Massachusetts,
MR. WEBsTERl to deny such interference, or init
mate that he should call for the authority for such
statement. Mr. d. did not intsnd to charge forci-
BILE or lawless interference, but papabe and di.
rect one, and an attempt, the part Of the author
tiles at Washington, to arrest the ordinary course
of Justice, and prevent trial upon the merits
Mcleod was confined in Jail in a western
with the murder of Durfee, citizen of New
York, within its borders. While so confined
and as his trial was approaching, Mr. Fox, the
British minister, avowed the act to be that of her
Malestys government, and demanded the release of
Mcleod. correspondence was said to have pass
ed between the federal and State authorities touch
ing the question Of McLcod's release, of which
Mr. d. did not pretend to speak; but he held in his
hand letter from the late Secretary of State mr.
WEBsrEhl to the late Attorney General mr. Car
TEspES,l which he thought fully established all he
The letter purported to be issued from the De.
partment of State March 15 l84l, and after rectine
the facts, and stating that Mcleod had been de-
manded by the British minister, upon the ground
that the expedition was planned by, and executed
under, the authority Of the British government, pro-
ceeds as follows
the attack on the Caroline Is avowe national act which
may Justify reprsas or even general war, the govern
form Of the transaction and Of its own duty should nee n
30 70 decide yet that raises question entirely public and
individuals concerned in arrested and tried before
the ordinay tribunals for the violation of mynicpa
has asserted the law which has bssn "
w OF nations and the redress which Is be sought