The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-23
emit witnesses and other proofs out of the wav /,

The plan was carried out partially and thus
originated the pretended charge of forgery, of
which Blackwood gave an entirely fictitious
account some three years ago. In roint of
fact, we have reason to believe this charge was
merely got up to hide more effsctually the real
Colonial Office Forgery; for the document
charged as forgery by Lord Stirling, consist
ed Of seventeen lengthy writings, all in the hand
writings Of the parties pho signed them. If
they had charged mere forgery of signatures,
that might have been possible; but here
man was actually charged with deed that
was physically impossible, and which the united
testimony of Witnesses for and against Lord
Stirling declared would have defied whole
academy! Besides it wa, in foreign Ian
guage, and perfectly exact in the idioms and
expressions of the time, &c. But what is final
Lord Stirling accidentally discovered docu-
mentsry proof of its existence fifty gears ago; J.
and also an old English gentleman, who had
seen it at that time.
In short, We do not know an instance of such
reiterated outrages, as the whole illegal oppo-
sl6on to this established right has given rise to-
The British Government We understand, now
Indignantly denies that it had any hand in this
bad business. Blu. did it not wink at it Was
it really deceived by the Crown agents who had
an interest of some two or three hundred thou
sand dollars, to break up the cssea
Lord Stirling not only established his case in
law, but every opposition strengthened him
Why, then, persecute and ruin man, because
his rights are undeniable!
Now, in our view, this case involves two points
of Importance: lst AS to the Fishery title,
which affects us and, I'd, as to the violation of
law and solemn judgments in the person of
an individual, which by every moral and hu-
man law affects all other individuals who have
always rights to assert and maintain.
/. AS to the Fishery question, it ia clear, by
the above mentioned facts, that we have been
treating with party (the British GOVERNMENT
which for years has had no right or title to the
Fishing grounds; the same having been sol
emnly conceded by an act of the British Sover-
eign, in the form Of royal act of seisin, issued
out of Chancery in Scotland, on the 9Th July
1881, in consequence of the establishment of
the right of Lord Stirling to the same by the
laws of his country.
Such being the facts, are we doing right in
continuing TO treat with the British Govern
ment Will any of our countrymen blame US
for saying, that we are bound by every princi-
pie of honor to act justly, whether it be to-
wards an individual or a nation and that we
think, since Providence has pointed out way
to repair the blunder committed by our states
men in 1918, that we ought to take advantage
of it? We consider it the more imperative 80
to do, because the method, thus pointed out to
us {, one perfectly legal, and, we do not hesitate
to say, psaeefM, for restoring our ruined.f.her-
men and our declining Fishing towns 20 that
activity and prosperity to which they are so
fully entitled.
e. AS to the violation of law and judicial
acts, in the person of an individual: every free
man knows that it is the accumulation of in
dividual wrongs that is the corrupt source of
national wrong If right in the individual
be injurious to the community, the Same can
and should be removed, but never without COM
pensation. In this instance, the individual has
repeatedly offered to accept of moderate COM
pensation but that has been withheld, simply
because q few other individuals were enyious
and fearful of the immensely of the rights and
because Lord Stirling "obstinately" refused
TO SHARE D,th the underling, of the Crown,
who had made him repeated propositions
In coming over to this country, and appeal
ing to us, as an enlightened and liberal People,
at the very moment most anspicous in the
Fishery negotiation, we cannot believe that
Lord Stirling will have reason to regret the
step. He will find here more activity in sup
porting right and denouncing wrong. AS a
general rule, the feet of the wicked are swift
to evil;" while the we'll disposed rarely show
either diligence, courage, or unanimity, in sus-
tanning the prosecuted. Here it is that the
bold few trample upon, and by their activity
and united action, triumph over individuals;
while the many, timid and careless, shrug their
shoulders, sigh over the violation of rights and
justice, or try to give credit to inconsistent
falsehoods, if they do not even approve them
by blaming the prosecuted for position from
which they could by no possibility escape.
We have to say, in conclusion, that, in
making this statement Of Lord Strings posi-
ton, we have done 50 from pure, disinterested
motives. We have had the pleasure Of his &C.
quaintance and that of his family residing in
Washington, and VIC can bear testimony to
their perfect integrity and honorable bearing.
We think the country ought to be supplied with
the facts Of the case. We therefore draw at
tention to them, because we have reasons for
believing that there has been much activity
displayed in preventing a consideration of the
case by the country, through the agency of the
Press. We have read all the attacks upon
Lord Stirling and his rights; and we do not
remember ever to have met with such an over
whelming REPUTATION of calumny as that given
by MIR. Hayes in his & Vindicaton"
To the wild assertions and ISLANDERS of the
opposition, he has not only refuted them by the
publication of the facts. e., the acts royal,
judicial, and official, the verdicts and judg-
ments of courts. &c.-but he demonstrates upon
irrefragable proof that crimes of the darkest
character have been committed, for the pur-
poee of destroying documentary evidence and
official proofs upon which the case
is based.
To- THE COMMITTEE of the House of Rep |
appointed to inquire I" how far it
is expedient for the public interest and consist
emit with our civil institutions, to employ mill
tary men ON our public works." consists of
Messrs. Stanton, of Kentucky, chairman; Daw-
Son, of Pennsylvania; Dickerson, of Massa-