American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-05

vessel-of-war, letter of msS4ue or priva.
teer. And these enactmepts arc also in
strict conformity with tho law of nations,
which declares that no State has the right
to raise troops for land or sea aeryice in
another State without its consent, and
that, whether forbidden by tho municipal
law or not, the very attempt to do it with.
out such consent is an attack on tho ma
tional sovereignty.
Such being the public rights and the
municipal law of the United States, no
solicitude on the subject was entertained
by this government when, year since,
the British Parliament passed an act for
the enlistment of foreigners in tho militia
~ service of Great Britain. Nothing on
the face Of the act, or in its public histo-
ry, indicated that the British government
proposed to attempt recruiting in the Uni
ted States; nor did it ever give intimation
OF such intention to this government It
was matter of surprise, therefore, to find
subsequently, that the engagement of per-
sons within the United States to proceed
to Halifax, in the British province of No
va Scotia, and there enlist in the service of
Great Britain. was going on extensively,
with little or no disguise. Ordinary legal
steps were Immediately taken to arrest
and punish parties concerned, and SO put
an end to acts infringing the municipal
law and derogatory to our sovereignty =
Meanwhile suitable representations on the
subject were addressed to the British gov
| crnmcnt.
Thereupon it became known, by the ad-
mission of the British government itself,
that the attempt to draw secruits from
this country originated with it, or at least
had its approval and sanction; but it also
appeared that the public agents engaged
in it had "striugent Instructions" not to
violate the municipal law of the United
States.
1t is difficult to understand how it
should have been supposed that troops
could be raised here by Great Britain,
without violation Of the municipal law
The unmistakable object of the law was
to prevent every such act, which if per-
formed, must be either in violation of the
law, or in studied evasion of it; and in
either alternative, tho act done would be
alike injurious to the sovereignty of the
United States.
In the meantime, the matter acquired
additional importance, by the recruit.
mcnts in the U. States not being discon-
! tinued, and the disclosure of the fact that
they were prosecuted upon systematic
plan devised by official authority; that re-
cruiting rendezvous had been opened in
our principal cities, and depots for the re-
ception of recruits established on our from
! tler and the whole business conducted ua-
der the supervision and by the regular CO.
operation Of British Officers civil and mil
itary, some in the North American pro-
vinccs, and some in the United States
The completely Of those officers in an I'M
dertaking which could only be accomplish
cd.by detying our laws, throwing suspi-
cion over our attitude of neutrality, and
dsregaraing our territorial rights, is con-
clusively proved by the evidence ELECTED
on the trial of such of their agents as have
been apprehended and convisted. Some of
the officers thus implicated are of high Of.
fetal position, and many of them beyond
our jurisdiction, so that legal proceedings
could not reach the source of the mischief.
These considerations, and the fact, that
the cause Of complaint was not Il mere
casual occurrence, but deliberate design
entered upon with full knowledge of our
laws and national policy, and conducted
by responsible public functionaries, i'm
polled Inc to present the case to tho Brit
ish government, in order to secure not
only cessation of the wrong, but its re.
paration. The subject is still under dis
cussion, the result Of which will be COM
municated to you in due time.
| repeat the recommendation submitted
to the last Congress, that provision be made
for the appointment Of commissioner, in
connection with Great Britain, to survey
and establish the boundary line, which d.
yides the Territory ofWashngton from the
contiguous British possessions. BY reason
Of the extent and Importance Of the coun-
try in dispute, there has been imnent dan
| ger OF collisions between the subjects Of
Great Britain and the citizens Of the Uni
ted States, including their respective au-
thorities in that quarter. The prospect oil
| aspeedy arrangement has contributed hith-
erto to induce on both sides forbearanco to
assert by force what each claims as right.
Continuance Of delay on the part of the
two governments to act in the matter will
increase the dangers and difficulties of the
| controversy.
misunderstanding exists as to the ex-
tent, character, and value of possessory
rights of the Hudson's Bay Company and
tho property of the Pugifs Sound Agri-
cultural Company, reserved in in our trea.
ty with Great Britain relative TO the Ter.
rtory of Oregon | have reason to believe
that cession of tho rights of both compa-
uies to the United States, which would be
obtained on reasonable terms; and, with
a view to this end, present the subject to
the attention of Congress.
The colony of Newfoundland, having
enacted the laws require by the treaty
of the 9Th of june, 1854, is now placed on
the same footing, in respect to CONNER
cial intercourse with the United Staes, as
| Tho other RriLish North American ,ra..