Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-01-11

the subject were addressed TO the British
government. Thereuponit became known
by the admission Of the British govern
ment itself, that the attempt to draw re-
cruits from this country originated with
it, or at least had its approval or sanction,
but it also appeared that the public agents
engaged in it had stringent instructions
not to violate the municipal law of the
United States. 1t is difficult to under
stand how it should have been supposed
that troops could be raised here by Great
Britain without violation of the municipal
law.
The unmistakeable object of the law
was to prevent every such act which, if
performed, must be either in violation of
the law or in studied evasion of it, and in
either alternative the act done would be
alike injurious to the sovereignty of the
United States.
In the meantime, the matter acquired
additional Importance by the recruitments
in the United States not being discontin-
ued, and the disclosure of the fact that
they were prosecuted upon systematic
plan, devised by official authority that
recruiting rendezvous had been opened in
our principal cities, and depots for the
reception of recruits established on our
frontier, and the whole business conducted
under the regular cooperation of British
officers, civil and miIitary-some in the
North American Provinces, and some in
the United States. The completely of
those officers in an undertaking which
could only be accomplished by defying
our laws and disregarding our territorial
rights, is conclusively proved by the evil
denee elected on the trial Of such of their
agents as have been apprehended and
convicted.
Some Of the officers thus implicated ere
of high official position, and many of them
beyond our jurisdiction, so that legal pro-
ceed;ngs could not reachIthe source of tie
mischief. These considerations, and the
fact that the cause of complaint was not
mere casual occurrence, but deliber-
ate design entered upon with full knowl-
edge of our laws and national policy, and
conducted by responsible functionaries,
impelled me TO present the case to the
British Government in order to secure
not only cessation Of the wrong, but its
PREPARATION. The subject is still under
discussion, the result of which will be
communicated to you in due time.
CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS OF
SLAVERY.
Placed in the office of chief magis-
trate as the executive agent of the whole
country, bound to take care that the laws
be faithfully executed, and specially en-
Joined by the constitution to give infor-
nation to Congress on the state of the
Union, it would be palpable neglect of
duty on my part to pass over a subject
like this, which beyond all things at the
present time, vitality concerns individual
and public security.
1t has been matter of painful regret
to see States, conspicuous for their SER
vices in founding the republic, and equal
ly sharing its advantages, disregard their
constitutional obligations to it. Although
conscious of their inability to heal adj
mitted and palpable social evils of their
own, and which are completely within
their jurisdiction, they engage in the Of
fensive and hopeless undertaking Of re-
forming the domestic institutions Of other
States wholly beyond their control and
authority. In the vain pursuit Of ends.
by them entirely unattainable, and which
they may not legally attempt to compass,
they peril the very existence of The con-
Stitution, and all the countless benefits
1t has conferred. While the people of
the southern States confne their attention
to their own affairs, not presuming Off
clously to intermeddle with the social IN
stItutions of the northern States. tao
many inhabitants of the latter are per-
manently organized in associations TO in
filct injury on the former, by wrongful
acts, which would be cause of war rs he
tween foreign powers, and only faii to he
such In our system, because rerperated
under the cover Of the Union.
1t is impossible to present this subject
as truth and occasion require. witbout
noticing the ilqitated but groun,lIess al
legation that the South has persisfentlv
asserted claims and obtained adyaatac,es
In the practical administration Of tba
general government to.the prejudice Of
The North, and III which the latter bo.
acqulesced, That is, the States which
either promote or foIarats a..oIs..=,.