Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-22
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1864.
THE CANADIAN COMPLICATION.

THE CANADIAN COMPLICATION.
Our readers are aware that Mr.. Justice CoUR-
SAL, sitting at Montreal on the case OF :" the st
Albsns raiders" has ordered the release Of the
parties accused, on the ground that he had urs-
diction in the case under the circumstances in
which it came before him.
It appears that the depredators had been arrest
ed on magistrates warrants issued at the Judges
own motion, whereas it is contended that the re-
vised act of Parliament ruling the case, as
one arising between the United States and Great
Britain under the extradition treaty, requires that
the warrant under which the prisoners were arrest
ed should be signed have been the Governor Gene
raj This formslity, it seems, was wanting, and on
this merely technical ground the Judge dismissed
the case, and ordered the release of the parties,
notwithstanding other indictments were pending
against them.
In this ruling the English Judge seems to have
acted on very narrow and restricted view OF his
duty as if aiming rather to favor the escape of the
prisoners than to sustain the ends of public jus
tioe That this is the impression Of Gen. DIX,
commanding in the Northeastern Department, is
made sufficiently apparent by his order, under the
date of the l4th instant, directing I" all military
commanders on the frontier, in case further acts
Of depreciation and murder are attempted, whe-
ther by marauders or persons acting under COM
missions from the rebel authorities at Richmond,
to shoot down the perpetrators, if possible, while
in the commission of their crimes, and if it be
necessary, with view to their capture, to cross
the boundary bet,seen The United States and Ca
NADIA, said commanders are hereby direced to
$parsae them achereoer they may take refuge, and
if captured they are under no circumstances to
be surrendered, but are to be sent to these head
quarter, for trial and punishment by martial
law"
In like manner, Mr.. CHANDLER has introduced
into the Senate resolution directing the Commit
tee on Military Affairs in that body to inquire into
the expediency of Immediately enlisting an army
corps to watch and defend our territory bordering
on the Lakes and Canadian line from all hostile
demonstrations and incursions. He also introduc-
ed an additional resolution requesting the Secre-
tary Of State to make out list Of each ship and
cargo thus destroyed by the insurgent ships of
war, with fair and separate valuation thereof,
and interest thereon at the rate of six per cent.
per annum, from the date of capture destruction
to the date of presentation, and directing him to
demand from the British Government payment in
full for ali ships and csrgoes destroyed as afore-
esd
Il vail be denied by none that gross violation
al neutrality was committed by the parties who
abused TIE hospitality Of the territory Of Canada
tor the purpose of making descent on the terri
tory Of the United States And it seems to US that
the conduo: Of the British judge betrayed some
sding less excusable than want Of perspicicity in
the execution Of the extrAdition treaty. But for
shortcomings of this kind, on the part Of the
British authorities in Canada, it seems to US that
rspsrstion might better be sought at the hands Of
the British Government through our Department Of
State, than to put it in the power Of any COM
mauder more or less discreet, 10 take the law into
his own hands by invading the territory Of Canada
for the purpose Of arresting the depredators. Ii
will be remembered by most Of readers that
when the United States steamer hdirionda con-
tinued the chase Of the British vessel, the Herald
Understood to be engaged in violating our block
adc,) within the line of the marine jurisdi cton OF
New Providence, Mr. Seward characterized the
conduct Of the commander of the Adirionda as
dan inexcusable violation Of the law of nations for
which acknowledgment and reparation ought to be
promptly made" When our " fllibusters" under
Walker violation of our laws fitted out expedition,
against Nicaragua and actually invaded that State,
it is to be presumed that we should have resisted
the claim Of Nicaragua to pursue and capture hel
invaders on our own soil. 1t is known that Com
modore Paulding incurred the censure of some par
ties in our country for pursuing and arrestng such
depredators within the jurisdiction Of the State
they were wronging
MOVEMENTS IN SPECIE