The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-02-25
SHORT SKETCH OF SOME OF OUR
PAST. TROUBLES WITH
GREAT BRITAIN.
APPOINTS OF WAR In 1887
Alexander Mcleod, Worthless
Canadian, Made Boasts That
Started BrOil.

nearly getting INTO war Win LhS'
land upon several occasions in the
century of peace from the time OF
the war of 1912, but the narrowes'
escape was in 1887, when certain
Canadians revolted against Their
government with a view of setting ur
a republic. The insurrection was
speedily put down, but many of the
insurgents took refuge on American
soil. During the trouble that follow
ed an American boat, the Caroline,
was seized in the Niagara river for
carrying supplies to the insurgents,
was set on fire and sent, burning,
over the falls.
Alexander Mcleod, worthless
resident of Ontario, made boast
that he was with the party that de-
stroyed the Caroline, and that he
himself had KILLED one of the Yam
KEGS" One day while in Buffalo he
repeated the boast, and was instant
ly arrested and thrown into prison.
The British government made de-
mand for his release, but he was in
the hands of New York State and
she refused to give him up.
The incident brought out some
debates on the subject in the House
of representatives, when very vio-
lent language was used toward
Great Britain. 1t was determined by
the government, however, to set Nc
Leod free upon bail, whereupon a
public meeting was held and COM
mittee appointed to demonstrate
with the Judge by whom the bail
had been admitted, and with those
who had become securities for the
prisoner.
Mcleod being again incarcerated,
a guard was placed by the mob over
the court house where he was de-
tanned, and cannon was fired from
time to time in front of it. The pro-
ceedings were denounced in Con-
gress and were, indeed a fragrant
violation of justice, order and legal
ity, yet nothing was done to set aside
the acts of the mob, and the grand
jury of Lockport, where Mcleod was
confined, found a bill against the
unfortunate man. for murder.
Pending his trial he was still held
fast in Jail, and on February 10,
1S41, a report on the subject was
presented to the House Of Represen-
tatives by committee on foreign af-
fairs, which was written in tone
of great animosity toward England.
1t was contended that the offense al
legged was committed in time of
peace, and being violation of "the
peace and dignity of the State of
New York." came properly within
the jurisdiction of the local authori-
ties. -s-- 49,.
The Federal government, said the
authors of this report, had no right
to give up the accused. Over all such
cases the States had exclusive juris-
diction, and the trial of such Offend
ers was a right incident to their sep
arate sovereignty.
So far the controversy had occur
red during the final weeks of the
Van Buren, administration, and the
trouble was handed over to the in
coming administration. On March IL,
1S41, Daniel Webster, the new Sec
rotary of State, received from Mr.
Fox, a note, in which that gentleman
said: Il am instructed to demand
formally, and in the name of the
British government, the immediate
release of Alexander Mcleod, for the
reason that the transaction was of
public character, planned and execut-
ed by persons duly authorized by the
Colonial government to take such
measures as might be necessary for
protecting the property and lives of
her majesty's, subjects"
Mr.. Webster in his reply, admitted
that this formal adoption by the
British government of the act of
burning the Caroline" entirely al
tered the case, and exempted the in
dividuals concerned from the juris-
diction of the ordinary tribunals of
law.
The trial of Mcleod took place at
Lockport on October A. 1t turned out
TO be ludicrous in the extreme. 1t was
proved that the clustering braggart
Mcleod had not been present at the
destroying OF the Caroline" His
boast was an idle and false one.
The British government had made
every preparation to carry out its
threat against this country, but
through the release of Mcleod all
further trouble was avoided, but the
incident left sting behind 1t which