Norwich bulletin., 1920-12-13
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY
THE CASE OF ALEXANDER MLEoD

la
 The United States came pretty nearly getting into war with England upon several occasions in the century of peace from the time of the war of. 1872 but the narrowest escape was in 1S37 when certain Canadians revolted against their government with view of setting up a republic. The instruction was speedily put down, but many of the in. surgents took refuge on American soil. During the trouble that followed an American boat, the Caroline, was seized in the Niagara River for carrying sup plies to the insurgents. was set on fire and sezt, burning, over the falls.
 Alexander Mcleod. worthless resi- dent of Ontario, made boast that he lwas with the party that destroyed the Caroline, and that he himself had killed one of the Yankees" One day while in Buffalo he repeated the boast. and was instantly arrested and thrown into prison The British government made demand 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 de- bates on the subject in the house of rep resentatives, when very violent language was used towards Great Britain. It was determined by the government
  whereupon a public meeting was held and a committee appointed tp remon- strate with the judge by whom the bail had been admitted. and with those who had become securities for the prisoner.
 Mcleod being again ipcarcerated, a guard was placed by the mob over the court house where he was detained, and cannon was fired from time to time in front of it. The proceedings were, in- deed, a fragrant violation of justice, or der and legality, yet nothing was done to set aside the acts of the mob and the grand jury of Lockport, where Mc- Leod was confined, found bill against the unfortunate man for murder. Pending his trial he was seill held fast in jail and on the 18th of February, 184l, a report on the subject was pre- scented to tn. house of representatives Dy committee on foreign affairs. which was written in a tone of great animos- ity towards England. It was contended that the offense. alleged was committed in time of peace, and being a violation of the peace and dignity of the state of New York; came properly within the i jurisdiction of the local authorities. The federal government said the au- l thors of this report had no right to give Pup the accused. Over all such cases the states had exclusive Jurisdiction, and the trial of such offenders was a right l incident to the separate sovereignty. l So far the controversy had occurred during the final weeks sf the Van Bureu I administration, and the trouble was | handed over to the incoming administra- tion. On the 12th of March, 1S41 Daniel Webster, the new secretary oi state, received from Mir Fox a note, 1T which that gentleman said: T am in
 structed to demand formally, and in tht
 name of the British government, the i'm. | mediate release of Alexander Mcleod
 for the reason that the transaction Wa: of public character, planned and exc cnted by persons duly authorized by thu Colonial government to take such meas
 ures as might be necessary for protect ing the property and lives of her Ma | jestys subjects"
 MT. Webster, in his reply, admitted 1 that this formal adoption by the Brit i ish government of the act of burning l the Caroline entirely altered tho case and exempted the individuals concerned 1 from the jurisdiction of the ordinar. l tribunals of law.
 The trial of Mcleod took place a i Lockport on the 4th of October. It turn 1 ed out tc be ludicrous ii the extreme l It was proved that the clustering brag gart, Mcleod, had not been present a the destroying of the Caroline. Hi boast was an.Idle and a false one.
 The British government had madA ev 1 cry preparation t3 carry out it's threa against this country, but through tn release of Mcleod all further troubl was avoided, but the incident left sting behind it which continued for { time to rankle in the minds of both na tions.
 (Tomorrow-First King to Visit Our Country)