ntoutio^ to g
him, eithijr
le to come
mestly re-
rtj for hig
" closed.
1-tc
ntly grven
■es which
rly to prQ??-
abrogaliou
tc. T]ic\
til news-
c ndJed—
o the dis-
defence of
verwhclm-
of gov-
j^hoMt the
>0 rarnish’
tical influ-
tion of in-
n the Sen-
n expendi--
Congirsa-
, (the prin-
by having
^omplish-
, -T'^nion to
nal known
a caucus
Editors of
hmont by
’cal friend y
ask or re-
whicli the
ir presses.
ih)hi^, ifir
►scriptiori
erno^.ratii'
a Rul)-
r, will pri-
y n>—ilif>
and t].r
in as Jierr
tcrs at
o our
We (ru?!,
wljcn ihn
iturr ;ios-
lli whicli
is prc
e of
JOSEPH W. ilAMPTOX,
-“The powtrs granted undor ihc Constitution, bemy derived from the Pooide of the United States, may be resumed by them, •whenover perverted to their injury or oppression.”—yiadison..
P^ditor and PiibUsiIier.
rof?-
l)e-
IS apponj,
thu‘ tliis
sustain in
I faithful
d wrckly
sday, the
r next,
*hich will
ntain six-
rincipaliy
bcarintr
le speri.d
•n tlio prO'
thi* p\ib'
and AF
n of Con
st ot' May
F(f:^sion.
impartial
s ot’ Con
e S'ppoch-
II lengUi,
emrsoivr*?.
•ss of tho
It it; ccr-
edch than
will he i.s-
l»o, r.tid
d into liie
form lor
vauablc.
iry of tho
lo. at an
itonic of
>criod.
lould be
JSSICNAI.
to insure
Si
I'.-
‘iO
bcr.
X 50 ccntsf.
2 50
5 DO
oe
bei.
posfa^^-
the Post
rized to
tions to
ection
recicved
r 2inlc-^^
VE'.
ic.
rcppoct-
ks to the
and the
libc-
e recei“
need the
'ness
past cx-
ave lio
at they
general
th their
.shment
tting is
Spring
recciv'c
)ne.
t wing
SON.
7....V
8 C*rop^»
KINO
I H, ’
will
-til Mr.
ii^.3w
m:
Iv:|.
VOLUME I, \
CHARLOTTE, N. C., JUNE 29,
1 NUMBER 17.
TERMS;
The Mccklenbur!^ JtJ^ersonian” is published weekly, at
7Vt> Dollars and Fiftu Cents, if paid in advance; or Three
JfoUarii ii nol paid before the expiration of tukke months
fvvjni the tim ‘ of subscribing. Any person ulio will procure
oi.r cubsorlbtrs and becomt; responsible for their subscriptions,
shaU iiavc a copy of the paper gratis ; or, a club ot ten ssub-
ribers may have the papir one year for Twenty Dollars in
advance.
No ]):ipcr will bo discontinued while the subscribt r owes any
rhin", it he is able to pay;—and a failure to notify the Editor
of u \v>h to discontinue at least one month before the expna-
*: jit of th*' tini!' paid for, will bo considered a new engagement.
Oritfinal Subscribers will not be allowed to dij?continue the
'.up; r btforo the exijiration of the first year whhout paying for
u lull ycav’.-j subscription.
A-lccrti^avaits will b.' conspicuously and correctly inscrt-
cJ ut Ui\c Dollar \H T aqyvMc for the first insirtion, and Tlccu-
C-nts for each continuance—e.xcept Court and oth*‘r
juJic’.; 1 a Ivertisrments, which will be charged ticcntij-Jircper
t-;?)'. hi^i;hrr tli;m the above rates, (owing to tho delay, gene
rally, attendant upon collections). A libtral discount will l>c
to thos'j who advertise by the year. Adverusements sent
ia for publ:'"a:'..^n, must be tnarked with the number of instr-
Tior.s desired, or the y ■will be pubhshed until forbid aiid charg-
vl accordingly.
L'-tters to the Editor, unless containing mon''y in sum??
of I'u'c Da’lurs, or ovir, must come free of postage, or tb.e
amount paid at the office ht-re will be eharg“d to the writi r,
;n ivt.ry instance, and collected as other acoounis.
IMPORTS SALE.
In obediencc to a Dccree issuing from the Court
of I^quity tor Mooklcnburg County, we shall CKpose
lo public i=ale, at tlio Court House in Chariottej on
Monday, 12th day of July next, the following pro
perty. viz:
BETWEEN 50 Sc GO
Valuable Negroes,
among which are several excellent Mechanics, Mi-
nor;:, House Servants.
One Coriit'r Lot & Improveiiiciits,
and several improved and unimproved Lots in the
Town of Charlotte. One tract of Land in the vici
nity of Town ; an inttn'C:;i in the Lenion’s Mine ; an
interest in a Saw Mill on Sugar Cn^ek, together
with Horses, W atrons, tStock of various kinds, and
other property, tleemeti tinnecessajy to incntiini in
detail. Ternis made known on the dav of Sale.
JOSEPH H. WILSON.
jfv.r (* tl . tlt't' l/. ( rr-,
JXO. J. Dl,ACIv\Vu01>, ^ iiu^tces.
JAS. W. OSBORNE,
Charlotte. June 22, IS 11.
Id—Ts
T-.r
PROSPECTUS OF THE
ftirrlvTtni^urff scfftv.oontrjn
K F.SPECTFl’LL V informs tlie cit-
izrns ol‘(.'harlotle and tlie public gene-
r;iUy. that he bus opened a shop in the
lowji of Charlotti'. nearly opposite the
Carolina, Inn,’' where lie will b(' ijlad to receive
work in liis line of business. C,'loc!:s, Wtitches, &c.,
will be repaired in the most substruitial manner, at
short notice, on modt'nite terms, and v.arranted to
peribrm >vell. A puriioa of public patronage is
re:>pectiu!ly solicited.
I (.*liarlutto. June 1. ISil. 13...r
DR. C. J. FOX
V
rilHE present is the first elTort that has been made
to establish an organ at the birth-place of Ame
rican Independence, througli which the doctrines of
the Deniocratic Party could be freely promul'rated
and defended—in which the great princi]>les of Lib
erty cuid Equality for winch the ALi:xA.\nEns, the
PoLKri, tind their heroic compatriots perilh‘d t!u ir e.ii
on the 20tii May, 1775, could at all (iiie^-s find an
unshrinking advocate. Its success rests cliietly with
tJie llepublican party of Mecklenburg—and to theni,
and the Ilepublicans of the surrounding country the
appc'-d is nov.' made for iuppor^
rhe Jeffersonian v.'ill assumt; as its p'jlitical creed, | Has jn.'-t received a large and gmeral ns^sortnienl of
Th . ;y landmarks of the Republican Party, the doc
trines S‘-t tbrih in the Kentucky and \ irgiiiia Ilcso-
lutic'ns of 1798—bcdieving, as the undersigned does,
li'ut the autiiors of these paper^^. who bore a cons]>icu-
o’v; prirtin triuning our sysi>-m of Government. wtn*e
I est (piali/ied to hand dov. n to }’0>terity :i corr-.ct ex
position oi’ iis true spirit—the be^t judges o:‘ wha’
jiov.’ers were delegated by, and v.'hat reserved to,
th'' Stute^.
r. Avdl opposf'. as dangerous to our free in^;Ti!ntions.
The s.piri^ of monopoly, which luis ])t !‘n -t-'alihily. but
N’^endily increasing in the country Ironi liie founda
tion 0-' our Government. 'I'he i:io?^t odious fv.uiure
ill ilii:: system is. tiiat ii robs the many, impi rc>ptihly.
'■> enriei; the rr.v.';—It clo^!i« u few v.ealthy iudivi-
d.uab^ v. Lth power not only lo control tlie. wmn'.- oi'
ti'.*' lab 'ring man, but al>^o :it tlieir pleasure to inflate
• »r depr'-'.s the comrnerc*; and busin>s of the whole
■j'luniry—»'xc:ting a s})irit of extravagance, which it
t'-rniinp.tes in pL-enniary ruin, and too oilen the mor
al degr.idarion of its victims. This system must be
fitoroin'hhj ref -r.ntnL b(“!bre. v.e can hope to see set
tied prospt-ritv smile alike upon e.U oru' citizens. To
aid m producing this reform, v.'ill be »me oi’ the main
objects of the JelTersonian. It\\ ill war against t-.r-
( /•/-'fi’rc prtvilfg-{b\ or partial lesrialafi'm. uinb r whar-
ever gmse gi-aiited by our Legislatures : ami, there-
rbre, will oppose the chartering of a United States
Dyc-StIuTs, PorfuiiicrV, 'TIloiiipsoiliaii
3lcuicines, Wines aiul Spirits lor
iii'jdical use,
MARTIN RODDY,
Corner of iliieeii anil State Streets,
CHARLESTON, S. C.,
Has constantly on hand an flxtensive assorttnent of
Foreiu:n and Domestics Li'^^uors, (Choice Wines
Fresh Teas, Cordial^, vl-c. &c. &c. ’
coN.si.sTiNu or
United States ajid Great Britain.
Fine old Cognac &- (.'ham- )
pagne of the iuost lavo- >
rite brands, }
Hour Glass, t wape, Pine j
Apple, and Swan. (Im- .• s&HSS’a
ported direct.) 3 “
Choice old Madeira, Sher- ,
ry, Port, Tenerilfe, Cla- f
ret, Marseilles, Sieih', i
and Malaga
Hyson, Young Hyson, Im- )
perial,Gunpowder,Pow- .*
chong. &c. )
I^ondon and Philaileljdiia P jrter and Ale; Scotch
and Irish Whiskey; Cordials; Syrups; Collee;
Sugars, &c. »fcc., wliicli he oilers for sale on accom
modating terms.
(Jharh’.ston. June 11, ISll, Cw.
COACir^^KING.
THE Subscribers having entered in
to copariner.-hip, will cnrry on the above
business in all it^ various branches, at
the old stand fcunerly owned by Air.
Cait». r Crittenden, opposite the Jail, j
All work Y'/ARLIANTED and Re- '
])airln‘j; doiie at tlu sh^rit rt uotice, for moderate
charges.
CHARLES OVERMAN,
JOSHUA TROTTER.
Charlotte, June 15, ISll. I2m
And a variety oi' other e.i tiides, a.II of w liicii he
warrants reiniine. a?id will sell lo’.v for ca-'-h.
• .'harlotie. April 27, ISl!) S.. .e
NOTICE.
AVING removed their stock of Goods to the
country, and declini.'d business in Charlotte,
the undersigned earnestly requtvst all pcM'Sons o\\ ing
them, eitlier bv note or accoimt, imnK'diatelv to call
and make settlement. WILLIAM ALEXANDER
will remain in Cha'-!otte to close the bu.-'iness of the
late concern, and it is hoped those indebted will
not disre'jaril this notice;—at any rate, all are re
quested to call and see him on the subject, and .such
i^ank, hiternal Improvements by the Federal (4ov-j owe accovi:its. and caimot now pay, can clo.se them
ernment. a revival of the Taritf System, and the new :
federal scheme of the General Government assuin- j , subscribers will keep constantly on hand a
ioLT to pay to Ibreign money chantrt r.s tivo hu:vdrrij j large and well selected stock ot
■millious of dollars, borrowed bv
:.tes
local purposes. |
As a quc.'tion of vital iniportanfe to th": Sj’itli,
and one which, from \arious cau-.es. is cvv: d. iv |
Jissuming a more momentous and awful asrji-:-!. the \
ersonian will nyt fail to keep itsreude.’-s reLrukaiv ‘
accuraleh' advised of tlu' ni'tvemenfs of tin* i
J f
anil
Nortliern Abolitionists. It nnist be (.‘vident to all
eandi'l ob;.i‘r\’'V:i. that a portion of the party pre-s of
ih- South. h:i\e hitherto i)een too silent on’ thi.'? sub
ject. We .-hail, Thertflbre. witliout the f .-ar of being de
nounced as an tdarnn.-t, lend our humble aid to assist
in awakening the People of the South to due vigi
lance and a sense of their re-al dange,-.
While a portion of the columns of the JelTersonian
will be devoted to political discussion, the. great inte-
rt;sts of Moral.^, LiTEHATiitr:, A(;j:ici:i.ri;nE. and
the rilEciiAMc Aut.s, shall not be negleett'ih With
t!ie clioicest selections on tlu'se, subjects, and a due
quantity of light reading, the Editor hopt's to render
his sheet agreeable and prolitable to all classes in
society.
Order>» tor tiie pnper, poffa£re paid, adtlressed to
The -Editor of the Jetlersonian, Charlotte, N. C.,-'
will be promptly complied with.
Postmasters are requested to act as Ajients tor
the paper, in receiving and Ibrwarding tlie names o;
subscribers and their subscriptions.
The Terms of the paper w ill be found above.
JOS. AV. HAMPTON.
Chtirlotte, March 5, ISiL
And evt-ry (.rther article in the i aircantile line, at
their st ind at ('LEAR ( RI'jEK in tliis (Jounty,
where they will be pleasel to see and ai**onimodate
all \vh'* mov I’avor them with a call.
ALEXANDER BROTHERS.
Charlotte. Mar«-h 2U, ISll. o--r
IOST !—At a public meeting at Labatt's Cross
-J Roads in October last, a hickory WALKING
STICK, silver mounted, with tiiq initials --J. IL-’
tea tlie head. Tho person who has said stick will
cont'er a tavor on the owner by leaving it Avith Mr.
I>ralev Oates in Charlotte.
Junes, ISH. U...3w
U
Catawba Springs.
THPi Subscriber Avould inform the public
generally, that he is prepared to entertain Visit(‘rs
at the above celebrated watering-place, and pledge.'
TO THE
FashioiiaMe Public.
THE Subscribers rcspeci-
fnlly tcndiT their th;m-:s to the
citizens of Charlotte, and the
jMiblic generally, tor the libe
ral patronage they have recei
ved .^ince they commenced the
TailorinIjiisbietfs
in this place. From j>nst ex-
perieric(', they now have no
hesitation in saying that they
are prejiared to give general
satisfaction to all v>ho may liivor them with their
patronage. All work done in their establishment
will he WAiinANTKi), so lar as jaaking and cutting is
concerned. They have ju.st receivetl thidr
a7id Summr.r / /.'.•//{uul will continue to receive
regular reports of hhiglish and French Fashions.
Their Shop will be ibund in the south-ea.st wing
ol Mr. Leroy Springs’ briidc luiilding.
BETHUNE JOHNSON.
Charlotte, April 20, 1810.
TO TUI'; puni.i(j.
JOHN O'FARRELL aniiotmce.^ to his custom
ers and the public gen.(*rally, that he has di.spo-
sed of his entire .stock of Groceries, Liquors, &c., to
Mr. Jolm B. Roueche of Lincohiton, and will close
his business in Charlotte on Thursday of the ensu-
iinir April Coue.ty Court. Until then” however, he
■ iL ..HU aoove ceieoraiea warermg-inace, ana ineaxf’s i ^ 7 ^ r, ’.
himself that no ellbrts shtdl be bpared to render i " ^ ’
■ ovuthrtable and profitable the stay of all who may I ^^^J'ommof ate ins customers with every article in
•Till on him. Terms of board moderate, to suit the I on tne most reasonable term.s.
THOMAS HAMPTON.
Lincoln county, N. C., April C, 1810.
The Camden Journal will insert the above
M weeks, and the Charleston Courier, weekly, to the
amount ol J, and forward the accounts to T. II.
Administrators Notice
early
close business, in order that all who owe him, either
by note or book account, may have due time to come
forAvard and make settlement, which he earnestly re
quests them to do between tliis and July Court, for
his notes and accounts must ^positivelv then be
closed.
Charlotte, March 5. 1841. 1-tc
I Ti persons having claim.s against the estate of
Gilbert Coles, deed., ure hereby notified to
present tliem legally authenticated within the time
]>i^escribed by law, or this notice will be plead in bar
'11 their recovery. All persons indebted to said cs-
■ =att‘, are also notified to make innnediate payment.
■ the services ol’ im oificer may be employed.
I
F L OUR
FROM ST1REWALT\S MILI.S,
FOB SALE BY
0!\
JENNINGS 13. KERR, A.imr.
1541. 5-F
Charlott*’, June
jllENRY C. OWENS.
1841. lG-?w
^Coiictic) IjVe-cI^cii^c.
rjlHE Subscriber respectt'u.lly announces to the
A citizens of Com.'ord an I the surrounding coun
try, that he has oponed a GROCERY STORE in
the town (d* Concord, whore he will keep constantly
on hand ti large and carcfulh’ selected supply of
I's: '■ V. 'K '•TC ' X .'■ ~
Si.'i'h as—"W ines and Liquors, imnorted and domes
tic ; Sui!:.r ; (’otfee ; Bre.id ; Crarlcers ; Clieese ; Le
mons; French Prunes : Cakes : Raisins; Candies of
all kinds, I’oys; prime chewinirand smoking Tobac
co ; Sprinzsii Cigars of tlic best quality; Garden
Se*‘ils of I ' f r^ WrnJ : T» ,
(linger ; Spice; Pepper, Almonds ; (vWjv«’s ; Cinnti-
mon • Etiglish Walnuts; Maccaroni ; Vermaselli ;
Sardanes; Herrings^: Essenci* of Cinnamon; do. Pep-
perniint, ami a \~ariety of other articles too tedious
to mention.
The tmder^is^ned hopes, by strict attention to bu
siness, and by keepitig a complete stock, to merit
ami receive a liberal share of ptibhc patronaire.
F. R. ROUECHE.
M.ay 2.5, ISll. 12...y
J^PRiNTiNfi
K are preparetl at this OlTice with a handsome
▼ T supply ol Fancy^Type, to execute idl kinds o
in a very superior style, and at short notice. Orders
will b(> thankfully received.
Jell’er.sonian Olrice. Charlotte, Marcli 0, 1841.
From the Puilcigh Hegisttr.
EYES TO THE BLIND.
"We insnt the subjoined Note with pleasure, and
we hope our brethren of the Prcb\s v.dli generally
do li!vcw;.^-e, lor the sake oi’ sulibring humanity.
1 >r. Bk i.v. tTii has stoadiiy resisted the suggestion
of his Iriend.s, to make public by Advertisement
his siiccc.ss as an ( iculi.st, because ho regards the
treatment of Diseases of the Eye, as only a single
branch ol his ])roie'.s.si!'n. 'i'he same reasors does
not operate, however, to prevent us from sa3’ing
v.liat we firmly believe, tliat all persons suli'ering
from diseased eyes may obtain prouipt relief, on ap
plication to I hv 13. ii their cases come v/iihin the
scope of hinnan ^kill; ;
llALEion. June 12, ISll.
^Tr. CiAi.r.s : Something more than a year ago, I
came to this (.^ity blind, as you may recollect. An
interesting notice in your paper, of a young woman
and a young man, both born blind, being res tored
by Df. JouN l>ECKurrn. some 20 years since, in
duced me, to place mvself under his care. The re
sult fully justified my expectations. One eye was
operated on lor Cataract, with complete success.
Little }iain attended the operation, and no inflamma
tion succeeded it—in a week I could see to read
with comfort. Impatience of a long night of dark
ness, and ol' dependance u]>on the sight of others,
led me for a long time to postpone the claims of the
other eye. Twelve months attention to business,
liowcver, satisfied me, that two eyes are better than
one, and that it is not well to impose unusual labor
upon an enleeblcd member. Under this conclusion
I returned, and on the 1st of this month, Dr. B. ope
rated on the other eye, in presence of Doctors
Lewis, McKee and Stitii.
The operation occupied probably one minute,
and was attended with-less pain than bleeding at
the arm. Neither pain nor inflammation have fol
lowed, and with this eye also, aided by glasses, I can
read and recognize the faces of rny friends. In a
few days, I shall return to my residence in Cabar
rus count3\ I make this commimication in a spirit
of thankfulness to that Being, Tvhose goodness and
niercy liave followed me all my days, and with the
hope that my example and good fortune, may af
ford encouraircment to others.
Your friend, JOHN PHIFER.
It is said that a Miss Charlite Mitchell of Geor
gia, appeared on her wedding^ciay dressed entirely
in silk of her own mnnufactur?—cap, gloves, stock
ings and dress—equal to the t>est pongee. Girls,
do you hear that. Such a would be w'orth
more to a young man just stLffting into the world,
than a thousand dollar farm, 4nd half a dozen pi
anos to boot, says a thonghtful cotemporary.
Vrbana Citizen.
In the United States Senate, on the 10th instant,
a most able debate commenced, on a motion of IVIr.
Rives, to refer to the Committee on Foreign Re
lations the late correspondence between Mr. Fox
and Mr. Webster, touchhig the case ot' McLcod.
Mr. Buchanan opened the debate in a powerful
spcech, reviewing the correspondence-—showing
that IVIr. AVeb«»er had incorrectly laid down the law
of nations which bears upon the case of 'McLeod;
that he had surrrndercd all tlie grounds hitherto
contended for and relied upon by our Government
to sccure redress for those outrages upoi; our sove
reign lights, and tarnished our national honor by a
hasty corn})iiance \\ ith the insolent demands uf the
British Government, made under a direct
through their minister, .Air. Fox. The whole
speech is able, and perfectly conclusive to-our mhid.
that Mr. Webster, in his correspondence with the
British Minister, and the management oi the Mc
Leod Case, has abandoned our strongest grounds of
complaint against Great Britain, and compromitted
the honor and dignity of the nation. .Mr. Buch
anan concludes as follows:
And now we come to the case immediately before
the Senate. Although 1 think the Secretary of
State d.ecidodly w'ron^- in liis view of tho law of na
tions, that to me is comparatively' a very small mat
ter. I have not, iii this thing, any personal or pri
vate feeling to gratify. Towards' the Secretary of
State I cheri:^ih no inikindly feelings, and £ sincere
ly hope that he may discharge the duties of his
high responsible .station, in such a manner as to Ve-
dound more and more to his own honor. Wh.at I
complain ol js this omission, and an oinis.sien I con
sider of great consenuence. lie has not, in his re
ply, noliced that threat at all, althougii it was con
veyed in such terms as woitld have entirely justified
him in say’ing “ '1 he Anierican Government has no
answer to give until tnis liinguage is explained.'*—
lie should at least have said, ‘‘this is a menace,
such as IS not usual in the diplomatic correspon
dence between civilized and independent nations,
and I shall be glad it you will explain or reconsi
der the language einploycii.’' For rayself said
-Mr. B., I have no desire iur war with Kngland.
so far am 1 from desiring it, that I would consent to
sacrifice all but our honor, in order to avoid it.
But I think .Mr. \\ eb.^ter to blame in not noticing
language which I con.^ider as containing a very
distinct and inteliigil’e threat. But 11 that pass.
I now inquire whetiier the Secretary is right in
ihu Ijc uik iTi riij.I 1 i;u\e
some rem.'irkrf to oiler in rt lerence to that quc-stion.
Even if he wer‘ rigut. still 1 think that common
piudenc(j Vv'oulu ha\ e dictated to him n.jt to express
his opinion so strongly, it v.'as then, a iudicial
question pending, and eventually to be decided by
the highest court in the State of New York; a tri
bunal which, on all hands:, and by Air. Webster
himseh, is admitted to bti eminentIv entitled to con
fidence. Suppose it should happen (as it will iiap-
pen, if my humble judgment-of the law should
prove correct) that the Supreme Court of the State
of New York and the Secretary of State of the
United States, should difler in opinion as to the le
gal question. Suppose an appeal should then be
taken (if such an appeal may be taken) to the Su
preme Court of the United States, and it should
there be decided, as i feel great confidence that it
would bo, against the ophiion of the Secretary of
State, whut would be the condition of this Govern-
nicnt ^
The judicial authority will be on one side of the
question, and the Executive Government on the oth
er. Whilst tiie Jl^diciary decide that Mr. McLeod
is responsible in the criminal courts of New York,
the Secretary decides that he is not. So prejudg
ing this pending judicial question, the Secretary has
placed himself in an iiwkward dilemma, should the
Supreme Court c>f New York determine that the
recognition and justification by the Briiish LJovern-
mcnt of the cajjiure of the Caroline docs not release
AIcLeod from personal responsibility, la common
prudence, therefore, .Mr. AVebster ought to have e.x-
presse^l no decided opinion on tfiis delicate question;
but left it to the Judiciary as .Air. Van Bureivs ad
ministration had done.
Bat tho Secretary of State thought otherwise.
The imperious tone of Mr. Fox's letter does not
seem to have produced any effect on his mind. ■—
Three short days after its date, on the 15th March,
1841, he issues his instructions to the Attorney Ge
neral. 7'hese instructions are the real substantial
answer to Mr. Fox’s letti'r, and have proved entire
ly satisfactory to the British f iovernment, as they
coaid not have failed to do. 'I'he letter w^ritten by
Mr. Webster on the 24th of the succeeding April,
will never disturb that Government. Long before
it was written the Secretary had granted them every
thing- which they could have desired.
lie at once, by these instructions, abandoned
the position so ably maintained by Mr. Van Bureif
administration, that McLeod would still be responsi
ble, individually, notv.'ithstanding the British (io-
vernment might recognize the destruction of the
Caroline. Li condemning the position, he uses
terms almost as strong as iVIr. Fox had done in de
nouncing it. lie says that an individual forming
])art of a public force and acting under the authority
ol his Government is not to be held answerable as^
a private trespasser or malefactor, is a principle of
public law sanctioned by the usages of all civilized
nations, and which the Government of the United
States has no inclination to dispute.”
As actions speak louder than words, wha'i did
I\Ir. Webster do with this threatening letter staring
him in the face? With fiery expedition he has his
Attornej” General on the way to Lockport; and I
cannot but think, from my personal knowlcdo-e of
that officer, that the mission on which he was em-.
ployed, could not have been very agreeable to him.
He itiforms the British Government at once, for we
ought never to foget that the letter to i\Ir. Crittenden
is in substance the Secretary’s answer to Mr. Fox,
that if it were in tlie President’s power to enter a nol
le prosequi against McLcod, it should be done with
out a moment’s dely. “ If this indictment,” says he.
were pending in one-of the Courts of the United
States, I am directed to say that the President, upon
the receipt of Air. Fox’s last communication, would
have immediately directed a nolle prosequi to be en
tered.” But as this was not in Mr. W^ebstcr’s pow
er, the Governor of New York was in the next
place to be assailed, in order to accomphsh the
same purpose. Mr. Crittenden was hiformed that
he would be furnished with a copy of this instruc
tion, for the use of the Executive of New* York and
the Attorney General of that State.” “ 'Whether,”
says the Secretary, in this case, the Governor of
New York have that power, or, if he have, wheth
er he would feel it his duty to exercise it, are points
upon which we are not informed.”
But the Governor of New York proved to be
a very restive subject. He felt no inclination what
ever to enter a nolle prosequi against McLeod, I
have seen, somewhere, a correspondence between
that officer and tho President, but I cannot now find
The tone of the correspondence on the part of
I the Governor evinced a spirit of determined resis-
‘ tancc to the suggestion of the Secretary. The Go
vernor complained that the District Attorney of tho
United States was acting as the counsel of M‘Leod.
Thi.s. however, acoording to the explanation of tho
President, happend by mere accident; the attorney
having, been retained as counsel some time before
his appointment. The correspisiidcnce, at all events^
is sufficient to show that Governor Seward did not
praticipate in the views and feelings of the Secreta
ry of State towards M‘Leod, and vre know that he did
not approve of entering a nvlle pro.^equi in his case.
But the -‘Vttorney General of the United States
was armed with histructiuns from the Secretary of
State, to meet every conlingency. If ALLeod could
not be discharged by a ?iol!e prosequi; if he must
be tried, then Air. Crittenden was to consult witii
AI-Lcod's counsel and furnish them the evidence
material to his defence, and he v.-as even ‘-to see that
ho have skilful and eminent counsel, if such be not
already retahied.'’ It is no wonder that it appeared
very strange to Governor Seward to find Uie au
thorities of the United States thus actively and ar
dently engaged in defending M I..eod. whilst the au-
enli.stcd with equal
thorities of New York were
vigor in his prosecution.
The defcnce of this man, who had no claim to
pcciiliav fivor, except Avhat arose from an earnest
desire to please and satisfy the British Government,
became the object of the Secretray’s peculiar solici
tude, and this, too, in the face of a plain, palpable
mcnacc from that Government.
The next thing we miglu hear would be a bill of
cost and counsel ftcs against this Government for tho
defence oi AlcLcod; it having been imposed as a
duly on c*ur Ationey General to sec that •• ho had
skih'ul ai;d eminent counsel.”
Now, there are features in this transaction any
thir.g but cr'-Hlitable to e>ur nutional character. I
thiiiK that ^uftfcient decision and firmness have not
been displayed by the .-Vmerican Secretary of Slate.
It will ever prove a mperable policy to attempt ta
conciliate the British Goveri^ment by concession.
It was the maxim of Gen. Jackson that in our for
eign relations we should ask only v/hat was right,
an i submit to nothingthat was wrong; and. in my
judgment, the observance of that maxim is the very
best mode of preserving peace. When a nation
submits to one aggression, another will soon fbllov.*.
It is v.-ith nations as it is with individuals. Manly
and prompt resistance will secure you from a repe
tition of insult. If you yield once, you will be ex
pected to yield again, and then again, till at length
there is no end to submission. I do not pretend that
Mr. Webster has done wrong intentionally; all I
mean to say is, that, in my judgment, he has not, in
this instance, displayed a proper and becoming
Arnerica.i spirit. If he had v.'aited a little longer
before he ])rcpared his instructions to the Attorney
General; if he had taken time /iir reflection before
he tie.spatched that ollicer crusading to Nevv York,
his conduct would probably have been diflerent.
According to ilie practice of diplomacy, a copy of
these histructions was doubtless at once sent to *Mr.
Fox. tt is certain that they were known to the
Briti.-ih Govennnent before the Gth of Alay, because
on that day they v/ere referred to by iLord John
Kussell on the floor of tae House of Commons as
a document in possession of the IBiitisIi Cabinet.
I shall nov,’ offer a few remarks on the question
of public lav.- involved in the case, and then closo
what 1 imvt* to s-iy. I sincerity believe the Adminis
tration of .Mr. A'an Buren was perfectly correct on
this doctrine, as laid down by ]\lr. Forsyth. If I
had found any authority to induce me lo entertain a
doubt on that point, I would refer to it most freely.
I now undertalce to say that the onty circumstance,
which has produced confusion and doubt in minds
of well informed men on this subject is, that they
do not make tho proper distinction between a state
of national war and national peace. If a nation be
at war, the cornmanrl of the sovereign power to in
vade the terrritory of its enemy, and do battle there
aginst any hostile force, always justifies the troops
thus engaged.
^Vhen any of the invaders are seized, they are
considere'd as prisoners of war, and as hav'ing done
nothing but what the laws of war justified them in
doing. In such a case they can never be held to
answer, criminally, in the courts of the invaded
country. That is clear. The invasion of an ene
my's territory is one of the lights of war, and, in all
its necessary consequences, is justified by the laws of
war. But there are offences, committed even in
open war, which the express command of the oflen'
der’s sovereign wiii not shield from exemplary pun
ishment. I will give gentlemen an example. A
spy will be hung, if caught, e-.en though he acted
under the e.xpress command of his sovereign. Wo
might cite the case of the unfortunate Major Andre.
He was arrested on his return from an interview
with Arnold, and, his life being in danger, the Bri
tish commander (Sir Henry Clinton, I believe) mado
an efibrt to save him, by taking upon himself tha
responsibility of the act. But although he had cross
ed oar lines whilst the two nations were iu a state
of open and flagrant war, in obedience to instructions
from his commander-in-chief, yet W'asfaington, not
withstanding, rightl'ully hung him ns a spy.
Nov/, let me tell whoever shall answer me, (if
indeed, any gentleman will condescend to notice
what I have said—for it seems we on this side of
the House are to do all the speaking, and they all
the voting,) that whilst all the modern authorities
concur in declaring that the law of nations protects
individuals when obeying the orders c-f their sove-