U.S. Senator James Buchanan Pennsylvania - Vattel in Congress 1840-1841

8/18/2019 U.S. Senator James Buchanan Pennsylvania - Vattel in Congress 1840-1841

1/16

OPENING SPEECH

OF j

HON. JAMES

BUCHANAN,

OF

PENNSYLVANIA,

IN

THE

CASE OF McLEOD:

AND

ALSO

HIS

E E P L Y

T O M E S S R S . R I V E S , CHOATE, HUNTINGTON &

PRESTON.

Ttmntsy, Jvnc 1 0, 1840—

Mr.

R I T E S

k a n Ef r e n e w e d

h i s motion t h a t

so

much

of the

P r t s u t e m ' s message

a s

r e l a t e s

t o

our

foreign

i& ia

b e

r e l e r r e d t o i h e C o m m i t t e e

o n Foreign

Atll'Ii—

M r . BUCHANAN

t h e r e up on rose

and

addressed

l i e

S . - n j i f , o f c e r r i n g

t h a t

when h e bad f i r s t read

f e c o r r e t p o a d e n c e be t w e e n t h e British Minister,

« • • F f i ,

a n d

t h e

American Secretary of State, h e

™atoDeede erinin«d to make, upon the f i r s t

f i t

c p p o . t « D i i y , s om e o bs e rv at i on s upon that corrn-

s p o d n c e i n

t h e

f u c e

of th e

S e n a t e and

of

th e

coun-

' • 7 - H e r e g r e t t e d

t h a t ,

i n

finding a f i i opportunity,

te

n i d . c o n t r a r y

t o

h i s

own

i n c l i n a t i o n s ,

been

s s i a c b d e l a j ;

bm

h a v i n g

at

length

fou nd

i t ,

h e

*wW a c c o m p l i s h

h i s

original

purpose, and

would

arjijj

ranch

bre vi ty a s p o s s i b l e ; premising,

«»m:,

i h i t

h e

should n ot

h a v e t hought of

cucb

• p K c t e d i n g upon t h i s mere m o t i o n of reference,

« iet

t b e

example

b e e n s e t a n d

a

precedent

e s t a -

ti'dit

i t e

l a s t s e » i a n of C on gt e is by th e pre-

te

Sareury

of S l a t e .

Utmost

be

permitted t o make

o n e

r e m a rk by

*v°'

p r e f a e r ; a a d that

was, t h a t

i f h e

knew

h i m -

* i , l a * i s not actuated, in

t h i s

matter, by

a n y

bf

L k e pan y p o l i t i c a l

f e e l i n g . He trusted b i s

Kiratioa

o f

some

po rt i on s o f

the

correspond-

ea i t

q u e s t i o n m i g h t

prove

incorrect; fo r t h oug h

*

i&itmledged h i m s e l f t o be

a

party man and

f ' . q l f i n f l u e n c e d by party f c e l i n r , i t

h a d

been

fcodaror n e v er to carry that

feeling

with him

* * i t Committee on Foreign r e l a t i o n s , (of whic h

fcW f o r many y e ars

been

a

m e m b e r , ) and

be

f ^ r i

t k a t

h e

h a d

g i v e n

s u f f i c i e n t ev id e n c e of

t h i s

t jt ee oa ne on t ha t c o m m i t t e e .

Yet,

as h e was

fejcooTiocwi that a

proper regard f o r the

Ara e -

j > o o c h a r a c t e r , both at

home a n d

abroad, required

[ f c : s o m e commentary

s h ou ld be

made o n these

PCS,

k e

l u d ,

upon

re adi ng t he m,

det ermin ed,

a t

« • - ,

t i n t t h a t commentary

should

be

made by

him

« f e w , but

with

respectful regard t o the f e e l -

*« '

t i l

p a r t i e s .

3 :

h i d

been asked, what objection conld

be

• i t »

4e

l e t t e r

of th e

24th

of A pri l l a s t , l a t e l y

^ ' - • W , from Mr. Web s t er, our S ec re ta ry o f

^

1 0 Mr.

Foxl

There

was

l i t t l e , i nde ed ; much,

s j s o c h

t h a t i t

contained, h a d b i s cordial appro-

b « t ,

nnfortonately, that l e t t e r h a d l i t t l e or

t o do with the s ubs ta nc e o f the matter.

I t did not make i t : appearance u n t i l

nearly

si z

weeks

a f t e r

th e

important

business

between

t h e *

two Governments

h a d be e n transacted. I t was

th e

l e t t e r of th e British

Mi n is t er o f

the 12.h

of

March,

a n d th e instructions of the S ecre tary o f State t o >

the

Attorney

G e n e ra l of the

Uni t e d S t & t e s ,

of

t h e

15th

o f the same m o n t h , wh i c h co n t a i n e d th e t r a c t

merits of the

ca?e.

I t was

that

l e t t e r

of instruc

t i o n s ,

a

copy

of wh ic h h ad

doubtless

be e n

commu

nicated t o the

B r i t i s h Minister, and

h a d been open

l y referred t o in th e British P ar l i a m e n t ; i t wax

these

instruction:,

especially, wh i c h

lay

a t

the

root

of . . » • question. On these

two

papers of the 1 2 t b >

and

15

h .

Marc h ,

public

opinion

h a d

been

f or m e d^

a n d must be formed, as well in E n g l a n d as h e r e ;

a . M i ' 1 the

Secretary's

l a s t l e t t e r , w h i c h came l i m p

ing a l o n g six we eks

a f t e r ,

however j u s t and how

ev er

e l o qu e n t

i t m i g h t

be, conld exert

bn t

l i t t l e o r ,

n o

influence

e i t h e r

in Europe or in

t h i s country.

To

understand th e merits of th e

case, a brief r e

capitulation of

f a c t s

was necessary.

A

rebel

l i o n ,

said

Mr.

B. o r ,

i f

you please, a n att empt

at

revolution, existed i n C a n a d a ; during the course

of wh i c h the insurgents took possession of Navy

Island,

i n the Niagara r i v e r .

A

B r i t i s h militia

force of t wo

t h o u s a n d

men

was

e m b o d i e d a t

C h i p -

pewa,

o n the

Canada

s i d e of the r i v e r .

The

Ame

rican st e a mboa t Caroline,

a f t e r h a v i n g

carried

provisions t o t h e i n s urg e n ts

o n Navy

Island, ( f o r

E

believe t h a t was the f a c t , ) together with

probably

a single ca nno n,

lay a t

anchor,

a f t e r h e r t r i p , fa s

te ned t o th e wharf at Schlosser, a s m a l l village no

toriously within the jurisdiction of th e United

States, u n d e r th e sacred a : > i s of

our protection.

And

that country m u s t be

recreant

t o i t s e l f

and t o >

t s

c i t i z e n s , which would

not, u n t i l

the very

l a s t ,

m a i n t a i n

and

vindicate i t s

own

exclusive sov e

reignly

o v er

i t s own s o i l against

a l l

foreign aggres

s i o n .

T h e r e lay t h i s vessel in American waters, u n d er

h e g ua rd ia nt h ip

of

our sovereignty

a n d

of th e

American flag,j3ut th ese afforde d h er n o protec

t i o n . What h a p p e n e d o n the nig ht of the 29 ' h of

D e ce mb er,

1837J

C o l o n e l

A l l a n McNab,

a

name

famous

in s t o r y , was in command of the body oC

m i l i t i a at C h i pp ew a . Under his auspices, a

Cap

t a i n

D r e w ,

of the B r i t i s h

n a v y ,

who , 1

b e l i e v e , has

since be e n pen s io n ed

f o r h i s gallant e x p l o i t , und er

took

t o raise

a body

of

volunteer?

,

and,

by way

cC


2/16

z

characterizing t h e nature o f t h e s e r vi c e t h e y were

' j t o perform,

d e c l a r e d t h a t h e

wanted

f i f t y o r s i x t y

desperate f e l l o w s , wh o would b e

ready

t o f o l l o w

S l i m t o t h e d e v i l . Under t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h i s C o l .

McNab, n o w S i r

Allan McNab, ( f o r

I

understand

l i e h as s i n c e been knighted by Q . u < > » n V i c t o r i a , )

t h i s body o f m e n , with Captain Drew a t t h e i r

i i e a d ,

p a s s e d

a c r o s s t h e Niagara r i v e r a t t h e

dead

l i o n r o f

m i d n i g h t ,

wilhout previous

n o t i c e ,

and

- w h i l e t h e p e o p l e on

board

of t h e Caroline l a y

r e

posing

under

t i e

p r o t e c t i o n

o f

American l a w s ,

and

made an

a l i a c k on

unarmed

m e n ,

wh o were p r i -

Tate c i t i z e n s , n o t connecied i n an y way wiib i h e

r e s i s t a n c e

t o

B r i t i s h a u t h o r i t y ,

an d murdered

a t

J e a s l

one

o f t h e i r number w i i h i n t h e American t e r

r i t o r y .

T h e s e

b a r b a r i a n s , r e g a r d l e s s of i h e

l i v e s

o f t h o s e wh o

may

have

remained on b o a r d , n n

m o o r e d t h e b o a t , towed h e r o u t i n t o t h e middle o f

*h e

r i » e r , where

a

s w i f t

and

i r r e s i s t i b l e c u r r e n t

coon

h u r i i e d

h e r

down

t h e

f a l l s

o f

Niagara, and

Jo

t h i s

hour

i t

i s

n o t

known

how many

American

c i t i z e n s p e r i s h e d on t h a t f a t a l n i g h t . T his i s no

danc y

p i c t u r e .

Now, a *

1 0 t h e p r i n c i p l e

of

t h e l aw o f n a t i o n s

which a p p l i e s t o such a

c a s e ,

l h a t

pure

p a t r i o t

and

e m i n e n t j u r i s : , John Marchall, has

eipre^ed

i t

w i t h

j g r e a t

f o r c e a n > 4

c l e a r n e s s .

He

says l h a t

T h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o '

a

n a t i o n ,

within

i i s own

t e r r i t o r y ,

i s e : _

elusive

and

a b s o l u t e . I l l s s u s c e p t i b l e of

no l i m i t a t i o n

n o t i m

p os ed

by i t s e l f . Any r e s t r i c t i o n

deriving v a l i d i t y

from an

e x

l e r n a l s o u r c e , wouM imply a d i mi n ut i on of

i t s

sovereignty t o

a h e extent of t h a t r e s t r i c t i o n , ami an invesimenl

of

t h a t sove

Jeignty t o t h e s a m e exlcnt i n t h a t ijower which could i mpose

•uch r e s t r i c t i o n s . — 7 Cranch, 1 1 6 .

And

u . ' i i i n :

Ev ery n a t i o n

h as

exclusive

j u r i s d i c t i o n

over t h e wa te rs a d

jacent t o i t s s h o r e s , t o t h e d i s t a n c e of a cannon s h o t , or marim

J e a g u e . — 1 O a l l i s , C . U. R. 6 3 .

According t o i h e s e t t l e d l aw o f n a t i o n s , i f t h e

Caroline

h ad been a

v e s s e l o f wa r

on

i h e

h ' g h

• s e a s ,

belonging t o t h e i n s u r g e n t * , and a f i e r an rn

^ag e m e n t

w i t h

a B ri t i s h v ts = el

h ad

been

p u r s u e c

• w i t h i n a marine l e a g u e o f t h e American

s h o r e ,

our

xational

s o v e r e i g n t y ,

a s

a

n e n t r a l power,

would

im-

a n e d i a t e l y have covered h e r ,

and a

h o s ' i l e

gnncoulc

l i e have been f i r e d a g a i n s t h e r wilhout a f f o r d i n g

• u s grounds f o r juM c o m p l a i n t . I f , f o r example

Ih e

B r i t i - h

and

Freach

n a t i o n s

h ad

been

a t

open

• w a r , and

a

French

v e s s e l ,

i n

f l y i n g b e f o r e

B r i l i s h

p u r s u i t ,

should have

been d r i v e n

w i t h i n a

marine

league c f t h e

Am erican

c o a s t , a l l f u r t h e r a c t s o

i j o s t i l i t y

towards

her must have i n s t d n i l y

c e a s e d ,

wwe, » s i h e n e u i r a l power, would have

been

B o u n d e d i n he most s e ns i t i v e p o i n t , namely, t h a

V o f our s o v e r e i g n t y .

I s h a l l n o t h e r e argue t o prove l h a t i n t h i s

c a s e

there h i t s been a g r o s s

v i o l a t i o n

o f

our n a t i o n a l

s o -

- v c i r i v . n l , 1 ,

because on t h a t p o i n t no

gentleman,

1

am s u r e , does o r can e n t e r t a i n a d o u b t . T h a t b e

i n g

c l e a r ,

t h e

American Gov ernm e n i

a t

once

r e

anonstrated i n s t r o n g

and f o r c i b l e , a r . d

even e l o

quent, t e r m s , through

ou- Minister

a b r o a d . T h e

l e t t e r o f

Mr.

S te ve ns on o n

t h a t o c c a s i o n , d o e s h i m

great h o n o r , i n d e e d . Repealed a t l e m p l s were m a d e

•o

induce

t h e B r i ti s h

Gover nment

t o answer t h i s

remonstrance,

but a i l i n v a i n . I t i s t r o « t h a t i

l i a s

been

s t a t e d

i n

t h e B r i t i s h H ou s e

of Commons

•>y

one

o f t h e B r i t i s h m i n i s ' e r s ,

t h a t

i h e Am erican

G o v e r n m e n t

h ad

f i n a l l y given up

t h e

q u e s t i o n ,

a : r i d i d n o t i n t e n d t o i ns is t upon an answer. T h e

> r ei e n c e f or

making t h i s statement has

m o s t p r o -

> a b l y a r i s e n Irom a custom t o o common among u s

o f p n b l i s h i n g

d i p l o m a t i c c o r r e s p o n d e n c e , w h i l s t

t h e n e g o t i a t i o n t o which i t r e l a t e s

i s

s t i l l

p e n d i n g .

Mr. Stevenson, i n h i s l e t t e r t o Mr. F o r s y t n o f i h e

2d

J u l y ,

1 8 3 9 ,

employs

t h i s language:

I r e g r e t t o

say

t h a t no answer

h as

yet been c i r e n t o m ;

note i n t h e case o f t h e C a r o l i n e . I have no t d e e m e d i t p r o p e r

under

t h e

circumstances,

t o r j r e s a

t h e

s t i h j e c t

w i t h o u t

l u r v h e :

n t l r i i c t i o n s

f ro m y ou r D e pa rt me n t.

I f

i t i s

t h e w i s h o l ' h f

[iovernmcnt l h a l t should do 6 0 , I pray t > . )

be

informed o f r .

an d

t h e d eg re e o f urgency l h a l I am t o udupt.

To which Mr. Forsyth r e p l i e s under d a t e o f Sep

tember

1 1 , 1 S 3 9 , a s f o l l o w s :

With reference t o t h e c l o s i n g paragraph

i n

your commuti

c a t i o n t o t h e Deparimeril,

dated

2d o f July l a s t , i t i s p r o p e r i

inform

y ou t h a t n o

i n s t r u c t i o n s are

a i present

r e q u i r e d

f <

a ga in bri ng in g forward t h e question of t h e ' C a r o l i n e . ' /Act

had f r f f j i i t n t c o t i T t r s a t i o J i s

i f i t h Mr Fox in

rtgcrd

t h i s s u t i j t c t . on e of very re c en t d at e ;

and,

frtm Us

Imc,

1 1

P r t s i ' i ' n t e » p f . c i s t h e British Governmeni t c i l l a n s i c e r j / o i

application

in

t h e c a s e , t c i lh o u t much further delay.

T h e Senate w i l l t h u s p e r c e i v e t h a t i h r e i s n

foundation

i n

t h i s

correspondence

f o r

t h e

p r e t e ]

t h a t t h e A m eric a n Gover nment

ba d abandone

l h « p u r s u i t o f t h i s

q u e s t i o n ,

u n l e s s i t

may

be t

g a r b l i n g

t h e n o t e o t Mr.

F o r s y i h ,

a n d

s u p p r e t s i n

i h e s e n t e n c e

which I

have

j u s t

r e a d .

W h e t h e r t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f P r e s i d e n t YJ

Buren pursued i t s remonstrance with s u f f i c e

energy i s n o t f o r me t o s a y ,

although

1

beta

t h e y d i d , but t h a t forms no p a r t of t h e q u & s t i i

n o w b e f o r e t h e

S e n a t e .

I t t e e m s t h a ' , from

I

c o n v e r s a t i o n o f Mr. Fox, Mr. Forsyih wa s i n d u e

t o

b e l i e v e

l h a t a speedy answer

would

be g i v e n .

On

i b e

—

f

November,

1 8 4 0 ,

t h i s

u n r o r t u n i

m an ,

Alexander Mc L° o d, c am e v o l u n t a r i l y w i l l

t h e

j u r i s d i c t i o n

o f t h e United S l a t e s .

I

am i n c l i i

t o b e l i e v e t h a t i h e

vain

b o a s t i n g o f t h i s

m a n , a s

h i s presence and p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n i h e attack e n

i

C a r o l i n e ,

has

occasioned a l l I h e d if fi c u l t y

wn

n o w e x i s t s . I r a t h e r t h i n k h e wa s not present a :

captu'eof l h a t v e s s e l , and

t h i s f a c t ,

i f i t h ad

b i

w i s e ' y

u s e d ,

would have

a f f o r d e d t h e means o ;

j u s t i n g t h e d i f f i c u l t y t o t h e s a ti s f a c t io n of boih |

t i a s . But

he

c a m e npon

t h e A m e r i c a n

s o i l ,

a

i n t h e compan y o f American

c i t i z e n s ,

openly DO

ed

t h a t

he

h ad

belonged

t o

Drew'scapluring

s q u

r a n . I n consequence o f t h e s e

a s s e r t i o n : ,

be

a r r e s t e d by

t h e

l o c a l a u th o r it ie s , and i n d i c t e d

murder. T his s t a l e o f t h i n g s gave r i s e t o a c a

spondence between

Mr. Fox and

Mr.

Forsjth.

correspondence

r e s u l t e d

i n

t h i s :

i b a t

Mr. Fur

e x p r e s s e d i t

a s

h i s o p i n i o n , and t h a t

of the

Prrsi

o f t h e United

S t a l e s ,

l h a t

under

t h e

iaw

0 1 n a i

t h e avowal by t h e B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t of the

t u r e o f i h e C a r o l i n e , should

such an

avowa

made,

would

n o t f r e e McL eo d from prosecu tu

t h e c r i m i n a l c o u r t s o f i h e S t a t e

o f New

Yoik.

e f f e c t

wa s

merely

cumulative.

I t

d i d

n o t

take

t h e o f f e n c e o f McLeod, b u t

added thereto, acd

i

i t a n a t i o n a l a s

w e ll a s

an i n d i v i d u a l

ofTrnce.

l e g a l p r o s e c u t i o n o f McLeod, and t h e appl i c

t o t h e B r i t i s h Gover nmeni f o r s a i i r - f a c t i ( > n ,

independent o f

each

o t h e r ,

and

m i g h t

be

sepal

and simultaneously p u r ? n t d . B ut whetUri

were

t h e t r u e

p r i n c i p l e

o f n a t i o n a l law

< . i

Mr. Forsyth v e r y p r o p e r l y

s a i d t h a t

t h e

qui

must b e d e c i d e d by t h e j u d i c i a r y of New

and t h a ' , i f t h e p o s i i i o n 0 1 Mr.

Fox were


3/16

. = ~y the B r i t i s h Go-

•

- l t

t h « P l e a

were a l l o w e d , h e would

s£vSt .ayw ±as

appier, s a f e r , and more s e c u r e

question

f o r

American

r i g h ' s

and

Q-- Wl-W VVtUUI1UI

; ,W n e n ' h e

t r i a l

c a m e o n , Mc -

; h ad

two

ground o f d e f e n c e : f i r s t

nct^been p r e s e n t

a t

t h e c a p t u r e

of t h e '

Klvu7'-^* *'?**Q™™ ™s\d

p u b l i c a

^

K a a * o r , } ' - I f . i ' h i s s t a t e of

t h i n g s ,

SM̂^ t ; e L p ™ d e m d e a y - l h e I *™

» o n K i probabJy soon h ave j e t t | - J - - - - • - •

to I

1 , i n Parliament, t o t h e B r i t i s h m i n i s t e r s

C R

u u s s u b j c c t ,

an d

a

h i e h

excitement

h ad

been

ISl1

a 0 8 -

O B K

l h e

B r i l i ' h

n a t i o n -

™s™

frwJa>A

Vh* Eonnlryen

every comrover-

ywjj, Aaena,

because

our s i d e

of

t h e q u e s t i o n

£ Z

^ / • * ™ 5 l n n , h p e 1 r v , p u b >

r r a a l s -

£ h a v e

' e a r » m t h e h a b i t o f r e a d i n g s o m e of t h e

« r n a s ,

and,

s o

f a r

a s I have observed

. t o e q u e s t i o n ev en

i n r e l a t i o n

t o t h e

boondar/, h ad

never t o t h i s da

. j i s

l e i t e r an

an-

. t h i n g , i t

i s

t o i h e l e t t e r

ofMr. For-

io7«~V~ ~ l o Mr - Fox OD I D e 26ia D e c e mb er

1 8 4 0 .

I

w i l l n o t t r o u b l e t h e

Senate

l o

r e a d t h a t

p a p e r ; t h e y may f i n d i t i n document 3 3 , page 4

A n d

what

i s

t h e

c h a r a c t e r

o f

t h e

l e t t e r

ofMr.

Fox? I t c o m m e n c e s w i t h

a

peremptory an d conl

e l u s i v e

s e t t l e m e n t

of

t h e

whole

m a t t e r ,

s o

f a r a s t h e

B n t i s a

Gover nment

i s c o n c e r n e d . I t i s

n o t s u f f i

c i e n t f o r t h a t Gover nment t o say t h a t t h e y

t a k e

t h e

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y

o f

t h e a c t

o f

McLeod

upon

t h e m

s e l v e s , b u t

t h e y ev en j u s i i f y

i n

t h e s t r o n g e s t

terms

i h e c a p t u r e o f t h e

Caroline

i t s e l f . Ye t h e r e i s

Mr. Webster on t h e 24ih o f A p r i l , argui ng a

q u e s t i o n which t h e B r i t i s h m i n i s t r y

h ad

s e t t l e d s i x

1 1 do n o t say s u r r e n d e r McLeod

- - -— . . „ „ „ „

„ , v l i e Caroline

s h a l l

b e

l e f t

op«n

i oa t wo ul d

not

be

acco'ding

t o

t h e

m a n n e r

of

John B u l l w h e n

he

p u t s h i m s e l f

f a i r l y

i n

motio

He d o e s

n o t

s t o p

t o

a r g u e ,

b u t

a t once c u t s

t h e

knot wit ho ut t h e t r o u b l e o f g i v i n g any r e a s o n

. Stevenson

h ad

remonstrated i n t h e

most

u r -

d submitted t o t h e B r i t i s h Go -

a

m as s

o f t e s t i m o n y , but n o

K G

whatever wa s taken

of

h i s communication

no

r e a s o n s given f o r t h e i r

determination Mr*

• o r » • ' G ov e rn me n t, i n h a l l a sentence

I T , e n t , h a d

been

r a i s e d on l h e

McL'od

« »

- s d km* d e f i a n c e s

h ad

been u t t e r e d on

v x a . ead . iJTOeof0wmnoM'

Threats h ad

• Ijj ' . l n ca.* .?? Am erican Gover nment

Sl̂

re:aT McLeod

i n c u s t o d y .

An a t -

S W ^ f l - ? ' c n b 3 l h s i d e s o f

l h e

w a t e r -

1 «

^«*. lbe behef t h a t wa ' was imp-nding; and

i - s u c c e s s , t h a t t h e Am erican f l e e t i n t h e

i ? a a , o r

a t

l e a s t a p o r t i o n o f i t , has

a c t u

; d

h

. m e , w h i l e

a l l

our

v e s s e l j i n l h a t

a

ad gu*d t s e

s t r a i t s and gone i n t o t h e

At-

ssome

p c o p . ' e

h - r e e v e n , o t h e r

than

t h e

l a -

- - - , ^ . t e a i c e a:raid t h a t t h e

B r i t i s h

f l e e t s would

,3i

cor

coast a n d l a y our c i t i e s i n

ash«s A

JmOoaj panic p r e v a i l e d f o r a

time a m o n g t h o s e

Mud

. e a k nerve s and t h e n , t o

crown

a l l ,

J* . « t t e r ot

Mr.

Fo x t o

Mr.

Webster. Th,

;f *****

hav.

I

f r e e l y a d m i t , much t o recom

~^,, b o i we a l l know l h a t t h e i i d l p l o m a t i c p o -

L' ^T**

y * * 1

cf o t b e r

European

n a t i o n s , h as

« ' a character b o l d , a r r o g a n t , and over

? - Jo hn

Ball

h as ever p r e f e r r e d t o

accom-

o a i

by

mam f o r c e which

o t b e r

n a t i o n s

:£,r*

Vf

™ P t e d

°y diplomacy.

I

c o m e

n « w

«*Qcr

of Mr. Fox,

and such a

l e t t e r T his

« ^ r f c e more imposing from t h e f a c t t h at i t wa s

» r -

*oxs own

comprsilion, b u t

i s

an

o f f i c i a l

••canon from t h e B r i t i s h Government.

^^appears from i t s f i r s t s e n t e n c e , which i s

i n

question

(sars

t h e

l e t t e r ) may h a v e

t t y ' t

Government

are

o f o pi ni on

thai

i t

m p t o y m t n t offorce for

the purpose

ofde

-A t e r r i t o r y ,

$c,

O ur remonstrance, wh e n t h i s haughty r e p l y wa s

w r i t t e n ,

h ad

been pending f o r t h re e y e a r ? .

i o ? J r '

? ?**•

i n h i s I e l l e r o f 36'h December.

1 H 4 U , h ad argumentatively s t a t e d l h e whole

c a s e ,

s et ti ng f o r th l h a t i h e avowal o f McLeod's

a c t ,

should i t b e

assumed by

t h e B r i ti sh Go

vernment, s o

f a r

from

doing

away

w i t h

our

ground

o f complaint, \ r e a t only t o

i n c r e a s e i t

I t wa s

cumulative, n o t

e x c u l p a t o r y .

Whilst i t

would a o t r e l i e v e McLeod from p e r s o n a l r e

s p o n s i b i l i t y ,

i t

would

s e r i o u s l y

i m p l i c a t e

t h e

B r i -

us h

Gov ernm e n t

i n

h i s

g u i l t .

And

h o w

i s t h a t

argument answered? I n

t h i s

haughty, imperious

s e n t e n c e :

H e r

Majesty's G o v e r n m e n t cannot b e l i e v e l h a t t h e Govern

m e n t

of

l h e l . n i t e d C r a t e s ca n r p n l l v

i n i A n . 1

i n

. » .

o

i s msiructed

by

i , i . Govern.

Q omcial communication

from

t h e

?reniment I h e m 3 e * e s -

I ' i s

n o t my d e -

•

t f e a

occasion

t o

e x c i t e

e i t h e r

h e r e

o r

e l s c -

on g

s i n c e b a n i s h e d .

H e r e i s no argument a t t e m p t e d , n o a n l h o r i t y

c i t e d ,

b u t

a

simple d e c l a r a t i o n put

f o r t h

i n t h e

s t r o n g e s t term: a s t o t h e a t r o c i t y o f t h e p r i n c i p l e

f u r

which

t h e

A m eric a n

Gover nment

h ad

been

s e

r i o u s l y

c o n t e n d i n g .

B ut

t h e

crowning

p o i n t

of

t h i s mjulting l e t t e r i s y e t t o

come,

and I undertake

t o say

t h a t

i t

c o n t a i n s

a

d i r e c t

t h r e a t

from

t h e

B r i t i s h Government. I

am

n o t e x t e n s i v e l y ac

qua in te d wi th t h e language

o f di pl om acy , b u t

I

c e r t a i n l y have n o t s e e n any t h i n g l i k e t h i s t h r e a t

i n an y

o f f i c i a l

communication between c i v i l i z e d

ind f r i e n d l y n a t i o n s f o r t h e

l a s t

f i f t y

y e a r s .

I

hope

1 may b e mistaken i n my view o f t h e l a n g u a g e , but

iCr6

i t

I S t

B ut be t h a t as i t ma y ,

h e r

Majesty's G o v e r n m e n t formallv

d e m a n d upon t h e pound, already s t a t e d , t h e imm ediat e r e -

e a s e

o f

Mr.

McLeod;

and

her

Majesty'*

G o v e r n m e n t

e n t r e a t

t h e

P r e s i d e n t of t h e United B i a i e s t o take

i n i o

h i s mo st d e l i b e r a t e


4/16

consideration

t h e

seriout

n ature of t h e

conse quenc e s

which

m u s t ensue from

a

r e j e c t i o n of t h i s d e m a n d .

What con s e qu e n ce s ?

What con s e qu e n ce s ?

Af

t e r

the

denunciation we h a d beard

in th e British

Parli am e n t , a n d a l l t h a t had occurred i n the course

of tbe pre v i ous co rrespondeEce, could any i h i n g h a v e

b e e n

i nt e nd e d

but

th e serious n at ure o f t h e

con s e

quenc es

whic h

mu s t

e n s u e

from t e a r

t o i J A

ENG

LAND?

And

here l e t me put a

case.

I

am

so un

fortunate

as

t o h a v e

a

< : l ; c : i -m e with a friend o f

m i n e . I w i l l supprsa i t t o

be

my friend

from

S o u t h Carolina, [Mr. P R E S T O N . ] I knew, i f y o u

please, e v e n that

I am

i n the wrong. My friend

comes

t o

me a n d drmauds

a n explanation,

adding,

at the same

limp,

these

words:

I f y o u do

n ot

gram

the reparation d e m a n d e d ,

I

entreat y o u t o consider

th e

terious co ns equ enc es wh ic h m u s t

eusu* from

y o ur r e f u s a l . Certain I am there i s

not

a single

member of t h i s S e n a t e , I m i g h t s:y not an i n t e l l i

gent

man i n the

c i v i l i z e d world, who

wou l d

not con

sider such l a nguag e as a m e n a c e ,

wh ic h m u s t

be

wit h dr awn

or

explained

b«lore any reparation

co ul d be m a d e .

I t

was the moment

a f t e r

I read

t h i s s e nt e nc e

that

I d e t e r m i n e d t o bri ng t h e subject

before the

Sena'e.

A

t h oug h t t h e n

struck

me

w h i c h perhaps

I should

do

b e t i e r

now

t o r e p r e s s ;

but i t

was

t h i s . 1

i m agi nrd

I

saw t h a t man whom

Mr.

JeflVrson

t r u l y

d e n o m i n a t e d

the

old Roman,

a« President,

s i t i i n g i n h i s

appart m t n t

a n d

reading

t h i s l e t t e r for i h e f i r s t lime. When h e came t o

t h i s

sentence,

what

would

be

h i s f e el i n g s ?

What

indignant

emo t io ns wou l n

i t arouse i n

h i s bread?

Of him i t

may

be j u s t l y

s a i d :

A k i n d ,

t r u e

h e a r i ; a s p i r i t h i g h ,

T h a i could n o t l e a r , and

would

n o t bow,

I i w r i t t e n i n

h i s m a n l y e y e .

And onh i a m a n l y brow/'J

Would

h e

not

h a v e

resolved

n e v e r t o make a n y

explanation

und er such a

t h i e a . ? Would h e

noi

h a v e

required i t t o be wit hdrawn or explained before

giving a n y a n swe r wh a t e v e r

t o

Mr.Fox'cdemand?

In

t h i s possibly h e m i g h t

h a v e

gon e too l a r . Our S e

cretary, h owever, h as passed over t h i s threat with

out

Adverting

t o

i t

i n

a n y

manner whatever.

And now we con:e

1 0

the

case

i m m e d i a t e l y

be

fore t h e

S e n a t e . A l t h o u g h I

t hink the Secretary

of Stale d e c id e dl y wre ns ;

i n h i s

v i e w

of th e

l aw of

nations, that t o

me

i s comparatively a very jmall

matter. 1

h a v e n o t , i n t h i s t h i n g , any personal or

private feeling t o g r a t i f y .

Towards the Secretary

of State I

cherish

n o unkind l y f e e l i n g s , a n d I s i n -

ceiely

h o p e

that

be

may

discharge

the duties

of

h i s

h i g h

a n d

responsible

s t a t i o n

i n

such

a

marines as t o

redound more a n d more t o h i s own honor.

What

I

c o m p l a i n

of

i s

t h i s

o m U s i o n ,

and

an

omission, 1

consider, of great con s e qu e n ce . He

h a s

n o t , i n

his reply, noticed that threat at a l l , alt h ou gh

i t

was c o n v e y e d i n such terms as would h a v e e n t i r e

l y

j u s t i f i e d him i n

s ay i n g

The

American

Govern

ment

h as n o a n s w e r t o give u n t i l t h i s l a nguag e h as

be e n explained. He s h ou ld

at l e a s t

h a v e s a i d ,

this

i s

a m e n a c e , such

as

i t

i s not

usual i n the d i

pl o ma tic

correspondence

between c i v i l i z e d and i n

d e p e n d e n t nations,

a n d I

s h a l l

be glad

i f you

w i l l

explain or reconsider t h e l an guage e m p l o y e d .

For myself, said Mr. B . I h a r e n o desire f o r war

with

E ng l a nd:

so

far

am

I

from

desiring

i t ,

t h a t

I

wou l d co ns e nt

t o

s a c r i f i c e a l l but cur h o n o r

in

order

t o avoid

i t . B ut

I

t hink Mr. Webster t o

bl a m e in not noticing l a nguag e w h i c h I consider

containing a very d i s t i n c t and i n t e l l i g i b l e thre

B ut l e t that p a s s .

Even

i f the

Secretary

wet e

r i g h t

i n the view

takes of the

l a w

of

nations,

s t i l l 1

t hink

that cc

moa prudence would

h a v e

dictated t o him

n o t

express

h i s

opinion

s o s tro ng ly .

I t

was

t h e n

a

d i c i a l

question pending,

a n d

eventually

t o

be

cided, by

the

highest court

ia the State

o f I S

York; a

tribunal

which, o n

a l l

bands, a n d by

1

Webster himself,

i s adm i t t e d t o be e m i n e n t l y e

t i e d t o confidence. S upp o s e i t s h ould happen

i t w i l l

h appe n ,

i f

my

humblej u d g m e n t of

tbe

1

s h a l l prove

correct)

that the Supreme C ourt o f

Stale of New York a n d the

Secretary

of S l a t e

the

Un i t e d States

s h oald d i f f e r in opinion as t o

l e g a l

question. Suppose a n

appeal

s h o u l d

t

be t ake n

( i f such a n

appeal

may be taken) t o

Supreme

Court

of

the

U n i t e d

S t a t e s ,

a n d

i t

sh(

there be de cide d, as I f e e l greai conndence

i t would b e , against the

opinion

of the S e cr e

of

Slate, w h a t wou l d be th e

condition

o f t h i s

vernmem?

The

j u d i c i a l authority w i l l be o n

o n e

i ide of

question, a n d t h e Ei e cut ive

Government

0 1

o t h e r . Whil st the Jud iciary d ecid e that

Mel

i s

responsible i n the criminal

co urt o f

New

1

t h e Secretary decides l h a t h e i s not. By p r e j <

ing i b i s

pend ing

j u d i c i a l question,

the

S e cre t ary

placed hims elf i n i n awkward d i l e m m a , »h

the

Supreme

Court

of

New

York

d « t e r m i n e

tbe

recognition a n d

j u s t i f i c a t i o n by t h e Bri t i s h

v e r n m e n t of

the capture

of

t h e

C aroli n e does

release McLeod

from

personal respomib

In

common prudence, th«refore, Mr. We

o u g h t t o

h a v e expressed

n o decided o p i n i o n

0 1

delicate question, but l e f t i t t o the Judici al

Mr. Van Buren'i administration h a d d o n e .

B ut

the

Secretary o f S tate t h oug h t oihei

The imperious tone of Mr. Fox's l e t t e r doe

item t o h a v e produced any e f f e c t

o n

his i

T h r e e short

da ys a f t e r i t s

date, o n the 15th V

1841,

h e

issues

h i s

instructions

t o

t h e AM

General. T h e s e instructions

are th e

rea)

s t a n t i a l a n s w e r t o Mr. Fox's l e t t e r , and

proved e n t i r e l y satisfactory

t o

the British Gh

mem,

as th e y could not h a v e failed to do.

t e l l e r written by Mr. Webster, o n

the

24th

succeeding April, w i l l

n e v e r

disturb t h a t

< _ i

m e n t .

Long before

i t

was

written,

t h e S <

ba d granted

t h e m

e very

thing wh ic h

they

h a v e

desired.

He a t once, by t h e se i ns truc ti on s, aba

the

position

so

ably

m a i n t a i n e d

by

Mr.

V

r e n ' s administration, that McLecd would

responsible, individually, n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g

i

t i s h Government

m i g h t recognise

the destrn

the Caroline.

In condemning t h i s

po s i t i o n ,

t e rm s a l mo st

as

strong

as

Mr.

Fox

had dor> (

n oun ci n g i t . He says that a n i n d i v i d u a l

part of

a publ ic

f o r c e , and acting

under

tlxc

r i t y of h i s G o v e r n m e n t , i s not t o be held aj

b l e as a private trespasser or m al ef act or, u,

c i p l e o f publ i c law

sanctioned

by

th e

u


5/16

J I B m th e face? With f i e r y expedition be h as h i s

Attorney General

on

th e

way t o

Lockport; and

I

a r . n i i bo l ihiak,

from

my personal know ledge

of

t i l t o f f i c e r , thai t h e m i s s io n o n

whic h

h e . v . v em

p l o y e d

c o j ; n o t

have been

very agreeable

t o

h - m .

H e i nf orm s

t h e Biitish

Government at once, f o r

ft o u g h t never

to

forset that the l e t t e r t o

Mr.

Cfittenden

i s

in substance the Secretary's a nswer

i o

Mr.

For, thai i f i t

were

i n th» President's pow

e r t o e n t e r a nolle preaequi against McLeod, i t

sbmUl be

done

without a

m o m e n t ' s delay.

If

t h i s i n d i c t m e n t , s a y s h e , were p e nd i ng in

on e

o f

t h e

C o ur t s of t h e U n it ed S : a t « s , I am directed t o

ay that th e President, upon th e r e c e i p t of Mr.

r u t . ~

l a s t c o m m u n i c a t i o n , would

h a v e

immedi

a t e ;

directed

a

n*Me

prosiqM

t o be

entered. B ut

a ;

iis was not in Mr. We bs t e r' s po we r, t h e Gover-

wrofNew

York

was in th e next

place t o be as

s a i l e d , in order t o

accsmp l i s h

the same purpose.

Mr. C r iu e aJ e n was

i nf orm ed

t h i t h e wou l d ' ' b e

iuraished w i ; i i a copy of t h i s i n s i n u a t i o n , f o r the

us e of UK Executive

of New.York and

the Atior-

a e y

Gen eral o f that Stats. Whether, says

t o e Secretary,

i a

t h i s

case, th e Governor

of New

York

h a

?e ' b a t poorer, o r , i f

h e

h av e ,

w h e t h e r h e

»oaJJ f e e l i t h i s

duty

t o

exercise i t , are points upon

*ai e .

B B C

tie

Avorney G e n e ra l of

t h e

Uni t e d States

»as i r m e d r:

h

i n d u c t i o n s from th e S ecre ta ry o f ; subject i s , t h a t they < i o not

make

th e proper d i s -

S t a ^ e ,

t o

meet every continge ncy. I f McLeod

Unction

be twe e n a s ' a ' e of n at ion al war a n d

na

tes ; not be

discharged

by

a

n o l l e p r o s e q u i ; i f h e

t i o n a l

peace.

I f a nati on be a t war, the

comrsand

a.'jtbe t r i e d ,

t h e n Mr. CnueDden

was

t o

consult

of t h e

sovereign

power

t o

invade Ih e

t e r r i t o r y

of i t s

d' i counsel, and furnish ' h e m the cvi- e n e m y , a n d do b a t t l e there against any h o s t i l e

ma'erial t o his defence, a n d h e was e v e n to

f o r c e ,

alw ay s j n s ' i f i e s the troops

thus

e n g a g e d .

- • f t i h a t

h e

'aave i k i f u l

a n d

e m i n e n t

counsel, i f |

When

a n y

of the invaders are s e i z e d , th e y are

sach

be

n o t alreidy

retained.

I t i s n o wonder j considered as

prisoners of war, and

as h av i ng d o n e

ia:

i t

appear ed

very

strange

t o

G o v e r n or

Seward

j

not hing

but

wha t

t h e

laws

of

war

j u s t i f i e d

t h e m

in

a S a d t h e a ut h ori t ie s of t h e U n it ed S ta te s t hus ac-

doing.

In such a case they ca n n e v e r be h e ld t o

ar e lv a nd ardently e n z a g e d i n

defending McLeod,

~ b i ] = t

t h e

an thorit ifs of

New

York were e n l i s t e d

» r u b e qua l v:s or i n h i s prosecution.'

The d e ' e s c e of t h i s

man,

who h a d

n o

c l a i m t o

answer, criminally, i n the courts of Ih e i n v a d e d

country. That

i s c l e a r .

The invasion of a n e n e

m y ' s t e r r i t o r y i s o n e of t h e rights of war, and, in

a l l

i ; nece ssary consequences, i s j u s t i f i e d by th e

p t c a l i a r

favor,

eic^pt wh a t arose fro m a n earnest i

laws

of war B ut there are offences, c o m m i t t e d

f e i i r e t o plea«e and . s a t i s f y

the British

Govern -

e v e n

in

o p e n war,

which

the express

command of

• e a ' , became

t h e c bj ;c t of th e Secretary's

pecu-

t h e offender's

sovereign

w i l l not

s h i d d

from exem-

r

s o l i c i t u d e , and

; h i s ,

t o o ,

i n th e face of a p l a i n .

pabte menac? from t h a t G o v e r n m e n t .

Tae

n ext thing we m i g h t h e ar wou l d

be

a b i l l of |

plary puni s h m e nt. I w i l l give

g e n t l e m e n

a n

e x <

ample. A spy w i ' l be hum, i f caught, e ve n t h oug h

h a

acted

under the

express

command of h i s

sove-

f e . e s

against

t h i s

Government

f o r

I

r e i g n .

We

m i g h t

c i t e

the

case

of

t h e

unfortunate


6/16

Major Andre. He wa s a r r e s t e d

on h i s

r e t u r n from

an i n t e r v i e w with

Arnold,

and, h i s

l i f e

being i n

d a n g e r ,

t h e B r i t i s h c o m m a n d e r

( S i r

H e n r y C l i n t o n ,

I b e l i e v e ) m a d e an e f f o r t t o save him, by t a k i n g

upon h i m t e l f t h e r e s p o ns i b i l i t y o f t h e a c t . Bui a l

t ho ug h h e

h ad c r o s s e d cur

l i n e s

w h i l s t

t h e

two na

t i o n s were

i n

a

s t a t e o f

open and f l a g r a n t war,

i n

obedience

t o

i n s t r u c t i o n s

from

h i s

cocimsnder-in-

c h i e f ,

y e t

Washington, n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g , r i g h t f u l l y

h ung h im

a s

a s p y .

Now l e t me t e l l

whoever

s h a l l an swe r m e, ( i f ,

indeed,any gentleman w i l l condescend t o

n o t i c e

what

I have s a i d

—

o r i t s e t - m i we on i h i s s i d e o f i h e H o u e s

a r e t o do al l t h e ? ) M ; . ; , i , • ; . and t h e y al l t he v o t i n g , )

t h a t w h i l s t al l

t h e modern a u t h o r i t i e s

concur i n d e

c l a r i n g t h a t

t h e

law

o f

n a t i o n s p r o t e c t s i n d i v i d u a l s

w h e n obeying

t h e o r d e r s o l t h e i r

s o v e r e i g n ,

during

a s t a t e o f

open

and f l a g r a n t war, whether

i t

h as be en

solemnly

d e c l a r e d

o r

n o t ,

and

whether

i t

b e g e n e r a l

o r

p a r t i a l ,

)

e t t h e s e a u t h o r i t i e s

proceed

r . o

l u r t h e r .

B u t , t o d e c i d e c o r r e c t l y on

t h e

i m p l i c a t i o n o f t h i s

p r i n c i p l e i n

t h e

c a s e

b e f o r e u s ,

we must

r e c o l l e c t

t h a t t h e two b e l l i g e r e n t s

h e r e

were

E ng l a nd

on

t h e

one

h and

and h e r i n s u r g e n t

s u l

j t c t . . on

i h e o th er ,

an d t h a t

t h e

United S t a l e * were a n e u t r a l power, i n

p e r f e c t

peace

w i t h England.

But wh at

i s t h e

r u i e

i n regard t o n a t i o n s a t peace w i t h each o t h e i 1 ? This

i s

t h e

q u e s t i o n . A s between such n a t i o n s , d o e s i h e

command o f an i n f e i i o r o f f i c e r o f

t h e

o n e , t o i n d i

v i d u a l s ,

t o

v i o l a t e t h e s o v e r e i g n t y o f t h e o t h e r ,

and

co m m i t

m urd e r a n d

a r s o n ,

i f

a f t e r w a r d s

r e c e g n i s e d

by t h e supreme a u t h o r i t y , prevent t h e n a t i o n whose

laws

have

been outraged

from

punishing t h e o t -

f e n d e r s 7 Und er such c i r c u m s t a n c e s , what

i s t h e

l aw o f

n a t i o n s ?

T h e d o c ' r t n e i s l a : d down i n Vat-

t e l , an author admitted t o

be o

t h e h i g h e s t a u t h o r i

t y on q u e s t i o n s

o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w ;

and t h e v e r y

q u e s t i o n , t o t i d e m v e r b i s , which a r i s e s i n t h i s c a s e ,

i s i n h i s book s t a t e d a t . d d e c i d e d . He admits t a a t t h e

l a w f u l c o m m a n d s

o f a l e g i t i m a t e Government,

whether t o

us

t r o o p s o r o t h e r

c i t i z e n s ,

p r o t e c t s t h e m

from

i n d i v i d u a l

r e ; p o r . . « i h i l t t y f o r h o s t i l e ? . c t s done

i n

obedence

t o

such

co m m a nd s ,

w h i l s t

i n

a

s t a t e

o f

open

war. I n such a c a s e , a

p r i s o n e r

o f wa r i s

never t o b e

s u b j e c t e d

t o

t h e

c r i m i n a l j u r i s d i c t i o n

o f

t h e

country w i t h i n

which

h e has

been

a r r e s t e d

But

what i s t h e

l aw o f n a t i o n s i n i e ; a r d t o c r i m i

n a l o f f e n c e s committed by i h e c i t . ' z e n s o r s u b j e c t s

of one

power,

w i t h i n

t h e s o v e r e i g n t y

and

j u r i s d i c

t i o n

o f

a n o t h e r ,

t h e y b e i n g a t peace with

each

o t h e r ,

even

i t t h e s e

c r i m i n a l

a c : s should b e r e c o g

n i s e d and j u s t i f i e d by

t he o ff e n de r ' s

s o v e r e i g i i ?

This is

Ihp

rasp nf

ihp

nanlnrp onH ripclrn/»'inti n t i

j u s t i c e , and punish him . I f h e h as escaped, and r e t u r n e d

h i s

own

country, sh e o u i j h i t o apply t o h i s

s o v e r e i g n t o

h a 1

j u s t i c e

done

i n

t h e c a s e .

C a n an y

t h i n g

i n t h e

world be

c l e a r e r ?

Tt

author p u t s

t h e

c a s e

d i s t i n c t l y .

T h e n a t i o n i i

j u r e d ought n o t t o impute t o t h e s o v e r ei g n o f

f r i e n d l y n a t i o n

t h e

a c t s of

i t s i n d i v i d u a l

c i t i z e n

b u t

i f

such

f r i e n d l y

s o v e r e i g n

s h a l l

n c o g n i ' e

t t

a c t s a s h i s own, i t t h e n

becomes a n a t i o n a l

c o i

c e i n . But does such

a

r e c o ° r , i

i o n

wash

away t k

g u i l t of t h e o f f e n d e r , and r e l e a s e h i m f r o m t t

punis h m e n t due t o h i s o f f e n c e under t h e j u r i s d i

t i o n o f

t h e

country whose

laws

be h a ? v i o l a t e

Le t V a t t e l

answer

t h i s q u e s t i o n .

He

s a y s :

I f

t i

o f f e n d e d

S l a t e h a s

i n h e r

power

t h e i n d i v i d u a l U ' f t o

. .

d o n e t h e i n j u r y , t h e may, \ c i t h c u t s c i v f l e , I n i n g h i

t o j u i t i c t

and j - u n i s h

him. T h er e i s t h e

d i r e (

p l a i n , asd

p a l p a b l e

a u t h o r i t y . And h e r e

p e r m i t n

t o add

t h a t I t h i n k

I can ptove t h a t , a c c o r d i n g

sound

r e a s e n ,

t h e p r i n c i p l e

i j

c o r r e c t ;

and

t h a t

t l

q u e s t i o n would now b e s o d e r i d e d by o u r

c o u r t

even i f

t h e

l aw

o f n a t i o n s

h ad been s i l e n t o a

t l

s u b j e c t .

This

r . o t

jmly

i s , b u t

ought

t o

b e ,

i l

p r i n c i p l e o f p u b l i c

l a w .

Mr. Webster, i n h i s

l et te r to

Mr. Fox o f th e 2 4

o f

A p r i l , t e l l s t he B ri ti s h Minister t h a t t h e l i n e

f r o n t i e r wh,ch j e p a t a t e s

t h e

United

S t a l e s

f r o m h <

B r i t a n n i c M a j e ' t j ' s North A m erican p r o v i n c t

i s l o n g enough t o d i v i d e t h e whole o f Europe i n

bahei.

This

i s

t r u e

enough.

Now,

by

a d m i t t i n g

t l

d o c t t i n e

o l V st l e- l

t o ' b e i n c o r r e c t tn d u n f o u n c c

on

what c o r . s e q u e r . c t s

a r e

we

f o r c e o 1 ?

I

b e g S . n

t or s t o c on sn ;> e i

t h i s q u e s t i o n . The l i r e which i

p a r a t e s u s l i o m

t h e

B r i t i s h po;sesMons i s

a

; ;

I o n s

enough t o d i v i d e Europe i n t o

h a l v e s .

H e

ven knows I h ave no d e s i i e t o

s e e a

r e b e l l i o n

C a i : a d a , o r t h e Canadian provinces am.exed t o t

United S ' a ' e ' ; b u t no

e v e n t ' i n f u t u r i t y i * m o r e d

t a i n

t h a n t h a t tb^e

p r o v i n c e s

a t e d e s t i n e d

t o

u l t i m a t e l y s e p a r a t e d I r o r n t h e B r i t i s h

e m p i r e . I

a

c i v i l

wa r

come,

and

l e t

every

McNab

wh o s h i

t h e n

h ave an y

command

i n

t h e B r i f . s b

p o s s c s J s o

along t h i s l o : g l i n e b e p t t m i t t e d t o send a m i l i t s

e x p e d i t i o n i t r . o

t h e t e r r i t o r y

o f t h e

Ur-iud S t a l l

whenever

h e

s h a l l

b e l i e v e

o r

p r e : e r . d

t h a i

i t v

a i d

i n d e f e n d i n g t h e

l o y a l

a u t h o r i t y a g a i n s t t h n

wh o a t e

misting

i t , a : , d wa r

between

Great B

t a i n and

t h e

U m i e d f c t a i e s

b i

c o n i e s i n e v i t a b l e .

B r i t i s h s u b j e c t marauci:ng under t h e o r d e r s

o f

1

s u p e r i o r o f f i c e r on t h i s s . d e o f t h e l i n e i s s e i z e d

t h e

v e r y

a c t .

.Well, what

i s

t o be ( ' . o n e ?

T h i s

i s I h e

c a s e of

i h e

c a p t u r e and d e s t r u c t i o n o l p o s e we a r e t o w a i t u n t i l we caa a s c e rt a i n w h e t l

t h e

C a r o l i n e .

T h e s u t j t c t i s

t r e a t e d

o f

by

V a t t e l ,

I

h i s

Government chooses t o r e c o g n i s e

h i s h o s t i l e

under

t h e

h e ad

o f

t h e

concern

a

n a t i o n

B . a y

have

i n t h e a c t i o n s

o f h e r

c i t i z e n s , bork i i ,

chap. 6 ,

page 1 6 1 . I s h a l l r e a d s e c t i o n s 7 3 , 7 4 , and 7 5 :

'•However, a s i t i s i m p o s s i b l e , ' ' says t l i e author, f o r t h e b e e t

regulated S l a i e , or

f o r t h e most

vkiian;

am

absolute

sovereisn

t o m od e l a t h i a pleasuie a l l t h e a c t i o ns of h i s

s u b j e c t s , and ' t o

confine

I h e m

»n

every

occaeion

t o t h e

mo a t

exact n l i e d i u n c e , i l

would be u n j u a t t o impute t o t h e n a ' k . i o r

t l i e savereign every

lauU

com m i t t ed by t h e c i t i z e n s .

\Ve

o i i ^ h t n o t ,

t h e n ,

t o s a y ,

i n g e n e i a l . t h a t we have received an i n j u r y from a n a t i o n , be

cause we have received i t from one o f i t s mem b e t s .

B ui i f

a

n a t i o n or i t s

cniefappnvres and

r a t i f i e s t h e a c t

of

th e i n d i v i d u a l , i l then becomes ; i public concern, and t h e i n

jured party

i s

th e n loconaidtrlhe m l i on

a - - *

t h e r e a l author of

th e

i n j u r y ,

of

which

t h e

c i t i z e n

wa s

perhaps

ouly

t h e

i n s t r u

me nt.

Ifthe offended State h as i n h f f r potcer I h e

i nd iridtml

i r f t o

h a s don e t f i e injury, s t i e

way, without

a c r u j t t e , bring him

t o

c r i m i n a l

a c t ,

b e f o r e

we

can

t r i U i c t

upon

h im

t

punishment which

b e

d e s e r v e s f o r v : o ' ; a

i n g o u r

l a '

I f i t should

r e c o g n i z e h i s a c t , t h e j a i i door i s i mB

d i a t e l y l o

b e thrown

open ;

i h e

o i l ' r n d e r , i t

m a y

t b e murderer, t a k e s h i s

f l i g h t t o

C a n eda ,

and

i

must s e t t l e

t h e

q u e s t i o n w i t h

t h e

Rnti-h Govet

m e r i t . Such i s t h e d o c t t i a e advanced by t h e

B

t i s l i Government atd our o wn S e cre t ary o fS i a

Thi s p r i n c i p l e woaid, a s I

s a y , lead

u s

i n e v t i

b l y

i n t o

wa r w i t h t h a t power. What can

be

d o

i n a s l a t e o f

wat?

I n t h a t c a s e , t h e laws o f

f l

p r o v i d e

t h a t

p e r s o n :

invading

our

t e r r i t o r y

wh o

i

c a p t u r e d ,

s h a l l be c o n s i d e r e d

and

t r e a t e d a s

r

s o n e i s o f war. B ut w h i l e

t h e

two c o u n i r i e s

c c


7/16

a m e _ a t peace, a

man taken

i n t h e

f l a g r a n t

a c t

o

: i n - i o n

and violence cannot be

m a d e a p r i s o n e

C ' T U . McLei . : , however, i s n o t l o b e t r e a t e d o

- j

p r i n c i p l e ,

a n d punished under our laws

i f

b

x t a i l t y ,

l e s t we

should o f f e n d t h e majesty o

& ? l a n < L The laws o f New York a r e t o b e n u l l ,

wl.acd

t h e

murderer

i s

t o

run

a t l ar g e .

B i t i f

i h e

principle l a i d down

by

V a t i e l b e soum

u4

; r a e , a l l d i ff ic u lt y a t once v a n i s h e s . I f sue

a o f f e n d e r be caught i n i h ? p e r p e i r a t i o n o f a c i i

a i t a ' .

ac% h e i s thtn p n m s h e d f o r h i s c r i m e . H

o s « : n

; o be t r i e d f o r i t a t i e a s ' , and t h e n ,

i f ( h e r

«

any m itig att ing c ircnms ia nc es

i n h i s

c a s e

: s f

t h e

sake of g o o d

neighborhood

l e t

h i m

escape

« f t s r conviction,

by

a pardon. There w i l

i« b e

no

danger of wa r from t h i s

c a u s e .

Le t me

n T j j c s e a C i . s e . Suppose Colonel

Allen McNab

i b o a l d

l a k e

u i n t o h : s

h ead

t h a t t h e r e e x i s t s i n t h e

tV.ei

S t a l e s

a

c^n-piracy

a g a : n s

: h e

Briush Go

reiEmenu and should b e l i e v e t h a t he

could

unra

7 e l t h e v fc c V e p l o t by s e i z i n s

on

t h e United S t a t e ;

m a i l

: n

i i s p a s s a g e

from New Y , - r k t o B u f f a l o

H ?

place? h j Q > e l i

a t

t h e head o f

a

p a r t y , come;

» r e r t h e h a e .

acd

s e i z e s and t o b s t h e m a i l ; b u t i n

' J K a e : h e n overpowered and

a r r e s t e d ,

and

he

i s

; L d i c : < c j b e f o r e a criminal c o u r t

o f

t h e U n i t e c

S a l e s .

Will i t b e

maittained,

i l

;he Brhiih

G o T e r B i c e t t should s a y , we r e c o g n i s e t h e ad o

McNai

: n

r o b b i n s r

your mail

a s we

h a v e ' a l r e a d j

' s e d l h a o f h i s burning your ste amb a

i n g

yonr

c i t i z e n s ,

t h a t

Mr. Webster

woulc

ned

i n d i r e c t i n g a n o l l e p r o s e q v i t o b e e n t e r e t

a t s

f a v o r , an d t h u s

s u f f e r

h i m t v

go f r e e ?

Idc s o t say thau he B r i t i s h Gover nment

would

w i n t h i s

manner: b u t

I

p u t

t h e c a . s e

a s

a f a i r i l -

: i > i r a t > c n

c l

i h e argument. T h er e wa s

one

c a s e i n

» i s - e l i

something very

l i k a

t h i s mig ht

have

hap-

p r a e d ,

and

i t was even i houg ht probable t h a t i t

* ; j ' f l j happen. I t wa s r e p o r t e d t h a t an e x p e d i t i o n

t a i been pla nn ed t o s ei z e t h e person o f

McLeod,

i a c

t o

c a r r y

h i m o f f

t o Canada;

and I belhvc t h a i

i

v e r y

diamgoished and g a l l a n t g e n e r a l i n t h

Ct;*d

S l a ' e s s e r v i c ,

(Gen.

Scott)—

an

o f f i c e r

f o r

« B o a i ,

m

commc-n

w i t h

h i s

f e l l o w - c i t i z e n s ,

I c h t -

r - - j i i o e h i g h e s t r e s p e c t an d r e g a r d—went, i n com-

i a s r

w i t h i b e Af or ney General, l o Lockport; and

r ; » « s c o n j e c t u r e d t h a t he h ad r e c e i v e d o r d e r s t o

fcK McLeod aad

defend

t h e Lockport j a i l

a g a i n s t

a » j i c e a u i o a

o f

S i r Allan McNab o r

an y

o t h e r

? e n o » .

Sapytw n o w t h a t such an e x p e d i t i o n h ad beon

f f i o c

; « K ,

i h a t

i i bad succeeded, aad

t h a t MtLfod

h a d t e en s e i z e d and

c a r r i e d

o f f i n triumph, i h e

î

t a i i ' D , b e i n g s t i l l i n profound p e a c e . T h e

* s c o e

c f

a

p r i s o n e r

i s

a h i g h

c r i m i n a l

o f f e n c e .

Waii

w c n ' . d

have

been done

w i l h

McNab

i f

h e

4 * 3 Tokntanly c o m e w i i h i n

our j u r i s d i c t i o n

and

**»

aaeved} Ifhecnuidbe i n d i c t e d

and

i r i e r i

« ^ i

? c £ i s b e d b e f o r e t h e

B r i l i s h Gover nment should

« ' e t i m e t o

r e c o g n i s e

h i s a c t , very w e l l . But i f

« ,

t h e a ,

a t

t h e moment o f

such r e c o g n i t i o n ,

he

L * - o . < i

b e

no

l o n g e r

r e s p o n s i b l e , an d must f o r t h w i i b

*

i c f r e e . T h e p r i n c i p k -

c f

V a t t e l , r g h t l y u n d e r -

t o i , a b f o l t i t e l y

s e c u r e s t h e l e r r i i o r i a l

severe

g n t y

1 » MC I

i n lime

of peace

by permi

t i n g

t h e m

t o

f c

a l l mvasinns

o f i t

i n

t h e i r

o wn c r i m i n a l

**»8,andhu

d o c t r i n e ;

eminently

c a l c u l a t e d

l o

I t a r v e

peace among

a l l n a t i o n s .

War has i i s

o wn

l a w s ,

wh'ch a r e

never t o

be e xte nde d t o

th e

i n t e r c o u r s e

between n a t i o n s a t

p e a c e .

T h e

p r i n c i p l e assumed i n Mr.

Fox's

l e l i e r i s welE

c a l c u l a t e d f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f powerful nation*

a g a i n s i t h e i r weaker

n e i g h b o r s . (But i n say

i n g i b i s I do n o t m e a n t o admit t h a t we a r e a .

weak

n a t i o n

i n

comparison

w i t h

England.

W«

do n o t , i n d e e d , wish t o go t o wa r w i t h h e r , y e t

&

am c o n f i d e n t i n t h e

b « l i e f

t h a t whatever we m i g h t

s u f f e r during

i h e e a r l y

p e r i o d o f

such a c o n t e s t

would

be ampl y

compensated

by

our

s u c c e s s b e

f o r e we reached t h e e nd o f i t . ) B ut l e t me present

an

e x a m p i e .

Le t u s

suppose

t h s t i h e empire

o f

Russia

h a a r

b y

h e r r i d e

a

ccnlerminons

n a t i o n , which

i s co mpa

r a t i v e l y Wfak. A Russian C o l o n e l , during a s e a

son

o f profound

p e a c e ,

p a s s e s

over

t h e

boundary,

a nd c om m it s

s o m e

c r i m i n a l

a c t

a g a i n s t

t h e

c i t i z e n s ;

o f

t h e weaker

n a t i o n . T h e y

s u c c e e d , h o we ve r, i n

s e i z i n g b i s p e r s o n , an d a r e about t o punuh hint

a c c o r d i n g

l o t h e p r o v i s i o n s

o f

i h e i r o wn l a w s . Buc

immediately t h e Russian double-headed blact

e a g l e makes i t s

appearance;

a Russian

o f f i c e r

saya

t o t h e a u t h or i ti e s o f t h e weaker

r a t i o n ,

s t o p ;

lake

o f f your h a n d s ; y ou s h a l l

n o t v i n d i c a t e

jour

laws

and

s o v e r t i g n l y . We

assume

t h i s

ma n ' s

crime a s

a

n a t i o n a l

a c t . What i s i h e consequence? The

r u l e f o r

which Great B r i t a i n

contends

w i l l

i n

thiscaso

compel t h e i n j u r e d

n a t i o n , though

t h » weaker, to

d e c l a r e

wa r

i n

t h e

f i r s t

i n s t a n c e a g a i n s t

h e r

Mrongec

n e i g h b o r .

But

she w i l l n o t

do i t ;

i h e w i l n o t b e

come i h e a c t o r , from t h e c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f h e r ,

weakness

and

t h e i n s t i n c t c f

s e l f - p r e - c r v a t i o n .

P h i s

p r i n c i p l e , i f e s t a b l i s h e d , w i l l enable

t h e »

s t r o n g

t o i n s u l t t h e

weak

wi th i mpun it y.

B ut

ake

t h e p r i n c i p l e a s l a i d

down by

V a i i ^ l .

T h e*

weaker

n a t i o n

d e f e n d s

I h e majesty o f h e r

owrt

a n - s by

punishing

t h e

Russian s u b j e c t wh o

h a d

i o l a t e d them; a n d , i f wa r i s t o e n s u e , Russia mus t

assume t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f d e c l a r i n g i t , i n tho

ace o f t h e w o r l d , and i n an u n j u s t c a u s e , against

h e n a t i o n whom

:h e h as

i n j u r e d . I t

i s

s a i d t h a t

> n e g r e a t

pnipose

o f

t h e

l aw

o f

n a t i o n s

i s

t o

pro-

e c t t h e

weak

a g a i n s t t h e s t r o n g , and

never

was

l i i s tendency

more

h a p p i l y i l l u s t r a t e d t h a n b y ,

b i s

very p r i n c i p l e

o f V a t t t l f o r which

I

am c o a^

e n d i n g .

i h t r e f c r e

b e l i e v e t h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y o f State

wa s a s l a r wrong i n h i s view o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w ,

s i n h i s h a s t e t o appea-e t h e B r i t i s h Government,1

i

t h e

f a c e

o f a d i r e c t

t h r e a t ,

by

h i s i n s t r u c t i o n s

l o t

V I r .

C r i t l e n d e n . T h e

communication

o f t h « s e in-

i r u c t i e n s l o t h a t

Government,

we

know,

h ad t h e t

e s i r e d

e f f e c t .

T h e y

went

out

immediately

to >

E n g l a n d ,

and

no sonner wtre t h e y known

on

t h a t

i < l e o f t h e

w a t e r ,

than i n

a

m o m e n t

a l l wa s

c a l n x 1

nd

t r a n q u i l .

T h e s t o r m ,

portending

war, p a s s e d }

wa y, a mi

t r a n q u i l

peace

once

more r e t u r n e d

anot

m i l e J over t h e s c e n e . S i r , t h e B r i t i s h Govern

m en t m us t have been h a r d - h e a r t e d i n d e e d , i f a p e - |

u s » l o f

t h o s e

i n s t r u c t i o n s d i d n o t

s o f t e n

them,

anij

f f o r d t h e m t h e most ample s a t i s f a c ' i o n . This*

miable

lemper

w i l l nev«r even b e

r u f f l e d

i n t h e )

i g h t e s t degree by t h e p e r u s a l o f Mr. Webster's

e t t e r

t o Mr. Fox,

w r i t t e n

s i x weeks afterward&J

' h e

matter

h ad

a l l

been

v i r t u a l } -

ended

b e f o r e

i t s

d a t e

J

I n t h e

views

I have

now

e x p r e s s e d I may

ba


8/16

•wrong;

but,

as

a n

American

Senator, •without

any

feeling o n

my

part bu t s uc h as

I

think every

Ame

ri c an S e n at o r oug h t t o

cherish,

I am

constrained

t o

aay t h a t

I

ca nno t approve

of

the coarse pursued

by the Secretary of State in t h i s matter, w h i l e , a t

t h e

same time,

I

h o p e

a n d

t r u s t t h a t n o other occa

sion may a r i s e , t o demand from me a s i m i l a r c r i t i

c i sm

O D

th e o f f i c i a l conduct o t t h a t ge ntle man.

Jn

Senate,

Tueidsy, Juiu

15,

1841—

In

reply

t o

Metsrs.

RIVES,

CHOATE.HONTINOTON, and

PREV

T O K , o n the m o t i o n of Mr.

R I V E S

t o

r e f e r

so

much of th e

President's

m e s s a g e as r e l a i e s t o

our foreign

a f f a i r s t o the Committee

o n Foreign

Affairs.

Mr. BUCHANAN

expressed

b i s thanks t o th e

S e n a t e f o r

t h e i r kind indulgence i n permitting

him

t o address them

t h i s morni ng ,

instead

of requiring

him t o

proceed at the

l a t e

h our l a s t e v e n i n g when

t h e adjournm ent

was m a d e . He should

e n d e a v or

t o

merit

t h i s

indulgence

by

confining

h i m s e l f

t o

as

Irief

a

re pl y a s

possible

t o the

observationi

w h i c h

i i a d been

made i n a n sw er t o

h i s

former remarks.

And f i r s t , :

a i d

Mr.

B. I ca nno t

but

f e e l

hig hl y

{ratified that the

fe w re ma rks

w h i c h

I

made i n

o p e n i n g t h i s debate, were s u f f i c i e n t l y potent t o c a l l

forth

fuur such

distinguished

Senators i n reply

as

Ihose from Virginia, [Mr. Rims,] Massachusetts,

JMr.

C H O A T E , ]

Connecticut, [Mr. H D S T I X G T O N , ]

and S out h Carolina, [ Mr. P R ES T ON. ] In co n t e n d

i n g against such a n h o s t , my

only wonder

i s t h a t

I

have not be e n entirely d e m o l i s h e d . Thanks be t o

Prov i d e nc e ,

I

am

ye t alive

and

ready

f o r t h e

con-

' : < ; • ; and, what i s of

more

importance,

my

argu

ments r e m a i n untouched, howtver ably t h e y may

lave be-n assailed by th e distinguished Senators.

The S e n a t or from Virginia [Mr. RIVES] h as

preach e d me a h o m i l y o n t he s ubje ct of my party

ieelings. I a c k n o w l e d g e

m y s e l f

t o be

a

pany m a n ;

and whj? Fo r th e very same

reason,

I presume,

•which has, a l s o , made i h e S.-nator i r o m Virginia

3 L party

r t > . n .

I sincerely believe t h at t h e very

test i n t e r e s t s of th e country are i d e n t i f i e d wiih t h e

principles a n d involved i n th e success of my

party;

and

h e

doubtless

entertains

a

similar

opinion

i n

l e g ard t o th e party t o w h i c h h e belongs. B a t

h e ,

o f a l l men, oug h t t o be the l a s t

man i n

t h i s S t n a ' e

1 o read

me

such

a

l e s s o n . I s h e n o party man

h i m s e lf ?

T h i s h e

w i l l

not

pretend. I

think

I

may

•with confidesce

appeal t o the

S e n a t e

t o d e c i . i e

•whether

h e

i s

n o t ,

a t t h e

vtry U a s l , as strong a n d

arde n t a part y man

as

myself.

In

regard

t o our

foreign r e l a t i o n s ,

I

h a v e e v er

s tud i ou sl y a vo i de d , as far as

t h i s was

p o s s i b l e , t h ;

influence

o f pa rt y f e e l i n g .

I h a v e det ermin ed,

o n

this subject, t o be of n o party but t h a t of my coun

try;

and

i f

I

know myself,

I

s h ou ld

rather

h a v e

applauded, i f that

h a d been

p o s s i b l e , t h a n co n

demned the conduct

of t h e S ecre tary o f Slate

i n h i s recent transactions with the B r i t i s h Govern

m e n t .

The c o mm e n t ari e s wh i c h

I

h a v e made on

h is

instructions

t o the Attorney Gen eral,

I

f e l t

my

self called upon to make as

a n

American Senator,

e a l ous of k i s country's honor.

The

Secretary's

h e a d would

h a v e been

turned

l o n g ago, i f t h e inc ense of flarcry cnuld h a v e pro

d u c e d t h is f f l V c t . Each of th e four S e na to rs h as

indulged i n an e rce ss of eulogy upon h i m . As i f

no

o n e

mortal

man

could

be

j u s t l y

c o m p ar e d

with

h i m , h e h as be en a l mos t

d e i f i e d

by c o m pa ri n g him

with th e w h o l e Roman

S e nate . The S e nator from

Virginia

h a s

i nforme d us t h a t the Secretary w i l l

deliver up McLeod t o the

British

G o v e r n m e n t ,

as

the

Roman

S e n a t e sent back

the

murderers of t h e i r

e mbassadors t o King

Dem etrius,

det ermin ed l i k e

t h e m t o

a v e n g e

the i n s u l t

offered t o his country,

n o l

upon th e

h e a d

of aay

subordinate

a ge n t, but of

t h e

sovereign

himself.

We

shall

se e hereafter t h e

j u s t i c e of t h i s p a r a l l e l .

I

h a v e

been f o r many

years

a c qu a in t ed with

t h e

distinguished

author

of

th e i nstructio ns t o Mr.

G r i t -

tenden.

Fo r

condensation

of

t h o u g h t

and

of

e x -

preision,

and for power

of a r g u m e n t ,

t h a t g e n t l e

man

i s not surpassed by

any

man ia t h i s country

But w i l l these q u a l i t i e s alone make him a grea

p r a c t i c a l stat esman?

No,

s i r , no. To

be

such i

state sman,

h e

m - . - i ba powerful

in

actions

as

wel

as i n ar gu m e n t s—n d e e d s as well a s in words. H(

m u s t possess the clear a n d

s o u n d judgment—

t h <

moral firmness,

a n d

t h e s e l f-rel iance

necessary

decide

»n d

t o a c t , with prompt n e s s and energy, i i

a n y c r i s i s

of p o l i t i c a l a f f a i r s .

The

Secretary i s no

t h e

man

whom

I s h ou ld

s e l e c t for

my

leader i i

time s of

d i f f i c u l t y

a n d

danger.

In

th e

m i g h t ;

storms

whic h

s h ak e empires, h e i s n o t the mal

whom

I s hould

place

a t the helm

to

ste er th e

s h i

of S la te i n safety through the rag i ng billows. Ni

ture generally

d i s t r i b u t e s

h e r g i f t s with

an

impai

t i a l h a n d . Some

sh e endows

wi th g re at powers <

e loquence ,

a n d others with

great powers

of

a c t i o i

b u t .

s h e s e l d o m

c o m b i n e 3 both

in th e same

i n d

vidual. D e m o s t h e n e s himself, th e greatest of

on

t o r s , f l e d disgracefully a t the battle ( I think) <

Cheror.sBa, a n d afterwards

a c c ept ed

a bribe; w b . i l

C icero

w . i

•

timid

a n d i r r e s o l u t e by nature, ac

was,

e v e n

i n

i h e

opi nion of

h i s

own

friends,

u n i

f o r

great

a c t i o n * . I would not attribute

t o

the S

crelary t h a t want of courage and

f irm n e s s

whi<

was

so

sinking i n

D e m o s t h o n e s

and

Cicero; and

present these e x a m p l e s m e r e l y fo r th e purpose >

proving t h a t great

powers

of ratiocina'ion do n

alon e make great state sme n, f i t t e d to act upon

ing

occasions. In

l eaving th e

S e n a t e ,

' . h e

Secret

ry has, I think, l e f t h i s proper t h ea t re of a c t i o

S h o u l d we be involved i n serious d i f f i c u l t i e s ' wi

E n g l a n d , I d o ubt wh e t h e r h e will ever be as co

spicuout i n tbe

f i e l d

of d ip l o ma ti c

action,

as

h as b»e n

i n

the

f i e l d

of

debate.

His

i s

n o t o n e

those m a s t er m i n d s

whic h c a n re g ul a t e and c o n t .

events.

I

s h a l l now

mum

t o

the

subject of d e ba t e a

s h a l l

sp e n d

n o more tim e upon i t than may

absolutely

nece ssary

t o

reply

to t h e few p o i i

made by those who

have,

with

sach eloquen'

h e a p e d eulogy

upon eulosy o n t h e Secretary,

stead of

refuting my arguments.

T h e r e

are somi

important

principles

on wh :

th e fuur Senators a n d m y s e l f entirely a gr e e . A

in t h e f i r s t place, t h e y

a l l coincide

with i r , e

i n

eard

t o

th e

e n o r m o u s

outrage committed

on

(

n a ti o na l s o vere i g nl y by th e capture and destr


9/16

' i b e - C a r o l i n e . We

aUJagr ee

t h a t t h i s was

I* t r c c i o u s invasion

0 1 *

o a r

r i g h t s

as a f r e e

l

j d f p t n d e a t

n a t i o n .

Aa American v e s s e l ,

| - * : » y

A m erican

c i t i z e n ; , and lying wiihin

r

«

w a t e r s icder t h e protection of our own u . r / ,

k s : ~n s e i ze d by

a

band of

volunteer

m arauders

t c i . ' p p e r Canada, h as be e n s e t

on

f i r e , and with

ksumcd

a n d m u rd e re d

citizen,

o n

board

—

he

« » i ' h

t h e dead—as

be e n sent h e a d l o n g down

i d i a d t ' o l p r e c i p i c e of Niagaw.

We a l l

agree

i n i s

wa s on e

of the greatest o ut ra ge s e ve r

•niutd by t h e

subjects

of

o n e i n d ep e n d e n t

n a

f f a e i m s t t h e

sovereignly

and th e c i t i z e n s of

w f c t r .

U i k « r e , t h e n ,

a n y

principle »f national l aw

ne b r e s i s t l e s s power that i t

w i l l rescue

Kaurdsrers

from

t r i a l and

pun is h m e n t

when

f f f s e d w i ; h i n t h e jurisdiction of th e

sove-

? n

SIM where t h e i r

cr im e s h a v «

been cum-

:

f t i l

C »a

i h e

perpetiators

of

t h i s

barbarity

i claimei

by t h e i r

Government,

a n d

upon i t s

• ^ j a e L i

assamption of

t h e i r

responsibility

i ; t ae i r g n ii t, most th e y be released and per-

c

' e i

t o

? o

( r t e

by

v i r t a e of any

imperative man-

•tcf the.'awof

aationil Toe B r i t i s h Govern

or

i c a

l a e A m e r i c a n Secretary of Siate h a v e

t T f r f d

; h i s

question in

the affirmative;

whilst

I

3 ; ' . I i i i i l be a b l e t o prove that the b e s t writers

t

p i c l j c l a w . a i well

as both reason a n d

j u s t i c e ,

i ' t tapered i t i n th e negative.

i . ' , I d j i i r e

t o pay a

des erved c o m p l i m e n t both

i

i t

i-jnmeai

o f

the

S e n a t or

from

Massachu-

i s , { K r ,

C H OITI.]

and t o th e

feelinzs displayed

( ka broHgboni n i s remarks. I t was h i s f i r s t

p v j r a c c e i n

debate

here,

and judging

of others

F a j i e i l ' , I must say,

t h a t

those who h a v e l i s

te d

k >

ai m

o nc e will

be anxious t o

h e a r him

O t

4«

t r e a t

principle

of international l a w

i n

i t i a l 1 2 t h i s cas e, t he S e n a t or and m y s e l f e n-

f y v n t .

I nd e ed o n ' h i s point there

i s n o con-

n « y o f opinion between m y s e l f

and any of

the

w'« wh o

h a v e

repiied t o m e ,

unless

i t may

be

f

S s i s t o r

from

Virginia.

In

my

op e ni ng

r e

nts - a i d down th e principle i n as broad terms

f c > o f

t h e m

have

used. I

f r e el y a d m i t t e r l ,

t h a t

ae

Bodern authorities

concurred

i n declaring,

> t &t

iw of

na ti o ns protects

individuals from

mhMt

i n th e conns of a n i nv ad e d country,

a - i s committed t h e r e ,

in

o b i d i e n e e

t e

i k e

t i r t i e r , sovereign, during a s t a t e o j

r , tsi t h a t , t o o , vkeUur t h i s u f a r h at been

( M . ' J i t r l t r e d or n o t , a nd t o k t t h e r

i t

b e general or

&&

Wax has i t s

own

laws, and* such

i n d i -

' • » ' ? . i i

s e i z e d , c a n

o n l y be h e ld

as

prisoners o l

•

T i e y

c a n n o t

be

punished.

Upon

t h i ?

prin-

iti'ke law

of nations we

a l l

agree. I t

i s

M . ' U ippiieation t o th e circumstances of t h e

•mease, and

upon

t h a t alone, t h a t we d i f f e r .

I

talk

I

sh all satisfy th e S e n a t e t h a t

n o

war o f

rtad, under th e

l a w

of n at io ns , e xi st ed be-

* i

Great Britain and

the U n it ed

S t a t e s ,

i n con-

•aet o f t he attack upan the

Caroline;

and t h a t

c a p t u r e of t h i s vessel was not a n act of

war.

•1 then

conclusively

e s t a b l i s h ,

frrm

the very

k r i t i e s cited

by

th e Senaior?,

t h a t

th e perpe tra -

' i t h i s outrage are

l i a b l ;

t o be t r i e d a n d pu-

I t l i n

i h e

criminal

courts of

New

Yurk,

|

I f

no

war existed betw e e n th e

t wo

nations,

then, according t o t h e ar gu m e n t of th e Senators

th e mse lve s, M'Leod

ca n ecjoy

n o immnnity from

t r i a l and pun is h m e n t .

Was.

the capture of th e

Carolin e then a n act of war) I a n sw er n o t . And

why? Became n o power o n e a r t h , except i t be the

s n p t e m e sovereign

power of a

nation, can make

war.

Nay,

m ore ; n o

ot h er

power

ca n e ve n

grant

l e t t e r s of marque a n d r e p r i s a l . The S e n a t e w i l l un

derstand

t h a t

I sp e ak

of offensive

war,

such

as th e

capture

of

th

Documents

U.S. Senator James Buchanan Pennsylvania - Vattel in Congress 1840-1841