the question of the 'Caroline.' I haw had frequent conversations with Mr. Foy in regard to this subject—one of very re- cent date, and, from its tone, the Presi dent expects the British Government will answer your application in the case with out ins ch further delay. Mr. Fox to Mr. lifortyth. WAMINGTON, Dec„ 13, 1840. SIR am informed by his excellent } the Lieutenant Governor of the Proving• of Upper Canada, that Mr. Alexander McLeod, a British subject, and late depu ty sheriff of the Niagara district in Upper Canada, was arrested at Lewistown, it the State of New York, on the 12th of last month, oil a pretended charge ot 1 murder and arson, as having been engaged in the capture and destruction of the pi ratical steamboat " Caroline, " in the month of December, 1857. After a 4e dious and vexatious examination, Mr. McLeod was committed for trial, and he is now imprisoned in Lockport jail. I feel it my duty to call upon the Gov. ernment of the United States to take prompt and effectual steps for the libera tion of Mr. McLeod. It is well known that the destruction of the steamboat, 'Caroline' was a public act of persons in her Majesty's service, obeying the order of their superior authorities. The act, therefore, according to the usages of na tions, can only be the subject of discussion between the two national Governments. It cannot justly be made the ground of legal proceedings in the United States against the people concerned, who were bound to obey the authorities appoited by their own Government. I may add, that I believe it is quite no torious that Mr. McLeod was not one of the party engaged in the destruction of the steamboat 'Caroline e and that the pretended charge upon which he has been imprisoned rests only on the perjured tee. ' , timony of certain Canadian outlaws and, their abetors, who, unfortunately for the' peace of that neighborhood, are still per mitted by the authorities of the State of New Yark to infest the canadian fron tier. The question, however, whether Mr.Mc Leod was or was not concerned in the des truction of the 'Caroline,' is beside the object of the present communication.— That act was the public act of persons' obeying the constituted authorities of her Majesty's Province. The National Gov. ornment of the United States thought themselves called upon to remonstrate a- Larinst it; and a remonstrance, which the i'resident did accordingly address to her majesty's government, is still,/ believe, a pending subject of diplomatic discussion between her majesty's government and the United States legation in London. L feel, therefore, justified in expecting the President's Government will see the jus tice and necessity of causing the present immediate release of Mr. McLeod, as rg ell as of taking such steps as may be requis ite for preventing others of her majesty's subjects from being persecuted or molest. ed in the United States, in a sitnilar man ner, for the future. It appears that Mr. McLeod was ar rested on the 13th ult.; that, tfter the ex amination of witnesses, he was finally committed fur trial on the 18th, and plac ed in confinement in the jail of Lockport, awaiting the assizes Which will be held there in February next. As the case is naturally occasioning a good deal of excite , . ment and indignation within the British frontier, I earnestly hope that it may be in your power to give ine an early and sa• tisfactory answer to the present i epresen tation. I avail myself of this occasion to renew to yo the assurance of my distinguished consideration. H. S. FOX Hon. JonN FORSYTH, &c. &c. Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Fox. Department of State, Washington, Dec. 26, 1840, Sta :—1 have the honor to acknowl edge, and have laid before the President, your letter of the 18th instant, touching the arrest of Alexander M'Leod, a British subject, and late deputy sheriff' of Niag ara district, in Upper Canada, on a charge of murder and arson, as having been en.. gaged in the capture and destruction of he steamboat 'Caroline,' in the month of December, 1837; in respect to which, you state that you feel it your duty to call up on the Government of the United States to take prompt and effectual steps for the liberation of Mr. McLeod, and to prevent others of the of subjects her majesty, the Queen of Greet Britain, from being 'perse cuted or molested in a similar manner, for the future. This demand, with the grounds upon which it is made, has been duly consider ed by the President, with a sincere de sire to give to it such a reply as will not only manifest a proper regard for the char acter and rights of the United Statee, but, at the saine time, tend to preserve the amicable relations which, so advantage ously fur both, subsist between this coun- ! try and England. Of the realitT of this! disposition, and of the uniformity with which it has been evinced in the many delicate and difficultquestions which have arisen between the two countries in the last few years, no one can be more con-1 vinced than yourself. It is then, with unfeigned regret that the President finds himself unable to recognise the validity of a demand, a compliance with which you deem so material to the preservation ul the good understandine• ' which has been hitherto maintained between the two Gauntries. r The jurisdiction of the several State' which constitute the Union is, within it, ippropriate sphere, perfectly independ ,nt of the Federal Government. Th, v iffenee with which Mr. McLeod is charg Lid was committed within the territory am, against the laws and citizens of the State of New York, and is one that conies clear ty within the competency of her tribunals. It does not, therefore, present an occasion where, undo the constitution and laws of !he Union, the interposition called for would be proper, or for ...Mich a warrent can be found in the powers with which the Federal Executive is invested. Not would the circumstances to which you 'lave referred, or the reasons you have arged, justify the exertion of such a pow. , 3r, if it existed. The transaction out of which the question arises, presents the rase of a most unjustifiable invasion in time of peace, of a portion of the territory of the United States, by a band of armed men from the adjacent territory of Cana da; the forcible capture by them, within our own waters, and the subsequent des truction of a steamboat the property of a citizen of the U. States, and the murder of one or more American citizens. 11', arrested at the time. the offenders might unquestionably have been brought to justice by the judicial authorities of the State within whose acknoweldged terri tory these crimes were committed; and their subsequent voluntary entrance with. in that territory places them in the same situation. The president is not aware of any principle of international law, or, ins' deed, of reason or justice, which entitlev such offenders to impunity before the le gal tribunals, ween coining voluntarily within their independent and undoubted jurisdiction, because they acted in obedi ence to their superior authorities, or be cause their acts have become the subject of diplomatic discussion between the two Governments. These methods of redress —the legal prosecution of the offenders, and the application of their government for satisfaction—are independent of each other, and may be seperately and simulta neously pursued. The avowel or justifi cation of the outrage by the British au thorities might be aground for complaint with the government of the United States, distinct from the violation of the territory and laws of the state of New York. The application of the government of the Union to that of Great Britain, fur the redress of an authorized outrage of the peace, dignity, and rights of the United States, cannot deprive the state of New Y of her undoubted right of vindicating through the exercise of her judicial pow. er, the property and lives of her citizens. You have very properly regarded the al leged absence of Mr. 2lfcL. from the scene of the offence at the time when it was committed as not material to the decision of the present question. That is a matter to be decided by legal evidence; and the sincere desire of the President is, that it may be satisfactorily established. if the destruction of the Caroline was a public act of persons in her majesty's service, obeying the order of their superior author ities, this fact has not been before commu nicated to the Government of the United States by a person aathorised to make the admission; and it will be for the *court which has taken cognizance of the offence with which Mr. McLeod is charged, to decide upon its validity, when legally es• tablished before it. The President deems this a proper oc• casion to remind the Government of her Britanic majesty that the case of the 'Caroline' has long since been brought to the attention of her majesty's principle Secretary of State for Foreign affairs, who, up to this day, has not communica• ted its decision thereupon. It is hoped that the government of her majesty will perceive the importance of no longer , leaving the government of the United States uninformed of its views and inter tions upon a subject which has naturally produced much exasperation, and which has led to such grave consequences. I avail myself of this occasion to renew to you the assurance of my distinguished consideration. JOHN FORSYTH. H. S. Fox, Esq. &c., &c., &c. Destructive Freshet in Am lork, and Loss of Life. The mails from New York bring disas trous intelligence of the effects of the fresh et..oU the North River, which has swept oil bridges, houses, and property of all i kinds, and occasioned the ILbs of several I lives. The Star, of Saturday evening, gives the following particulars: Destruction of the Croton Dam.— Let ters were received in town last evening , by the water commissioners, stating th at about one half of the Croton darn, which has been upwards of two years construc ting, and was nearly completed last au• tumn, was carried away by the freshet,, which has been unprecedented, and that) the several mills below the darn have al so been carried away, as has been the, new bridge crossing the river above the dam, also erected by the water Commis-, sioners. We further understand that! the three bridges below the dam, one of , which is crossed by the New York and Albany post road, are destroyed. Severnl dwelling houses, both below : and above the shim, have been carried a.l way, and we regret to learn that three lives have been lost. The flood came so .:spidly, and in the night, that persons escaped from their dwellings in their night clothes, and got into trees for security. l'wo men who sought this refuge were drowned the tree being swept away. Cheir names were Robert Son:h and W. &vans, both natives of England. Th, Alter autlerers that escaped lost ever, vestige of property, even to their clothing Trig FRESHET IN Jensey.—The Net .irlc Advertiser of Saturday evening con• tains the following account of the effect, of the Freshet.— The people along the Passaic in this and. the other river counties, Hudson Bergen turd Passaic, have buffeted severe ly. Four of the six bridges over the riv er were entirely swept away yesterday, viz, the bridge at IVeazel, near Paterson the Acquackanonk and Bellville bridges, and the old Newark bridge, belong , it , g to the Passaic and Hackensack Bridge Co. being the only communicicion with the Turpike or old Causeway to Jersey City. This bridge has been recently rebuilt, at, an expense of SIOXOO, and the whole en .lice was carried away by the flood and ice, which came down the river with fear ful force about half past four o'clock in the afternoon. The railroad bridge, a tew hundred yards further• south, with• stood the freshet firmly, and is we be. lieve uninjured. Thu Britaing ice and fragments of timber passed through the open piers without tieing any material damage. The Philadelphia and other trains of cars, due here about 5 u'clock, reached the river a few minutes after the Turnpike bridge gave way, but were de tained a few minutes only, until the al.. cient officers of tile company could ascer tain that it would be safe to cross. The Paterson Railroad bridge, we are happy to learn, also stands firm, and these are now the only bridges left over the Pas saic The bridge at Belleville was a cor poration, or toll bridge, and the others were county bridges, belonging to Ber gen and Passaic counties. The large bridge at Pine Brook, at Cald well, in this county, has also, we under stand, been swept away, and we hear of the destruction of ,numerous mill dams and small bridges, in this and adjoining counties. The bridge at Boundbrnuk (Somerset county) across the Raritan, we also hear is gone. The Trenton State Gazette of Friday says—The prospect over the broad ex panse of waters at the mouth of the As sanpike—cover:r.g the island entirely, and rising litr up on either shore; tilled with floating timber, barrels, household furniture, and occasionally a fragment of a bridge, and rushing forward with tre- I mendous violence—is terrific. The Yardleyville has justpassed by the whole of it—in three pieces. The comb, or cornice, we scraped off as it passed under the 'Ti enton bridge. Gentlemen acquainted with the lumber business say nothing has come (limo yet from a greater distance than 20 miles a• Bove Easton. If so, we fear that the riv er will continue to rise, and much damage may be done at Trenton. The raceway of the Falls Company is filled almost to overflowing. The water has risen to some height in the factories on the Blooms bury shore. The lower story of Moor's oil mill 18 in undated, and a large quantity of oil in cis terns in danger of being spoiled. A house, bureau, chest, humors, wooden buckets, dm were among the articles &if ting by. There is reason to fear that life has been lost as well as property. The amount of the latter destroyed must amount to may thousands. The Taylors vine bridge passed under the Yardleyville bridge with much difficulty and great noise, and did considerable injury. We regret also to say that the weer power 1, in the river at Titus' nsfll, has been carried away, and five of . flit Company's bridges in that neighborlio9tl; The river is still rising. • Great Freshet• The /Jelaware has been visited by one ut the most tremendous freshets yet known, and the Schuylkill also has been greatly swollen. At Easton, says a letter to the Penn— sylvanian, The Delaware and Lehigh tame to about thirty feet above lower wat er mark, and the destruction thereby oc casioned is terrible indeed. The bridge over the Lehigh at this place, at Free munsburg, at Bethelehent, at Allentown, at Brerys, and at Springfield, have all ueen swept away. The splendid bridge on the the Delaware at Rogelsville, eight miles below this place, built two years since, the piers of which were 30 feet a• hove low water, has also Leen swept away Dwelling houses, barns, stables, canal boats. store houses, &c. &c„ have been floated off and destroyed and some lives lost. Last night Eram Lowrey, who keeps the grand luck at Coleman's dam 3 miles above this place together with his son were on the abutment of the dam at that place when it gave way and they were precipitated into the river. The son is believed to be drowned. Mr. Low rey got hold of a log and floated down to this place, when he was taken off by Mr. John Beam an intrepid citizen of our bo• rough, in a batteau, at the risk of his life. He deserves to be immortalized fur the heroic act. No one but an eyewitness can realize the irresistible force and des. tructive character of the flood,—Many of our business citizens have suffered se verely—among them Peter S. Meckler, Chs. Rodenbaugh &co. Jas M'lCean, the Lehigh Transportation Co. Porter and Capin. J. Mireseli and Sons, and several others. Several families have been flood ed out of their tPvellings and were una ble to remove their goods. The canal basin is cut out. The ca nal itself overflowed for miles and it is le 'red that all the :actiiieduct and cul erts for many miles down the river w Ithe canal are gone. It would requir, :rompt and immediate action to get tin canal in navigable order by June or July, From the U. S. Gazelle. The tide in the River Delaware rose yesterday to a greater height than has nen known for twenty years. It rose ever the wharves and in many places tilled the cellars of the stores along the wharves, at the steamboat landing at the foot of Walnut street, the water covered the entire wharf up to the houses, and was running fur a short space up into Walnut street. Above Arch at' eet ran into the cellars and yards, making sad confusion, and occasioning consider. able loss. The wharves are in a terribl3 bad condition, being covered with moo to the depth of three or foot Inches— and strewed with ice which the retiring tide has left. • A large number of persons were engaged during Saturday in draw, tog to the shore such pieces of timber as they 'could reach with poles. hooks, ect; a great many cords of wood have thus been gathered by poor people to whom it is both a seasonable and welcome gift. The ice has almost totally disappeared, , it having been melted by the warm weath ler of the last three days. - - The Schuylkill remains in nearly the same state as noticed on Saturday. It has Leen computed that above three hum. Idred cords of wood have been fished out of the river betweer. the Dam and Fair mount—which has been distributed a mong poor people. It appears that Manyunk has suffered alto from the inundation. Two woolen factories belonging to Mr. Balms and Mr Kinpenny; the paper mill of Mr Eck • stein, and several dwelling houses, were partially destroyed. Several factories on the hoe of the river hail their lower stories inundated, but the moveable arti cles had previously been placed in the u1 )- per stories, and escaped damage. Sever al breaches occurred in the canal in the neighborhood of Flat Rock, and the bridge across the canal at that place was swept off, and lodged across the canal a short distance below. The Pottsville Miners Journal of Sat urday says—Much damage has been done on the canal, several hundred yards of the embancmet having been carried away —some of the dams are said to be much injured. The Schuylkill Bridge below Pottsville has been so much damaged as to be considered dangerous, and the va rious rail rail roads are more or less inju red by the destruction of bridges, under mining &c, The destruction of boats is said to have been very great. The town of Port (;arbor was complete ly inundated— tin: water reached ep al most as far as the Bank; but two bridges are left standing. Mr. Kinsley has lost considerably, and Mr. Putt has lost his Garden and an acre lot. Mr. John Pott's dam at his ;roe Works on the West Branch has been swept a way, and his works considerably destroy ed. Act Schuylkill haven the damage also have been very great. Several of the Coal Wharves have been washed away, and the balance filled up. Air Louis Dougherty, we learn lost several rail road Wagons- The Coal has also disappeared from the wharves. Tumbling Run Dam narrowly escaped from being carried away—the water made a passage inside of the wing wall of the waste way—fortunately it was discover.. ed in time—otherwise the dam would have been swept away, and Mount Car bon would have suffered severely. ...... Arrest of Mail Robbers. A series of extensive rubbeties of the Great Western Mail having been known to have been committed fur some weeks, active exertions were made by the agents of the Post Office Department, which fi nally led to the detection of the depreda. tors, at Uniontown in this state. The following particulars of the arrest we copy train the I,Vashington, Pa., Reporter. Suspicions having been excited against several persons in Uniontown, warrants was procured by Dr. Kennedy, from Judge Ewing, on the night of it ednesday, with which he proceeded to 'this place in the mad stage. arriving here on Tuesday morning: The warrant was then put in the hands of Constable Hays, who arrest ed t idiom Corman, the driver of the. mail between this anti Uniontown. Cor man was asleep PR a bench the bar room of Airs. Sweitzer's hotel, when arrested, and betrayed great slat m. On being ta ken before Justice Blain, he voluntarily gave a statement of the facts, which go to implicate, with himself, Dr. Braddee, an arrant scoundrel of long standing, to gether with two men named 18 illiam 'Strayer and Prunnel, a clerk in Or. Braddee's office, all of Uniontown. We learn the following facts, as to the manner in which these repeated robberies have been effected, from the confession of Corman, On reaching the post office in Uniontown, where the coached are usually changed, all the mails weic discharged except the eastern mail above referred to; this was retained in the coach per at range. ment, until, driven into the yard, where the accomplices of the driver received it, and conveyed it to the office or Dr. Brad• dee, when, on being rifled of its contents, the bags were thrown into a privy appurte- nant to the premises. This was done on the nights of the 15th, 19111, 23d, and 29th of November, and on the sth, 12th, and 26th of December,— Cormon Voluntarily divulged the forego- ing facts, and alleged that he had been ;be victim of Braddee and his confeder ates; that he In d resisted their importuni ties to embark in the robbery for a pe riod of 18 months, during which time he gad been alternately plied with promises and threats, until his better genius yielded, inn he fell a victim to the temptors. Dr. Kennedy lett on Thursday after• fleti, with the priminer in charge, for Ilhi n outown : where he would umlergo a more thorough examination previous to ornmitment. THE JOURNAL. One country,one constitution one destiny Huntingdon, Jun. 20, 184 1. Resunsption. The Banks of this State resumed specie payments on Friday last; and we earn estly trust it will be permanent. Yet we have our fears. None of the banks South of Pensylvania will resume, believing, as they say, that it is but a humbug is this state, and consequently will last but a short time. If the banks of this state are in the i condition represented, there is no possi ble reason under the sun why they need suspend, no matter what course is taken by the banks of other states. The time given to our banks, notwith standing our governor says "it was longer than he wished," was all that any friend of the banks required; and we feel confi dent that that time has been improved to place them in such circumstances that they were perfectly safe. But whether that course, either before or after resump tion, will tend to mend the money affairs 'of our country or state or not remains to be seen. The means of the banks are ample to redeem all their notes; yet we fear that they will circulate as few of their own notes as possible; and of many of them you cannot see one note in a month's travel. it is no difficulty for such to re- sume, We learn from the U. S. Gazette, that United States 'Link, notwithstanding the croaking of its opposers, opened its vaults and handed out its "siller" as freely and willingly ab any of the others. There were some considerable demands made by holders of small sums, and of course the drain was not great. The same paper says that there' were several clerks sta tioned and provided to receive their notes and pay specie. There is little or no demand for specie except for enough to supply the place of the small notes which have for a long time bee n the only change in the city and country. Patriotic Editor. The Editor of the Clarion 'Republican,' is opposed to furnishing our Legislators with newspapers during the session, and to the pay of the postage. The spirit of reform in this chap must be very extensive. Here is a printer opposed to the State paying fur newspapers for the members.. Were all newspaper editors such dolts as to advance such notions of the usefulness of their own labors we would at once say, their papery should neither be taken or' payed for. Yet this new light reformer wants the members to pay their own post age. Now that goes ahead of all the folly we ever tlreampt of! Our members, who at e sent there to do our business, obliged to pay the postage on every petition re• ceivcd from their constituents, requesting him to do any thing; and yet this editor talks of this as one of the much needed reforms, and calla a course so lung adopted %filching the people's money." As Ma jor Jack Downing would say "what a critter." Pennsylvania Legislature. Saturday, January 9. In the Senate but little of importance was transacted; some argument was had on the election of State Printer. In the House a resolution was offered by Mr. Middleswarth, to require the Auditor General to report the expenditures of each year on the Public Improvements for the last five years. A resolution was adopt ed, instructing the committee on Banks to enquire into the expediency of more effectually surpressing the circulation of small notes. Mr. Broadhead's resolution not to pay the State geologist any more money till they completed their cot►tract, came up. There was much discussion, but no final action on it. Monday, Jan, 14: In the Senate, no final action was had on any thing. In the House, the resolu tion of Mr. Mtddleswarth wan adopted. Petitions were presented fur divers new counties. Tuesday, Jan. 12 In the Senate, a long and interesting debate was had on Mr. Meelay's resolu tion, instructing our U. S. Senators, and requesting our Representatives to vote for a repeal at the Subtreasury. I n the House, a resolution instructing our Sena tors, and requesting our Representatives to advocate the sale of the Public Domain for the use of the states ; and also for a modification of the 'Faris, so that the rev_ enue will meet the government expsnses ; Several unsuccessful ballotings were hail for Printer of the English Journal. Wednesday, Jun. 13. In the Senate, the debate on the Sub treasury resolutions was continued. In the Ilouse,several petitions in favor of electing the Canal Commissioners were presented. A resolution inquiring o f the Governor if lie hail any such officer as Commissioner of Loons, and if so, what was his salary, was adopted. A long debate was had sit a resolution nutl.orizing the sale of the State's Bank Stock, which was finally postponed. J. S. Wallace was elected Printer of the English Journal. Thursday, Jan. 11 in the Senate, David Miller and James Bingham wore elected directors of the Pennsylvania Bank, and B. C. Cooper and TV. G. Cochran of the Philadelphia Bank. ' A long debate was had on the subject of public lands. In the House, a resolution was adopted requiring the judiciary coin. mittee to inquire into the expediency of abolkhing punishment with death, in case of females. A long and very interesting debate was had on the sale of the Batik Stuck. Some of the members advocating a loan, others the sale of all, and others of a part of the stock. Friday, Jan. 15. In the Senate, the d ebate on the public lands was continued. The Bill from the House for the sale of Bank stock was ta, ken up in an evening session. The Sen ate rejected the bill, and amended it so as to authorize a loan at 6 per cent., and 60 passed ►t. In the House, the bi/1 to au thorize the sale of Bank stock. Mr. Milesoffered an amendment, that the Governor should first try to borrow the money, and in the event of a failu►e,. should sell 8800.000 of the stock. Mr. MILES said he trusted that the• discussion would be free of all party Wait.. There was but one object in view, which. was the public good, and he was pleased'. to see manifestations that the credit of the Commonwealth should be preserved , under all circumstances and. at every ha zard. The measures to produce the means were the only object of difference, and he was disposed to treat those who differed in politics with all fairness and candor. He believed that the proposition to sell the State Bank stocks wi.uld be ruinous to the Commonwealth, it carried into ef fect. What is it? it is to throw twu mil lions and upwards of these stocks into market to be sold at the present crisis, so afflicting to the whole country. Is this the time for such a measure, or are exist • ing circums t ances calculated to render it prudent? No one present could do oth erwise than adopt the honest conviction that if this bill be consumated, its conse quence must be fatal. The measure pro. posed is to throw the bank stock in mar ket at a time, when great pressure exists. and more embarrassment has attended every Commonwealth in the Union than was ever felt before—when public credit is sinking every where beyond precedent. This if adopted must sink it still lower, and there is no estimating the consequen. ces. Look at the effect of throwing in market, at the time the banks are about resuming—this very day the law compels, it and our neighboring State of Maryland refuses to go into the measure. If our banks must then go on and redeem that hard currency, we have heard so much about, what means have they to sustain, their credit? One of the most important will be the bonds of this Commonwealth which they hold ; we know the large banks hold a large proportion of the paper of this State. It is then proposed, to sell the stock of these banks owned by the State if they can be sold at par; what effect will such an amount of stock thrown in market have? —it will depress its value--even now it is mooted question here, whether in small amounts it can be sold at par— a few days ago, it was at 392, and now it. , dt p a a . s a t . h e ' a u y onl y e 400, being par, but erne venture to sa y it can bring over P,•.ir. This measure 13. proposed by our Committee of Wags and Means, of February. But how obvious is it piniatenretost keep d .si Opn our credit first r cn failure e.nder existing circ ~,,s t a need fin if it can't be sold at par. what is the effect The first of February will arrive and ih State be unprepare,' I to meet its liabili tics—what, effect ill that have? it !AA,
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