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