.MTUzNg.MTY4MjQ

219

however frequently occur where this provision is ineffectual, either from neglect to make a proper application, or some other cause, and the officer finds it necessary to institute a useless prosecution against one wholly unable to defray even the expense, or to violate a plain and positive provision of law. My opinion of the necessity of furnishing the officers of infantry with the "Rules and Regulations for the Field Exercise and Manoeuvres of Infantry," and also of enabling the officers of Cavalry and Artillery to avail themselves of a more perfect knowledge of the best systims [systems] of discipline for their respective corps, was expressed two years ago, in a communication to the third Legislature. The necessity still remains, as no appropriation for that object has yet been made. In the month of March last, I received a communication from the Governor General of Canada, representing that a British subject had been forcibly seized in the city of Montreal at the instigation of American citizens and forced across the boundary line into the American territory, and was then confined in one of the gaols in this State, an [and] requesting that the person in question should be restored to liberty or replaced within the British Territory. On investigation it appeared, that the individual claimed had been apprehended in a neighboring State on a charge of felony committed against our laws; that he had been regularly brought within our jurisdiction by virtue of authority granted under the laws of the States in which he had been apprehended and through which he had been transported, that he had been tried in our highest judicial tribunal and found guilty of the felony of which he was charged, and at the time of the receipt of the application for his release was in prison in execution of the sentence awarded against him. The Provincial Governor was immediately advised of all the facts,