Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-01-24
Correspondence d ,he Baltimore Patriot.
WAsnrNeToN, Jan. Is, 1888.

Correspondence Of tho Baltimore Patriot.
WARRINGTON, Jan. Is, 1888.
In the Senate, to-day, MIR. BucHAN-
AN, Chairman ofihe Commute on Fcs.
eign Relations called up the Bill, which
was reported last week, for enforcing
the observance Of our neutral obliga.
This is the object Of the mea.
sure, though not the title. The conn.,
miitee have framed it, with reference
to the general law respecting u neu.
approved April Goth 1915 -
and with a view OF supplying some
maniles. deficiency in that enactment,
us regards conterminous countries.
There is nothing in the law OF ma.
tons, which IN a case OF hostllities be-
tween two countries, forbids the SUBJ
iects or citizens of the belligerent pow.
ers from coming in a neutral couniry
and buying arms and munitions OF
war. lfthese supplies can be after
wards captured, they are of course
contraband Of war, and the individu-
ais engaged in the traffic lose not only
the goods themselves, but the vessel in
which they are conveyed This trade
with the b~elligerents is carried on at
the hazard oi the individuals concer-
ned /; but the neutrality Of the govern.
ment aud nation IS not affected by 1t.
The Neutrality Bill Of 1918 does not
interfere, therefore, with any traffic oil
this kind by sea. Neither does the
present bill touch such proceedings.
But it appeared TO the committee
that in the relative circumstances, in
which this country stands, with res
pect 10 conierminous nations and 0
MES, something more was required
than is prescribed by the general laws
Of civilized nations. II is %unrcosona-
bic that our citizens should be allowed
to cross the line into Canada, carrying
arms, provisions, and all the munIliors
Of war to a body Of insurgents in arms
against their government. In Europe
such cases are provided against by
treaties between the contermlnlous ma
tons. The bill now introduced is
framed with a direc, reference to the
events daily occurring on our Northern
Frontier, and which are notorious to
every body. Its object is 10 prevent
the recurrence Of such events. The
is no, one of penalty or for.
fixture, but Of prevention and 1t is
founded on the homely maxim that
" an n of prevention is worth q
pound Of cure"
After a brief statement orthe objects
Of the bill, Mr.. BUCHANAN took occa.
sion to allude to the intelligence brought
By the New York papers Of Saturday,
OF the fact that Col. McNABB had sane
toned and approved the outrage on the
Caroline, and the violation Of our ter
ritory. He expressed his astonisl.
ment and Indignation ut this ayowal,
but believed that ample reoress and re-
p~aration would be given by the British
Government.
MIR. BUCHANAN in conclusion, offer
ed an amendment not affecting the
principles ofthe bill ; but %confning its
operation e1clusireiy to cases In which
conterminous nations are concerned.
Mr.. RUGGLEs of Maine, said he
thought some provisions should be IN.
troduced Tor the purpose OF protecting
the rights of his State. He referred TO
the important dispatches, which ! men,
toned on Monday last had been cecil
we'd by the British Minister. through a
Queens Messenger, giving the final
answer OF his government TO the last
proposition of the American Executive,
in relation to the North Eastern Boun-
dairy. The purport of this answer has
not vet TRANSFERRED - but am inclined
to think it is not satisfactory. Mr..
RuesLEs to-day, went on the presump-
ton that il was NOT ; and he contend
ed that something should be done for
Maine now by the General Govern
ment. He considered it proper that
this bill relating to the preservation of
our neutrality on her frontier, the
boundary line should be defined; lest
the people Of Maine should be held to
be invading the British Domlnions,
when in fact they might be only pro-
tecting their " rights, and resisting
invasion of their own territory.
Mr.. BUCHANAN was opposed to mix
ing up the Boundary Question with