Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-18
Monday, Jan. 10, lS3S.
IN SENATE

.N0aday, Jan. Is, 1898
IN SENATE.
The Vice President laid belofe the Senate several
communications from the War Department, transmitting
a report from the chief officer Of the Typographical bu
reai relating to the survey of Kennebeck liver, Maine
also n report recommending an increase OF the pay OF
the clerks VI the indian Department; Also report re-
lanr to the Cherokee treaty Of 1885, also the report of
the Commissioner of Indian Atairs per resolution OF
The Senate which were referred, and ordered TO be
printed.
A message from the President of The u S. was re-
ceived recommending the consideration Of the following
subjects:
lst OF constructing hospital OF asylum for lunatics
in Washington City.
ID The construction Of a new Jail in the same.
3D. The construction Of courthouse at Alexan-
dra.
The above subjects having been presented by the
Grand Jury of The county Of Washington, with permits
sion Of the Circuit Court.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
The engrossed bill to settle the claims OF the eXecu
tors Of K. W. Meade, and the bill making an appro'
priaon for the removal of the raft in the Red river,
severay read the third tme passed, and sent to
the other House for concurrence.
NEUTRAL DUTIES.
On motion Of Mr.. BUcHaSAS, the bill reported from
the Committee on Foreign Relations, 10 meet the pre-
sent emergency the Niagara frontier, was taken up.
Mr. BUcnASAN said that it would be proper for him to
give brief explanation Of the provisions Of this bill
and he should perform this duty with much brery as
possible. The Committee on Foreign Relations, III ex.
embodied all the former laws upon the subject. found that
il had been carefully drawn, and well adapted 10 pre-
neutral relations with Ue!ligeran Powers. The
committee therefore, do propose to make any change
in its general provisions Under the law of nations, the
citizens ofbegerant nations may to this
country and purchase arms and munitions OF war; and
our citizens have right 10 sell hrm without any vloh
ton Of neutrality. The individuals who may make
such purchases must get them home we'll they can;
and must the risk Of having them captured by their
enemy Our own citizens have also perfect right to
pursue their accustomed trade IN and munitions
OF with either Of the bellIgrrans. IL vessels
should be captured upon the high seas, these articles
would be conscatcd conraband OF war, and our CT
zens would lose their property; but still the neutral du-
ties Of our country would not be violated No bellge
rant milton would have right to complain TO Go.
vernment Thus stands the law Of nations; and the
Act Of 1918 does not interfere with these neutral rights
In regard to our trade by sea- with all foreign nations
in and munitions of war this bill did not interfere.
But we had three ncighbors on our ironers Canada,
Texas, and Mexico and the duties Of good neghbor-
houd required of something than strict adlcr.
to the principles of the law Of nations In Eu.
rope reciprocal treaties between conerminous nations
generally regulated this matter. Ii was out of all
aud justice that upon any sudden commotion in neigh
boring State, the insurgents should be directly aided aud
assisted in carrying their hosi,ies by vessels, and
by arms, and munitions of war. furnished 10 them for
that very purpose by citizens OF The United States
Unless this could be prevented we would make
selves parties TO every nsoIine cOmmoton which might
arise in the States and Colonies along frontier.-
To prevent and TO remedy this evil was the sole Oh.
ject of the present bill. MIR. B. said that this bill
tanned no penalties 1t was entirely Of pre-
venon, not Of punishment and operated exclusively
on property. The first section authorizes the seizure of
any vessel belonging 10 citizens Of the United States
which may be fitted out upon lakes and rivers,
together with the arms and munitions Of war which may
he found on board when the circumstances of the
render it probable that such vessel is about 10 pass the
frontier for The purpose Of aiding and assisting those per-
sons who have taken up arms against the established
Government of neighboring Snte Colony. Such
vessel however, Is 10 be released the moment the own
will give sufficient security that neither il the
arms and munitions of found in IT, shall be used for
such purpose If this security should not be gven it
is then retained until the President shall order it to be
restored. The second section contains similar prov
sion in regard to arms and munitions of war belonging
10 citizens of The United States when there is probable
cause 10 believe that they are destined TO carry on such
h"ot'so. Tne otner provisions of The bill required no
explanation. MIR. B. felt confident it not necessary
TOR him, at this tne 10 70 further into the subject. He
was prepared however TO afford any further plantations
10 any Senator who night ask them.
One other remark lie would make before he took his
seat lie had read with great establishment and less
regret, III The morning papers, letter from Col Nc
Nahb, commanding portion Of the British forces in Ca
NADIA. That officer not only that the steamboat
Caroline was destroyed by his orders, but he gloes in
the deed; in his opinion Captain in the ROYAL Navy has
acquired distinction by the destruction Of this vessel
Now if any thing could aggravatc The enormty Of the
outrage which had been committed on our neutral rights
1t would be this bold avowa and justification of The act
But, said MIR b. bound 10 perform duties 10
all nations, and equally bound by regard for the
character Of the naton and the insued rights Of our
citizens 10 require the British Government call
the authors OF this Outrage 10 The strctes account and
not to be satisfied without the most ample atonement
The British Government would have equal right TO
order the commander of of their vessels of TO
enter port of the United States and capture any vessel
which they might find there, if they fanced believed
that such vessel was TO be employed in hosles against
them Our territory and jurisdiction has been vic.
lated in the capture Of the Caroline, and national honor
requires that shall not submit TO this injury without
ample redress.
AS it not his purpose 10 enter into any argument
upon this subject he would conclude his remarks BY of.
fsring TO substitute amendment the three sections
which he held in bis hand for the three first sections of
the BILL These sections did no, change the bill in any
material particular, but they had been prepared with
much care as TO meet the which the committee
had in view with greater precision.
MIR. Ruggles wus DESTROYS of introducing an amend
calculated 10 meet The Of the disputed terrific
of the Stale of Maine; for this reason Mr. R. hoped
short delay might take place, to afford the necessary
me as he was not at present prepared for the purpose
and he wished the amendment Of Mr. b. 10 be printed
Mr.. Buchanan replied that although If the b was TO