The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1841-06-18


such dlsturhers Of the national peace and
vlolatOrs Of the laws of their country shall
be brought TO exemplary punishment.
Nor will the fact that they are insligatcd
and led ON to these excuses by British
subjects, refugees from the provinces, be
deemed any excuse or palliation; although
it is well worthy of being remembered
that the prime movers of these diS,urban-
ccs ON the borders are subjects of the
queen, who come within the territories of
the United States, seeking to enlist the
sympathcs of their citizens, by all the
motives which they are able TO address TO
There is no reason to be-
llcyc that the design Of any hostile move
mcnt from the United States agalSt Cana
da has commenced with citizens of the
purposes and such enterprises is on the
other side of the line. But the prcsi-
dents resolution TO prevent these trans
grrsSionS of the laws is not, on that ac-
''"hI' wv I'SS ShblS. IL - ldhCH, loi
only III conformity to his duty under the
provisions of existing laws, but in full
consonancc with the established principles
and practice OF this government.
The government of the United States
has not, from the first, fallen into the
doubts, elsewhere entertained, OF the true
extent Of the duties of neutrality. 1t has
held that, however it may have been in
less enlightened ages, the just interprcta-
ton of the modern law of nations is, that
neutral states are bound to be strictly
neutral; and that it is manifest and gross
improperly for individuals to engage in
the civil conflicts of other states, and thus
to be at war, willie their government is
at peace. War and peace are high ma
tlonal relations, which can properly be
established or changed only by nations
themselves.
The United States have thought, also,
that the salutary doctrine Of non-interven-
ton by one nation with the affairs of
others is liable 10 be essentially impaired,
if, while the government relrains from in
reference, interference is allowed TO its
subjects, individually or in masses. 1t
may happen, indeed, that persons may
| chose TO leave their country, emigrale to
other REGIONS, and settle themselves on
uncuInyaied lands, in the territories be-
longing TO other states. This cannot be
prevented by governments which allow
the emigration of their subjects and citi-
zcns; and such persons having yoluntari-
~ abandoned their own country, have no
longer claim to its protection, nor is it
longer responsible for such acts. Such
cases, therefore, if they occur, show no
abandonment Of the duty of neutrality.
The government of the United States
has not considered it as sufficient to con-
fine the duties of neutrality and non-inter-
ference TO the case of governments whose
territories lie ad jaccnt to each other. The
application of the principle may be more
necessary in such eases, but the principle
itself they regard as being the same, if
these territories be divided by half the
globe. The rule is founded in the i'm
propriety and danger Of allowing indivi-
duaIs to make war on their own authori-
ty, or, by minging themselves in the
bcIIigcrant operations Of other nations, TO
run the hazard of counteracting the poll
cy, or embrolling the relations of their
own government. And the United States
have been the first among civilized ma
! tons to enforce the observance of this
just rule of neutrality and peace, by spe-
clal and adequate legal cnactments. In
the infancy of this government, on the
breaking out Of the European wars which
had their origin in the French revolution,
congress passed laws with severe penal
lies, for preventing the citizens OF the
United States from taking part in those
hostliiics.
BY these laws it is prescribed to the
citizens Of the United States what is I'M
derstood TO be their duty, as ncu,rals, by
the law of nations, and the duty, also,
which they owed TO the interest and hon
VI VI llclr OWN country.
Al a subsequent period, when the Ame-
rlcan colonies of an European power took
up arms against their sovereign, congress,
not diverted from the established system
OF the government by any temporary con-
sidcrations, not swcrvcd from its sense of
justice and of duty by any sympathics
which it might naturally feel for one Of
the parties, did not hesitate, also, to pass
acts applicable to the case of colonial in
surrccton and civil war. And these pro-
visions of law have been continued, re-
viscd, amended, and are in full force at
the present moment. Nor have they
been n dead letter, as it is well known
that exemplary punishments have been
inflicted on those who have transgresscd
them. 1t is known, indeed, that heavy
penalties have fallen on individuals, cili-