Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-07-08

Government at the present moment.
The undersigned has made these remarks,
from the conviction that il is important to re-
gard established distinctions, and TO view the
acts and offences oiindividuals i'm the exactly
proper light. But it is not to be inferred
that there is, on the part of this Government,
any purpose OF cNtenuating in the slightest
degree, the crimes OF those persons, citizens
OF the United States, who have Joined in |
military expeditions against the British Gov
eminent IN Canada. On the contrary, the |
president directs the undersigned to say that !
II ms hxed resolution that all such disturbers !
OF the national peace and vioators of the ,
laws OF their country shall be brought to en-
emplary punishment. Nor will the fact that
they are instigated and led on to these excess
ses by British subjects, refugees from the
PROVINCES, be deemed any excuse or pallia-
ton; although it is well worthy of being re-
memoered that the prime movers of these
disturbances on the borders are subjects of the
Queen who came within the territories of the
United States, seeking to enlist the sympa-
ines OF their citizens, by all the motives
winch they are able TO address to them, on
! account OF grievances, real or Imaginary
There is no reason to believe that the de-
sign OF any hostile movement from the Uni
ted States against Canada has commenced
with citizens OF the United States. The
'r1c origin OF such purposes and such enter
prises rs on the oth'r side of the line. But
the Presidents resolution to prevent these
transgressions of the laws is not, on that ac-
count, the less strong. 1t is taken not only
IN conformity to his duty under the provisions
OF existing laws, but in full consonance with
the established principles and practice Of this
Government.
The Government of the United States has
not, from the first, fallen into the doubts
Ial- Al
the duties OF neutrality. 1t has held that,
however it may have been in less enliehten-
ed ages, the just Interpretation Of the modern
law OF nations Is, that neutral States are
bound to be strictly neutral; and that it is a
manifest and gross improperly for individu-
ais to engage in the civil conflicts Of other
States, and thus to be at war, while their
Government is at peace. War and peace
are high national relations, which can prop
erly he established or changed only by ma
tons themselves.
The United States have thought, also,
that the salutary doctrine of non-intervention
by one nation with the affairs of others is Ii
able to be essentially impaired, if, while
Government rcirains from interference, inter-
terence is still allowed to its subjects, indi-
vidually or in masses. 1t may happen in-
deed, that persons choose to leave their coun-
Try, emlgrate to other regions. and settle
themselves on uncultivated lands, in terrific
ries belonging to other States. This cannot
be prevented by Governments which allow
the emigration OF their subjects and citizens;
and such persons, having Voluntarily aban-
doned their own country, have no longer
claim to It's protection, nor is it longer respon-
sible for their acts. Such cases therefore, if
! they occur, show no abandonment Of the du-
ty of neutrality.
The Government Of Tie u. S. has not
considered 1t as sufficient TO conline the du.
ties Of neutrality and non-intcrterence TO the
case OF Governments whose territories lie adj
jacent to each other. The application of the
principle may be more necessary in such ca
seS, but The principle itself they regard as be-
ing the same, II those territories be divided
by half the globe. The rule is founded i'm
the impropriety and danger of allowing indi-
viduals to make war on their own authority.
or by mingling Themselves in the bclliaerent
operations OF other nations, to run the hazard
OF counteracting the policy, or embroiling the
relations, OF their own Government. And
the United States have been the the first a.
mong civilized nations to enforce the obser-
Vanco OF this just rule of neutrality and
peace, by special and adequate legal enact
hents. In the infancy of this Government,
on the breaking out of the European wars
which had their origin in the French Reyolu-
ton, Congress passed laws with severe PEN
altles for preventing the citizens of the Uni
ted States from taking part in those hostiii-
ties.
by these laws, it prescribed to the citizens
OF The United States what it understood to be
their duty, as neutrals, by the law of nations
ana the duty, also, which they owed to the
interest and honor of their own county.
at subsequent period, when the Ameri-
can colonies OF an European Power took up
arms against their Sovereign, Congress, not
diverted from the established system of the
government by any temporary considera-
lions, not swerved from its sense of Justice
and of duty by any sympathies which it
might naturally feel for one of the parties,
aid not hesitate. also, to pass acts applicable
10 the case OF colonial instruction and civil |
war. And these provisions of law have beep
continued, revised, amended, and are in FIJI
force at the present moment.
| Nor have they been dead letter. as it is
well known that exemplary punishments
have been inflicted on those who have trans
crossed them. 1t is known, indeed. that
heavy penalties have fallen on individuals.
citizens of the United States, engaged in
this very disturbance in Canada, with which
the destruction Of the Caroline was connect
ed. And it is in Mr. Fox's knowledge. all /
so, mat the act OF Congress of March 10th, /
1893, was passed for the precise purpose of
more efectually restraining military enterpri
ses from the US. into the British Provinces,
by authorizing the use of the most sure
and decisive preventive means. The under |
signed may add, that it stands on the admis |
sion OF every high British authority, that dn- |
ring the recent Canadian troubles, although |
bodies OF adventnrers appeared on the border, |
making it necessary for the people Of Cana
da to keep themselves in state prepared for
seli-deience, yet that these adyenturers were
acting by no means i'm accordance with the