The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-06-17


But whether the revolt be recent or long con-
tinued, they whe join those concerned in It. whst.
ever may be their offence against their own coun-
try, or However they be treated, if taken with
arms in their hands in the territory of the Gov
ernment against which the standard Of revolt is
raised, cannot be denoininated pirates, without
departing from all ordinary use of language in
the definition of offences. A cause which has SO
foul origin piracy cannot. in, its progress or
by its success, obtain a claim to any degree of
respectfully, or tolerance, among nations; and
civil wars, therefore, are not understood TO have
such commencement
II is wall known TO Mr.. Fox that authorities
Of the highest eminence in England, living and
dead, have maintained that the general law of
nations does not forbid the eitizens or subjects Of
one Government from taking part in the civil
connections Of another. There is some reason.
indeed, to think that such may be the opinion of
Her Majesty's Government at the present mo-
ment
The undersigned has made these remarks, from
the conviction that it is important 10 regard es-
tablished distinctions and to view the acts and
offences of individuals in the exactly proper light.
But is not to be inferred that there is, the part
Of this Government any purpose of extenu.tIng,
in the slightest degree, the crimes OF those per
sons, citizens of the United States, who have
Joined in military expeditions against the British
Government in Canada On the contrary thu
President directs the undersigned to say that IS
his fixed resolution that all such disturbers Of the
national peace and vioators Of the laws of their
country shall be brought to exemplary punish
ment. Nor will the fact that they are instigated
ana led on TO these eXcesses by British subjects,
refugees from the Prcvirces, DO deemed any eS-
cuse OF palliation although it is well worthy OF
being remembered tina, the prime movers OF these
disturbances On the borders are subjects OF the
Queen, who come within the territories OF the
United States seeking to enlist the sympa,hies Of
their citizens, by all tba motives which they are
able to address 10 them, On account of grievances,
real or imaginary. There is no reason 10 believe
that the design Of any hostile movement from the
United States against Canada has commenced
with citizens Of the United States. The true or
igin of such purposes and such enterprises is on
the other side Of the line. But tho Presidents
resolution to prevent these transgressIons OF tie
laws is not on that account, the less strong. =
is taken not only in conformity to bis duty under
the provisions Of existing laws, bot m full conso-
nance with the established principles and prac
tIce 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 toe duties OF
neutrality. Il has held that. however 1t may
have been in less enlightened ages, the Just in
deportation Of the modern law OF nations = that
neutral States are bound to be strictly ueutfal ,
and that it is a manifest and gross improperly for
individuals 10 engage in the evil conflicts Of 9th.
er States, and thus to be At war. while their Co
vernment IS at peace. War and peace sre high
national relations, which can properly be esiab.
lished or changed only by nations themselves.
The United States have thought, also, tbs, the
salutary doctrine Of non. intervention hy ono IA
ton with the affairs Of others is liable TO be
seniially impaired. II, while Government, refrsins
from interference interference Is still allos ed 10
It's subjects, individually or in masses. II may
happen, indeed, that persons choose 10 leave their
country, emigrate 10 other regions, and settle
themselves on uncult.yaied lands, in territories
belonging to other states. This cannot be pre-
vented BY Governments which allow the emigra.
ton Of thar subjects and citizens and such per.
sons, having voluntarily abandoned their own
country, have no longer claim TO lis protection,
nor is il longer responsible for their acts Such
cases, therefore, Il they occur, show no abandon.
ment Of the duty Of neutrality.
The Government of the United States has not
considered it as sufficient to conine the duties OF
neutrality and non-interfersRce 10 the case OF
Governments whose territories lie adjacent to
c@eh OhA4o4- hu aIp4AEAtESA VI lA4b pE4AfiEtt
may be more Necessary ia such cases, but the
principle itself they regard as being the same. If
those territories be divided BY half the globe
The rule Is founded IN the Improperly and dan
ger of allowing individuals to make war on tiseir
own authority, or, By mingiing themselves in the
bclligersnl operations Of other nations, to run the
hazard Of contracting the policy, or efnbroi.
ing the relations, Of their own Government
And the United States hays besl the first among
civilized nations 70 enforce tae Observance Of THIS
Just rule of neutrality and peace, by spec.ll and
adequate legal enactmeits In the infancy Of
this Government, on the breaking out Of the In.
ropean wars which had their origin 10 the French
Revolution, Congress passed laws with severe
penalties, for preventing the citizens Of the Uni
ted States from taking part in those hostil.ies.
By these laws, il prescribed to the citizens oF
the United states what is understood to b. their
duty, as neatrsls, by the Law Of nations, and the
duty, also which they owed 70 the interest and
honor Of thsr own country.
At subsequent period, when the American
colonies Of an European Power took up arms
against their Sovereign, Congress, not diverted
from the established system Of the Government
by any temporary CONSIDERATIONS, no, sweryed
from its sense Of justice and Of duty by any sym
Pathies which It might naturally feel for one Of
the parties did not hesitate, also, 20 pass acts sp
plicabe 10 the case Of colonial lnglfrecion and
ciYh war. And these provisions Of law have
been continued, revised, amended and are in fnl
force at the present moment Nor have they
been dead letter, as it Is well known that exem-
plary punishmenis have been inhicted on thosa
who have transgressod them. II Is known. in
deed, that heavy penalties have fallen 90 lndlvi.
Jnas, citizens Of the United States, engaged in
this very disturbance 10 Canada, with which the
destruction Of the Caroline was connected And
il is in Ar. Foxs knowledge. also, that the net Of
Congress Of March 10th. 1888, was passed for
the precise purpose Of more effaeualy restraining
military enterprises from the United States into
tfIv brr.'-ts PrnVinens- by a1harizinr The use Of
the most sure and decisive preventive means.
The undersigned may add. that It stands on the
admission OF very high Brlhsh authority, that
during the recent Canadian ifon1les. although
bodies Of adyenturers appeared on the border, max
ing it necessary for the People Of Canada to keep
themselves IN state prepared for self.defence
yet that these adyeuturers were acting by no
means in accordance with the feeling Of the great
mass Of tue American People, OF Of the Govern.
msnt Of tte United Stales.
This Government, therefore, not only holds it.
self above reprosch ia every thing respecting the
preservation Of neutrality. the observance Of the