The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-14
The Cuba Expedition--itsa rrest-The Round
Island Affair.


Island Affair.
We observe that portion OF the New
Orleans press has taken exception to the
manner in which Commander RANDOLPH
and Lieutenant Totem, of the Navy, ex-
ecuted the duty assigned to them by the
Government, of preventing breach of the
laws and treaties of the United States bv
a body of men collected on Round and
Cat islands Amongst other matters of
complaint, it is stated that the persons as
sembled on Round Island were not armed;
that the language employed by Command
er RANDOLPH and Lieutenant ToTTEN, in
their proclamations or addresses to the
Round Islanders, was unnecessarily harsh;
that there was no proof that the assem-
blage was unlawful; and, finally, that
American citizens have right to expa
triate themselves and join revolutionary
movement in any country and at any
time.
The latter proposition no one will gain
say; but if there were much force in the
positions first assumed, it is greatly weak
ened by resort to such a justification;
for it will scarcely be contended that the
assemblage on Round Island was composed
of self-expatriated patriots, met together
to consider of the affairs Of the world, and
depart on peaceful errands to those points
which required their counsel and aid. If
they had indeed expatriated themselves,
of which there is no intimation, we
scarcely think that it will be insisted upon
that, as foreigners-for they would be for
eigners in such case-they have any more
right to organize military expeditions upon
our shores, against a nation with which
we are at peace, than our own citizens
enjoy. Such suppositon is altogether
too absurd to be considered.
The whole question then turns upon the
fact, whether military expedition was
being s'begun," ''set on foot" or ''means
were being prepared or provided" "for any
military expedition or enterprise" within
the jurisdiction of the United States,
against the territory or dominions of any
foreign prince or State, or any colony, dis
trict, or people, with whom the United
States are at peace and, whether the as
semblage at Round Island had any con-
nexion or understanding with any such
enterprise or military expedition.
1t will hardly be denied, since the reve-
lations recently made in the capture of
vessels in the harbor of New York, that
military expedition or enterprise was be-
gun and set on foot within the jurisdiction
of the United States, against a foreign
prince or State, or colony" at peace
with the United States. This fact is now
beyond all cavil. Indeed, it is no longer
a disputed point and our contemporaries
in New Orleans cannot, with the lights
now before them, assert that the Round
Islanders we're not part and parcel of that
expedition or enterprise. We are quite
sure that they will not regard that assem-
blage-composed as it was Of men from all
countries, whether naturalized OF self
expatriated-as a congress of peace dele
gates from the four quarters of the world !;
nor will they regard them as less part Of
military expedition or enterprise, because
their arms were to be furnished them from
the city of New York or elsewhere. We
apprehend that body of recruits sent from
one of our barracks on distant expedition
would be taken as part of an organized
force, though they were to receive their
arms and accoutrements at some point on
the route.
We say that it is no longer a controverted
point that military expedition or enter
prise was begun, or put on foot, within the
jurisdiction Of the United States, against
the dominions or colony Of a country at
peace with ours We repeat IT, the fact
is confessed; there is no lingering doubt
about It; and now for the law.
The sixth section Of an act in addition
10 an "act for the punishment of certain
crimes against the United States" SC,
approved April 20, 1918, provides:
oThat II any person shall within the territory OF
ufisdiction 81 the United Ststes begin, or 80 on
foot, or provide prepare the means for, any mil
itary expedition or enterprise, 20 be carried OF
from thence against the territory dominions q
any foreign prince STATE, Of any colony, dis
trict or people with whom the United States ar
at peace every person offending shall b. deerne
guilty Of a high Uisdemcanor, and shall be fine
not exceeding three thousand dollars, and i'm
prisoned not more than three year,"
II will be seen from the above sectiol
that il is high misdemeanor to begin al
expedition, such as that contemplated b,
the collection of men at Round Island
The law is clear, emphatic, and compre
hensive; and the parties have come with
in the denunciation Of severe penalties
though, we may here add that, in break