The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-06-15
The Cuba ExpeditIon and the Law.

The Cuba Expedition and the Law
There has been a great deal said about the
liability under the law of the United States,
of those who projected, promoted and engag
ed, in the late expedition to Cuba. and vast
deal Of unseund argument has been put forth
TO prove that they are not subject to the pen
aItes of that law, because they did not COM
plete their organization IN the United States,
but went elsewhere to make their final organ
ization. Without going into any argument
ourselves on the subject, we will merely give
the following plain common sense view of it,
by Judge Belts, in his recent charge in N.
York. on the arrest of one ofthe parties there
who did not accompany the expedition, but
merely acted as one of the home directory or
Junta:
The only provisions Of the statute which
come within the scope of your inquiry, to
which the court, and to which your attention
shall also be addressed, are contained in the
dissection which makes it high misdemean-
or for any person within the territory or iuris-
diction of the United States, to begin, to set
onfoot provide or prepare the means for any
military expedition or enterprise, to be carried
on from thence, against the territory or do
any colony district or people, with whom the
United States are at peace.
This language is very comprehensive and
peremptory. 1t brands as a national offence
the first efforts for proposals by individuals to
get up military enterprise within the cOun-
try against a friendly power. 1t does not
wait for the project to be consummated by
any formal array or organization of forces OF
declaration OF war, but strikes at the incep-
ton Of the purpose-at the first act manifest
ing itself, however family.
The offence is committed by beginning the
expedition. Such beginning would be the
first incpient step taken with a view to the
enterprise, by either engaging men, munitions
of war or means of transportation, or funds
for its maintenance, and even further, it i;
not necessary that the means shall be actual
Nv procured or provided. The statute makes
it crime to prepare the means; this would
clearly comprehend the making ready, anC
the tender or offer of such means to encour
age rlinduce the expedition, and may proba
bly, include also any plan or arrangement hav
ing in view the aid and turtherance Of thu
enterprise.
And yet, Democracy has been ridiculin!
President Taylor for his action toward thes
invaders of Cuba organizing right in on
midst. At first, the democrat editors, upo
the issue Of the Presidents proclamation
against these disorganizers, ridiculed the ide
that any such expedition was forming or eve
dreamed ofinthis country. They lived, how
ever, to find that Gen. Taylor was It'll
better informed than they on this as we'll a
most other subjects Now, Notwithstanding
they at first admitted thatif such an exped
ton were forming, the action of Gen. Taylc
would be perfectly right-yet, when crushe
in their original position, they have wheee
around, and commenced vigorous attack c
the President for the very thing whose co
rectness they supported, with the proviso
particular state ofaffairs existing, which a
ter circumstances actually proved to hay
been existing. Do right or wrong, the Pres
dent must be opposed.