Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-05-30
coNGRESslON Al.
MR.. WEBSrER'S REMARKS ON TIE CUBAN
ENpEDI1lON.

ynhrl lie SAYS Inst this ipks 10 him like decara
item of war BY he Executive. without the an'hriy 81
C.agrss. Assns, whom7 Warasansi whai county
War
Mr. Yalee interpreting. I said that the course
a,,iba,.d 10 The Executive involved + ssbie sei Oh
Mr.. welx,er. We'll. still. ! ask with whom' =
Az siusi what vernmenii-what c'un'ry i-"ha' e"''
ny7-whst previncr2
81, i, is ,pnrtsn, that We should govern Ourselves by
sope distinct understanding II The neutral duties oil this
Government, and tie duties Of all citizens. as esiah
Iishrd by the standing laws. II we mean 10 he neutral
a. between government and any party asssilng II at
bmc or ,brsd we are consider what tray sirn-
la,ions are the first place. and IN what relations We
stand TO the government 81 that country Nov. every
bsy knows the .tipulaans Of peace and amy and god
WILL containei in all our treaties with SPAIN and promo
by every member the Senate lrows that IN The dpo
matte history ,f this country. different times IN the
last thirty years ar the executive government
could pledge the counry 10 particular course OF pncy
!, has over and over. and again assured The gov
esnmeni Of Spain, that ifSran should not voluntarily
ralinqush Cabs to any European powsr the United
States would do towards her ufce II good VIII To
m,n,sn her the possession Of that sland that the L.
States would ook with graf jealousy ard great alarm
upn any voluntary surrender of Cuba IN an European
,nwer; but thai fSpain would abstain from that Issue.
she mgh, depend uron The gnod offices and the good
will and friendship of he Uniicd States every man
ner shch might assist her in maintaining her rssess'nn
IL that island d. 10 say how far these md
cations offered TO The Spanish government are binding
urou Congress only say that they have heen
made al different times fa ba h. At least, as Grnefal
J,ckson's administration They have becn made Tor
the purpose of pr ssng npan Spaa thu Importance To
our peace and 10 hers Of The rresefsalmn al that island
in her possession These Specifications 81 the purposes
of the executive government Of Tho United States
have heen published from time 10 line but mNef
heard any complaint Of them from any pah OF The eonn-
try. =.
But nav. sir lei MS come 10 mHe immediate and DIT
rect question: What is il thai is NV complained /
II is said that the President has ntdefod puton oil HE
naval armament of the county tn the coast o Cuba. t
certain specific purpose II The facts tis are
generally received 10 be- that purpose is not only legal
and perfectly constitutional 10 be executed IN the part
Of the executive governments t the ned States but
which Is made his positive duty by rslhFo siane.
II there is any case it Is a Of his KIND. militia
~ expedition has been 6tcd out, or begun 10 be httcd
out ~ prepared IN the ntcd States la act agalns the
Island Of Cuba. belonpng In the government oil
Spain and il is mol material II that be the fact, whether
IL he fitted out begun 10 be fitted out OF prepared IN
the UniIed States by citizens VI the tned States, hf by
others The law prevents these things from being done
in the United States Wen. All. suppose that what
ever order the President 0 the Uted States has taken
nyon that subject. has been TAKEN upon Tho information
TINT there has been military expedition fitted ont, set
on foot or prepared in the United States IN whole in
part. Well then. il that be So the law makes II the
express duty of the Executive whenever he can, IN
excr, The mi itary naval powets within the limits
OF jurisdiction Of the United States. defeat such esre
dirion.
Now let me say. IN the first place. that If United
States vessel b. fund The roas Of Cuba, intending u
evade the pruvsns of The law Of his Country aud help
ing 10 carry on a military c,pcdt agains. Cuba that
vessel is Jus. much within the jurisdiction 81 The I'M
ted States as If she laid in the Potomac liver snip
pose thai no one dopbd HAT The Jnfsl cion nj The
United $ ates is In aud over The vessel of the United
States protecting il 81 the benefit of the United States,
and protecting for the benefit of all other countries ali
that is under he flag 1.-THE Cuird States. wherever il
flats upon the wherever she has water board even
though be in the harbn of f,regn country. believe.
however honorable Senator from Ohm doubted that;
and the Honcta HE Senator from New York went further
and aid he did mol suppose that any one believed it.
take il. however. 10 be unqnfsonabe law, settled up
the sunsi basis Of the national code. We'll them If
that be So the President he United States is bound in
duty. wherever he thinks The jurisdiction II the United
Stats extend. the the land. if persons are
engaged in The violation OF this law Of Congtess-it is
his duty, by the Of the military and naval forces Of
the United States, ~ suppress that violation hat is the
language ofthe lawbc military aud naval armament Of
the United States Why Is he to use the naval anna
Of the Unied States unless there something that
may happen The sea
I cannot persuade myself that tho honorable Senator
from Florida has read the act Of ISIS with his usual
Diligence and acnmen. say ii no, only gives power
IN the President, but tina, imposes duty upon him
acting and dlligen dulyto preserve The peace Of The
country by snpnrcssng every unauthorized expedition set
foot in the United States against any portion OF for
eiga country with which we al peace.
will not 90 al any great length into this que sion 49,
Bur pray Low does the honorable senator from Florida
be understood. hen he says that if the cxpedi.
ton took place al home nothing could bo done without
an indictment hya warrant That is not the lang
Of the law the language of the constitution; is il
cs,nant with general ideas Of the authority Of the
President Of the United States under the cons,iiuio
n instruction broke out could not the President
the United States suppress it by armed lorcedl Ii
squadron were comag up the Potomac river burn the
Capitol. might he not repel by naval force or by any
other force al his commando II there was an nsnrrec
ton Of colored persons breaking in any direction
must the President wait Tor warrant aud a civil pro
arrest The III nders2 II is made his duty TO exc
cute The laws; and when there is pen has-ant ant
dangerous violation of the law. i, is his peculiar duty
bring the force of The count, 10 The Of the law
and 10 Tesssert and re establish it,
do no, know what arc the precise facts Of this case
but have no apprehension tina, II will be found that any
thing has been done that ough, have been done
that il will be found that any thing is intended to h
done that ought not TO he intended. | have not tn
slightest doubt that whatever has heen done IN the cas-
has been done upon full consideration. have rca
10 believe that any step has been unadvsedy taken
that any object has been cherished on the occasion
not beneficial 10 the preservation OF The peace Of III
country.
Bu, the honorable senator went somewhat further
tie said that il landing be made the Island OF Cuba
under the flag OF the United States. it is the breakin
out Of civil war. in regard which we must he neutral
Why, certainly sir should BE- neutral il have don
nothing, and suffered nothing be done. ior The putpos
Of carrying on that nvaon, aud raising the flag OF tn
United States IN Cuba; ii the expedition has not bee
raised or set on foot, prepared in the L. Staes bu
when