The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-23

the President OF the Uhteu otales nas olrecied
portion Of the naval armament OF the country to
the coast of Cuba for certain specific purpose;
and, if the facts are they generally be-
lieved to be- for purpose not only perfectly le-
gal and perfectly constitutional, TO be executed on
the part of the Executive of the Government, but
purpose made his especial duty by positive sta
tute If there is any case, it is case of this kind
A military expedition has been fitted out, or be-
gun to be fitted out, in the United States TO act
against the Island Of Cuba, now belonging to the
Spanish Government. And il is not material,
if such be the fact if it be fitted out or began to be
fitted out or prepared according to the language
Of the statute, in the United States whether by the
citizens of the United States or by others. The
law prevents the thing being done in the United
States. Now, suppose that whatever action the
President has taken this subject, is founded upon
Information that this is military expedition, pre-
pared and set foot in the United States in whole
in part. Well, then, if that be So the law makes
it his express duty, wherever he exert the
military and naval power within the limits and
jurisdiction Of the United States, to exert il to de-
feat such expedition. And, in the next place.
if United States vessel is found on the coast Of
Cuba, intending to violate this law of the country
by helping to carry on military expedition
against Cuba, that vessel is just much within the
jurisdiction of the United States-for that is the
word of the statute--as if she lay in the Potomac
river. suppose that nobody doubts now that the
jurisdiction of the United States is in and over
protecting for the benefit of the United States and
protecting for the benefit of other countries. all
that under the flag Of the United States where
ever that flag floats upon the sea, or even in the
harbor of a foreign port ! believe hat some time
ago an honorable member from Ohio doubted that
and believe that hopora HE m, har from, Na,
York quoted the sentiment, and said that nobody
believed it. However, take it to be unquestion-
able law, settled upon the surest basis of the ma
tional code. If that be 80, the President Of the
United States is bound in duty, wherever he finds
the jurisdiction of the United States extending on
the sea or on the land, if persons engaged
in violation of the law Of Congress, by of the
naval and military power of the United States to
prevent it. Such is the language of the law, ''by
the military and naval armament of the United
States And why is he to the naval arnna-
ment of the United States unless there is something
that can be lawfully done with it upon the sea-
cannot persuade myself that the honorable member
from Florida has read the act Of 1918 with his usual
diligence and acuteness. say that that act not
only gives power to the President, but imposes it
upon him as a duty, an active and diligent duty,
to preserve the peace of the country by suppress
ing every unauthorized expedition set on foot in
the United States, against any portion of country
province, or colony, with which we are at peace"
The pledged faith of the United States
to the Spanish government imperatively
called upon the PRESIDENT to use promptly
the power with which the law has clothed
him, to prevent by every means in his
power, the carrying on of this expedition.
With that country we have treaty stipu-
lations of peace and friendship, which
would be grossly violated, not only by a
connivance on the part of the EXECUTIVE
of the United States at the getting up
within our Territories of such an expedi-
ton as that which has recently departed
with the object of attacking Cuba, but by
any omission on his part to do all that the
laD has put 1t IN has po,Ov to do for the
purpose of suppressing it, or preventing
it from being carried on. While the pre-
sent EXECUTIVE continues in office, no
foreign power will ever have cause to re-
proach this Government with breach of
national faith.
In reference to Cuba, it should be re-
collected that our relations with Spain are
of somewhat peculiar character. She
has long been aware of the watchful vigi-
lance observed by us in reference to the
possible transfer of that island to the pos
session of some other foreign power that
whilst we were perfectly content with its
remaining in her possession, we could not
look with Indifference either upon vol
untary transfer, or upon an attempt by
another nation to wrest it from her by force
of arms; and that should such attempt be
made, she might be assured of support
from us.
Under these circumstances, for the
Government or people of the United
States to countenance any expedition got
up in this country, and by our own citi-
zens, for the purpose Of forcibly wrest-
ing the island from Spain, in the hope
of its ultimately falling into our hands,
would be TO commit an inexpressibly
fragrant violation Of the national faith
Such course, moreover, on our part,
might induce Spain to transfer the island
to some other foreign power-an event
we have always been, and still are, so
anxious to prevent. II is TO be hoped,
therefore, that public opinion in this coun-
try will set its face against all enterprises
and expeditions gotten up, or proposed to
be gotten up, here for the purpose of max
ing war upon Cuba.
The ,,ol;,;c.I o.noc, oc al. e1,,...-,. 4.