Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-09-27

NEUTRALITY LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES
OPINION OF JUDGE CATRON
Hon. JOHN CATRoN, Associate Justice of the Su-
preme Court of the United States, now holding a
court Of his circuit for the Middle District Of Ten
nessee in the city Of Nashville, on Monday, the
18th instant addressed the Grand Jury as follows:
"Ws will take occasion remark gentlemen Of the Grand
jury the idea held through portion Of the public
press that the Of 1918 provision Of that date,
and intended suppress hodes of consresaed Ame
In Island in East Flords and at Galveston Bay,
then bods for the purpose Of committing dsPssda
tons commerce, &c. But the present stect was to
aid oppressed party against the oppessor, in opsu war
the did not apply intended to appy to cases
Of revolu against oppressive Governmen's the genius Of
Institutions early history, and the character Of
people sanctioned the idea that asaance might be rendered
ths party revolt BY individual exertons. This alto
gethsr mistake Ours IS Government Of the majority
and Of tha. n.joiy neutrality and has been the un
form policy ihroushout nsoual exatencs, most sp
parent by neutrality acts under consideration. 10 1898
President Washington, in bis annual message 70 Congress-
represented that be Dad issued proclamation forbdding
citzpns and fssignss residing snoog from committing
hostile acts assins ossign naops eostryto the .ws Of
nations and treaty fpuatonss sks L to say from
tsng into the contest then existng be~esp EpoPesn
tons consequent on the French revolutionary vars He re-
commended that Congress should provide popt and deci
nsdes for the punishment Of those who might within
the United States, array themselves in hostility against any of
the Powers at war; or who should enter upon military expe
dons enterprises against any foreign Power peace with
the United States On this recommendation the act Of 1884,
CD. So passed Its fifth section copied into the act of
1875 and Il the the sixth section Of the latter
given you in charge last Tuesday The vas vigorously
enforced by Gen. Washington during his remaining admin
siraon, and il through that Of bis successor Mr.
Adams. Mr. Jefferson experienced difficulty main
tanning neutral relations n his Congress of
October lSO3 he recommended that there should
shed in harbos such police may maintain law and
orderi restrain citizens from embaking Individually
in war in which our country takes part
In 1906 Mr.. Jefferson caused Aaron Burr to be indicted
and tried under the 5h section of the of 1884, for fitting
military enterprise against Mexic, then dependency
OF Span-quite ripe for revolt as Cuba ID, judging
from recent demonstrations in that island Although Burr
escaped punishment because it could not be proved that he
had dene any thing violation Of the of 1874, within
the district of Vsina where he tried yet his celebrated
trial brought the act of Congress general notice and pub
lie opinion gave sanction to the policy commenced BY Pes
dent Washington and continued BY Mr. Jefferson that bore
down all opposition to the law for many years. Burs character
crushed by weight Of odum almost exceeding belief at
this day. Many Of his deuded followers had skulk like
outlaws; and many from New York New Orleans)
compelled comprom their integrity and honor by
denying all knowledge who generally supposed to bs
guilty Of participation ia the enterprise The history of Burr
and his conederates and deuded followers would be useful
study those now seeking set defiance the act Of 1884,
copied into the act Of they TOD have to con-
tend with public opinion, and the bghting odium inic
on all those who charged with being criminals at large
unpunished Of justice.
No difficulty was experienced in maintaining ne neu,raity
until the Mexican provinces showed symptoms of revolt
against SPAIN BY his message of December 1877 Pes
dent Monroe communicated Congress that hordes Of adven
ure congresaed at Amelia Island and at Galveston
Bay protesting be persons revolt the power
which project had been commencs with incompeten.
force reance being placed what might be drawn in def
ance Of laws from within limits On this inforra-
Congress at that session Poceeded 70 revise tne act Of
given you charge The policy Of the country and the OBJ
ect Of the law that all private military enterprises which
might involve the country in foreign should be arrested
in their earliest ncpen stages that all those who furnished
money Of any kind with the intention and tho
end Of their employment carry such military enterprises,
md all persons who ensted soldiers and those who
listed hem should be arrested at once, and punhednot
slightly, but ruinousy in almost every instance fine Of
three thousand dollars and imprisonment for three would
ruin men, and sssuredy put Of the power Of those
convicted TO do mischief for three years. 'el tH s
This is the policy of the law Nor has Congress been
unwe leave the powers Of the Presdsn, doubtful in
s execution. He has the power to call in aid the militia
and the army and the navy of the United States to seize both
and vessels and de,ain them for trs he may empo
any other person do the of the United States
And this has been done New Orleans informed
Sand likewise the United States Judges and Courts
BY order arrests and thereby empower the
sha to employ the militia posse to execute the writ He
may and array them discretion, and all the force
necessary execute the writ He may also call in aid by
order Of the President the regular forces Of the United stss
Aid be refused the acts Of Congress punish the
fusai in be borne; has aid
been refused on proper occasions.
cit is the pride and boast Of this mild Government. that it's
powers should be slightly felt and hardly be percepble in its
ordinary progress But any supPoses that wants
strength in its judicial department contend with opposing
numbers against process and lawful authority, such person
grossly mistaken There does exist in the civilized world
ia judiciary with positive power than the courts Of the
United States. No question Of want Of power Is nvovsd
and nothing Is wanting in d. courts their qs and officers
BRAZIL AsD THE ARGENTINE CONFEDERATION.
The following intelligence has been received by
way Of London;
/ The TeUiof steamer arrived at SOUTHAMPTON