The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-12-11

ton.
Such IS the melancholy result of this illegal
anu lil-iated expedition. Thus thouehtless
young men have been induced by faISa and
fraudulent representations, to violate the law of
their country, through rash and unfounded ex-
pectatloLs OF assisting TO accomplish political
revolutions IN other States, and have lost
their lives III the undertaking Too severe n
Judgment can hardly be passed, by the Indignant
sense u the community, upon those who heino
better Informed themselves, have vet led oyraS
the ardor Of youth and an iH-Girected love of
political liberty. The correspondence between
thlS Government and that OF Spain relating 10
this transaction is herewith communicated.
Although these offenders against the laws
have torIeiIed the protection OF their country.
yet the Government may, SO far as is consistent
with Its obligations to other countries. and its
hAed purpose TO maintain and enforce the laws
entertain sympathy Tor their unotfending fa1ui-
lies auu friends, as well as u feeling OF compass
sion Tor themselves. Accordingly, no proper
eAOrt mas Deeh spared, and none will be spared.
10 procure the release OF such citizens OF the
United States, engaged il this unlawful enter
PRISE, Us 'sre now IL confinement IN Spain: but
II Is 10 be hoped that such ntcrposition with the
government u that country may not be con-
sIuered as ahordIng any ground OF expectation
tnat the Government Of the United States will
hereafter, feel itself under any obligation of duty
TO Intercede Tor the Liberation OF pardon of suci,
persons are Hagrant offenders AGAINST the
law ot nations anu the laws OF the UmUcd States.
These laws must be executed Ii we desire to
maintain our responsibility among the nations
OI the earth, II DvAOEeS Us 10 enforce steadily
and stcIniy the neutrality acts passed by Con-
Sress, ana 10 follow, as lar as may be- the yio-
iauoh OF those acts with condign punishment.
But What gives peculiar criniInality to this
INVASION Ul cuba Is, that under the lead OF
Spanish subjects and with the aid Of citizens of
The United states, II had its origin, with MANY
III motives Of cuPIdIty- Money was advanced
by individuals, probably IN considerable amounts
~ purchase Cuoan bonds, they have been
called, issued by Lopez, sold doubtless at q
very large discount, and for the payment of
which the pdphc lands and public property OF
Cuyd, VI Whatever KIND, and the fiscal resources
oI lie people ahd government OF that island
from Whatever source 10 be derived were
Pleuged, as vel rs the good faith OF the govern
meuJ expected 10 be established An these
means oL payment, II Is evident were only to be
obtained ~ u process Of bloOdshed, war. and
re'oiu'ioA- 1'VHv vii deny that those who set
On loot military expeditions against foreign
States by means like these are fial. more culna-
D4e tiah tAe ignorant and the necessitous whom
tAey induce 10 90 forth as the OstepsibIe farties
III the proceeding. These originat,rs of Iba in
Faslon VI Cuba seem TO have determined. with
eooIheSs ana system, upon an undertaking which
sAv4ild dlsSface their country, violate It's laws
ana put 10 hazard the lives Of ill-informed and
deIuded men lou Will consider whether further
le3lslauoh be necessary to prevent the perpetra-
ton oi such offences III future.
No individuals have a right to hazard the
peace OF the country or to violate its laws unon
vague AollChs of altering or reforming govern
meuts III other States. This principle is not
only reasonable IN itself, and in accordance with
Puolc law, but Is engrafted into the codes of
olAeF nations as well as own. But while
euch are the sentiments of this Government il
inIar
must be presumed TO be able to defend its posses
saoAs against unauthorized individuals handed
together 70 attack them. The Government of
the Chited States,at all times since its establish
inent, mas abstalned and has sought TO restrain
tne o1'l1eLis VI the country, from entering into
/ controversies between other bowers and 10 oh
; serve an the duties OF neutrality. At an early
PeIlou VI the Government ia the administration
oI washington, several laws were passed for this
purpose The main provisions OF these laws
were Fe-enacted by the act Of April. 1878. by
WHICH, amongst other things, it was declared
tia' u any person shall, within the territory or
Juflsdlcuon OF the United States begin. or set
on loot, or provide, or prepare the means for
any military expedition or enterprise to be car
rled on from thence against the territory or do
Alh4Oh OF any foreign prince or State or of any
coIohy' district, or people with whom the United
States are ot peace, every person offending
shall be deemed guilty of high demeanor. and
iars' and imprisoned not more than three years.
ana tins law has been executed and enforced, to
the Iull extent OF the power of the Government
from that day to this.
In proclalmlng and adherinC to the doctrine
Si =. neutrhIty ana non intervention, the United
States have not followed the lead of the civiIzed
haIionsi they have taken the lead themselves
and have been followed by others This was
admitted by one of the most eminent of modern
BRITISH statesmen, who said in Parliament
while a minister Of the crown, ."that, if he
wished for guide in a system of neutrality he
should take that laid down by America in the
days OF Washington and the secretaryship of
Jefferson ;; and we see, in fact, that the act of
Congress Of 1918 was followed, the succeeding
year, by an act of the Parliament of England
substantially the same in its general provisions.
Up TO that time there had been no similar law
IN England, except certain highly penal statutes
passed in the reign Of George III, prohibiting
English subjects from enlisting in foreign SER
vice, the avowed object of which statutes was,
that foreign armies, raised for the purpose of
restoring the house of Stuart TO the throne
should not be strengthened by recruits from
England herself
All must see that difficulties may arise in car
rying the laws referred to into execution in
country now having three or four thousand miles
OF sea coast, with infinite number of ports
and harbors and small inlets, from some of which
unlawful expeditions may suddenly set forth,
without the knowledge of Government, against
the possessions of foreign States.
Friendly relations with all, but entangling al
hanees with none has long been maxim with
| us. Our true mission is not IN uropapate our