Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-12-08

4
mad win him on the Sth instant. he stated that he
might have occasion to address him in writing UPON
the SUBJECT OF the information which NJ de Satige
heo communicated, that the French Government had
issued orders 10 is ships of war in the West Indies +,
give assistance to Spaio and prevent by force any
advenurers OF any nation from landing with hostile IN
| tent on the Island of Cuba
| Having impaired that inform aton TO the Precedent
the undersigned has now the honor, by kis direction 10
| address NJ de Sartiges in regard to it.
M. de Sartiges is apprzed that few days prior 10
the interview adverted to, the Charge dAffares OF her
Brtannc Majesty had given to this Department off
cia notice that his Government had issued similar ,r
ders 10 its naval forces. The President had regarded
this as matter OF grave Importance but lts gravity is
greatly increased by the concurrence and corporation
OF France in the same measure.
1t cannot be doubted that these orders have been oc.
cdsoned by the recent unlawful expedition of less than
i've bundled men, which, having tvaded the vigilance
| OF this Government and escaped from New Of,eans
were landed by the steamer Pampero upon the island
OF Cuba and were soon captured. and many of them
executed That such accident should have melted the
combined acton OF two great European Powers for
an object to which neither OF them is d rect party
and in manner that may seriously affect the people of
the United States cannot tail 10 awaken the earnest
consideration of the President.
lie perceive the necessity or proprety of such
orders; while he entetans the strongest appehensions
that their execution by French and British cruisers will
be attended wi injurious and dangerous consequen css
| to The commerce and peace OF the United States
| lhey cannot be carried into effect without visitation
examination, and consequent detention of vessels,
on our own shores, aud 10 the great channels of our
coasting trade; and this invest British and French
crus ers with the jurisdiction OF determ ming in the
first instance, at least, what the expeditions de-
nounCed in their ORDERS an who are the guilty uersons
engaged in them.
1t is plain, however different may have been the in
tention Of the respective Governments that the exer-
else OF such power and Jurisdiction could hardly tail
to lead to abuses and collisions perlous to the peace
that now so happily prevails BY such an interference
those Governments seem to assume attitude IN
friendly to the United States. The President will not
however allow himself to believe that this intervention
has been intended admoultion raproac 10 this
Government. He has signaliy manifested his conden.
nation OF all such lawlesS enterprises aud has adopted
active measures tor their prevention and
II must also be known to the Governments OF France
and England, in common with all the world, that this
Government, since took its place among nations has
| carefully preserved lis good faith, and anxously
deavored to fill all is obligations, conventional and
national, and this it has done from motives far above
any apprehension of DANGER to Itself. From its begin
ming, under the present Constitution it has seduou ly
cultivated the policy OF peace, OF ddng in
the affairs ofohers and OF preventing by highly penal
enacments any unlawful interference by its citizens to
disturb the tranquility OF countries with which the
| United States were in amy. To this end many such
enac ments have been made-ile first early the
year 1894, and the last late 1888. The last hay-
ing e&9fted by its limitation aud all the preced-
ing legislation the subject having been comprehend.
ed IN the act OF Congress OF tn 20h April 1873 it is
unnecessary to do more than 10 refer NJ. de Sartses
| to its provisions, marking the signal anxiety and
good alth OF this Government to restrain with 81
Its jurisdiction from committing any acts inconsistent
with the rights O. others, orits own OBLIGATIONS These
laws were intended to comprehend, and to protect
from violation all relations with, and duties to-
countries at peace with us, and 10 punish any violations
| OF them by our citizens crimes against the United
States In this manifestation OF lis desire to preserve
just and peaceful relations with all nations it is be-
eved that the United States have gone before and fur
ther than any of the older Governments of Europe
Without recaptuiang all the provisions OF those laws
BY which the United States have carefully endeav-
oed to prohibit every act that could be justly offensive
to their neghbors, is deemed enough for this
TO say that they denounce all such enterprises ex'
petitions as those against which the orders in question
are directed.
The undersigned thinks it is of importance enough
to call the attention of NJ. de Sar!iges more directly
to this law literal copy OF it is accordingly here
with communicated
Besides the ordinary legal process it authorizes the
President to employ the military and naval forces of
the country for the purpose of preventing such expsd
tons, and arresting for punishment those concurred in
Them In The spirit OF this law the President condemns
such expeditions against the Island of Cuba as are de-
nounced by The orders in question, and has omitted
nothing Tor their detection and prevention. To that end
he has given orders 10 civil naval and military officers
from N. York to New Orleans, and has enoined uoou
them the greatest vigilance and energy His course OIL
the subject has been in all hings clear and rect 1t has
been secret and the undersigned presume that
it has been fully understood and known by NJ de
Sartges. An appeal might confidently be made to
the vgia and enlightened Mini ster of Spain that his
suggestions Tor the prevention OF sue ageres>ioas or
the prosecution OF offenders engaged in Them have
been promptly considered, and if found reasonable
adopted by the President. His course, it is believed
has been above all question Just of complaint.
This Government is determined execute its laws,
and 10 the performances of this duty neither ask nor
receive foreign aid II Notwithstanding all its efforts
EXPEDITIONS of small force hostile 10 Cuba have in
single vessel or steamer excited by Cubans themselves
escaped from extensive shores such an accident
furnish no ground OF imputation either upon the
law or its ADMINISTRATION Every country furnishes in
enough of attractions and evasions OF its laws
which no power OF vigilance can etfectually guard
against.
awess and hostile character escape from The Uni
ted States OF sufficient force to create any alarm for
the safety OF Cuba, or against which Spain might not
defend it with the sli ghtest exeron of her power
The President ls persuaded that such can escape
detection and prevention, EXCEPT by their minuteness
and lnsigniticsnce. None certainly escape which
could require the combined aid of France and En-
g and to resist or suppress. Cuba will find if
not its surest protection and defence in justice and
good faith of the United States.
There is another point OF view in which This inter-
vention the part OF France and England cannot ba
viewed with Indifference by the Pre- ident. The geo.
graphical position of the Island OF Cuba in the Guliof
Mexico lying at no great distance from the mouth Of
the river Mississippi and in the line OF the greatest
current of the commerce of the United States, would
become, IN the hands OF any powerful European nation.
object Just jealousy and apprehension to the peo
pie of this country. A due regard to their own safety
and interest must therefore make it matter OF impor,
lance to them who shall possess and hold dominion
over that island. The Government OF France and
those OF other European nations were long since Off
caily apprized by this Government that the United
States could not see without olce that island trans
ferred by Spain any other European State. Presi-
dent Fillmore fully concurs in that sentiment, and is
apprehensive that the sort proecoate Introduced by
the orders in question might. in contingencies not d
cult to be sned, lead 10 results equally objectona-
be
fit should appear to M. de Sarges that the Presi-
dent appreheHsye on this subject, this must be
attributed his great socltude to guard the friendly
relations between the two countries against all con-
tingencies and OF disturbance. The people OF
the United States have long cherished towards France
The most amcable sentiments aud events which
made her republic, have opened sources Of fra
ternal sympathy. Harmony and confidence would
seem to be the al relations of the great rs-
pubcs of The world; relations demanded no less by
their permanent interests than by circumstances and
combinations in continental Europe which now seem
threaten so immnenty the of free institutions.