The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-29

Of bank piracy, and Of invasions upon the pockets
Of the people, and plumber strictly organized
series of plans, known at first Jacksonville then
! Lehigh, and last as Planheld, has entered int
apparently conscientious and moral defence Of the
organization to invade, shoot and rob people
who terms Of peace and amity with the
United States. Perhaps we are not competent to
enter into analysis of the principles which are at
the foundation of morality and faith which per-
ceive justice in plundcrng the people of Cuba by
an INVASION the people Of the United States with
the paper Of Pain6eld bank-whch advocate
reckless robbery Of the population of Havana, or
Of this community, who were severely bitten by
Planfeld money. But, SO far simple old-fash-
toned justice and proprety can view such matters,
only one opinion can be formed by honest men, on
the subject. Any one who defend the violation
of our neutrality laws and Of treaty with Spain,
merely to aid the spirit of plumber existing in the
minds Of desperate set of foreign adventures,
just as well justify petty larceny, burglary swind-
ling, or propose, fair transaction, by bank
charters, to rob the community on an extensive
scale The defence Of the Cuban expedition, and
Of the engaged in such enterprises aimed at the
lives and property ola peaceable people, is more
rational than that which should stimulate the
foreigners our shores to make a general attack
upon the population Of this metropolis. Foreigners
who have a right sense of their duties, however,
will never lose sight of what is becoming, ofwhat
is honest, and will abide by the laws aslong they
remain citizens among They will not engage
in any project to embrol liberal country, always
open to receive the oppressed of other lands in diff
fculties or in On the other hand, if any
foreign nation desire to make an organic change in
the government under which they live, they should
make the attempt themselves, without compromis-
ing other nations and people, who cannot interfere
with their designs without involving their govern
ments in disputes, and perhaps in warfare.
The advocates Of diferen. line of policy-the
mock meralists who urge the propriety of perpe-
trating outrages, not only against whole people,
but against the laws and treaties Of their own coun-
try, however, are not contented with attempts to
excite spirit Of piunder and piracy. They go fur
Their In their defence of their peculiar faith, they
do not confne themselves to the avowal of princi-
pies in justification of piracy, which, under the
name of liberty, they would make popular, but
they charge the officers Of the United States with
bribery" and other serious offences, because they
have performed the duties imposed upon them by
the laws and the mandates Of the executive. This
i adding crime 70 outrage The laws are first de-
clared 70 be 81 no consequence, and then the Off
GERS VI tile law charged with sinister purposes
IN carrying tlcm INTO eNect. Really, tnlS Is TOO
bad; and the officers of the United States from the
Marshal of this district down to his assistants and
deputies should not permit such serious charges to
be brought ag ainst them with IMMUNITY. They
should the parties who have charged them
with bribery. to prove their assertions. to make
rcparation for the SANDER which places them in
enviable light before the people Of this community.
While We censure the advocates of these piratical
Inci,x opIo xvb, ah hor haap
talked of in various parts Of the country and con-
corning which the government las issued its pro-
clamation, we can by no means justify the conduct
of the authorities at Washington in their action
heretofore in the premises. They have been, from
the 6rst, remiss and weak. The Express, while it
admits the ipeficicncy Of our government with re-
spsct to the Lopez expedition, praises Mr.. Fillmore
for his zeal and activity This is Contradictions
terms. Had Mr. Fillmore, when Lopez was arrested
taken tie proper steps, and tried first the hero Of
the Cardenas failure, instead Of wasting the whole
show Of authority General Henderson and on
Governor Quitman, quite different result would
have ensued. 1t easy enough to make an ap-
pearance of law and justice against innocent per-
sons, while the actual breaker Of the laws Of neu-
trality-the head and front of the invading force
was permitted to be at large, and finally freed.
from the penalties of his offence, by the action Of
DIR. Fillmore's legal agent, who entered a noUe
7rosequ to the indictment against Lopez, when the
proofs Of his guilt were ample, and his own public
confession at Savannah removed all doubts Of his
being chief in the expedition. We insist again
and again that We are indebted, in some measure,
TO the government at Washington for the renewal |
Of these rumors and designs about Cuba. Had |
they acted promptly and effectively against Lopez,
neither the United States uor Cuba would have
been disturbed by second edition of the crusade
under the banner of the star and triangle. There
would have been no necessity for proclamations. |
There would have been need of the pomp and |
pompousness Of taking the Cleopatra with FIVE ma
rines and we should have escaped the tax which
will arise from the expenses incurred by the govern
ment to end this sccoLd attempt at infraction Of
the neutrality laws.
THE SECOND ADVENT CONVENTION. This is the
season Of the conventions Of all the Of the day,
r Ill III r