Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-13
Acting Secretary Of State to NJ dc Sartiyes
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,


DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington 22d October, 1851.
The undersigned acting Secretary Of State of the Unit
ed States has the honor remind NJ de Sartges Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Penpotentary of the French
Republic, that in the interview which he had with him
the 9Th instant he stated that he might have occasion
to address him in writing upon the subject of the norma
ton which NJ de Sartiges then communicated that the
French Government had issued orders its ships of
in the West Indies give assistance to SPAIN and
vent by force any advenrers Of any nation from landing
with hostile intent on the Island Of Cuba.
Having impaired that information to the President the
undersigned has the honor, by his direction, adj
drHes M. de Sartigss in regard to it, -
de Sartiges is apprized that few days prior the
interview to the Charge dAares of her Britain
mic Majesty had given to this Department official notice
ths his Government had issued similar orders to its naval
forces The President had regarded this matter of
grave Importance, but its gravity is greatly increased by
the and cooperation OF France In the same
measure.
II cannot be doubted that these orders have been
stoned by the recent unlawful expedition of less than FIVE
hundred men, which, having cyaded the vigilance Of this
Government and escaped from New Orleans were landed
bythe steamer Pampero upon the Island OF Cuba, and
we're soon captured and many of them executed That
such an accident should have melted the combined action
oftwo great European Powers, for object to which
nther of them is direct party, and In manner that
may seriously affect the people of the United States cannot
M to awaken the earnest consideration of the President
HE cannot perceive the necessity proprety of such
orders while he enterains the strongest apprehensions
that their execution by French and British cruisers Will
be attended with injurious and dangerous consequences
tohe commerce and peace of the United States. They
cnot be carried into effect without visitation examna
ten and detention of vessels on our own
Shores and in the great channels OF our coastng trade
aid this must invest British and French cruisers with the
Jurisdiction of determining in the first instance at least
what are the expeditions denounced in their orders and
who are the guilty persons engaged In them
1t is plain, however different may nave neen the nten
ton of the respective Governments that the exercise of
sach power and jurisdiction could hardly fail to lead to
abuses and collisions perous to the peace that now so
happily prevails By such interference those Govern
ents seem to assume an attitude unfrendy to the Unit
"a States The President viii not however allow him
e TO believe that this Intervention has been intended
an admonton OF reproach to this Government lie has
pnay manifested his condemnation Of all such awless
and has adopted active for their
and suppression II must also be known to the
governments of France and England in common with all the
world that this Government since 1T took Its place among
nations has carefully preserved its good faith and anx
ously endeayored fulfil all its obligations conventional
and national And this it has done from motives far
above any apprehension of danger to itself From its be-
ginning under the present Constitution 1T has seduousy
cultivated the policy of peace Of not ntcrmeddng in the
affairs of Others and of preventing by highly penal en-
acnents any unlawful interference by its citizens to dis
trb the tranquility Of countries with which the United
States in amity To this end many such enactments
have been madehe first early us the year 1874 and
the last late 1888 The last having expired by its
own limitation and all the preceding legislation on the
subject having comprehended in the act Of Congress
of the Goth April 1873 is unnecessary to do more than
refer NJ de Sarges TO its provisions, marking the
signal anxiety and good faith of this Government to re-
strain persons within its jurisdiction from commit
ting any acts inconsistent with the rights of others,
its obligations These laws were intended to COM
prehend and to protect from violation al relations
WITH and duties to, countries at peace with and to
punish any violations of them by citizens as crimes
against the United States In this manifestation of its
desire to just and peaceful relations with all
TONS it is believed that the United States have gone be-
fore and further than any of the older Governments OF
Europe. Without recapulatng all the provisions of those
laws by which the United States have carefully endea-
vored to prohibit every act that could be Justly offensive
their neighbours it is deemed enough for this occasion
say that they denouncc all such enterprises expe
dons those against which the orders in question are
directed
The undersigned thinks it is of Importance enough
TO call the attention of NJ de Sarges directly to
this law literal copy of it is accordingly herewith
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 expeditions
and arrestng for punishment those concerned in them
the spirit of this law the President condemns such expe
dtons against the Island of Cuba arc denounced BY
the orders in question and has omitted nothing for Their
detection and prevention To that end he has given or
dcrs to civil naval, and military officers from New Ysrl