The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-12-05

with many, IN motives o. CuPiuity' H.VoJ
was advanced by individuals. probably il
considerable amounts, to purchase Cubar
bonds, as they have been called, issued by Lo
pez. sold doubtless, at very large discount
and for The payment Of which the public lands
and public property of Cuba, OF whateve
kind, and the fiscal recources OF the people
and government of that island. from whatev
er source to BE- derived, were pledged, as wei
as the good faith of the government expect
ed to be established. All these means o
payment, it is evident, were only to be OBJ
tained BY process of bloodshed, war, ant
revolution. None will deny that those whit
set on foot military expeditions against for
eign States by means like these, are far mon
culpable than the ignorant and the necessi
tous whom they induce TO go forthas the os
tensible parties in the proceeding. Thes
originators of the invasion of Cuba seem Il
have determined, with GOODNESS and system
upon an undertaking which should disgrace
their country, violate its laws, and put t.
hazard the lives of ill-informed and delu
ded men. You will consider whether furthe
legislation be necessary to prevent the perpe
tration OF such offences in future.
No individuals have. a right TO hazard the
peace Of the country or to violate its law
upon vague notions ofaltering or reforming
governments in other States. This principl,
IS not only reasonable in itself, and in accor
dance with public law, but is engrafted init
the codes of other nations as we'll as ou
own. But while such are the sentiments o
this government, it may be added that ever.
independent nation must be presumed to b
able TO defend its possessions against unauth
orized individuals banded together to attacl
them. The Government Of the United State'
at all times since its establishment, has alb
stained and has sought to restrain the citi
zens of the country, from entering into con
troversies between other powers, and to OBJ
serve all the duties of neutrality. At an ear
ly period of the Government, in the admins
tration of Washington, several laws wer
passed for this purpose. The main provis
ions of these laws were reenacted by tn
act Of April, 1918, by which, amongs
other things, it was declared that if any per
son shall, within the territory or juris
diotion Of the United States, begin, or Sc
on foot, or provide, or prepare the means 70
any military expedition or enterprise to b
carried on from thence against the territory o
dominion of any foreign prince or State, o
of any colony, district, or people with whom
the United States are at peace, every persol
so offending shall be deemed guilty Of higl
misdemeanor, and shall be fined, not exceed
ing three thousand dollars, and imprisoned
not more than three years; and this law ha
been executed and enforced, to the full exten
Of the power of the Government, from tina
day to this.
In proclaiming and adhearing 10 the doc
trine Of neutrality and non-intervention, the
United States have not followed the lead O.
other civilized nations; they have taken thu
lead themselves, and have been followed BY
Others This was admitted by one of thu
most eminent Of modern British statesmen
who said in Parliament, while minister o.
the crown. "that, if he wished for guide ir
system of neutrality, he should take tina
laid down by America in the days of Wash
ington and the secretaryship of Jefferson
and we see, in fact, that the act of Congress
of 1878 was followed the succeeding year, BY
an act Of The Parliament of England, sub
stanlially the same in its general provisions
Upto that time there had been no similar Law
in England, except certain highly penal stat
utes passed in the reign OF George H.. pro
hibiting English subjects from enlisting il
foreign service, the avowed object of which
statutes was, that foreign armies, raised fo
the purpose of restoring the house of Stuart
to the throne, should no: be strengthened by
recruits from England herself
All must see that difficulties may arise in
the laws referred to into execution
in country now having three or four thou
sand miles OF seacoast, with an infinite
number of ports and harbors and small in
lets, from some of which unlawful expidi-
tions may suddenly set forth, without the
knowledge Of Government, against the pos
sessions OF foreign States.
Friendly relations with all, but entangling
alliances with none, has long been maxim
with us. Our true mission is not to propa-
gate our opinions, o: impose upon other com-
tries our form of 60 vernment, by artifce OF
force ; but to teach by example, and show by
our success, moderation and justice, the bles-
sings of self-government, and the advantage
OF free institutions. Let every people choose
for itself, and make and alter its political in
stitutions TO suit its own condition and con-
venience. But, while we avow and main
tain this neutral policy ourselves, we are anx-
ious TO see the same forbearance on the part
of other nations, whose forms of government
are different from our own. The deep inter-
est which we feel in the spread of liberal
principles and the establishment of free gov
ernments, and the sympathy with which we
witness every struggle against oppression,
forbid that we should be Indifferent 10 a
case in which the strong arm of foreign
power is invoked to stife public sentiment
and repress the spirit Of heedom in any coun-
try.
The governments Of Great Britain and
France have issued orders to their naval com
manders on the West India station 20 pre-
vent BY force, if necessary, the landing of ad-
from any nation on the Island of
Cuba with hostile intent: The copy of
ofa convention on this subject
between the Charge d'Affairs of her Britanic
Majesty and the Acting Secretary Of State,
and OF subsequent note of the former 10 the
Department OF State, are herewith submit
ted, together with copy of a note of the Act
ing Secretary of State TO the Minister Of the
French republic, and Of the reply of the lat
ter, on the same subject. These papers will
acquaint you with the grounds Of this inter
position of the two leading commercial pow
FRS OF Europe, and with the apprehensions,
which this Government could not fail to en-
tertaln that such interposition, if carried in
to effect, might lead 10 abuses in derogation
Of the maritime rights Of the United States.