Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-08-16
AN OLD srArEsMANLIKE DOCUMENT.
vnox The IoUlsvIIIs 5ouaSAI.

rhoA THE LOUISVILLE JOURNAL.
The following letter, which has never before
been published, was written by President WASH
ISeToN's distinguished Secretary Of State to
Governor SHELBY, of Kentucky, on the subject Of
projected expedition from that State against the
power Of Spain. The letter deserves especial con-
sideration at this time when similar expedition is
projected. Our neighbor Of the Democrat, and all
who entertain his views, may perhaps profit from
seeing how President WAsHNGToN's Administra.
tion talked in regard TO expeditions against friend
ly Power. The Was hington Administration did
not proclaim, as the editor Of the Democrat would
now have the Government proclaim, that the PEG.
pie Of the United States must have the privilege oil
arming and organizing where they please, and
going where they please, and fighting whom they
please, all laws and treaties 70 the contrary not
withstanding:
PHILADELPaIA, MARcH 20, 1894.
Sin The letter which your Excelency addressed 70 my
predecessor the 18th Of January 1884, has been laid be-
fore the President Of the United States and have il in
charge from him to recall to your view the state Of things
with which il 10 connected.
You informed sir ON the 29h Of August l7s3 tina,
the Commissioners Of Spain bad complained Of attempts "a
excite the inhabitants Of Kentucky TO enterprise against
the Spanish domnions the Mississippi that the President
requested you be attentive to circumstances Of this kind
that such enterprise medased your citizens ought
to be their guard against the conssquences yop
should adopt the necessary legal for preventing it
Of hostility committed BY citizens against nations
peace with the United States were forbidden by the laws
and would subject the offenders to punishment.
That every eectus exhoration might be combined with
Of duty, the time represented to you
that lin addition to considerations respecting the peace
Of the general Union, the special interests Of the State Of
Kentucky would Be particularly committed nothing could
be inanspicious to them than such the
very when those interests were under negotiation
between Spain and the United Sates."
Your Exceencys the 5ih October, 1898, gave
satisfactory Of your readiness coun,eract any
design from Kentucky against the Spanish domnons on the
Mississippi Of your persuasion that such then in
contemplation in your State and Of your citizens possessing
too just Of the obligations which they owe to the
General Government embark in any enterprise SO Dju-
rious to the United States.
II was therefore with full confidence in your ZEAL that
the 9th Of November 1898, upon the representation Of
the Commissioners Of Spain, you were further informed that
the ID Of October l793 four Frenchmen Of the names
Of La Chase Charles Delpeau Mathun and Ggnoux had
in the stage from Philadelphia Kentucky auho.
zed BY the then Minister Of France here engage as many
they could whether Of citizens others the road
within your State elsewhere to undertake exped
ton against the Spanish settlements within neghborhood
and in event. descend the Ohio and Mississippi and to
attack New Orleans where naval cooperation expected
and that they furnished with money for these purposes
and with blank commissions to be filled up at their discre-
ton Your Excelency requested to check these HOSTILE
ties and n doing prefer those peaceable Of CO.
ercon which had been provided BY the laws (uch
binding to good behavior indicting) to such
other legal process those learned in the laws your State
might advise The letter conveying the foregoing ntel
gence proceeds thus Whee these fail OF are inadequate
suppression by the militia Of the Stale has been ordered and
pracsed in other S,aes hope that the citizens Of Ken
L.
illegal enterprises against the peace Of their country by any
effect they may expect from them the navigation Of the
Mississippi Their good will tell them that this is not
to be effected BY half measures Of this kind, and that their
surest dependence those regular which are
pursued and will be pursued by the General Government,
and which Cow from the united authority Of all the States"
After the impression made by your letter dthe 5th Of Oc
ober 1898, you will naturally conclude how difficult il
to reconcile it with your last Of the 18th Of January 1894
AZ the constitution and laws Of the United States are to
govern the conduct Of ALL cannot be well imagined that
the President intended to impose upon your Excelency any
departure from them. You asked prefer peaceable
means Of coercion and for that purpose, consult those
who were learned in the laws of your State designate legal
process sha presume upon the imperfect knowledge
which can be obtained here of jurisprudence of Kentucky
to determine whether any what species Of process
mssible. beg leave, however, observe that IT, in the
opinion Of the Judges preventive other step could be
supported the President required My predecessor in
his letter Of November 9Th, l793 arguing from what is usual
in the United States, and recoecng what prevails in Viz
porstsd in your CODE naturally suggested the proprey Of
binding to the good behavior and indicng And indeed
what Government be destitute of the means Of self
defence a. to suffer with impunty it, peace be drawn into
ieopardy BY hoslites levied within is territory against
foreign nation order be prostrated the will of tuuu
ous Individuals and Of boodhed and civil war to be
introduced!
You intimate doubt, sir, whether the two FIenchmen
La Chaise and Depeau be restrained punished before
they have actually accomplished their plan and assign Is
for the doubt that any number Of your citizens may
lawfully leave your State, and carry with them any quantity
Of provisions arms and ammunition Hence you conclude
that these acts being lawful particular intention cannot
render them unlawful and that criterion exists for de-
d;ns such ~ Intention If there be no peculiarly ii the
laws Of Kentucky, and il be allowable from general
principles or analogy to the practice Of other States
might expect from candid revision Of these sentiments that
contrary result would arise in your mind That foreign
err should NEEDLE in the affairs Of Government where they
happen to be has scarcely been tolerated. and 10 often
severely punished That foreigners should point the force Of
nation against it, will objects Of hostility an invasion
Of s dignity its tranquility, and safety. Upon no
principle can the individuals whom such guilt shall be
fxed bid the Government to watt your Excelency would
seem to suppose until their numbers shall defy the ordinary
anmadveons Of Law, and until they incapable Of being
ubdued but By force Of Toprevent the extremity Of
crimes il wise humane and Of pecsuon have there
fore been found in the laws Of most societies.
Nor s this offence Of foreigners expatsd lesseDed BY
appeal 70 presumed right in the citizens Of Kentucky
m under such banners without the approbaon Of their
ry In Government instituted for the happiness Of the
whole with clear deneaon Of the channels n which the
authority derived from them must Gov, part only Of
the citizens wrsst the sword from the hands Of those maggie
rases whom the whole have invested with direction Of the
military power They may, il - true. leave their country