Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-12-10
lpowers Ind 10 observe an the lutie. Of neutrn


powers and to observe all the duties Of neutra-
hty. AT al, an early period OF the government
in fhc administration Of WRshington--seye-
raj laws were passed for this purpose The
main provisions Of these laws were re-enactcd
by act of April, lsle-by which, among other
things, was declared, that il any person shalt,
within the territory or jurisdiction Of the Uni
ted States begin, or set on foot or provide. or
prepare the means for any military expedition
or enterprise, to be carried on from thence
against the territory or dominion of any foreign
Prince or State, or Of any colony. district or
pcope with whom the United States are at
peace-every person offending shall be dee
med guilty of high misdemcanor, and shall
be fined not exceeding three thousand dollars,
and be imprisoned not more than three years.
And this law has been executed and enforr ed
to the full extent of the power Of the G,,vern.
ment, from that day to this. In pre-, clair,inp
and adhering to the doctrine Of u, utral;tv and
non Intervention, the United States have NOT
followed the cad of other ,latio.,s-tbey have
taken the lead themselves a, I'D have been fol-
lowed by others. This W as admitted by one of
the most eminer. of n.oderD British statesmen
VINO said I'D far'. lament, whilst a Minister Of
1ne oro" H. that if he wished for guide in a
system OF neutrality, he should take that laid
Gown oy America in the days Of Washington
AID the Secretaryshp of jefferson and we see,
in fact that the acrof Congress of 1918 was fol-
lowed the succeeding year by an act of the Par
| Lament of England substantially the same in
its general provisions Up to that time there
had been no similar law in England, except
some highly penal statutes passed in the reign
of George II prohibiting English subjects en-
listing in foreign service, the avowed object Of
which statute was, that foreign armies raised
for the purpbse of restoring the house of Stuart
to the throne, should not be strengthened by
recruits from England herself All must see
that difficulties may arise in carrying the laws
referred :oInto execution, in a country now
having 1110udour Thousand miles of sen coast
with an infinite number of ports and harbors
and small inets, from some Of which unlaw full
expeditions may suddenly set forth, without
the knowledge of the government. against the
possessions of foreign States. Friendly rela-
tons with all, but entangling alliances with
none, has long been maxim with u.s. Our
mission is not to propagate our opinions or i'm
! pose upon other countries our form of govern
ment by artitice or force but to teach by exam
| pie. and show by our success, moderation and
justice. the blessings of self government and the
| advantages of free institutions. Let every ma
ton choose for itself, and make and alter its
political institutions to suit its own condition
and convenience But, while we avow and
maintain this neutral policy ourselves, we are
anxious to see the same forbearance on the part
of other nations, whose forms of government
which we feel in the spread of liberal princi-
es and the establishment of free government,
and the sympathy with wQch we witness eve
ny struggle against oppression, forbid that we
should be Indifferent to n case in which the
strong arm of a foreign power is provoked to
stitle pubic sentiment and repress the spirit of
freedom The governments of Great Britain
and France have issued orders to their naval
commanders on the West India station, to pre-
Inv force If bo fauA;prr nd
venturers from any nation on the Island of Gu
ba, with hostile intent. The copy of a memo
randum of a Convention on this subject be-
tween the Charge de Affaires of Her Britanic
Majesty and the acting Secretary of State, and
a subsequent note of the former to the Depart
ment of State are herewith submitted tnpAthar
! ".,h copy OF note of lhe acting Secretary of
State to the Minister of the French Republic,
and the reply of the latter on the same subject.
The papers acqlaint you with the grounds
Of this interpo.iton of the tw o lead ing CONNER
cial powers of Europe, and with the apprehen-
sion which this government could not fail to
entertain, that such interpositon, if carried in
to etfecl, nigh, lead to abuses in dcrogation of
the maratiine rights of the United States.
The maritime rights Of the United States are
on firm, secure and well defined basis; they
stand upon the ground OF national indepen
dence end public law, and will hr maintained
IN all their Jus! extent. The principle which
TINS Government heretofore so!emly announced
" still adheres, to and will maintain under all
circumstances and at all hazards. That prin-
ciple Is. that in evry documented merchant
veSsai, the crew who navigated it, and those
on board of ii, will find their protectlog in the
flag which is over them. No American ship
can be allowed to be visited and searched for
the purpose of ascertainng the character of IN
dlAidnals on board. nor can there be allowed
any wath by vessels of any foreign nations,
over American vessels, on the coast of the Uni
ted States, or the seas adjacent thereto.
1t will be seen by the last communication
from the British Charge de Atfaires to the De-
partment OF State, that he is authorised to as
sure the Secretary of State, that every care will
be taken that IN executing the preventative
measures against which the United, states Gov
eminent itself has declared. rs not being emit
tied to the prolectin Of any government, no in
ter'erance shall take place with the lawful
commerce OF any nation. In addition to the
correspondence on this subject herewith sub
mlttcd official Information has been received
at the Department of State, of ASSURANCES by
the Fronch Government that. in the orders
given to the French naval forces they were
expressly instructed, in any operations they
might engage in, to respect the flag of the Uni
ted States wherever it might appear, and to
commit no act of hostility on any vessel, or
| armament under its protection.
Ministers and consuis of foreign nations are
the means and agents of communication be-
tween US and those nations, and it is of the
utmost importance that, while residing in the
country, thy should enjoy perfect security
so long as they faithfully discharge their re-
! spectire duties, and are guilty of no violation
| of our laws. This Is the admitted law of ma
tions, and no country has a deeper interest in
maintaining it than the United States.
! Our commerce spreads over every sea visits
every cline; and our ministers and consuls arc
| appoint Il to protect that commerce; as well as
to guard the peace of the country and maintain
the honor of its flag But how can they dis
charge those duties unless they be themselves
! protected udd II they be protected by the laws
Of the country in which they reside, then
what is due to our own public functional
| rics residing in foreign nations. is exactly the
measures of what is due to the functionares of
other government, residing here. AS in war
| the bearer Of flags of are sacred, or else
wars would be intermnable, 50 in peace am
bassadors, public ministers, and consuls charg-
ed with friendly national intercourse. are Oh
| lects of special respect and protection, each
according to the rights belonging to his rank
and station
| In view Of these important principles it is
with deep modification and regret announce
| to You, that, during the excitement growing out
of the executions at Havanh, the office of her
| Catholic Maes,y's Consul at New Orleans was
assaied by mob. his property destroyed, the
Spanish flag found in the office. carried off aud
torn to pieces, and he himself induced to flee
for his personal safety, which he reported to be
IN danger On receiving intelligence of these
events, forthwith directed the Attorney of the
| United States siding in New Orleans, to en-.
quire into the fact and extent of the pecuniary
! nv ~ nj w int