Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-12-11

ing IN foreign service, the avOwed ol
Ject OF which statute was, that foreie
armies raised for the purpose of resto
ing the house of Stuart to the thron
should not be strengthened by recruit
from England herself. O All must Sc
that difficulties may arise in carrying tll
laws referred to into execution, in
country now having three or four thous
and miles Of seacoast-with an infinit
number OF ports and harbors and smaI
lnlets, from some of which unlawful an
Peeditlons may suddenly set forth, with
'9t The knaSledgs AZ the goyesuse5t
against the possessions of foreign States
t'rienly relations with all, but entanelin,
alliances with none, has long been max
I'm with US. Our mission isanot to prop
ogate our opinions, or impose upon othe
countries our form OF government by ar
tlfce or force, but to teach by example
and show by our success, moderation 8
justice, the blessings of seR-governmen
and the advantages Of free institutions
Let every nation choose for itself, ant
make and alter its political institutions {,
suit its own condition and convenience
But, while we avow and maintain thi,
neutral policy ourselves, we are anxiou.
to see the same forbearance on the par
OF other nations, whose forms of gov,
ernment are different from our own
The deep interest which we feel in the
spread of liberal principles, and the es-
tabllshment of free government, and the
sympathy with which we witness every
struggle against oppression, forbid that
we sho Id be Indifferent to a case in which
the strong arm of a foreign power is pro-
voked to stifle the public sentiment and
repress the spirit Of freedom in any
country. The governments Of Great
Britain and France have issued orders to
their naval commanders on the West In
dia station to prevent by force, if neces-
sary, the landing of adventurers from
any nation on the Island of Cuba, with
hostile intent. The copy of a memoran-
dunn of conyentin on the subject. be-
tween the Charge de Affaires Of Her
Britanic Majesty and the acting Secreta-
ry OF State, and a subsequent note of the
former to the Department of State, are
herewith submitted, together with copy
OF the note OF the acting Secretary of
State to the Minister of the French Re-
public, and the reply of the latter on the
same subject. The papers will scquaint
you with the grounds of this interposi-
l!cn Of the two leading commercial pow
Of Europe, and with the apprehensions
this Government could not fail to enter
tain, that such interposition, if carried
into effect, might lead to abuses TO the
ierogation of the maritime rights of the
United States.
The maratime rights Of the United
States are on firm, secure and well-de-
fined basis; they stand on the ground of
national independence and public law,
and will be maintained in all their Just
extent. The principle which this Gov
ernment has heretofore solemnlv announ-
ced, it still adheres TO, and will maintain.
under all circumstances and at all haz-
ards. That principle is, that in every
documented merchant vessel
the crew who navigate it, and those on
board it, will find their protection in the
flag that is over them. No American
ship can be allowed to be visited or
searched for the purpose of ascertain
ing the character Of individuals on board,
nor can there be allowed any watch, by
vessels of any foreign nation, over A
vessels, on the coast of the Uni
ted States or the seas adjacent thereto.
II will be seen by the last communica-
tion from The British Charge de Affaires
TO the Department of State, that he is au-
10 assure the Secretary of State
that every care shall be taken that, in
executing the preventative measures a.
gainst which the United States itself has
declared, as not being entitled TO the
protection oil any government, no inter-
fererance shall take place with the law
full commerce OF any nation. In addition
to the correspondence on this subject
herewith submitted, official information
has been received al the Department of
State, OF assurances by the French Gov =
ernment lat, in the orders given TO the
French naval forces, they were express.
ly instructed, in any operations they
might engage in, to respect the flag Of
the Uaited States wherever il might ap-
pear, and TO commit no act of hostility up.
on amy vessel, Oh, armament, under its
protection
Ministers and consuIs OF foreign ma
Gons are the means and agents of cOmmu-
nication between us and those nations,
and it is Of the utmost importance that
while residingin the country, they should
enjoy perfect security, so long as they
faithfully discharge their respective du-
ties, and are guilty of no violation of our
laws. This is the admitted law of ma
lions, and ad country has deeper inter
est ip. maintaining it than the United
.6p
Our commerce spreads over every Sc;
and visits every chime; and our Minis.
ters and consuls are appointed to protest
that commerce, as well as TO guard tn,
peace of the country and maintain the
honor Of its flag. But how can they
discharge those duties unless they be
themselves protecteds sand if they be pro
tected by the laws of the country il
which they reside, then what is due Il
our own public functionaries residins
ia foreign nations, is exactly the meas
ure Of what is due to the flnctionaries o
OF 'other governments residing here -
As in war the bearers of flags of true,