Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-12-11

fetted the projection OF their country,
yet the Government may, 60 fac as Is
consistent. with its obligations 10 other
countries, and lis fixed purpose to main.
tain and enforce the laws. enier,ain SYM
pashies for their unoifrnding families aud
friends, as wvllas feeling al conpas
sion for themselves. Accordingly, no
proper eiTurl has been spared, and meme
will be spared. to procure the release oil
such citizens of the United States. enga
ged in the unlawful enterprise. as are
, now in confinement in Spain; bn; i, is
to be hoped that snch ia:erposilion with
the Government OF that country may
not be considered as atfording any ground
Inf expectation that lhe Governmen, oil
The United States will hereafter feel H.
self under any obligation Of duty 10 in-
,ercede for The liberation or pardon oil
such persons as are fragrant offenders a.
Lgainst the laws of the United States. -
These laws must be executed If we de.
sire 10 maintain our respectabiIi,y among
| The nations of the earih. Il brhooves
us to enforce. steadily and sternIy, the
lneutr4li,y acis passed by Congress, and
Ia follow, as far as may be, the viola
tion If these acts with condign punish
ment. Blu, what gives peculinr crimi-
nallty To this invasion Of Cuba. is, that,
andrl the lead Of Spanish subjects. and
with the aid Of citizens of The United
States, i, had lis origin in motives OF GU.
piliiy. Money was advanced By, iadi-
viduaIs, probably in considerable a.
mounts, Ia purchase Cuban Bonds, as
they have been called--issned by Lopez
I-sold. doubtless, at very large dis
count. and for the payment Of which the
public lands and public property Ct Gu.
ba. of whatever kind. and the fiscal re-
sources Of the people and government,
of that Island, from whatever source Il,
he derived. were pledged--as well as
the good faith Of the government expec.
lied 10 be established. All this means 81
pay ment, il is evident, were only 10 be
obtained by process Of bloodshed
war and revolution. None will deny,
that those wiio set on foo, military expe
ditions agains, forc;ssh Sta'es by means
like these, are far mere culnatle than The
ignorant anl nccessitcus, whom they il.
duce 10 60 forth as The ostensible parties
in the proceeding. These origina,ors Of
The invasion If Cuba, seem 10 have de
iermined with Goodness and system upon
al undertaking which should disgrace
4 their country, violate its laws. and pul
to hazard the lives Of ill-.nformed and
deluded men. You will consider whsih-
er further Legislation will be necessary
TO prevent the preparation Of such Of
fences in future. No individuals have
a right to hazard the peace Of The coun.
try. or violate its laws, upon vague no.
lions OF altering or reforming govern.
ments in other States. This principle
is not only reasonable ia itself, and in
accordance with public law. bull is en-
! grated into the codes Of other nations
as well as our own. But while such
!, are the sentiments Of This government
!. may be added, that every independent
nation mus. be presumed 10 be able IL
defend It's possessions against unauihor.
\ lied individuals banded together to al
tack them. The government Of the Uni
ted States al oil times since its establish.
msra, has abstained and has sought "a
restrain the citizens of the counlry from
entering into controversies between 9th.
er powers. and 10 observe oil the duties
of neutrality. Al an early period oI
the gosernment--in the administration
sOf Washington--several laws were pas.
sed for this purpose. The main pro- is
ions Of these laws were re-enacied hy
act Of April isIS-by which, among
other things. il was declared, that If ans
person shall. within the territory or jn,
ris diclion Of the United States begin. OF
SET on foot. or provide, or prepare the
means for any military expedition or en-.
lierprisc. TO be carried on from thence a.
gainst tho territory or dominion oI
any foreign Prince or State. or u
any colony, district or people witt
whom The United States are III peace
every person SO offending shall be deem.
ed guilty Of a high misdemeanor, and
shall be fined no. exceeding three thou
sand dollars. and be imprisoned no
more than three years. And this law
has been executed and enforced 10 the
full extent Of the power OF the Govern.
ment from that day 10 this. In pro.
claiming and adhering to the doctrine o.
neutrality, and non-iniervenfion. the Uni
ted States have not followed the lead d
other nations--ihey have taken the lead
themselves. and have been followed By
oihers. This was admitted By one OF
Iihe most eminent of modern British
Statesmen. who said ia Parliament
whilst Minister Of the Crown. that il
he wished for guide in system o.
neutrality. he should take iha, laid down
by America Ia the days Of Washington
and The Secretaryship Of Jefferson. and
we see. in fact. that the ACT OF Congress
of 1915 was followed the succeeding
year by an act Of The Parliament Of Eng
land substantially the same in its gene
raj provisions. Up TO that time there
had been no similar law in England, ex-
Icept some highly penal statutes passed
in the reign Of George II. prohibiting
English subjects enlissing 10 foreign SER
vice. the avowed ohjec. Of which statute
was. that foreign armies raised for the