Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1851-12-12
THOMAS a. FALcoNER, PUBLISHER.
VOLUME |.

ala4 nes1e Sl4i De spared 10 procure the re-
3eNse i such cigizens Of the United States,
enraze4 n The unlawful enterprise, as are
EOS n confinement IN Spain but it is to
be hoped that such interPosition with the
Government Of that country may not be
cozsi3erel a. Eaorsling any ground of
expectation that the Government of the
United States Eill hereafter feel itself un-
der zay obligation OF duty TO intercede
81 the Liberation or pardon of such per-
seas ss are fragrant offenders against the
law Of nations and the United States
These laws must be executed if we desire
10 maintain our respectabilily among the
nations Of the earth 1t behooves us TO
enforce. steadily and sternly, the neutrality
acts passed bv Congress, and 10 follow, as
TAR zs may be, The violation of those acts
sIih oondign punishment But what gives
= peculiar eTiminaEty TO this invasion of
Cuba :. that, under the lead of Spanish
subjects. and with the aid of citizens of
the nIied STATES, II had its origin in mo-
tives of cupiiitv- Money was advanced
bv individuals, probably In considerable
amounts, 90 purchase Cuban Bonds, as
they have been called-issued bv Lopez
sold. doubtless, at very large discount,
and for the payment of which the public
lsnds and public property of Cuba, Of
whatever kind, and the fiscal resources of
the people and government of that Island
from whatever source TO be derived, were
pled-ed-as well As the good faith of the
government expected to be established
Al tins means Of payment, it is evident,
were only to be obtained by process of
bloslShed. war and revolution None will
deny that those who set on foot military
expeditions against foreign States, by
means Ike these, are far more culpable
Jhan the i.aorant and the necessitous,
Uhom they induce TO 90 forth as the osten-
>Ible pslles IN the proceeding. These
eTIs1Ez1cTs Of the invasion of Cuba seem
10 have determined with GOODNESS and sys-
ten upon an undertaking which should dis
grace their county, violate its laws, and
pat 10 hazard the lives of ill-informed and
aclu8ee men You viii consider whether
further legislation VIII be necessary to pre-
vent the preparation of such offences In
fnsuTc- No individuals have a right to
hazard The peace of the country. or vio-
lste IL laws, upon vague notions of alter
>tales- This principle Is not only reasona
BE IN its,lf, and in accordance sith public
law, but Is ingTafted into the codes of 9th
~ nations a. well as our own. But while
sarh are the sentiments of this government,
Il may be added, that every independent
nailon must be presumed TO be able TO de-
fend Is possessions against unauthorized
individuals banded together TO attack them
The government of The United States, at
Al times s5nee It's establishment, has alb
stained and has sought TO restrain, the cit
51els of the country from entering into
Controversies between other powers, AID
30 observe all the duties of neutrality. At
an early period of the government-in the
administration of WaShington--several
laws we're passed for the purpose. The
Elsin provisions OF these laws were re-en-
ae-ed BY act Of April, l3I8-by which,
among oiher things, it was declared, that
i any person shall within the territory or
jurisdiction 81 the United States, begin or
SCI On fcot, or provide, or prepare the
means for any military expedition or en-
tcrpTise, 10 be carried on from thence
against the Territory or dominion of any
foreign Prince or State, or Of any colony,
district or people with whom the United
States are al peace-every person so of
fenGing shall be deemed guilty of high
raIslemeanor, and shall be fined not ex-
cee,ling three thousand dollars, and be i'm
p-Is0ned not more than three years. And
this law has been executed and enforced to
the fuil extent of the power of the Govern
Taent, from that day to this. In proclaim
1 4
trali-y and non-intervenfion, the United
Sta.es have not followed the lead of 9TH
er naiions-they have taken the lead them
selves, and have been followed by others.
This was admitted by one of the most en-
iRent Of modern British Statesmen, who
sad IN Parliament, whilst Minister of the
Crown. that if he wished for a guide in a
system of neutrality, he should take that
lGd down by America in the days of Wash
Ington and The Secretaryship of Jefferson,
and We see, in fact, that the act of Con-
greSs Of 1918 was followed the succeed
ing year by an act of the Parliament of
England substantially the same IN It's gen
eral provisions Up to that time there had
been no similar law in England, except
some highly penal statutes passed in the
reign of George H. prohibiting English
subjects enlistiEg in foreign service, the
avowed object OF which statute was, that
foreign armies raised for the purpose of
restoring the House of Stuart to the throne,
shozld not be strengthened by recruits from
England herself.
All must see, tnat difficulties NAV arise
n carrying the laws referred to into exc
cutSon, IN a country now having three or
four thousand miles of sea coast-with an
Infnise number of ports and harbors and
small Inlets. from some of which unlawful
expeditions NAV suddenly set forth, with
ozt the knowledge of the Government, "a
g2sast the possessions of foreign States
Friendly relations with all, but entanglino
alliance with none, has long been maxim
with Us Our mission is not TO propagate
orr opinions, or impose upon other coun
tres our form ofpoyernment 5v arti6ce or
force, but 10 teach BY example, and show
by our success. moderation and Justice, the
blessings of self-goyernment and the ad-
rantageS of free institutions
Let every nation choose for itself, and
make and alter its political institutions to
suit It's own condition and convenience
But, while we avow and maintain this neu-
tral policy ourselves, we are anxious to see
the same forbearance on the part of other