The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-12-05

ments Of this Government, it NAV be added tb,,
every Independent nation must be presumed to he
able to defend its possessions against Unauthorized
individuals banded together to attack them. The
Government Of the United States at all times
since its establishment has abstained and has
sought to restrain the citizens Of the country from
entering into controversies between other mowers
and to observe all the duties of neutrality. AT an
early period of the Government, in the adminlstra
tion of Washington, several laws were passed for
this purpose. The main provisions of these laws
were re-enacted by the act Of April, 1918. bv
which, amongst other things, it was declared that
| if any person SHALL within the territory or iuri.
dctlon Of the United States, begin, set on foot,
or provide, or prepare the means for any military
| expedition enterprise to be carried on from
foreign prince or State or OF any colony, district
| or people with whom the United States are al
peace, every person offending shall be deemed
| guilty Of high misdemeanor, and shall be fined
not exceeding three thousand dollars and impris-
oned not more than three years; and this law has
been executed and enforced to the full extent of the
| power Of the Government, from that day to this.
In proclaiming and adhering TO The doctrine of
neutrality and non.inervention, the United States
have not followed The lead of other civilized ma
tions; they have taken the lead themselves, and
| have been followed by others. This was admitted
| by one Of the most eminent Of modern British
statesmen, who said in Parliament, while minis.
ter of The crown, That, if he wished for guide
|
| down by America in the days of Washington and
the secretaryship of Jefferson" )" and we see, in
fact, that the act Of Congress of 1918 was follow.
ed, the succeeding year, by. an act Of the Parla.
| ment of England, substantially the same in its
general provisions. Up to that time there had been
no similar law in England, except certain highly
penal statutes passed in the reign ofGeorge ii, pro.
hlbting English subjects from enlistng in foreign
service, the avowed object of which statute was,
that foreign armies, raised for the purpose of re-
he hnYs ,f tpt thos
| be strengthened by recruits from England herself
All must see that difficulties may arise in carry.
ing the laws referred to into execution in country
now having three or four thousand miles of sea.
coast with an infinite number of ports and harbors
and small inets, from some of which unlaw full ex-
pedltlons may suddenly set forth, without the
Knowledge Of Government, against the possessions
of Foreign States.
Friendly relations with all, but entangling ALI.
ances with none, has long been maxim with u.s.
Our true mission is not TO propagate our opinions,
or Impose upon other countries form Of govern
ment, by arlfce or force but to teach by example
and show by our success, moderation and Justice,
the blessings of self government, and the advanta.
ges OF free institutions. Let every people choose
for itself, and make and alter its political jnstjtu.
Mons to SUIT its own condition and convenience
But, while we avow and maintain this neutral pol.
icy ourselves we are anxious to see the same for
bearance on the part of other nations, whose forms
OF government are different from our own The
deep interest which feel in tho spread of liberal
principles and the establishment of free govern.
ments, and the sympathy with which we witness
every struggle against oppression, forbid that we
should be Indifferent case in which the strong
arm OF foreign power is invoked to stiAe public
sentiment and repress the spirit Of freedom in any
| country '
The governments of Great Britain and France
nave issued orders to their naval commanders on
the west India station to prevent by force, if me-
cessary, the landing of Adventures from any ma
| ton on the Island of Cuba with hostile intent
ihe copy OF memorandum of a conversation on
thus subject between the Charge dAfaires of her
Britannia Majesty and the Acting Secretary of
State, and OF subsequent note of the former to
the department OF State, are herewith submitted
together with copy of note OF the Acting Sec.
retary OF State to the Minister of the French Re-
Puoc, and OF the reply of the latter, on the same
subject. These papers will acquant you with the
grounds oil this interposition of the two leading
commercial powers of Europe, and with the appre
hehsions, thsGovernment could not fail to en-
terain, that such nerposton, if carried into effect
might lead to abuses in derogation of the maritime
rights of the United States. The maritime rights
OF the United States founded on a firm. secure.
and weil-detned basis; they stand upon the ground
OF National independence and public law, and will
"a maintained in all their full and just extent.
The ,,,,-inciple which this Government has here.
tofore solemniS announced it still adheres to- and
will maintain under all circums tances and at all
hazards. That principle is, that in every regularly
documented merchant vessel, the crews who navi.
gate it, and those on board Of it, will find their pro-
lection in the flag which is over them. No Amer
ican ship can be allowed to be visited searched
for the purpose of ascertaning the character of in
dividuals on board, nor can there be allowed any
watch by the vessels OF any foreign nation over
American vessels the coasts of the United States
the adjacent thereto 1t will be seen by the
last communication from the British Charge d'Af
fares to the Department of State, that he is auth
orzed assure the Secretary Of State that every
care will be taken that in executing the preventive
measures against the expeditions, which the United
States Government itself has denounced as not be.
ing entitled to the protection of any government,
no interference shall take place with the lawful
commerce Of any nation.
In addition to the correspondence on this subject
herewith submitted, official information has been
received at the Department OF State Of assurances
by the French Government that in the orders given
to the French naval forces, they were expressly in
structed, in any operation they might engage in,
to respect the flag of the United States wherever
it might appear, and to commit act OF hostility
upon any vessel armament under its protection |
Ministers and consuls of foreign nations are the
means and agents of communication between us |
and those nations and it is of the utmost import.
ance that, while residing in the country, they |
should feel perfect security so long as they faith
fully discharge their respective duties, and are |
guilty of no violation of our laws. This is the ad-
mi,ted law of nations, and no country has deeper
interest in maintaining it than the United Staies |
Our commerce spreads over every and visits |
every cline, and our ministers and consuls are ap.
pointed 10 protect the interests of that commerce,
as well as to guard the peace of the country and |
maintain the honor of its flag. But how can they |
discharge these duties unless they be themselves
protected and if protected, it must be by the |
laws of the country in which they reside. And |
what is due to own public functionaries resid.
ing in foreign nations is exactly the measure of |
what is due to the iunctionaries OF other Govern
ments residing here. As in war, the btarers Of |
flags Of truce sacred or else wars would be in
terminable, 20 in peace, ambassadors, public min |
listers, and consuls, charged with friendly national
intercourse, are objects Of especial respect and pro-
lection, 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 10 you that, during the excitement |
growing out of the executions at Havana, the office
of her Catholic Majesly's Consul at New Orleans
was assaled by mob, his property destroyed, the |
Spanish flag found in the Office carried of and |
torn in pieces, and he himself induced 10 flee for
his personal safety, which he supposed 10 be in |
danger. On receiving intelligence of these events |
forthwith directed the Attorney of the United |
States residing at New Orleans to inquire into the
facts and the extent of the pecuniay loss sustained
py the Consul, with the intention of laying them |
before you, that you might make provision for |
such Indemnify to him as just reward for the |
honor OF the nation and the respect which is due
70 friendly power might in your judgment, seem |
70 require. The correspondence upon this subject
Detween the Secretary of Stale and her Catholic |
Ma]estys Minister Plenipotentiary is herewith |
1 he occurrence at New ORLEANS has lad me tn |