Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-08-30


with the policy Of the United States that Cuba
should conquer her own independence, the Govern
ment of the United States, and all the People OF tht
United States represented in the Congress OF Ma
tons by that Government, are bound by the highes
of all human obligations to abstain from taking any
part in it, or seeking or accepting, any connexion
with it.
Nations, as well as individuals, are bound by
high moral obligations, independently OF all con-
! yentional law. No nation has, more than an
individual, right TO covet his neighbours property
his house. his servants, or any thing that is his.
And every nation, as every individual, has right
to resist by whatever force is necessary the attempt
by any People, or any part of a People, to wrest
from that Nation its property, its rights, or its
liberties. trequires no Treaty between the United
States and Spain, nor any Lav of the United
Sta es, 10 make criminal any attempt by organized
force from the United States to take possession of
Cuba, or to attempt in any way to wrest it from the
proprietary State. The law of the Decalogue,
!" thou shalt not stea,' is not more explicit than
the unwritten law to the effect in the heart of
every honest man and of every honest Nation
The Law Of Nations, the obligations OF which
are acknowledged by the whole circle of Civiliza-
ton, imposes upon Nations, in regard to each
others property and rights, the same imperative
duty as the Divine Law does upon man. This
Nation, were it to connive at such expeditions as
those which bands of daring Adventures have set
on foot on these shores against the territory of
Span would place itself in the relation, to the So
cety of nations, which in human society is by
common consent awarded to the burglar and
highwayman.
In addition to the obligations of public law and
morality which this Government is under to respect
the territory of Spain, the United States is bound,
by solemn Treaty, to maintain peaceful and
friendly relations with Spain, withoM exception Of
persons or places This treaty is of thirty years
standing, and its first article is in the following
words
"There shall be firm and inviolable peace and
sincere friendship between the United States and
their citizens, and his Catholic Majesty his sue
and subjects, without exception of persons
: and places"
This Government, were it not otherwise solemnly
pledged, as we have shown, would be bound
to compel its citizens to respect the authority
OF Spain so far as to abstain from all enterprises
against its territories. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in the
internal administration of other Governments is
the established policy of the United States and
recognised such by every Adminisra-
ton Of this Government.
As guarantee Of this policy, and to enable it to
keep its citizens within the pale of that policy, the
United States has set the example to the aoorld of
passing law providing penalties Of fine and i'm
prsonment to be inflicted upon any one who shall,
/" within the territory jurisdiction of the United
g States, begin seton foot, provide prepare
(" the means for, any military expedition or enter
g prise, to be carried on against the territory or
!" dominions of any foreign Prince or State, or of
!" any colony, district, or people, with whom the
/" United States are at peace" This law is even
of older date than the Treaty with Spain, and was
passed to prevent precisely similar enterprises to
that of Lopez and his associates. No law has ever
done more to elevate the character of the United
States than this, unless it be the law declaring the
Foreign Slave-trade to be Piracy.
Notwithstanding the positive and explicit legisla-
ton of Congress on this subject, it is notorious
that, in the Courts of the United States for the
District of Louisiana, it has been found impossible
to enforce the execution of the law when the
offender has been prosecuted; and it is under
stood to be equally certain that the vessels which
have most recently sailed from New Orleans
on criminal expedition against the territory of
Spain have departed in defiance of the Law or the
Officers of the United States. 1t becomes highly
necessary to institute an inquiry therefore, Mr..
JEFFERSON said upon memorable occasion, /" whe-
Their the defect was in the testimony, the law, or
the execution Of the law." If the later-that is
to say, if any of the Officers of the Government
have been found betrayng their trust by conni-
vance, by intentional absence from their posts, or
by shrinking from the performance of their duties,
the public welfare requires that their places be
forthwith supplied by men of frmness, fearless
ness, and proper sense of duty. The character
of the PRESIDENT is too well known to admit of a
doubt that he will omit no proper exercise of the
Executive power to cause the authority and the
laws of the United States to be respected.
Ii will be for the wisdom of Congress, when il
convenes, to inquire whether the lar is too feeble
to accomplish its objects. If So it must be strength
ened by provisions such as became necessary during
the War Of 1912, to protect the Officers of tn,
| United States in the execution of their Lawful
duties, and to give to the laws their proper efficacy
| Irnla., tb;s Ia Jona o,r 7 or. ,nJ 49, Co,..,