Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1851-12-13

legation of duty to intercede for the liberation
or pardon Of such persons as are fragrant of
tenders against the law of nations and the law:
Of the United States. These laws must be
executed. If we desire to maintain our re-
spectabiIty among the nations of the earth, il
behooves us to enforce steadily and sternly
the neutrality acts passed by Congress, and
to follow, as far as may be, the violation Of
those acts with condign punishment.
But what gives peculiar criminality 70 this
invasion of Cuba is, that under the lead oi
Spanish subjects and with the aid of citizens
of the United States it had its virgin, with
many, in motives of cupidity. Money was ad-
vanced by individuals, probably in considera-
BILE amounts, to purchase Cuban bonds, as
they have been called, issued by Lopez, sold,
doubtless, at very large discount and for
the payment of which the public lands and
public property of Cuba, of whatever kind,
and the fiscal resources of the people and
government, from whatever source derived,
were pledged, as well as the good faith Of the
government expected to be established All
these means of payment, it is evident, were
only to be obtained by a process of bloodshed,
war, and revolution. None will deny that
those who set on foot military expeditions
against foreign States by means like these,
are far more culpable than tAe ignorant and
necessitous whom they induce to go forth as
the ostensible parties in the proceeding
These originators of the invasion of Cuba
seem to have determined, with coolness and
system, upon an undertaking which should
disgrace their country, violate its laws andlput
to hazurd the lives Of ill-informed and delu-
ded men. You will consider whether further
legislation be necessary to prevent the per-
petration Of such offences in future.
No individuals have right to hazard the
peace of the country or to violate its laws
upon vague notions of altering or reforming
governments in other States. This principle
is not only reasonable in itself, and in accord
ance with public law, but is engrafted into
the codes of other nations as well as our own.
But while such are the sentiments of this
Government it may be added that every in
dependent nation must be presumed to be
able to defend its possessions against ;lnau-
thorized individuals banded together to at.
tack them. The Government of the United
States, at all times since its establishment, has
ahstained and has sought to restrain the citi-
zens of the country, from entering into contro-
versies between other powers and to observe
all the duties of neutrality. At an early pc
riod of the Government, in the administration
of Washington, several laws were passed for
this purpose. The main provisions of these
laws were re-enacted BY the act of Aril. 1918,
by which, amongst other things, it was de-
clared that if any person shall, within the ter
ritory or jurisdiction of The United States, be-
gin, or set on foot. or provide. or prepare the
means for any military expedition or enter.
prise to be carried on from thence against the
territory or dominion of any foreign prince Oh
State, or of any colony, district or people with
whom the United States are at peace, every
person so offending shall be deemed guilty O.
a high misdemeanor. and shall be fined, moi
exceeding three thousand dollars, and i'm
prisoned not more than three years; and this
law has been executed and enforced, to tht
full extent of the power of the Government
from that day to this.
In proclaiming and adhering to the doctrine
of neutrality and nou-inteTVention, the Unitet
States have not followed the lead of othe
civilized nations; they have taken the leat
themselves, and have been followed by others
This was admitted by one of the most emf
nent of modern British Statesmen, who said il
Parliament, while minister of the crown
'that if he wished for guide in system o
neutrality, be should take that laid down b.
America in the days of Washington and tn,
Secretaryship of Jefferson and we see, ii
fact, that the act of Congress of 1918 was fol
lowed, the succeeding year, by an act of th,
Parliament of England, substantially the sam
in its general provisions. Up to that TIM
there had been no similar law in England, ex
cept certain highly penal statutes passed il
the reign Of George IL, prohibiting the Eng
lish subjects from enlsting in foreign service
the avowed object of which statute was, tina
foreign armies, raised for the purpose of re
storing the house of Stuart to the throne
should not be strengthened br recruits fron
England herself
All must see that difficulties may arise i
carrying the laws referred to into execution
in country now having three or four thou
sand miles of sea coast, with an infinite nun
Der of ports and harbors, and small inlets, fror
some of which unlawful expeditions may sud
denly set forth, without the knowledge of th
Government against the possessions of fol
eign States.
Friendly relations with all, but entanglin
alliances with none, has long been maxir
with u.s. Our true mission is not to propagat
our opinions, or impose upon other countrie
our form of government, by arti6ce or force
but to teach by example, and show by ou
success, moderation and justice, the blessing
of Selfgovernment and the advantages Of fire
institutions. Let every people choose for i
self, and make and alter its political institl
tions to suit its own condition and convenienc
But, while we avow and maintain this neutri
) lpolicy ourselves, we are anxious to see th
same forbearance on the part Of other nation
whose forms of government are different frol
our own. The deep interest which we feel
the spread of liberal principles and the estal
lishment of free governments, and the sympi
thy with which we witness every strugg
against oppression, forbid that we should !
: indifferent to case in which the strong arm
foreign power is invoked to stifle public sent
ment and repress the spirit of freedom in an
: country.
The governments of Great Britain an
: France have issued orders to their naval con