The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-06

States were In amity.
To this end. many such enactments have beer
made--~the first AS early as the year l794, and
the last as rate as 1888. The last having expired
by its own limitation, and all the preceding Iegis
lation on the subject having been comprehend
ed In the act Of Congress of the goth April, lS4S
it is unnecessary TO do more than to refer NJ dc
Sartiges to its provisions, marking the signal
anxiety and good faith of this government to
restrain persons within its jurisdiction from com
hitting any acts inconsistent with the rights OF
others, or its own obligations These laws were
intended to comprehend and to protect from
violation all our relations with, aud duties to-
countries at peace with us, and to punish any
violations of them by our citizens crimes
against the United States. In this manifestation
of its desire to preserve just and peaceful rela-
tons with all nations, it is believed that the
United States hive gone before and further than
any of the older governments OF Europe With
out recapituatng all the provisions of those
laws, by which the United States have SO care
fully endeavored to prohibit every act that could
be Justly offensive to their neighbors, it is deemed
enough for this occasion to say, that they de-
nounce all such enterprises or expeditions as
those against which the orders in question are
| directed
Tie undersigned thinks it is of importance
enough to call the attention of Nj. de Sartiges
more directly to this law. A literal copy Of it
is accordingly herewith communicated
Besides the ordinary legal process, it author
lied the President to employ the m iIitary and
naval forces Of the country, for the purpose Of
preventing such expeditions, and arresting for
punishment those concerned in them In the
spirit Of this law, the President condemns such
expeditions against the island If Cuba, as are
| denounced by the orders in question, and has
omitted nothing for their detection and proven
ton. To that end, he has given orders to
civil, naval, and military officers, from New York
to New Orleans, and has enjoined upon them
the greatest vigilance and energy. His course
on the subject has been in all things clear and
direct. 1t has been so secret, and the under
signed must presume that it has been fully un-
derstood and known by M. de Sartiges. An
appeal might confidently be made to the vigilant
and enlightened minister of Spain, that his
suggestions for the prevention of such aggres-
sions, or the prosecution of offenders engaged
in them, have been promptly considered, and if
found reasonable, adopted by the President. His
course, it is believed, has been above all question
or just cause of complaint. This government
is determined to execute its laws, and in the
performance of this duty, can neither ask nor
receive foreign aid. If, notwithstanding all its
efforts expeditions of small force hostile to
Cuba have, in single vessel or steamer, excited
by Cubans themselves, escaped from our extern.
sive shores-such an accident can furnish no
ground of imputation, either upon the law or
its administration. Every country furnishes
instances enough of infractions and evasons Of
its laws, which no power or vigilance can effectu
ally guard against.
1t need not be feared that any expeditions Of a
lawless and hostile character escape from
the United States, of sufficient force to create
any alarm for the safety of Cuba, or against
which Spain might not defend it, with the slight
est exerlion of her power. The President is
persuaded that none such can escape detection
and prevention, except by their minuteness and
insigniiicance None certainly can escape which
could require the combined aid of France and
| England to resist or suppress. Cuba will find
sure, if not its surest protection and defence in
the justice and good faith of the United States
There is another point of view in which this
intervention on the part of France and England
cannot be viewed with indifference by the Pres.
dent. The geographical position of the Island
of Cuba, i'll the Gulf of Mexico, lying at no
great distance from the mouth Of the river Mis-
sissippi, and in the line of the greatest current
of the commerce of the United States, would
become, in the hands of any powerful European
nation, an object of just jealousy and apprehen.
zion TO the people of this country. due
regard to their own safety and interest must
/ therefore make it a matter of Importance to
them who shall possess and hold dominion over
that island. The government of France and
those of other European nations were long since
officially apprized by this government that the
/ United States could not see without concern that
island transferred by Spain to any other Euro.
pean Slate. President Fillmore fully concurs
] - hat nd 70
sort of protectorate introduced by the orders in
question might, in contingencies not difficult to
be imagined, lead to results equally objection
able.
Fit should appear TO NJ. de Sartiqes that the
| President is too apprehensive on this subject
this must be attributed to his great socitude to
| guard the friendly relations between the two
countries against all contingencies and causes OF
disturbance. The people of the United States
have long cherished towards France the most
amicable sentiments, and recent events, which
made her a republic, have opened new sources
Of fraternal sympathy. Harmony and confidence
would seem TO be the natural relations of the
two great republics OF the world: relations
demanded no less by their permanent interests
than by circumstances and combinations in
continental Europe which now seem to threaten
80 mmiaently the cause of free institutions
luz OulNtu Dldbcs nave HObnlllg TO lear rom
those commissions, nor are they ! ropagandists.
but they have at heart the cause of freedom in
all countries, and believe that the example of the
TWO great republics of France and America
with their moral and social Influence co operating
tremendously, would go far to promote and to
strengthen that cause
1t is with these views that the President so
much desires the cultivation of friendly feelings
between the two countries, and regards with so
much concern any cause that may tend To pro.
duce collision or ienation. He believes that
this Cuban Intervention is such a cause.
'The system of government which prevails
most generally in Europe is adverse to the prip-
ciples upon which this republic has been found
ed, and the undersigned is we'll aware that the
difference between them is calculated TO produce
disirust Of, if not aversion to the government of
the United States Sensible of this, the people
of this country are naturally jealous of Euro
pean interference in American affairs And al
though they would not impute to France, now
herself arepublic, any participation in this dis
trustful and unfr,apdlv fool;nf, ,o,,oxI.