The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-12-11

Government and that of Spain, relative 4
/ this transaction, is herewith communiea
ted. Although these offenders against ih'
laws have forfeited the protection OF ihel
country, yet the Government may so fa
is consistent with its obligations, to othe
countries, and its fixed purpose to malntat
and enforce the laws, entertain sympathy
for their unofending families and friends
as well as feeling Of compassion for them
selves. Accordingly, no proper effort has
been spared. and none will be spared, Il
procure the release of such citizens Of The
U. s., engaged 10 this unlawful enterprise
as are now in confinement in Spain. Bul
it is 10 be hoped that such interposltion
with tbs government Of that country, may
not be considered as afording any ground
| of expectation that the government of the
/ u. S. will hereafter feel itself under any
Obligations Of duty to intereede for the lib.
GRAFTON or pardon Of such persons as are
| hagrant offenders against the law OF ma
lions, and the laws OF the U. S. These
laws must be executed if we desire to main
tain our responsibility among the nations
of the earth 1t behooves Us TO enforce
steadily and sternly the neutrality acts
passed by Congress, and to follow, as far
as may be, tho violation Of those acts with
condign punishment. Bat what gives a
peculiar criminality to this invasion Of Gu
ba is, that under the lead Of Spanish sub
lects, and with the aid of citizens Of the y.
States, it had its origin with many. in mo-
tives of cupid'y; money was advanced By
individuals, probably in considerable a
mounts, 10 purchase Cuba Bonds, (as they
have been caiIed,) issued By Lopez, sold
doubtless a, a 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 of that island, from whatever
source TO Sc derived, were pledged, as well
as the good faith Of the government expect
ed to be established All these means Of
payment, it is evident, were only to be OBJ
tanned BY process of blooashed. war and
revolution. None will deny that those
who set Oh foot military expeditions against
foreign States, BY means like these, are
far more culpabe than the ignorant aud
the necessitous, whom they induce to 60
forth as the ostensible parties in the pro-
ceoding. These originators of the Inya-
sion OF Cuba, seem 10 have determined
with coolness and system upon an under
taking which would disgrace their country.
Violate It's laws, and pn. to hazard tho lives
Of !I-nformcd and deIuded men. You
viii consider whether further Legislation
he necessary TO prevent the perpetra-
ton OF such ofiances in future. No indi-
vidusls have right to hazard the peace Of
the country, or to violate its laws, upon
vague notions Of altering or reforming gov
ernmenls in other States. This principle
is not only reasonable in itself, and in ac-
cordance with public law, but is engrafted
into the codes Of other Nations, as we'll as
our own. But while such are the sent-
ments Of this Government, j. may be add
ed, that every independent nation must be
presumed TO be able to defend its posses
sions, against Unauthorized individuals,
banded together to attack them. The
Government Of the u. S., at all times since
its establishment, has abstaiucd, and has
sought TO restrain the citizens Of the coun-
try, from entering into controversies be-
tween other powers, and TO observe all the
duties of neutrality.
At an early period of the Government,
in the Administration of Washington, sew
eral laws wore passed for this purpose.--
The main provisions OF these laws were
re-enac,ed by the Act of April -, -,
which amongst other things makes provis-
ion that it any person, shall within the ter
ritory or jurisdiction of the U. s., begin, or
set on foot, or provide, or prepare the
means for any military expedition, or en-
terprize, to be carried on from thence A.
gainst the territory er dominion OF any for
|eign Province or State, or of any colony,
distinct, or people, with whom the U. s
are at peace, every person so offending.
shall be deemed guilty Of a high nisde-
meanor, and shall be fned not exceeding
$4,000, and imprisoned not more than three
years, and this law has been executed and
enforced to the full extent of the power ol
the Government, from that day to this. 10
proclaiming and adhering to the doctrine
of neutrality, and non-interyentlon, the
u. S. have not followed the lead OF other
civilized nations. They have taken the
lead themselves, and have been followed
by others. This was admitted by one OF
the most eminent of modern British states
men, who said in Parliament, while a min
lister of the Crown, that il he wished for
guide in system Of neutrality, he should
take that laid down by America, in the
days Of Washington, aud the Secretaryship
Of Jefferson; and we see in fact, that the
Act OF Congress of 1918, was followed the
succeeding year by an Act Of the Parlia-
ment of England, substantially tho 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 0, George H., prohibiting Eng.
lands subjects from entering into foreign
services; the avowed objects Of which stat
u,es was, that foreign armies raised for the
purpose of restoring the House of Stuart to
the throne, should not be strengthened by
recruits from England herself. All must
see that difficulties may arise in carryin
The laws referred to into execution, in q
country now having three or four thousand
miles of sea coasi, with an infinite number
of ports and harbors and small inlets, from
scn,a af Khich mil utnl pyrplttianS mag