Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-12-08
LYNCHBURG MONDAY MORNING, DECEMBER S, 1851

America in the DAYS of W ashingtop and the secre-
aryship of Jefer son. and we see in fact, that the
act of Congress ofisls was followed, the succeed
ing wear. by an act Of the Parliament of England,
substantially the same in its general provisions
Up to that time the re had been no similar law in
England except certain highly penal statutes pas
sed in the reign of George H., prohibiting English
subjects fsosn ens,ing in foreign service the avow-
ed object Of which statutes was that foreign ar
mics r1,ised for the prpose of restoring the house
of Stuart the throne, hoald nst be strengthened
by recruits from England herself
All mast see thai dstiicakes may ntse N carry
ing the laws referred to into execution IN = countr!
now having three or four Thousand miles of sea-
coast, with infinite number of ports and harbors
and sall inlets, from some Of which unlawful ex-
peditions may suddenly set forth. without the
knowledge of Government, against the possessions
of foreign Sthtes-
Friendly relations with all, but entanging aili-
ances with none, has long been maxim with US
Our mission is MOI TO Prolagnte our op'inons,
or impose upon other counties our form OF govern
ment hy aytifce or force; but to teach by example,
and show by our success. moderation and justice,
the blessings of selfgorernment and the advantages
free institutions. Let every people choose for IL
self and make and after is political institutions to
suit its own condition and convenience. But,
while ws avow and maintain this neutral policy
ourselves, we oye anxious to the same forbeor-
ance on the part of other nations, whose forms OF
government nrc different from our own. The deep
interest which we feel in the spgcad of liberal pgin-
ciples and the cstablislsnen Of free governments,
and the sympathy with which we witness every
struggle against oppression. forbid that should
be indifferent to case in which the strong arm OF a
foreign power is invoked to stiile public imcnt
and eprass the spirit Of freedom in any country.
The Cow. nmcrt Of Great Britain and France
have issued orders 10 their naval commanders on
the West India station to prevent " force, if ne
cessarv the landing of adyenturcrs from any nation
on the island of Cuba with hostile intent The
copv of n memorandum of n conversation on this
subcct bawecn the Charge d. AHaires of her
Britaunic Majesty and the acting Secretary of Snte
,nd of a sub.coucnt pote of the former 10 the De.
psr,men, of State are herewith submitted together
with n copy Of note Of the Act,ne Secretary OF
State to the Minister Of the French Republic, and
of tho renlv oftbe latter on the same subject
These paer, will acouaini you with ,hc grounds Of
thi, iuterpositiop The two leading coIqIrercial
powcrs ofEurope and with 1he apprehcnsions
which ,his Government could NOT fail to entertain
tbnt ,,cb ;n,crposi,op if carried into effect nigh,
load ~ buses i, dcr,g,tion of the maritime righi,
nf tho T,i,rJ Statcs The mn,i,ime RIGHTS of The
Uni,cd Stotes are founded ona firm seci,Ia and
wcIl-dctiued basis; they stand upon the ground Of
Nat;oual Indepepdeuc, and public law. and WILDE
moiptnincd in nil their full and inst extent
The ,.intaple which this Gogcrnment has herego
fore soe,nnly announced it still adhtrs TO- and viii
maintain under all circumstances and al all hazards
That nrinciplc Is. that in every regularly document
ted merchant vessel the cre,y who navigate il and
those IN board oft will find their protection in II
a,g wb;ch !. ovcr them. No American shin car
he allowed a, Re listed ar searched for the nrpos,
ofaseertaining The indigjdsas on beard
nor can there be allowed auv watch by the vessel.
Of anv foreign nations over American vessels on til,
therein II will be sem b. the last communication
from the British Charee a AlFaires TO the Depart
meur Of Stntc that he is authorized 10 assure th,
Secretary of State that every care will he taken
that in cxecutinc the preventive measures ag,ins
the expeJ;tions. which the United Stlies Govern
men, il self has denounced as NOT being entitled I,
the protection nf any government. no interference,
shall tnkc Mace with the lawful commerce of nm,
nation. ''
In addirion To the correspoudouce ON this subject
berc,yi,h sub piued official information has bee,
received al The Depalu,eni of State. of nssnranc.
bv the French Government that in the orders civ
en- to The French naynl fnrces they were expr.sst
instructed. in any operation they might engage in
to respect The flag otthc United States wherever
might eppcor and to co1li, no net of hos,tv IN
an nny vessel or armament undcrits prn,tection.
Ministers upd copsuIs or G,r.ipp na,iops nrc m,
| means and og,pts of communication between us onc
,Inso nn,;,ns apd II IA of ,be utmost ,nnortanc,
,ha, vb;Ie res;I;,r in tho co,,r, ,Lcy sba,IJ ,.o
perfect security 50 long as thcv faithfully dis
charge their rcsncctve J1,;,s and are On ;l,v ,f m,
viola,ion Of our laws This ia the admitted law nj
nations nna M country ba dsencr ;u,eres, !, u,;n
| tanning !, dian Inc United States OR commcrc,
spreuds over every sea and visi,s every cline an,
nur ministers and c,nsuIs are nnno;n,cd m nto,ec
tLc Interests of thar commerce a.. eIl No m o,,,r,
the pcacc of the country and maintain the honor q
,s fac But how ear, tb.y d;scIa tI,sse du,;e
u,lass tl Lc ,hcmselves nrn,cctcd. and 4
ed Il n,usi be bv the Inws of tho countrv in which
| they reside. And what is due 10 our own publi,
func,ionn,ies residing in fure;yn nations ia exac,l,
the n. .ea.ure Of what il due 10 the functoparcs i
other governments residing here. As in war. III,
bearers of the ags of truce are socred or else WAR
would be interminnble. so in pe,cc emb,ssador,
pnblc ministers and consuls CHARGED with t;enT
IL uab,onal intercourse are objects of .speci, res
meet and protection. ench according to The rieht,
| belonging to this rank and station. In view nj
these important priuciples il is with deem mouifi
cation and rerret Announce to y,, that during III,
excitement grbying out Of he executions at Havana
tie Office of her Catholic Majesty's consul IL New
| Orleans was assailed ly mob. his property de
stroycd the Spanish flag found in the Office carried
off and torncd in pieces and he himself indaced ia
| flee for his personal safety which lie supposed Il
be in danger. On receiving intelligence of these
evcas forthwith directed the attorney of the Uni
ted States residing at New Orleans to inquire int,
/ the facts and tay cytent Of the pecuniary loss
tanned by the consul with the in.entiun of laying
them before you that You might make provision
for such indemnify to him juat regnrd for the
honar of the nation and the respect which is due t,
II friendly power might, in your judgement, seen
to require. The correspondence upon this subjec
between the Secretary of State and her ,Catholi,
maicsiy's minister rlcnipoentaiy is herewith trans
mitiol. z"
| The occurrence ut New Orleans has led me t,
give my attention to the state of our law. IN regart
TO foreign ambassadors, ministers and consul$.
think the legislation of the country is deficient IL
not providing sufficiently either for the protection
| or punishment of consuls therefore recommep
| dcd the subject to the consideration ofConcress.
Your attention is again in.iteL to tie question
| reciprocal trade between the United States nm,
Canada and other British possessions near o,tr fop
| tier. Overtur-s for n convention upon This .1,b
| iect have been received from her Britanpic Mnies
~ Minister PIen;no,eut;arv bu, il secms IN he !,
| > ~, Il - -,