The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-12-03

country, through rash and unfomdcd
expectations of assisting to accomplish
political revolutions in other States.
and have lost their lives in the under.
taking. Too severe a Judgment can
hardly be passed, by the indignant
sense of the community, upon those
who, being better informed themselves,
have yet led away the ardor of youth
and an ill-dircctcd love of political lib
erty. The correspondence between
this Government and that of S. ain re-
lating to this transaction is herewith
communicated.
Although these offenders against the
laws have forfeited the protection of
their country, yet the Government
may, so far as is consistent with its OBJ
legations to other countries, and its fix.
cd purpose to maintain and enforce the
laws, entertain sympathy for their un-
offending families and friends, as well
as a feeling of compassion for them
selves. Accordingly no proper effort
has been spared, and none will be
spared, to procure the release of such
citizens of the United States, engaged
in this unlawful enterprise, as are now
in confinement in Spain, Int it is to be
hoped that such interpositon with the
government Of that country may not
be considered as allording any ground
Of expectation that the Government of
the United States will, hereafter. feel
itself under any obligations OF duty to
intcrccdc for the Liberation or lardon
of such crsons as are fragrant Offend
ers against the law Of nations and the
laws of the United States. These laws
must be executed. If we desire to
maintain our respcctatility among the
nations of the earth, it bchovcs us to
enforce steadily and stcrnly the ncu-
tralty acts passed by Congress, and to
follow, as far as may be, the violation
Of those acts with condign punishment.
But what gives a peculiar criminal
ty to this invasion of Cuba is, that I'M
der the lead of Spanish subjects and
with the aid of citizens of the United
States, it had its origin, with many, in
motives of cul idity. Money was adj
vanccd by individuals, probably in con
siderable 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 prop
crty of Cuba, of whatever kind, and
the fiscal resources Of the people and
government Of that island, from what
ever source to be derived, were plcdg-
ed, as well as the good faith Of the
government cxT cctcd to be established.
All these means Of payment, it is cyi
dent, were only to be obtained by a
process of bloodshed, war, and rcvolu
ton. None will deny that those who
set on foot military expeditions against
foreign States by means ike these ARE
far more culrablc than the ignorant
and the nccessitous whom they induce
to 20 forth as the ostensiblc parties
in the proceeding. These originators
of the invasion of Cuba seem to have
determined, with coolncss and system
upon an undertaking which should dis
grace their country, violate its laws
and put to hazard the lives of iil.in
formed and deluded men. You will
consider whether further Legislation lC
necessary to prevent the perletratior
Of such offences in future.
No individuals have a right to haz-
ard the peace Of the country or to VIC
late its laws upon vague notions of al
tering or reforming governments III
other States. This principle is lot
only reasonable in itself, and in ac-
cordancc with public law, but is en-
grated into the codes of other nation;
as well as our own. But While sucf
arc the sentiments of this Government
it may be added that every indcIcn
dent nation must be presumed to be a
bic to defend its possessions against
unauthorized individuals banded to-
gether to attack them. The Govern
ment of the United States, at all times
since its establishment, has abstaincd
and has sought to restrain the citizens
Of the country, from entering into
controversies between other powers,
and to observe all the duties of neu
trality. At an carly period Of the
Government, in the administration Of
Washington, several laws were passed
for this purpose. The main provisions
of these laws were re.cnacted by the
act Of April, 1918, by which, amongst
other things, it was declared that if any
person shall, within the territory or iu.
risdiction of the United States, begin,
or set on foot, or provide, Or prepare
the means for any military expedition
Or enterprise to be carried on from
thence against the territory or domiu-
ion of any foreign prince or State, OF
Of any colony, district, or people with
whom the United States are at peace,
every person so offending shall be
deemed guilty of high misdcmeanor,
and shall be fined, not exceeding three
thousand dollars, and imprisoned not
more than three years and this law
las been executed and enforced, to
the full extent of the power of the
Government, from that day to this.
In lroclaiming and adhering TO the