Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1851-12-05

/ il Lehoyes US to enforce steadily and sternly
/ the neutrality acts passed by Congress- ana
to follow. as far as NAV be, the violation OF
those acts with condign punishment
But what gives peculiar crimlnatity to
! this invasion Of Cuba is, that under the lead
{ of Spanish subjects and with the AID OF cltl-
zcns of the United States, 1t had It's origin,
with many, in motives OF cupldlty. Money
was advanced by individuals, probably in
! considerable amounts, to purchase Cuban
/ bonds, as they have been called, issued by
Lopez, sold, doubtless, at very large dis
count, and for the payment of which the pub
lie 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 be derived, We're pledged,
as we'll 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 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 cul-
pable than the ignorant and the necessltous
/ whom they induce to so forth as the oSten-
sible parties in the proceeding. These orlgl-
/ nators of the invasion of Cuba seem to have
determined with GOODNESS and system, upon
an undertaking which should disgrace their
I
the lives of ill-informed and dcluded men,
You will consider whether further legislation
be necessary to prevent the preparation Of
such offences in the 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 ac-
cordance with public law, but Is engrattcd
into the codes of other nations as we'll as our
own. But while such are the sentiments of
this Government, it may be added that every
independent nation must be presumed to be
able to defend its possessions against unau-
thorized individuals banded together to attack
them. The Government of the United States,
ut all times since its establishment, has alb
stained and sought to restrain the citizens Of
the country, from entering into controversies
between other powers, and to observe all the
duties Of neutrality. AT an early period Of
the Government, in the administration Of
Washington, several laws were passed for
/ this purpose. The main provisions Of these
laws were re-enactcd by the act Of April 1918,
by which, amongst other things, it was decla-
red that if any person shall. within the terri
tory 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
or State, or Of any colony district, or people
with whom the United States are at peace
every person 50 offending shall be deemed
guilty of high misdemeanor, and shall be
fined, not exceeding $1,000, and imprisoned
not more than three years; and this law has
been executed and enforced, to the full cx-
tent of the power Of the government, from
that day to this.
In proclaiming and adhcring To the doc
trlnC of neutrality and nOn-interycution. the
United States 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 statesmen,
who said in Parliament, while a minister Of
the crown. ''that if he wished for guide in
Il system of neutrality, he should take that
laid down by America in the days of Wash
ington and the SecrctaryShip Of Jctierson;'
and we see i'll fact. that the act Of Congress
Of 1918 was followed, the succeeding year,
by an act Of the Parliament Of England, sub
stantlally the 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 Of George H.,
prohibiting English subjects from culisting
in foreign service, the avowcd objects Of
which statutes was, that foreign armies, rails
ed for the purpose Of restoring the house of
Stuart to the throne should not be strength
cned by recruits from England herself
All must see that difficulties may arise in
carrying the laws referred to into execution
III a country having } or 1000 miles Of sea-
coast, with an infinite number Of ports har-
bors and small inlets, from some Of which
unlawful expeditions may suddenly set forth
without the knowledge Of Government,
against the possessions of foreign states.
Friendly relations with all, but entangling
alliances with none, has long been 4 maxim
with Us. Our true mission is not to pr0pa-
gate our opinions, or impose upon other coun-
tries our form of government. by artifce or
force; but to teach by example, and show by
our success, moderation and justice, the
blessings of self government and the adyan-
tagcs of free institutions. Let every people
choose for itself, and make and alter It's polit-
ical institutions to suit its own condition and
convenience. But, while we avow and main
tain this neutral policy ourselves, we are anX-
ious to see the same forbearancc on the part
ot, other nations, whose forms of government
are different from our own. The deep inter
est which we feel in the spread of liberal
principles and the establishment of free GOV
crnments, and the sympathy with which we
witness every struggle against oppression,
forbid that we should be Indifferent to a case
in which the strong arm of a foreign power
is invoked to sthe public sentiment and re-
press the spirit Of freedom in any country.
The governments of Great Britain and
France have issued orders to their naval
commanders on the West India station to
prevent BY force, if necessary, the landing Of
/ adventures from any nation on the island OF
Cuba with hostile intent The copy Of me-
morandum Of a conversation on this subject
between the Charge d 'Aflaires Of her Britain
nic Majesty and the Acting Secretary Of State
and of a subsequent note of the former to the