The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-03
Vol. Ill.

dign punishment.
But what gives peculiar criminality TO this in
vason of Cuba is, that under the lead of Spanish
subjects and with the aid of citizens of the United
States, it had its origin, with many, in motives
of cupidity Money was advanced by indivi
duals, probably in considerable amounts, to pur-
chase Cuban bonds. they have been called,
issued by Lopez, sold, doubtless, at very large
discount, and for the payment of which the public
lands and public property of Cuba, of whatever
kind, and the fiscal of the people and go
vernmen of that island from whatever source to be
derived, were pledged as well 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 culpabe than the
ignorant and the neccssitous whom they induce to
go forth the osensible parties in the proceeding
These originators of the invasion of Cuba seem TO
have determined with cooness and system, upon
an undertaking which should disgrace their coun-
try, violate its laws and put to hazard the lives OF
i'll informed and deluded men, You Will consider
whether further legislation be necessary to prevent
the perpetration Of such offences in future.
No individuals have right to hazard the peace
of the country or to violate its laws upon vague
notions of altering reforming governments in
other States. This principle is not only reasonable
in itself, and in accordance with public law, but s
engrafted into the codes of other nations well
as our own. But while such the sentiments
of this Government, it may be added that every
independent nation must be presumed to be able to
defend its possessions against unauthorized indi-
viduals banded together to attack them. The
Government of the United States, at all times
since its establishment, has abstaned and has
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 adminisra-
ton of Washington, several laws passed for
this purpose. The main provisions of these laws
re-enacted by the act Of April, 1918, by which,
amongst other things, it was declared that if any
person shall, within the territory or jurisdiction OF
the United States, begin, 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 dominion of any foreign prince or
State, of any colony, district, or people with
SO offending shall be deemed guilty of high mis-
demeanor, and shall be fined, not exceeding three
thousand dollars, and imprisoned not more than
three years. and this law has been executed and
enforced to the full extent of the power of the Gov
ernmcnt, from that day to this.
| In proclaiming and adhcring to the doctrine oi
neutrality and intervention, the United States
| have not followed the lead Of other civilized ma
| tions; they have taken the lead themselves, anC
have been followed by others. This admitted
| by one of the most eminent of modern British
statesmen, who said in Parliament, while min
ister of the crown, 90 that, if he wished for a
| guide in system of neutrality, he should take
| that laid down by America in the days of Wash
| ington and the secrearyship of Jefferson;" and
we see, in fact, that the act of Congress OF
| 1918 followed, the succeeding year, by act
| of the Parliament of England, substantially the
same in its general provisions. Up to that time
there had been no similar law in England, ex-
cept certain highly penal statutes passed in the
| reign of George H., prohibiting English subjects
| from enlistng in foreign service, the avowed OBJ
| Ject of which statutes 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 that difficulties may arise in carry
ing the laws referred to into execution in coun-
try having three four thousand miles of sea-
coast, with infinite number of ports and har-
| bors and small inlets, from some of which unlaw-
full expeditions may suddenly set forth, without the
knowledge of Government, against the posses
| sions of foreign States.
Friendly relations with all, but entangling al
| lances with none, has long been maxim with US
Our true mission is not to propagate our opinions
| or impose upon other countries our form of gov
ernmen, by artifice or force; but to teach by cx-
ample, and show by our success, moderation and
justice, the blessings of self government, and the
| advantages of free institutions. Let every people
choose for ITSELF and make and alter its political in
stiutions to suit its own condition and convenience
| But, while we avow and maintain this neutral pol
| icy ourselves, we anxious to see the same for
bearancc the part of other nations, whose forms
| of government are different from own. The
deep interest which feel in the spread of liberia
| principles and the establishment of free govern
ments, and the sympathy with which we witness
every struggle against oppression, forbid that we
should be Indifferent to case in which the strong
sentiment and reprcss 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, il
necessary, the landing of adventurers from any
nation on the Island of Cuba with hostile intent.
The copy of memorandum ofa conversation on
this subject between the Charge d'Afaires of her
Britannia Majesty and the Acting Secretary OF
State and of subsequent note of the former to the
Department of State, are herewith submitted, to-
gether with copy of a note of the Acting Secre-
| tary of State to the Minister of the French rcpub
lic and of the reply of the latter the same sub
ject. These papers will acquaint you with the
grounds ofths nterposition of the two leading
mcrcal powers of Europe, and with the apprehen.
stone, which this Government could not fail TO en-
tertain, that such nterposition carried into effect
might lead to abuses in deroghtion of the maritime
rights of the United States. The maritime rights
of the United States are founded on a firm, secure
n