Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-12-16
PlTBTT WILLIE,

g have been called, Issued by Lope
a sold, doubtless, at a very large di
e count, and for the payment of whie
: the public lands and public propert
: of Cuba, of wi hatever kind, and Il
fiscal resources of the people an
: government Of that island, frol
whatever source to be derived, wei
pledged, as well as the good faith {
t the government expected to be es
tabhshed. All these means Of pay
| ment, it is evident, we're only to b
obtained by process of bloodsheG
war, and revolution. None will den,
that those who set on foot nilitar,
expeditions against foreign State,
by means like these, are far NOR,
culpable than the ignorant, and th'
necessHous whom they induce to e
forth as the osten nsible parties in the
proceeding. These originators ofthe
invasion of Cuba seem to have de.
termined, with GOODNESS and system,
upon an undertaking which should
disgrace their country, violate its
laws, and put to hazard the lives Of
ill-ihformed and deladed men. You
will consider whether further legisla-
ton be necessary to prevent the
|perPetration of such offences in fu-
ture.
No individuals have a right to
hazard the peace Of the country or
to violate its laws upon vague no
tionk Of altering or reforming govern
ments in other States. This princi-
pie is not only reasonable in itself,
and in accordance with public law,
but is engrafted into the codes of
other nations as well 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 unauthorized In
dividuals banded. together to attack
them. The Government of the U.
States, at all times since its establish
ment, has abstained and has sought
to restrain the citizens Of the coun-
try, from entering into controv versies
between other powers, and to oil bserve
all the duties of neutrality. At an
early period ofthe government, in the
administration of Washington, sever
al laws we're passed for this purpose.
The main provisions Of these laws
were re-enacted by the act of April,
1878, by which, amongst other things,
it was declared that if any person
shall, within the territory or juris-
diction Of the United States, begin,
or set on'foot, or provide, or prepare
the means for any military ex pedi-
ton or enterprise, 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 SO offend
ing shall be deemed guilty of a high |
and shall be fined not
exceeding three thousan nd 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 Government, from
that day to this.
In preclaimipg and adhd ring TO the
doctrine Of neutrality and non-inter-
the United States have not
followed the lead of other civilized ma
tons; they have taken the lead them
selves, and have been followed hy
others. This was admit ed by one
IF the most eminent Of M odern Bri-
5ish statesmen, who Faid in Parlia-
nent, while a minister of the crown,
that if he wished for a guide in a
system Of neutrality, be shd aid take
hat laid down by A merica in the
lays Of Washington al hd the secreta-
'yship Of Jefferson" and we-see, in
act, that the act of C6ngrd dss of 1873 /
vas followed, the succeeding year, by
IN act of the Parliament Of England,
Substantially the same in It's general
Up to t hat time there
lad been no similar law III England,
except certain highly pend statutes, i
lassed in the reign Of 6 gorge IL,
]rohibiting English sd tjects from en-
isting in foreign service, t be ayowed
,bjeoto of which statutes was, that
oreign armies, raised for the pur-
lose of restoring the house of Stuart
o the throne, should not be strength
ned by recruits from England her
elf
All must see That difficulties may