Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1852-12-01
WASHINGTON. Nov. -, 1852.

Hon. lIrGH MAXWELL, New York CITY.
Your nofe IF yesterday came 10 hand this
morning, IN which you state conversation
you have had with Mr.. George Law, from
which you learned that the .'Crescent City
will 60 to GoIa and enter tie pott of Havana
IN defiance Of the Spanish authority; and if
fred upon, she will be surrendered, and that
then he and others w,lImmediltrIy commence
hosliliJies against the island" You say also,
That he d,silcs to know whether lie is rght
III perslstlng in the purs UT Of his lawful busi
ness and that il The Gov eminent shall tell him
he must not 50 he will not go. If, however,
lie Government says nothing against his go.
lng, he Will infer he has light to 60" You
say also that "he proIass,s to be friendly to ne
and my administration or the sincerity Of
this latter profession, one can best Judge hy
roaIng his letter Of III 9th published in the
New York Herald Of tie l0,h INST.
But in regard to the chicl matters Of your
letter, permit me to say that, in the first place,
do not admit the night Of Mr.. Law or any
other citizen 10 threaten IA War on his own NC
count, Tor the purpose Of seeking redress for
real or imaginary injuries then to call upon
the Government to say whether it approves
or dlsapproNes of such conduct and assume its
L
Constitution ofthe United States has vested
IN Congress alone the power Of declaring " var
and neither The Executive branch the Gov
ernm,nt tor Mr. Law has any righrto usurp
that power by commencing Il war Without its
authority; and II he shall attempt il, it will be
my duty as it is my determination, 10 exert al
the power conlded 10 the Executive govern
mont by the Consrnlionand Laws to prevent
II. | amresoIvrd at every hazard, to maintain
oar nights IN this controversy as against Spain,
and am equally re5ol> cd that no act Of our
own citizens shall be permitted to place tins
Government ia the WI ong.
Mr.. Law has an undoublcd light to pursue
his lawful business; but when question Is
raised between this Government and for
eign nation as to whether the business which
he pursucs Is lawful OF pursued in a lawful
manner, the decision oI that question te,onps
10 the two Governments and not TO him. If
the object be to assert his right to enter the
port Of Havana with such persons as he may
chooseto select, in defiance of The laws and
Government Of Spain, lie has certainly done
enough to pr esent that ques ION for the decis.
lon oil the Governments OF Spain and The Uni
ted States; and the negotiation has already
commenced, and our rights, as Ne understand
them, have been asserted, and, as | said be-
tore, will be maintained. But the act of 1hi,
Government cannot be controlled by the inter
ference ofany individual, aud it is entirely nm.
necessary that Mr.. Law should repcat these
attempts for tho purpose of setting this contro
vers4; and If he wiInIly does so, and in so do
my violates the laws Of "A foreign nation within
lis own jurisdiction, and thereby loses or for
felts his vessel, he can expect no indemnify for
such an act OF folly from this Government.
Weregnate the terms and condition. nn,,
" hlch all foreign esscs enter our norris. and
Nc fix the penalties fer violation Of orr laws
and the right to do so we shall never suffpr to
be questioned by foreigners, and we do not
question theirs to do the same thing lie
must wait The result of the negnliations H..
tween the two Governments This IS y onoS.
uon not 10 be settled between him and CnLo
nor even between the United States and Chs
but between the United States and Swain
winch alone is responsible for tie conduct -
the Governor Of Cuba.
write III some haste, as the mail is closr,
oRt you are at liberty tomake known the can
tents OF this letter TO Mr.. Law, and 10 iof,rn,
MN that as good ciizenl presume he will
not attempt any violation of our neu,r,I;,,
Jaws by attacking Cuba | atr truly yours
MILF RID I7TI hnpI,