The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-11-29
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM THE PRE-
SlDENT,

We copy from the National lntelligencer Of
Saturd, y, the suLjoned letter TO Inc Collector
of New York upon the Crescen, City a.".-'r'-
Like every thing from the pen Of the Presi'
dent, il is direct and explicit.
WASHINGTON, Nov. IL, 1852.
Hon. Hugh Marvel, New York City:
Your note of yesterday came to hand this
morning, in which you state conversation you
have had with Mr.. George Law, from which
you learned that the Crescent City will go
to Cuba and enter the port of Havana in def
ance of the Spanish authority and, if fred
upon, she will be surrendered, and that then he
and others will Immediately commence hosti.
ties against the island" You say, also, that
she desires to know whether he is right in
persisting in tine pursuit of his lawful business,
and that if the government will tell him he
must not 60, he will not 60. II, however, the
government says nothing against his going, he
also, that he processes 10 be friendly to me
and my administration OF the sincerity of
this latter profession one can best judge by
reading his letter Of the 9th: published in the
New York Herald sf the 10Th instant.
But in regard to the chief matters Of your
letter, permit me to say, that, in the first place,
l do not ad.nit the right Of Mr.. Law, or any
other citizen, to threaten war on his own &C.
count, for the purpose Of seeking redress tor
real or maginary injuries, and then to call upon
the government TO say whether II approves or
disapproves of such conduct, and assume its
appreciation unless the act is forbidden. The
Constitution Of the United States has vested
in Congress alone the power Of declaring war,
and neither the Executive branch Of the Go
| vernment nor MIR. Law has right to usurp
that power by commencing war without its
authority; and if he shall attempt it, it will be
my duty, as it is my determination. to exert all
the power confided to the Executive Govern
| ment by the Constitution and Laws to prevent
it. | am resolved, at every hazard, to maintain
our rights in this controversy as against Spain,
| and am equally resolved that no act OF our
own citizens shall be permitted to place this
gov. rnment in the wrong.
Mr.. Law has an uAdoubted right to pursue
his lawful business but when question is
| raised between this government and foreign
nation as to whether the business which he
pursues is lawful, or pursued in lawful man
ner, the decision Of that question belongs to the
| two governments, and not to HIM. If the OBJ
ject be to assert his ri hl to enter the port Of
Havana with such persons as he may choose
to select, in defiance of the laws and govern.
| ment of Spain, he has certainly done enough
to present that question for the decision of the
governments of Spain and the United States
| and the negotiation has already commenced
| and our rights, as we understand them. have
| been asserted, and, as said before, will be
maintained. But the act of this government
cannot be controlled by the interference of any
individual, and it is entirely unnecessary thai
| MIR. Law should repeat these attempts for the
purpose of settling this controversy; and if he
| wilfully does SO, and in so doing violates the
| laws of foreign nation within its own jursdic.
ton, and thereby loses or forfeis his vessel, he
| can expect no indemnity for such an act of fol
| ly from this government.
We regulate the terms and conditions upon
which all foreign vessels shall enter our ports
and we fix the penalties for violation of gu,
laws, and the right to do so we shall never
suffer TO be questioned by foreigners, and we
do not question theirs to do the same thing
He must wait the result of the negotiations
between the two governments This is ques-
tIon not to be settled between him and CUBA
nor even between the United States and Gu.
ba, but between the United States and Spain,
which alone is responsible for the conduct oil
the Governor Of Cubs.
l write in some haste, as the mail is closing
butyo are at liberty to make known the con.
tents of this letter to Mr.. Law, and to inform
him that, as good citizen, presume he will
not attempt any violation of eur neutrality
laws by attacking Cuba.
l am truly yours,
WILLARD FILLMORE.