Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-12-03

WAsuNs1oa, Nov. I7.-The Republic has
received the Consent Of tie Pye,.!cut 10 pub
llsh the following private letter;
NAsHlNGroN, Nov. l2.
Hugh Maxwell. Esq
DEAR Sic: Your note OF Yesterday came to
hand this morning, in which Won state, from
conversation YOU have had with Mr. Law, you
learned that the Crescent City will go to Cuba,
and enter the port of Havana in defiance OF the
Spanish authorities, and If fred upon she will
be surrendered, and that then he and others
will immediately commence Institutes against
the Island You say also that he desires to
know whether he is right in persiSting in the
pursuit Of his lawful business, aud that If the
government shall tell hlm he must no, 90, he
will not got however the government says
nothing about his going. he will INFER he has
the right to go. But in regard to the chief
matter OF your letter, permit me 10 say that, III
the first pace, do not admit the right OF Law,
or any other citizen, to threaten war on his own
account, tor the purpose Of seeking redress,
either Tor real or tor imaginary injuries, aud
then to call upon the government to say whether
it approves or dshpproves of such conduct and
assume its APPROPRIATION, unless the act is for.
hidden. The Constitution OF the United tates
has vested in Congress alone the power of de-
claring war, and neither the Executive branch
of government, nor Mr.. Law, mas any night to
usurp that power, by commencing war without
Its authority; and If he shall attempt 1t, it will
be my duty as It Is my determination, to exert
all the power coniided to the Executive Gov
eminent by the Constitution and laws to pre-
vent It. | an resolved II every haz gard To main
tain our rgh;s N this controversy against Span,
and am equally resolved that NJ act Of our
own citizens shall be permitted to place the
government IN the wrong.
AIR. Law has an nndoubted right to pursue
his lawful business but when a question Is
raised between this Government and foreign
nation, as to whether the business he pursues
is lawful or pursued in lawful manner, The de.
clslon Of that question belongs 70 the two Gov
ernments, and not to him, If his obie t be to
assert his right to enter the port OF Havana
with such persons as he may choose to select,
IN defiance OF the laws and Government of
Spain, he has certainly done enough to present
that question for the decision of the Govern
ments OF Spain and the United States, and ne
EQUATIONS have been already commenced, and
our rights, as we understand them have been
asserted, and as | sad before will be maintain.
ed but the acts OF this Government cannot be
controlled by the interference OF any inJlvldu-
al, and 1t Is entlrelj unnecessary tnlt Mr. Law
should repeat these attempts for the purpose of
settling the CONTROVERSY, and If he wiIfuliy
does so, and IN so doing, violates the laws of "A
foreign nation within It's own Jurisdiction. and
thereby losses or torers bis vessel he can ex-
pect no lndeunuy tor such an act eff foley from
this Government Ncreenlate the terms and
conditions upon winch a ioro'gn vessels shall
enter our por :, and We Tx penalties for VIC.
Iation OF laws; ami the rignt to 90 30 we shall
never sutfir to he questioned by foreigners. and
we do not question their nigh, to do the same