The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-17


the neutrality laws
But on the 25th Of last April there was proclamation
issued and over that precious document the Republic
ults 10 this tune:
"Thsre is not word Of this proclamation which we
would erase-there title Of the policy il an
noances that we would change"
Is il 50 Then why did the administration SO signal!y
change both the policy" and the words" in the proc.
lanaon recently issued for Mexico, prevent Amer-
can citizens from joining the nowpending instruction
AIRY movement OF Carayajal II the "plunder- and.
robbery" clause right in the Cuban document, why
il omitted in the Nexeaal Ii il was right for The
Cuban proclamation TO virtually invoke upon the heads
OF the associates OF Lopez the atlss vengeance and
cruelty OF all the t1orid Why in the Mexican proclama.
ton, the doom OF the associates OF Caavaa restrict
ed carefully 10 the due course OF the legal justice Of
Mexico alone Will the Republic answer
"No word" OF the Cuban proclamation TO "erase 1" No
"tte Of it's policy change!" Did not its tcords prac-
ucaly abrogate. in the view OF the Spanish government
the just and wise provisions OF solemn treaty, and
abandon unarmed American prisoners 10 summary and
jndscrminate slaughter, without of those forms and
privileges OF trial which belonged 10 them American
offenders within Spanish jurisdiction Did not the policy
Of the administration give and pTeexand is il
not officially claimed by England and France 10 have
given full and ndispuabe warautfor those powers 10
send their armed cruisers keep watch and ward
coast and the Cuban coast in order TO aid, by force,
our government to execute lis laws and lis treaty
obligationsl And does the Republic venture deny that
this most offensive interference by these third powers,
having particle OF right in the premises, is scandal
and an insult having in IFS kind precedent in our
history Or will the Republic venture 10 intimate, in the
teeth of Lord Pamersion's emphatic official declaration,
that this outrage upon national character and dig
nifty did not grow directly OF the policy Of the procla
nation and plant itself exclusively upon ii Those
des TO the foreign cruisers outstanding and the
sole ground on which they stand and fout govern
ment in its face is the Presidents Cuban proclamation
And this is the document in which the Republic
nothing to be changed, and which ii any dare TO
censure, he must be held f.buser and advocate
of buccaneering expeditions !"
The Republic refers TO the Canadian proclamation of
Mr. Van Buren, in 1888 aording precedent and jus.
tfcalion for that OF President Fillmore The character
OF the two documents is dissmilar the effect they
respectively produced Mr.. Van Buren, said nothing
either to produce warrant the interference oil third
powers He said nothing make the invaders OF Can
ada outlaws, whom, as being such, any might de.
stroy He left them to the due of the justice OF
England But, in righfuy doing, he limited even this
language 10 the who had actually iaUaded the do
mnions OF England. President Fillmore, on The con-
trary after declaring that there is TO believe that
military expedition about 10 be fitted The UNI
ted States with the intention 70 invade the island OF
Cuba, goes on 10 proclaim that all persons who shall
connect themselves with any such enterprise or exped
ton" shall be ou,latc TO all ntrls and purposes SO lar
this government is concerned. Here is difference
enough in the two papers But the main point is yet TO
be noticed We have such treaty with England as
have with Spain, slipuatng dne and regular
Of legal proceeding for American offenders held in
tody by the Spanish authorities Having such treaty
to rely on. Mr.. Van Buren, could only invoke for the
American offenders the due Of English justice
cordng her established policy. And this he did no,
fail to invoke. President Fillmore had treaty with
Spain STIMULATING for fair trial 10 rely upon, and he pro-
claimed il away II fair trial. any trial, has been
given. then is the plight OF the administration much the
worse for il shows Concha granting boon Amer
lean right which an American administration only
had not the spirit and foresight claim, but absolutely
threw away. So. too if English and French violence
has not been laid upon offending citizens TO sink
slay them. this is merit OF the administration for
such violence the Cuban proclamation, have seen,
opened wide the door Can the Republic od any paral
lei or justification for this in the proclamation of Mr.
Van Buren,
But from precedents the Republic turns to the law.
books, and cites the familiar authorities. which fully
show that if Lopez and bis associates instead OF setting
forth to participate in struggle OF the Cuban people
for independence had set forth TO make predatory
upon the island and lis people, then they would have
been in the eye OF public law plundeers and robbers No
one disputes this And just this was a part-lhough
only part-of the henous OF Arbuthnot and Am
brs,er TO Gen Jacksons view of which the Republic
fes But this is not the crminality OF the expedition
lists Their criminality is altogether different. They
broke the law OF their land, which is statutory
misdemeanor; and they proposed 10 engage with
others, and did in fact engage alone, in revolution
airy struggle against Spanish authority in Cuba, which
is OF course in the judgment OF Spanish law, cap
ital offence The error OF the administration is that
il denounced them beforehand, il they had un-
dertaken predatory upon Cuba, while, in fact,
they were organizing expedition 10 aid Cubans in es.
tablishing Cuban independence. The seVeonraieiion
Of the administration is that after thus denouncng them
robbers and punderers, il afterwards, in sup
pcang for mercy towards them etracted its words
and affirmed that they forth in the deusve expec,a-
ton OF taking part in public war for national ndepend
ence, and that this fact gave them strong claim 10
pardon. Now, ii is quite obvious that il on the ajh OF
Aprl--four months before these men had committed
any crime at a-it fit for the administration 10