Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-12-09
Letter From the President.
The Republic by the consent ofthe Presi-
dent, has published the following letter:

dent, has published the following letter:
WAsHrvGToS, Nov. II.
HuGu MAXWELL: Your note of yester-
day came TO hand this morning, in which
You state a conversation with Mr.. Law,
from which YOU learned that the Crescent
City will go TO Cuba and enter the port Of
Havana in defiance cf the Spanish authori-
ties, and if fired upon she will be surrender
ed, and that then he and others will imme-
diately commence hostilities against the Is
land You say also that'you desire to know
whether he is right in persisting in the pur-
suit Of lawful business, and that if the Gov
eminent shall tell him he must not go, he
will not. II, however,, nothing is said
against his going, he will infer he has a.
right to go.
In regard to the chief matter Of your let
ter, permit me TO say, in the first place, that
do not admit the the right of Mr.. Law. or
any other citizen, TO threaten war on his ac-
count, for the purpose of seeking redress
for real or imaginary injuries, and then to
call upon his Government TO say whether it
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 OK
ecutive branch OF the Government nor
George Law has any right to usurp that
power, by commencing war without its all
thority; and if he shall attempt it, it will be
my duty, and it is my determination, TO exert
all the power confded to the Executive Of
the Government by the Constitution and the
laws, to prevent it.
am resolved, at every hazard, to main
tain our rights in this controversy as against
Spain, and am equally resolved, that TO
act Of our own citizens shall be permitted to
place this Government in the wrong. Mr..
Law has an undoubted right TO pursue his
lawful business, but when a question is
raised between this Government and for
eign nation. as 10 whether the business he
pursues is lawful, or is pursued in a lawful
manner, the decision Of such question be-
longs to the Government, and not 10 him.
If his object be TO assert his right to enter
the port of Havana, with such persons as he
may choose to select in defiance Of Tie laws
of the Government of Spain. he has certain
ly done enough 10 present that question for
decision to The Governments OF Spain and
the United States. Negotiations have al
ready commenced, and our rights, as we I'M
derstand them, have been asserted. and as
said before, will be maintained; but the acts
Of this Government cannot be controlled by
the interference Of any individual. It is en-
tirely unnecessary that Mr. Law should re-
peat these attempts for the purpose of set
ting the controversy. If he wlfully does
len ,,J -, lo;,o- ,,;o1oto. =
foreign nation within its own jurisdiction.
and thereby loses his vessel, he can expect
no indemnity for such an act Of folly from
this Government.
We regulate terms and conditions upon
which all foreign vessels enter our ports,
and we fix penalties for the violation Of
these laws. The right 10 do so we shall
never suffer to be questioned by foreigners.
We do not question theirs TO do the same
thing. He must wait the result Of negotia-
lions between the two Governments. This
is not a question to be settled between him
; and Cuba. nor even between The United
States and Cuba, but between the United
States and Spain which alone is RESPONSE
bic for the conduct ofthe Governors of Cuba.
You are at liberty TO make known the
cOlitGH'S OF lllS leltCf 10 MT. Law, ana IN
form him that, as 4 good citizen, | presume
he will not attempt any violation OF our neu-
trality laws by attacking Cuba.
I ! am truly, yours,
WILLARD FILLMORE.
The Republic, commenting on this letter,
says that Mr.. Law, on being appraised ofthe
letter replied that his intentions in relation TO
making war on Cuba had been misunder-
stood
1t also announces that Davenport has been
removed, and no officer ofthe navy will be
permitted to enter the service Of the compa-
ny, so long as the managers adhere 10 the
} present practice Of continuing the visits of
their vessels into Havana as a source of an
noyance to the Spanish officials; and that the
mails hereafter will be sent by the Isabel.
and not be allowed 10 go on any vessel of
this company, if Mr.. Law chooses to retain
J Purser Smith on his steamer.
They will be stripped of all official char
acter, having no pretence TO claim mmuni-
ties or consideration as an agent of the Gov
) eminent.