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

thus, BY The laws OF nations authorize American
citizens TO participate in the struggled On the contrary,
both our government and the Spanish government ex.
pecled just such civil eommoon in Cuba On the 4th
OF July there issued declaration OF Cuban inde-
pendence. There insuuectonary movement in
Cuba during the SUMNER and the President in his late
message, makes mention OF IT, What kind of statesman
ship policy was it, them for the President ia April 10
make, by proclamation, every American robber and an
outlaw who should prepare to participate in such
ment, when, the special organ itself being judge,
such participation is not prohibited by the law OF
lions We ask, with Senator Douglas, that EEU.
TRALITyl We ask, again, was il patriotism What other
civilized government earth placed its citizens
subjects in such position before the word The plight Of
the expeditionss before the law was bad enough and
hazardous enough al best What right had the admins.
tration 10 make il Was policy of neutrality
which coerced them TO abrogate by usurping and
lawful proclamation both the distinctions recognised by
the laws OF nations, and the poor protection given 10
citizens by solemn treaty providing legal and regular
trial for their ollence
And in this matter the administration snned against
full, and sufficient, and recent warning. They had
General Taylors proclamation and they had how,
under comparaliyely mild il was-Spain had sough,
administration had seen President Taylor protesting
against The OF that expedition being treated and
claiming for them fair and legal trial. and had seen,
moreover how, in that claim he embarrassed and ha-
rassed by his guarded proclamation II
under these circumstances that President Fillmore issued
his proclamation. drawn in terms entirely unguarded
and ndefensble that if Concha himself had pennedit it
could not have answered his purpose better More even
had in ~
Department OF State The parallel case OF the armed inva.
sion of Mexico by the Mexican Sentmanat, and his
British, French, and Spanish associates, enlisted at New
Orleans. The record of that aggravated case Of inva.
sion, have before cited in our columns shows
that England, France, and Spain all united against Mex
in claiming that these men, though armed invaders,
were neither pirates outlaws, but were entitled 10 all
the forms of law and trial. as secured by treat, and
constitutional provisions and that those several gov
ernments recognised their obligation 10 claim for their
offending subjects those legal forms and provis-
ions as they stood on the staiue-book. /, was re-
served for this administration thus warned by sad ex-
perence, and thus instructed by conclusive precedent,
disregard both, and by proclamation in advance, cast
away and scatter to the winds every line OF law treaty
upon which the deuded and hapess American associates
of Lopez could rely for any sort of defence protection
or legal adjudication of their crime.
There is much more to be said for the whole culpa-
billy of the administration in this matter cannot be
summed up in single article But I'VE have said enough
think, expose in of its main features, that
policy of the proclamation which the Republic has
dertaken to commend TO the public favor being
TOO perfect TO be changed in single word That
policy, in judgment, may be rIghully stated as an
official violation OF all law and justice in order in dero
CATION OF national rights and dignity, 10 abandon 10
undue peril erring and misguided American citiz ems,
whom official delinquency had first permitted TO perpe-
trae violation Of treaty obligations and
traty statute.