The daily union., 1852-11-28
president Flllmore,s Letter.
[Pdvals.l

4
WASHINGTON, November I2, 1852
Your note OF yesterday to hand this morning in
which you state a conversation you have had with Mr.
George Law, from which you learned that the CTes-
cent City will 20 TO Cuba and enter The port OF Havana
in defiance OF The Spanish authority; and fired upon
she will be surrendered and that then he and others will
Immediately commence hosities against the isandn
You say also that g he desires 10 know whether he is
night in pesistng m the pursuit OF his lawful business
and that If the government shall tell him he GO
be will not 60 If. however, the government says moth
ing gans his going, he will infer he has right TO CO."
You say also that be Processes 10 be friendly 10 me and
my administration" OF the sincerity of this latter pro-
fesson one best Judge by reading his letter OF the
9th. published in the New York Herald OF the 10th in
slant.
But in regard TO the chief matters OF your letter. per-
nit me TO say that, in the first place. do not admit the
right OF MIR Law, any other Citizen TO threaten war
on his own account Tor the purpose of seeking redress
for real or imagn injuries, and then TO call upon the
government TO say whelhert it approves disapproves OF
such conduct, and 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 oil the government
Mr. Law has any right to usurp that power by com
mencing without its authority; and If he shall al
tempt II, 1t will be my duty, asi is my determination TO
exert all the power conhded the executive government
by the constitution and laws to prevent IT, am resolv-
ed at every hazard 10 maintain rights in this
versy against Spain; and am equally resolved that
act OF citizens shall be permitted TO place this
government in the wrong Mr. Law has undoubied
righ pursue his lawful business but when question
is raised between this government and foreign nation
10 whether the business which he pursues is la wu,
pursued in lawful manner the decision OF that ques
ton belongs 10 The two governments, and not to him
II the object be TO his right TO enter the port of
Havana with such persons he choose to select, in
defiance of the laws and government OF Spain, he has
certainly done enough 10 present that question for
the decision OF the governments of SPAN and the
United States; and the negotiation has already com.
menced, and our rights, 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 that MIR Law should repeat
these attempts for the purpose OF settling this con;ro-
versy and il he wilfuy does so, and n so doing vo-
ates the law OF foreign nation within its own iurisdc-
on and thereby loses forfes his vessel he can ex.
pcct indemnify fer such of folly from this gov
enment We regulate the terms and conditions upon
which all foreign vessels shall our ports and we
fix the penalties Tor violation OF our laws and the
right 10 do shall suffer be questioned by
foreigners, and do not question theirs do the same
thing He must wait the result of the negotiations be.
tween the two governments This is question not 10
be settled between him and Cuba, nor even between the
United States and Cuba. but between the United States
and Spain which alone is responsible for The conduct OF
the governor OF Cuba.
write in some haste. as the mail is closing but you
are al liberty to make known the contents of this letter
10 Mr., Law, and 10 inform him that, as good citizen
presume he will not aemp, any violation of our neu-
rality laws by attacking Cuba.
am, truly, yours,
MLLARD FILLMORE.
/ Hon. HuGH MAXWELL, New York city.
". <, =. H.,