Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-18
SPIRIT OF TIKI MOANING PRESS.

"a AASA Ok Inn hV9S kl0 EkE8S.
The Intelttgsneer, commenting on q letter
IN the Journal of Coptssercs, says:
Tho grave nature OF the limitations in
the above letter, coming from a source gener-
ally careful and reliable, would inspire us
with much Anxiety about tbe intentions of the
Government and the hazards of collision in
the Cuban waters if we thought it possible
thSt the Administration could have given
authority to Commodore ncCauiey to commit
an act of war on an armed vessel Of q friendly
Power for " bringing to" or visiting an
American vessel simply to sscertain her IA
tionslity and peaceful character. As gentle.
men all learned IN the law, the President and
every member of the Cabinet must know that
ne has no constitutional power to avengs or
punish by hostilities what he may deem to be
an aggression, or an /" outrage" or an inaip.
nifty to our flag on the ocean MANY cases
in the history Of the Government undsr
former Presidents show that they were ALI
well aware Of this constitutional disability in
the Executive head to authorize an act of war.
1t Is not necessary to state this to gentleman
so well informed as the President of his Cabi.
bet are; but others may not be so we'll read
IN the Constitution and history of the country.
and may not know that President jackson, 30
ready by his impetuous nature TO redress
every supposoo injury with instant battle. did
against France or Mexico for wrongs which he
thought demanded reprisals; but he went to
Congress for authority to Issue letters of
narque All power to make war is confded
to Congress alone, and is of course denied 10
the President. The letter of the Constitution
is too plain to be misunderstood or for any
president to doubt, and ne would assume a
fearful responsibility were he to transcend
MS authority in matter of such vast copse
h.
Suuon mad 30 carefully entrusted to the dis
erection OF Congress alone. Redress for casual
wrong or damage committed on our vessels or
commerce or citizens by the cruisers of another
country must by the public be sought from
the Government Of the offending party, as in
the case Of the steamer Black Warrior; and
unless OR Executive means to repudiate the
law OF nations, as well as set at naught our
Own Constitution, IL will pursue the same
peaceful, honora5le, and proper course in any
other case to which the menaeed. harrasssd,
and alarmed condition Of Cuba may give rise
near its shores
In this article it will be perceived that eur
neighoor argues earnestly to show that the
President Is preciuded, absolutely precluded,
from defending American ships on the high
sea from Spanish guns. Bringing to- and
"visiting,' as prscticed by Spain, means
firing cannon balls at our vessels ep2aped
IN lawful commerce. at points on th. ocean
without tho jurisdiction of Spain. As Spain
manages such represen atoms, If her policy OF
hrlng al our ships is continued, before the frs:
reply is received 70 our Governments conn.,
plant against the fIst offence, tie Ferolana
may sink half the American vessels psssipp
anywhere in the neighborhood of Cuba. No
one has cOntendod that the Executive branch
OF the United States Government NAV law.
fully make war. Yet, an Executive branch is
OF little service indeed, if it has not sufficient
authority to defend American ships agaips,
acts Of war made by Spain without declara.
ration Of war
IAe Union again argues the Cuban cues.
ton with the Intelltgsneer, saying, In tn.
course of its remarks:
but while We have been striving 10 allav
any sucn unfounded alarm, the Intelligence,
mas Rot only been busy in encouraging tn.
idea tha' iawiess expeditions from this coun
Try were TO be justly spprehended. but tina,
our Government itself had not ONLY dosions
WHICH II would not avow, but was striving 70
oing aooct results which all right minded and
patriotic men would deplore.
we have spprehended collision, and have
expressed such apprehension, not on account
OF the action Of our own Government or its
clhzees, but on account Of the uniu.tin able
r rIas,T "a o. clearly established and admitted
"ihe misfortune Of the Union ia III misfo,-
tune it may be called,) that when an Am.rican
cltzsn leaves bis own shores for the bene6t ~
me genial climate Of Cuba, feeble in health
ana uhonendlDS, he cannot be saved from i'm
RllSOnnen', We do not envy the Intelli gencer
ZIG q MT winch prompts il to scoff at our ready
sJmpslnies IN q case like that Of DR.. Peck.
daklns all due allowance for the InteIli
Esncers instructive propensities toward the
IOrelgh side OF every International question,
We cannot md for Its course a higher motive
than tina. which may be supposed TO a,tnste q
thoroughly partizan press To what act Of
tnls Administration can it point to give sane.
tion TO it's unworthy imputation, if il 20 back
70 March H. 1858, and come down to the
From this principle there has never been
tho slightest deviation We challenge Tn,
IHLstNSehcer to an Investigation. We have z
IiEnt, We eeileve, to demand, in view of its
extraordinary course, where it h.. Eo.nd ,hs
evidence upon which it predis ates its daily in,
hnuations Of Dad faith AID sinister purpoass
on me part of the President Does il fnd tbis
evidence IN the proclaim atoms of the Pres;dsnt9
Does II md II In the message of the 18Th Of
Maren, 1904. Does it indit in any annual
MESSAGE. Does il find it in the message Of
tne Isl OF August, 1854? Does il find il the
unfSserved publication of all that concern,
our relations with Spain during the late ses
SION OF Congress? We boldly affirm that il
nnds 1t nowhere, either in declaration of pur-
pose or IN act And we affirm. with eanaI
ooldness, that nothing has been published in
TINS Journal to furnish the ground of it's iusti-
ncacon- We knew that the President was
not mere y pledged to the scrupulous and hop.
oraole observance Of all rights which could
attach TO the possessions or citizens Of foreign
powers, bat that he was pledged even strong
er IN the high and true principles and impul
ses OF his head and heart to whatever belonged
70 our fag, and the security of American citi
xens. -
I'VE need not state, in support of this DO
htioD, that since the induction of the present
administration, although the condition of Cuba
mas excited the synpaihies Of our citizens
generally, and although individuals NAV have
teit disposed to aid the Cubaps in their efforts
70 enanclpate themselves frem despotism. no
Ian can say that the action Of the Executive
mas not been prompt and decisiye IN chack