The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-12-29

THE EXPEDITION TO NICARAGUA.


The neutrality act It is sometimes called, passed by
10 1918 authorizes the President in every case
- sbich aany military expedition Or enterprise shall be
r az sci on foot in the United States to employ such
t Of the land or naval forces shall be necerary for
ne purpose OF preventing the carrying on OF any such
condition enterprise from the territories or Jurisdic-
~. Of the United States against the territories or do-
iuons OF any foreign prince State or Of any colony
as,,iet or people with whom the United States are
ee The power of the President is, therefore, ample 10
arrest any such expedition the which attempted
oeeed in the Northern Light Monday afternoon, if it
ga se aoot with amy of the hostile objects mentioned
4, The act That such the case, py'aaa fae IS very
evident from the facts communicated Monday verbally
and since put into the shape Of affidavit BY Mr. Allen
His affidavit is ~ follows:
ssgaern Dis,a IF Meg Jork, IS
William H. Allen, of New York, being duly sworn, de-
roses and says that John Creighton Francis okeefe A. j.
Morrison Charles Walters and William Lysier did on the
9oh DAY Of December 1855 at the city of New York in
,be southern district Of New York. begin and foot
military expedition or enterprise to be carried from,
thence against the territory Of the State OF Nicaragua
Win whom the United States were and now are al peace
and further he says not WILLIAM II. ALLEN. +
sworn before me this 26lh day OF December, 1855
GEORGE ". MORTON,
United States Commissioner
There were on board the steamer at the time
large number Of persons without, passage tickets whose
connected with the supposed managers of the expedition
portion Of these declare did Colonel Kinney, thai
they meant TO take part in the peaceable settlement Of
be isthmus for which land had been offered them and not
in any unfrendly measures.
our treaty with Great Britain in respect the ishns
based on the idea that shcana would be constructed
between the oceans, provides that neither power win
Goccupy, fory eotoz or assume or exercise any
dominion over Nicaragua Costa Rica the Mosquito coast
1par rxxin
Of any protection which either affords may Afford or
any alliance which either has may have, to with any
State people, for the purpose OF erecting maintain
ing any such forticaons of occupying, fortyng
coouizing' those places.
Although it has been conended that the supposed vio-
aion Of this treaty by Great Britain in her proceedings
with respect TO Honduras and the Mosquito dis
charges the United States from the fufiment of the stpu
aons on its part yet such ground has been prouga
ted by the government and the provision not to occupy
colonize is the law of the land which those board the
Northern Light whoepresen themselves peaceful settlers
we're about disobey. We know of law which the
President with power to arrest persons Of that description
but they ought to know that they Immediately put them
selves OF the pale of the protection of the United States
and subject to whatever fate Great Britain Mica
rgua may choose to impose if caught upon the
within the prescribed limits But the real design of such
persons will be judged Of by authorities from what
Ing their attempted departure Some Of those on board
had received military titles; they preniuary for
purposes Of drill, or had arranged to do SO a large
number Of military saddles and harness had been
purchased and Of the intended officers of the ex-
petition, after having repented and refused to Co. was vi
oIsntly assaulted by another with bowe-kne on the
charge either that he had broken 1t up or greatly i'm
paired its efficiency These and other facts having been
communicated by Mr. McKeon the President the lat
TAR md tta IF fha
issued order by telegraph Captain Bigelow Of the
navy, commanding him. in that capacity, arrest and
detain any vessel which Mr. McKeon should direct
Mr. McKeon having received duplicate of this order
directed the immediate seizure Of the Northern Light and
proceeded board the steamer little before three
o'clock, 10 give notice oft at which sine the deputy mar
shall and his aida board libel her under another
section Of the law. Mr. Mckeon read the despatch audi
bly, and called upon the captain to take notice Of its con-
ients but compliance with it refused and the vessel
being about to depart at three o'clock Mr. McKeon went
shore found tho boats of the cutter and d.
rectcd the officer in charge take seam-tug and pro-
coed to the cutter which anchor ia the river and
tow her out 10 prevent the departure of the steamer The
Northern Light left her wharf, and proceeded down the
My with the United States deputy marsbals board in
tsnding to take them to but when the Shipping OF the
harbor had been well cleared Captain Faunce ordered
blank cartridge to be fired from the cutter This
was unheeded, when Immediately shot was sent which
struck the water few feet in front Of the steamer and
whzzed along from owavein beautfustyle Thswa
very close A person board then suggested that the
next shot would De sent directly at the vessel which no
doubt would have been done; whereupon an order was
given 70 shut Oh steam and she returned to the CITY ana
CAST anchor IN the river to the pier from which che
snfsed The officers OF the customs would not have given
me steamer her papers but for mistake in naming to
them the Star OF the West the offending vessel Instead
OF the Northern Light There be no question tha,
Wnen tne tciegraphIc communication was received from
the PRESIDENT cheerful and immediate compliance with
order ought to have been rendered the part of the
vessel bur me circumstances they occurred e the
more fortunate, since the promptitude and determined
character OF the exhibition the world that the
ninousters OF the United States held anenabc with on
e stricness TO the laws and that the President shows
me utmost good faith in preserving neutrality not
Only with respect to enlistmenis against Russia but 10
ceedings against all other powers.
Weare the graied since if the administration has
demanded the recall Of the British minister and that
tain British consus be dismissed for violations OF
neutrality and other laws the British government shall
not have the power to say that must first relieve
selves OF impatatons good faith before maxine
charges upon Others. The extraordinary conrsa or h
London Times in its famous article is perbaps 10 BE-
attributed in pert TO what knew Of the supposed answer
made by Lord Clarendon to the demands Of The aam;n
!Fanon with respect TO the attempted enstmeuts The
belief was entertained by Lord Clarendon a, the time Of
answer that Russian prvateers were being fitted ont il
country to cruise against British shipping that lIibuste
were leaving all ports to establish an American
ment in Nicaragua and that an unusual quantity Of NUM-
uons Of war were being shipped from this country by Ame
from vrht IN .,,r.-