Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-01-17
iREcRurTaIENT.

q One otner SuDJecG Ol ulSCuSSlOn De
d tween the United States and Grea
i Britain has grown cut of the attemp
S which the exigencies of the war il
which she is s'engaged with Russia in
. duced herto make, to draw recruit
d from the United States.
Ell It is the traditional and settled
: policy of the United States to main
: tain impartial neutrality during tn,
S wars, which from time to time occur
: among the great powers Of the world
: Performing all the duties Of neutrality
towards the respective belligerent
!, States, we may reasonably expect
them not to interfere with our lawful
|. enjoyment of its benefits. Notwith-
standing The existence of such hos
tilities, our citizens retain the individ-
ual right to continue ell their accus-
toned pursuit, by land or by sea, at
: home or abroad, subject only to such
restriction in this relation, as the laws
Fof war, the usage of nations, or special
treaties may impose; and it is our
fsoverign right that our territory and
jurisdiction shall not be invaded by
either of the .belligerent parties, for
the transit 'sof their armies, the
operation of their fleet, the levy of
troops for their services, the fitting
tout Of cruisers by or against either,
For any other act or incident of war.
And these undeniable rights of neu-
trahty, individual and national, the
United States will under no circum-
stances surrender.
pursuance of this policy, the laws
+of the United States do not forbid their
citizens to sell to either of the bellig-
erentpowers articles, contrabandof war,
or to take munitions of war or sell
diers on board their private ships
for transportation: and although, in 50
doing, the individual citizen exposes
his property orperson to some hazard
of war, his acts do not involve any
breach of national neutrality, nor Of
themselves implieate the govern
ment. Thus, during the progress of
the present war in Europe, our citi-
zens have, without national respon-
sibility therefor, sold gunpowder and
and arms to all buyers, regardless of
the destination of those articles. Our
merchantmen have been, and still
continue to be, largely employed by
Great Britain and France in transport
ing troops, provisions and munitions
of war to the principal seat Of mil
iitary operations, and in bringing home
their sick and wounded soldiers; but
such use Of our mercantile marine
is not interdicted either by the in
ternational, or by our municipal law,
and therefore does not compromit
our neutral relations with Russia.
But our municipal law, in accor-
dance with the law of nations, per-
emptorily forbids, not only foreigners,
but our own citizens, to fit out, within
the limits of the United States,
vessel to commit hostilities against
any State with which the United
States are at,peace, or to increase the
force of any foreign armed vessel In
tended for such hostilities against a
friendly State.
Whatever concern may have been
felt By either Of the belligerent pow
ers lest private armed cruisers OF
other vessels, in the service OF one
might be fitted out in the ports of
this country to depredate on the prop
erty of the other, all such fears have
proved to be utterly groundless. Our
citizens haye been Withheld from any
such act or purpose by good faith
and by respect for the law.
! While the laws of the Union are
thus peremptoryi in their prohibition Of
the equipment or armament Of bel
fligerent cruisers in our ports, they
provide not less absolutely that no
person shall, within the territory or
Jurisdiction Of the United States, en-
flist or enter himself, or hire or re,
tain another person to enlist or en-
ter himself, or to 60 beyond the linn
Its or jurisdiction Of the United
States, with iintent to be enlisted or
entered, in the service Of any foreign
State, either as a soldier, or as ma
friner or seaman on board Of any YES
sel-of.war, letter of marque, or pri-
vateer. And these enactments are
, lin strict conformity with the law Of
, nations, which declares that no State
} has'ths right to1aise troops for land
lor sea service, in another State, with