Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-05-10
SOUTHERN SENTINEL.
The Neutrality Laws.

Speaking Of the Central American embroglia,
and of causes which have led to it, the Courier
Of Tuesday morning concludes a very excellent
article, as follows:
British intrigue, excited by jealousy Of our
growth as a commercial and manufacturing
people, has been put successfully to work to
our iniury--and we find ourselves arrived at a
point at which nothing but the most prompt
and thorough action can prevent our beng
seriously compromised. A Gordian knot OPP
poses the passage Of every American as he
pursues his westward course-to stop to unite
it. is, after the experience of the past, nothing
less than pueriIe folly. To raise aloft a
cleaning sword and at once sunder it, will re-
move the obstacle and secure results which are
absolutely necessary to our safety and our
property as a nation. General Quitman then
is right. Let the Neutrality Laws be repealed,
and let US at once take possession ofthe avenues
of MINER and communication which ought
to be ours, and ours alone, by the laws of ne
cessity, Of progress and of justice.
We agree with the Courier, (says the Gre"
scent,) both in sentiment and in conclusion
We have advocated the same doctrine on
numerous occasions, and shall continue to ads
vocate it in future. Let the Neutrality Laws
be repealed, we have said frequently, and say
now. Let Congress blot them from the roll
on which the statutes Of the confederacy are
inscribed, and-we do not say all will be we'll
much good will follow, which, in the end will
rebound to the honor of the nation, the in>
terests of fits inhabitants, and the improvement
and advancement of the countries South of US
from our Mexican boundary to the Isthmus Of
Darien. Unfetter our people. Nothing more
is wanted. Free them from the arbitrary opera
ton of laws which were enacted before the
present generation came into ~being--which, no
matter how we'll they may have suited times,
are altogether untitled for The year of our Lord
1856.
Neither the occasion, nor the circumstances
which surround it admit of dilly~daIiying or
compromise, except at the sacrifice Of national
honor. Halfway measures will not answer
now, unless the President of the United States
IL prepared to subject us to the sneers of the
civilized w~or5a--unless Congress is destitute
Of every feeling of patriotism and all sense Of
national dignity.
A repeal Of the neutrality laws would not
lead 10 war, without, indeed, England has made
up her mind to have a brush with us, nolenS 10
lens. Congress enjoys perfect right torepeal
any and all laws enacted by previous Congress
ses, and no man or nation can complain with~
out impudence, which ought to be severely
rebuked,
The effect Of a rtpea al Of these laws would be
instantly felt throughout Central America
Orr countrymen would 60 there, anywhere and
everywhere, in the prosecution Of their lawful
business, for purposes Of emigration, settles
ment or traffic, with the protection the Ameri-
can flag affords, extended over their heads all
the time, instead Of joining, as they now too
often do, under a perverted reading Of the law
by Government officials, q the peril Of prosecu,
ton at home aud withdrawal Of protection
abroad.
This would be one Of the effects Of the ssc~
cess Of Gen. Quitman's movement. We hope
it viii succeed; and earnestly urge upon the
press Of the Union the necessity of taking up
the question in downright earnest, in order that
such a pressure may be brought to bear on
Congress as will induce early action.
The Gordian knot must be severed sooner or
later. There is no avoiding the issue. Unjust
come, and the quicker it comes the better.
----