The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-01-03

" W -sotBoty CtntASy ee ~ ~~ASe$ Dse,~'H ~ss>~
France, in transporting troops, provisions,
and munitions Of war 10 the principal seat Of
military operations, and in bringing home
their sick and wounded soldiers 'but such
use of oar mercantile marine is not inter-
dicted either by the International. or BY our
municipal law, and therefore does not COM
pfomly o. neutral rela.ionsswith Russia.
But our municipal law, IN accordance with
the law Of nations, peremp,oriIy forbids, no,
only foreigners, but our own citizens, to fit
out, within the limits Of the United States, a
vessel 10 commit hosiinies against any Stale
with which the Uniied States are ut peace,
or 10 increase the force of any foreign armed
vessel Intended for such hostiliiies against
friendly State.
Whatever concetn may have been felt by
either OF the belligerant powers lest private
armed cruisers, or other vessels, in the SER
vice of one, might be fitted out in lhe ports
of this country 10 depredats on the properly
Of the other, all Such fears have proved 10 be
utterly groundless. Our citizens have been
withheld from any such act or purpose by
good faith, and by respect for The law.
While the laws oi the Union are thus per-
empiory in their prohibition of the equip
menl or armament Of belligerant cruisers in
our pors, they provide not less absolutely
that no person shall, wphin the territory or
ia.isdiniian nf fha Dnis5b States. enlia or en-
ter himself, or hire or fetain another person
10 enlist or enter himself, or 10 go beyond the
limits or jurisdiction Of the United States,
with intent TO be enlisted or entered, in the
service of any foreign state, eit1cr as SOL
dier, or as marine or seamen on board OF
any vessel of war, letter Of marque, or priva-
teer. And these enactments are also in
strict conformity with the law of nations,
Which declares, that no state has the right 10
raise troops for land or sea service n anoth.
er state without its consent, and that, wheth.
er forbidden by the municipal law or not, the
very at.emp, 10 do it, without such consent,
is an attack on the national sovereignty.
Such being the public rights and The mu.
nicipal law of the United States, no solicitude
on the subjec. was entertained by this gov.
eminent, when, year since, the British Par.
lament passed an act 10 provide for the en-
istment Of foreigners In the military service
of Great Britain. Nothing on The face of tie
act, or in its public history, indicated that the
British government proposed 10 attempt re-
cruiinent in the United States nor did i. ev.
er give inlim alton of such inteI,ion 10 this
government. II was matter of surprise,
therefore, 10 find, subsequently,, that the en-
gagement of persons within the Unied States
to proceed 10 Halifax, in the British province
of Nova Scotia, and there enlist in The SER
vice of Great Britain, was going on extern
sively, with little or no disguise. Ordinary
legal steps were Immediately taken 10 arrest
and punish parties concerned, and SO put an
end 10 acts infringing the municipal law and
derosatory 10 our sovereignty. Meanwhile
suitable representations on the subject were
addressed 10 the Brush government.
Thereupon it became known, by the ad-
mission OF the British government itself. that
the attempt to draw recruits from this coun.
try originated with it, or at least had its ap-
proval and sanction; but it also appeared
that the public agen, engaged in it had
"stringent instructions" not to violate the
municipal law of the United States.
1t is difficult TO understand how it should
have been supposed that troops could be
raised here by Great Britain, without viola
ton ofthe municipal law. The unmistaka-
BILE object of the law was to prevent every
such act, which, performed, must be eth
er in violation of the law, or in studied eva
sion of it; and, in either alternative, the act
done would be alike injurious to the SOW
ereignty of the United States.
ln the meanime, the matter acquired ad.
ditional Importance, by their recruitments in
the United States not being discontinued,
and the disclosure of llle fact that they were
prosecuted upon systematic plan devised
by official authority that recruiting rendez-
vous had been opened in our principal cities,
and depots for the reception of recruits es.
tstlished on our frontier and the whole bus
mess conducted under the supervision and
by the regular CO operation of British off.
GERS, civil and military, some in the North
American provinces, and some in the United
States. The completely of those officers in
an undertaking, which could only be ac-
complished BY defyng our laws, throwing
suspicion over our altitude oi neutrality, and
disregardipg our territorial rights, is conclu-
sively proved by the evidence eliciled on
the Trial of such of their agents as have been
apprehsnded and convicted. Some Of the
officers thus implicated are Of high official
position, and many of them beyond our
jurisdiction, so that legal proceedings could
not reach the source Of the mischief
These considerations, and the fact that the
cause of complaint was not mere casual
occurrence, but deliberate design, entered
upon with full knowledge of our laws and
national policy, and conducted by response
BILE public functionaries, impelled me to pre-
sen! The case to the British Government, 10
order 10 secure not only cessation of the
wrong but its reparation. The subject is
still under discussion, the resul, Of which
will be communicated 10 you in due time.
Irepsat the recommendation submitted 10
the last Congress, that provision be made
for the appointment Of commissioner, in