The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-01-09

cipal law, and therefore does not compromit
our neutral relations With Russia.
But our municipal law, in accordance with
the law of nations, peremtorially forhids, not
only foreigners, but ourown citizens, to tit out
within the limits Of the United States, a yes
sci to commit hostilities against any State
with which the United States are at peace, or
to increase the force Of any foreign armed
vessel intended for such hostiiilies against a
friendly State.
Whatever concern may have been felt by
either of the beligcrant powers lest private
armed cruisers or other vessels in the service
of enc might be fitted out in the ports of this
country to dcprcdatc on the property Of the
other, all such fears have provcd to be utterly
groundless. Our citizens have been withheld
from any such act or purpose by good faith
and by respect for tie law.
While the laws Of the Union arc thus per-
emrtory in their prohibition of Tie equipment
or armament Of bciigerant cruisers in our ports
they provide not less absolutely that no per-
son shall, within the territory or jurisdiction
of the United States, enlist or enter himself
or hire or retain another person to enlist or
enter himself, or to 90 beyond the limits or
jurisdiction of the United States with intent
to be enlisted or entered, in the service Of any
foreign State, either as a soldier, or as a ma
rine or seaman on board Of any ~vessel-of war
letter OF Inarquc OF rrivateer. And those
enactments arc also in strict conformity with
the law Of nations, which declares that no
State has tie right to raise troops for land or
sea ~sorvice in another State without its con-
sent, and that, whether forbidden by the mu-
nicipal law or not, the very attempt to do it
without such consent is an attack on the ma
tional sovereignty.
Such being the public rights and the NUM-
! cipal law OF the United States, no solicitude
on the subject was entertained by this govern
ment, when a year since, the British Parlia-
ment passed an act for the enlistment Of for
eigncrs in the military service of Great Brit
ain. Nothing in the face Of the act, or in its
public history, indicated that the British gov
crnment proposed to attempt recruiting in the
United States; nor did it ever give ~intimation
Of such intention to this government. 1t was
a matter of surprise, therefore, subsequently,
that the engagement Of persons within the
United States to proceed to Halifax, in the
81 British province Of Nova Scotia, and there
enlist in tho service of Great Britain, was
soingon extensively, with little OF no disguise.
Ordinary legal steps were taken to arrest and
!. punish parties concerned, and so put an end
to acts infringing the municipal law and dc,
: rogatory TO our sovereignty. Meanwhile
, suitable representations on the subject were
addressed to the British government.
ThereEron it became known, BY the admis-
SIGN. of the British government itself, that the
s attempt to draw recruits from this country
originated with it, or at least had it's approval
| and sanction; but it also appeared that the
public agents engaged in it had "stringent
instructions not to violate the, municipal
law of the United States.
= 1t is difficult to understand how it shoult
E have been supposed that troops could be rails
ed here by Great Britain, without violation o
e the municipal Law. The unmistakahle objec
f of the law was to prevent every such act
: which if performed, must be either in viola
t tion OF the law, or in studied evasion Of it
t and in either alternative, the act done woult
: be alike Injurious to the sovereignty of the
UnitedStates.
III the meantime, the matter acquired add
: tional Importance, by the recruitDcnts in TIL
United States not being discontinued, and tn
3 disclosure Of the fact that they were prosccu
It ted Upon a Systematic plan devised By officia
& authority; that eeruising rendezvous had beer
b opened in our principal cities, and derots to
h the reception of recruits established on on
frontier, and the whole business conducte'
Il under the supervision and by the regular co
operation Of British OGicers civil and militia
# ry, some in the North American provinces
and some in tic United States. The compile
lily of these officers in an undertaking Mhicl
n could only be accomplished by defying gu
= laws, throwing suspicion over cur attitude o
neutrality, and disregarding our territorial
h rights, is conclusively proved by the evidenc'
IS ELECTED On the trial Of such of their agents a
have been unprecedented and convicted. Som
Of the officers thus implicated are of higI
official position, and many of them bcyon'
our jurisdiction, so that legal proceeding
could not reach the source of this mischief
/ These considerations, and the fact, that tn
e cause of complaint was not a mere casual oc
currcnce, but a deliberate design, entered upo
with full knowledge of our laws and nationa
l. policy, and conducted by responsible publ
functionaries, impelled me to present the cas-
" to the British Government, in order to sccur
ct not only a cessation Of the wrong, but it
IS reparation. Tho subject is still under discus
Dr. sion, the result of Which will be communicate
II to you in due time.
s. l repeat the recommendation submitted t
ae the last Congress, that provision be made fc
ir the appointment of a commissioner, in con
Of ~nection with Great Britain, to survey and es
i tablish the boundary line, which divides tn
or Territory Of Washington from the contiguou
is British possessions. BY rcasof of the exter
IL and Importance of the country in dispute
H. there has been imminent danger of collisio
between the subiects'of Great Britain and til
ritiypps Of the Tinted States. intending the