Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-01-12

Central American States different from those
OF any government of Europe.
The British government, in its last commu-
hlsatlon, although we'll knowing the views of
the United States, still declares that it sees
no reason why conciiatory spirit may not
| enable the two governments to oyercome all
| obstacles to satisfactory adjustment OF the
! subject.
Assured of the correctness of the construc-
ton of the treaty constantly adhered to by
| this government, and resolved to insist on
the lights Of the United States, yet actuated
also by the same desire, which is avowed by
| the British government, to remove all causes
Of serious misunderst landing between two ma
tionS associated by so many ties of interest
and kindred. 1t has appeared to me proper
not to consider an amicable solution of the
controversy hopeless. y ft
| There is, however, reason to aDprehend,
that, with Great Britain in the actual oecu-
/ patton Of the disputed territories, and the
! treaty, therefore, practically null, so far as
! regards our rights, this International difficult
u canaot long remain undetermined, with
| out involving III serious danger the friendly
| relations, Whichit IS the interest as well us
! the duty OF both countries to cherish and
preserve. 1t will afford me sincere gratiiica-
ton, if future efforts Shall result IN the sue
! cess anticipated heretofore with more con-
fidence than the aspect OF the case permits nle
| now to entertain. A.tf=
RECRUITMENT. +4A
One other subject OF discussion between
the United States and Great Britain has grown
out OF the attempt, which the exigencfcs Of
the war III VIII CHI she is engaged with Russia
! induced hcr to make, to draw recruits from
the United States. -.5tt- f#- s4f =
Il is tic traditional and settled policy of
! the United STATES to maintain impartial neu-
/ tfdlItS duiing the wars which from time to time
i occur among the grca! powers of the world.
\ Performing all the. duties Of neutrality to-
4 Wards the respective belIgerent States, we
! may reasonably expect them not to interfere
with our LAWFUL enjoyment of its betefits.-
4 Notwithstanding the existence Of such hos
tiiltius, eur citizens retain the individual
right 10 continue all their accustomed pur-
| suits, by land or ~ sea, at home OF abroad,
/ subject only to sllch restrictions in this rela-
I ton IT'S the laws OF war, the usage ofnatIons,
or special treaties, may impose; and it is our
! sovereign right tldt our territory and juris-
| diction shall not be invaded by either OF the
| belligerent paljie4, for the transit OF their
armies, the operation Of their fleets, the levy
Of troops for their service, the Hitting out Of
cruisers by OF against either, or any other
act or incident OF war. Aud these undelia-
Bile rights of neutrality, individual and ma
tional the United states will under no CIR
eumstamces surrender. @
In pursuance OF this policy, the laws of tha
United States do not forbid their citizens
to sell to either Of the belligerent powers, ar
ticles eontrabanl of war, take munitions
of war or soldiers on board their private
ships for transportation and although, in so
doing, the individual citizen exposes his
property or person to some OF the hazards Of
war; his acts do not involve any breach Of
national neutrality, nor of themselves mpli-
cate the government. Thus, during the pro-
gress of the present war in Europe, our citi-
zens have, without national responsibility
therefor, sold gunpoWder and arms to ali buy
ers, regardless o the destination Of those ar
ticles. Our merchantmen have been, and still
continue to be, largely employed by Great
Britain and by France, in transporting troops,
provisions, aud munitions Of war to the prn-
cipal seat Of military operations, and III bring
| ing home their sick and wounded soldiers;
bnt such use Of our mercantile marine is not
intcrdleted either by the international or by
our municipal law, and therefore does not
colnpomit our neutral relations With Russia.
But our municipal law, in accordance with
the law of nations, peremptorily forbids not
| only foreigners, but our own citizens, to fit
out within the United States avesse to COM
nit hostilites against any State with which
| the United Suites are at peace, or to Increase
the force Of am foreign armed vessel inten-
ded for such hostilities against friendly
State.
Whatever concern may have been felt by
|
armed cruisers or other vessels in the service
of one might be fitted out in the ports of this
country to depredate on the property of the
other, all such fears have proved to be utter
ly groundlcss. Our citizens have been with
held from any such act or purpose by good
faith and by respect for the law.
While the laws Of the Union are thus per-
emptory in their prohibition Of the equip
ment or armament of beligerent cruisers in
| lpsS ahSol roll
that no person shall, within the territory or
| jurisdiction of the United States, enlist or
enter himself, or hire or retain another per-
son to enlist or enter himself, or to go be-
yoHd the limits or jurisdiction OF the United
! Sta1ss With intent to be enlisted or entered,
! in the service Of any foreign State, either as
a soldier, or as q i,,arine or seaman on board
of any vessel .oi-war, letter Of marque, or
privateer. And these enaGtments are also in
strict conformity with the law OF nations,
which declares that no State has the right to
raise troops fer iaad Or sea service n another
State wthout its consent, and that, WI ether
forbidden by the municipal law or not, lie
very attempt to do it without such consent is
an attack on the Rational sovereignty.
Such being the public rights and the mum
icipal law OF the nited States, no solicitude
| on the subject was entertained by this gov
| eminent, when, year since, The British
| Parliament passed an act to provide for the
enlistment OF foreigners in the military SER
! vice OF Great Britain. Nothing the face
1 oil the act, or IN its public history, indicated
that the British government proposed to at
! tempt recruitment in the United States nor
| did it ever give intimation of such intention
| to this government. 1T was matter of sur-
| prise, therefore, to find, subsequently,, that
! the engagement of persons within the United
States to proceed to Halifax, in the British
province of Noyt Scotia, and there enlist in
the service OF Great Britain, was going
| extensively, with little or no disguise. Or
binary legal steps We're immediately taken 10
arrest and parish the parties concerned and
put an onl to acts Infringing the municipal
| Law and derogatory TO our Sovereignty
Meanwhile suitable representations On the
subject were addressed the British govern
n4eht.
rhcreupon ii became known, by The admis-
sion OF the British government itself, that
| the attempt to draw recruits from this coun-
/ Try or lsiilatCd WI It, or at least had its ap-
! proval and sanction; but it also appeared
| that the pubhc agents engaged in it had
! ssstringent Instructions" not TO violate the
nunie pal law OF the United States. pa 81
1t IS difficult 10 understand how it should
have been supposed that troops could be
raised here by Great Britain, without VIOLA
ton Of the municipal law. The unmistakea-
bic object OF the law WAS to prevent every
such act, which, il performed, must be either
| in yiolat on of The iaw, or in studied evasion
| Of 1t aui in either a arnative, the act done
! would be alike iujdrious to the Sovereignty
of the United S.atcs.