The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-21

diplomatic relations How the change of administration
occurred, whether by the aid of foreigners not was
not question for government after evidence was
furnished that the change had actually occurred and
was acquiesced in by the people who constituted the gov
eminent When Col French presented himself minister
he was not recognised because the necessary evidence
those points not furnished but when Padre Will pre-
ssnted his credentials he produced the necessary evidence
and therefore recognised matter of course in
pursuance Of welesabshed international principles to
which government has always adhered. But our main
purpose to invite attention to Mr. Marcys letter
which is as follows
Mr.. Marcy in reply to Mr.. Molina.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Washington, April IS, 1856.
The undersigned Secretary of State of the United States
has the honor to acknowledge the receipt Of the note of
Mr. Molina charge daaes of Costa Rica of the 9Th inst
with the accompanying papers, stating the views and de-
carng the policy OF his government with reference the
existing of affairs in Nicaragua and rejecting upon
hat lie peses to call the awless conduct Of citizens and
inhabitants of the United States.
If the undersigned has not misunderstood the purpose Of
United States in regard their relations not only
with Costa RIGA but the other Central American States.
Mr. Molina must be aware that grave charge as this
affecting directly the honor of the United States should
not have been lightly made without adequate
proof to sustain That persons formerly citizens Of the
United States now found among the enemies of Costa
not at all sustain such charge The right of exparaon
is not believe withheld from the citizens of any free
government from residents under its jurisdiction
This country has always been open to the ingress of
Foreigners and those who have been free cone have also
been free to go and in respect to immigration
citizens are under no more restraint than foreigners who
have come into the United States.
The undersigned is not that the citizens inhab
an of Costa Rca have the same right of expatria-
ton as those Of the United States.
The laws of neither country 1t is presumed have con-
fered the authority to examine into the motives which
may lead any one to exercise the right Of repatriation
The liberty 10 go where hopes OF better fortune may ence
them belongs to freeu,en and free government with
holds it. II H. therefore, cause of complaint against
neutral country that in the exercse of this right
have left 1t and have been afterwards found in the ranks
of the army of belgerent State and yet s believed
that Mr. Molina has better information than this for
questioning the good faith of the United States.
The United States gave early example to other ma
in regard to its neutral duties by enacng stringent
neutrality laws they certainly preceded Great Britain in
egisating upon the subject These laws have laid upon
srants neutral obligations towards other States re-
qure compatible with the spirit of free
They prohibit enlistmens for foreign service within the
limits of the United States any agreement to 60 beyond
those limits for the purpose of snch enlstmen they de-
uouhc under heavy penalties the fitting of pvateers
the organizing any expeditions against foreign States
Mr.. Molina will find it difficult to show an instance in
which any other country, including his own has done
by legislation than the United States to preserve with
hdelity neutral relations with other powers The
ton OF these laws is all that he required Of this
in ntaining It's foreign relations.
Respect for Costa RIGA, and for Mr. Molina himself
qnres that his language should be interpreted that
1t will not imply the charge Of connvancc the part Of
this country at the violation Of these laws Being resi-
dent within the country 1t to be presumed that he 10 not
uninormed Of the efforts which this government has been
constantly and vigorously making toward dischargng
obligations OF neutrality only in respect TO the bel
gerents of Europe, but the States upon this continent
Ministerial and executive officers have received repeated
instructions to prevent the fitting and arrest
dions organized within the United States for foreign mil
ary service Numerous prosecutions have been instituted
against alleged offenders and convictions have been OBJ
tanned in several instances Whenever complaints have
been made by the ministers Of foreign governments with
indication Of the persons Of the offenders or spec6
cation OF acts Infringing our neutrality laws prompt and
vigorous proceedings have been instituted No just
for complaint has been shown against the officers Of the
United States for emssness in the discharge of their du
ties The action Of this 10 this matter has
been well known, and it Is strange indeed that II has
escaped Mr. Molinas particular attention. but that II has
not attracted bis notice eyinced by the of his
Of the sth instant While Mr. Molina was preparing his
note addressed to the undersigned and now
tons are going on against persons suspected Of violating
evading the neutrality laws of the United States by
cruiting men for military service In Nicaragua
So far from being aware, Mr. Molina the un
dersgned to be- that 6buster recruits have been permit
ted to sa from certain specified ports In the United States
to Nicaragua "wlhom any hndrdnce on he part Of The ap
horit Of the United States the undersigned has rood
grounds for believing that these authorities have been vg
liant to prevent the infringement OF the United States
Of neutrality and have visited vessels bound Nicaragus
for the express and determined purpose Of detecting viola
IONS OF those Win better Information the sub
ec believed that Mr. Molina instead OF reproachup
this government for remissness in enforcing its Laws would
have done justice to Its fair intentions and vigorous efforts
TO execute them.
1t cannot be supposed that Mr. Molina means TO make
ground Of complaint that unassociaed individuals have
voluntarily left the United States with intention of
Ing into foreign military service Such not
trary TO international law Being the representative of
free State Mr. Molina must be that is not within
the competence of any liberal government To hold
QUESTION into the motives and objects which induce
dvidua TO change bis country To do that would be the
exercise Of most offensive arbitrary power which no gov.
ernmen however absolute It's character has ever attempt
cd TO enforce upon another duty Of neutrality.
In the controversy which this government has had with
Great Britain In regard TO enstmens in the United States
for the British service the right of individuals 70 20 voun-
tary out Of the United States for the purpose of entering
into that service has not been questioned but the COM
plant against the British government IT, that Il has en-
poyed agents 10 within the United States to hire
RETAIN entice persons to 60 away for that purpose
When there believe that agents from Mic
aragua in this country 10 recruit soldiers prosecn
tons against them were promptly instituted which
still going This government has instituted judicial
proceedings against those agents for doing what Great
Britain contends her agents had right to do within the
Cned States.
If Mr. Molina to complain Of the insuffciency Of
our laws In regard TO neutrality the reply to such charge
To- that these laws stringent those Of any other
nation he intends 70 further and 10 imply the want
OF good faith on the part OF this government In executing
them, the charge 10 repeIcd a. unfounded.
difficult 10 conceive what other object Mr. Molina