Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-01-10


United States.
IL Is the traditional and fsuled policy Of the
United States to maintain impartial neutrality
during the wars, with which time after time
occur among the great powers Of the world
Performing all the duties Of neutrality towards
the respective belligersnt States, We may rea-
sonably expect them not TO interfere vith our
lawful enjoyment Of its benefits. Notsilh-
Standing the Evidence OF such bostilties, our
citizens retain the individual right 10 continue
all their accustomed pursuits. by land or by
sea, at home or abroad. subject only to such
restriction in this relation as the laws Of war,
the usages Of nations, or special treBties, may
impose and it is our sovereign right that eur
territory aud Jurisdiction shall not be invaded
by either of the belligerent parties. for the
transit Of their armies. the operations Of their
fleets, the levy Of troops fol their service. ihe
fitting out Of cruisers By or sgalnt elths-,qr any
other act or incident Of war And these uu-
deniable rights Of neutrality individual and
national, the United States will, under no cir
cumstances. surrender.
In pursuance Of this policy, the laws Of the
United States do not forbid their citizens to
sell to either of the belligerent powers articles
eontraband of war, or to take munitions Of war
or soldiers on board their private ships for
transportation and although in so doing the
individual citizen exposes bis property or per-
son to some Of the hazards of war, bis acts do
not involve any breach Of national neutrality,
nor Of themselves impfclte the Government
Thus, during the progress Of the present war
in Europe, our citizens have, without national
responsibility therefor, sold gunpOwder and
arms 10 all buyers, regardless of the destina-
ton Of those articles. Our merchantmen
have been and still continue to be, largely EN-.
ployed by Grea. Britain and by France, in
transporting troops, provisions and munitions
of war to the principal seat Of military opera
ticns, and IN bringing home their sick aDC
wounded soldiers but such use of our mer
camille marine is not interdcted either by the
international, or by our municipal law, and
therefore does no, compromit our neutral re-
lations with Russia
But our municipal law, ia accordance with
the law Of nations, pe,emptorily iorbids, no
only foreigners. but our own citizens, to G
out, within The limits of the United st t-s,
vessel to commit hostlieS against any Stat,
with which the United States are at peace, o
to increase the force of any foreign armed yes
sci intended for sueh hoStlities against friend
+. ly State.
Whatever coGcern may have been felt BY
either Of the brgerent powers lest private
armed cruisers, or other vessels in the servic,
of one, might be fitted out in the ports of hj
country to deprcdate on the property Of tn
q other. all such fears have proved to be utterl
groundess Our citizens have been wrthhelC
= from any such act of purpose by good fail
d and by respect for the law.
= While the laws Of the country are thus D r.
: emptory in their prohibition of the lequpmen
or armament Of belligerent cruisers iu ou
, ports, they provide not less absolutely that n
u person shall. within the territory or iurisdiC
!. lion Of the United States, enlist. or enter him
d self, or hire, or retain another person to emil,
r. or enter himself, or to 60 beyond the limits
Jurisdiction of the United States with intent
be enlisted or entered, in the service of al
| foreign state: either as a soldier, or as m
to rine or seaman on board of any vessel
9 war; letter of marque, or priVateer Al
these enactments ARE also in strict conform
- with the law of nations, which declares, th
I no State has the right TO raise troops for lar
D or sea service in another State without its cor
sent, and that whether forbidden by the nun
al cipal law or not, the very attempt to do
without such consent, is an attack on The ns
y tional sovereignty.
Such being the public rights and the mum
] Icipal law of the United States, no soc.tuG
of on the subject was entertained by this Govern
ment, when, year since, the British Parla
~ ment passed an act to provide for the enlis'me
'e of foreigners in the military service in Gre
a. Britain. Nothing on he face of the act, or
II its public history, indicated that the Brit
Government proposed to attempt recruitme
" in the United States. nor did is ever give int
lis nation of such intention to this Governmer
It's 1t was matter OF surprise, therefore. to fin
he subsequently, that the engagement of perso
sh within the United States 10 proceed to Halifa
in the Province Of Nova Scotia and there Ell
"F list in the service of Great Britain, was goir
IA on extensively, with little or no disguise. U
d. dinary legal steps were Immediately taken
er arrest and punish parties concerned, and
,e. put an end to acts infringing the municipal la
and derogstory to our sovereignty Mea
while, suitable representations on the subie
lat were addressed to the British Government.
Of Thereupon it became known. by the adm
,e. sion of the British Government itself, that |
mr. attempt to draw recruits from this count
originated with il. or al least had its aporo,
" and sanction but il also appeared that d
re public agents engaged n it had stringent j
he structions the municipal law of the Unit
les States. -.'
- 1t is difficult to understand how II shot
~ have been supposed that troops cOull be ra
re- ed here, by Great Britain, without violation
ith the municipal law. The unmistaksbley obi
ase of the law was TO prevent every such .