The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-06-07

Three Tire 'ssaass, Squares, 10 Is Is % % Is
Four Squares, IL l6 20 25 80
ANNOUNCING Candidates for Office, TEN Dollars,
payable in advance.
THE NEUTRALITY LAwS-GENER-
AL QUITMAN'S SPEECH-A MAS
TERLY ARGUMENT.
On the Goth of last month the subject Of the
Neutrality Laws of the United States was
brought before Congress by General Qutman,
Of Mississippi with the intention of efec.ng a
repeal OF certain sections Of the ideas of 1918,
which are not only obnoxious to the ideas Of
the times, but radically and fatally opposed to
the commercial interest and political develop
ment of the American Republic.
The act in question, by which constructive
crimes are created, by which the right of ex-
zen, by which the President and Collectors Of
ports are clothed with an authority neither
contemplated nor justified by the Constitution,
by which noble and honorable movements in
behalf of human liberty, human-elevation, and
human happiness, are branded as misdemean-
ors and crimes-this act, so long disgrace to
our statute book, and q barrier across the
road which our people are predestined to tread,
was the result of foreign influence, foresight
and intrigue, and Of domestic subservency,
shortsightedness and folly.
1t was principally the creation of the Span
ish Minister representing at Washington the
Court of Ferdinand and of those who sympa.
thized with his views or appreciated his gold
1t was opposed by Mr.. Clay, who left the
Speakers chair to denounce it as an act, not
for the honor or profit of the United States,
but for the benefit of his Majesty the Sover-
eign of Spain. Itwas opposed by other states.
men "who have left their deep tracks on the
road Of renown," worthy compeers of the Ken
lucky orator; but their opposition was disre
garded and the act Of 1918 passed into law
of the land and since that time has restrained
the expansive energies of the people and has
been equivalent to u legal straight waistcoat
trammeling and confirming the natural move
mcnts of a sane and healthy nation. By it.
influence we have been prevented from secur
ing the key of the Mexican Gulf, from assert
ing our legitimate authority over the Ameri
can Isthmus, and from defeating the nsidiou'
intrgues of European Powers in Centra
America, in ST. Domingo and in other coun
tries which are directly connected with us by
geographical and political necessity.
The honor of moving for repeal of the oh
noxious sections of this act belongs to Genera
Qutman, and in these days of Clayton-Bulwel
treaties, when political dignity is openly merg
ed in the most timid conyentionalism it is graf
flying to observe that the South has one rep
rescntative at least who is not afraid to assai
an abuse because it happens to have reached
II venerable age, nor to expose fraud which
has for many years been mistaken by the ma
-. Ga, - 4,
right.
The Generals speech is now before us in the
shape Of an official report and we purpose, as
briefly and concscly as possible, to review the
opinions and arguments contained in it, belcv-
ing that the time has come when the subject
demands full and frank recognition not only
from Congress but from the general public OF
the United States. 1t is but due to the Mis-
sissippian orator, however, to premise that
more masterly address has seldom been deliv
cred in the Halls of Washington, more prescen'
in its political wisdom, more clear and condens
; ed in its style, more statesmanlike in its com
prehensive grasp of thought, or more concu
sive in its logic 1t is worthy of the young
and vigorous days of the Republic, when poll
tics were a noble science and not mere refu
gium peccatorum, when craftsmanship was
dignifed study rather than vulgar specula
tion-of the days when there were giants upol
the earth.
The speech is obviously dividea into tw'
parts the first being review of our connexiol
with the neighboring States, which exercise
powerful control over our commercial and pc
litical progress, and the second q demonstra
; ton of the unconstitutionality and absurdity O
the Neutrality Laws, and of the injurious inhu
ence which they have exercised in preventing
the healthy growth and expansion of the ma
tion. Let us follow the order adopted by tn
speaker and reflect, family though it be,
few of his wise and subtle thoughts.
Standing amongst the Statesmen Of Amen