Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-01-09
CLARESBURG, WEDNESDAY,. JANUARY, 9th, 1856.

ford me sincere qualification, II tnture et-
forts shall result in the success, anticipa-
ted heretofore with more confidence than
the aspect of the case permits me now to
entertain.
RECRUITMENT.
One other subject of discussion between
the United States and Great Britain has
grown out Of the attempt. which the exi-
gencies of the war in which she is enga-
ged with Russia induced her to make, to
draw recruits from the United States.
1t is the traditional and settled policy
of the United States to maintain impartial
neutrality during the wars, which from
time to time occur among the great pow
ers of the world. Performing all the du-
ties of neutrality towards the respective
belligerent States, we may reasonably ex-
pect them not to interfere with our laws
full enjoyment Of its benefits. Notwith-
standing the existence of such hostilities,
our citizens retain the individual right to
continue all their accustomed pursuits, by
land or by sea, at home or abroad, sub
iect only to such restrictions in this re!a-
ton, as the laws OF war, the usage Of ma
lions, or special treaties, may impose ;
and it is our sovereign right that our ter
ritory and Jurisdiction shall not be inva-
ded by either of the beIligerent parties.
for transit of their armies, the operations
Of their fleets, the levy of troops for their
service, the fitting out of cruisers by or
against either, or any other act or Incl
dent OF war. And these undeniable rights
Of neutrality, individual and national, the
United States will under no circumstances
surrender.
In pursuance of this policy, the laws OF
the United States do not forbid their citi-
zens to sell to either of the belligerent
powers, articles, contraband of war, or to
take munitions Of war or soldiers on board
their private ships for transportation and
although, in so doing. the individual citi-
zens exposes his property or persons TO
some of the hazards of war, his acts do
not involve any breach of national neu-
trality, nor of themselves impIicate the
government. Thus, during the progress
OF the present war in Europe, our citizens
have. without national responsibility there
for, sold gunpowder and arms to all buy
ers, regardless Of the destination Of those
articles. Our merchantmen have been,
and still continue to be, largely employed
by Great Britain and By France, in trans
porting troops, provisions, and munitions
of war to the principal seat of military
operations, and in bringing home their
sick and wounded soldiers ; but such use
Of our mercantile marine is not intcrdicted
either by the International. or by our mu-
nicipal law, and therefore does not COM
promit our neutral relations with Russia.
Bat our municipal law, in accordance
with tho law Of nations, PeremptoriIy for
bids, not only foreigners, but our own citi-
zens, 10 lit out, within the limits Of the
United States, q vessel to commit hoStili-
ties against any State with which The Uni
ted States are at peace, or to increase the
force Of any foreign armed vessel intended
for such hostilities against friendly State
Whatever concern may have been felt
by either Of the belligerent powers lest
private armed cruisers, or other vessels,
in the service Of one, might be fitted out
in the ports of this country to deprcdate
on the property Of the other, all such fears
have proved TO be utterly groundless.-
Our citizens have been Withheld from any
such act or purpose by good faith, and by
respect tor the law.
While the laws Of tho Union are thus
peremptory in their prohibition of the
equipment or armament Of belligcrent
cruisers in our ports, they provide not less
absolutely that no person 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 60 beyond the limits or iu-
risdction Of the United States with intent
any foreign State, either as soldier, or
as marine or seaman on board of any
vesscl-of-war, letter Of marque, or priYa.
teer. And these enactments are also in
strict conformity with the law Of nations,
which declares, shat no State has the righ,
10 raise troops for land or sea service in
another State without its consent, and
that, whether forbidden by the municipal
law or not. the very attempt to do it, with
out such consent, is an attack on the ma.
tional sovereignty.
Such being the public rights and the
municipal law Of the United States, nc
solicitudc on the subject was entertained
by this government, when, year since,
the British Parliament passed an act tc
provide for the enlistment of foreigners
in the military service of Great Britain
Nothing on the face of the act. or in its
public history, indicated that the British
government proposed to attempt recruit
ment in the United States nor did it ever
give intimation of such intention to thi,
government. It was matter of surprise
therefore, 70 find, subsequently,, that the
engagement of persons within the United
States to proceed to Halifax, in the British
province of Nova Scotia, and there enlis
in the service OF Great Britain, WAS going
on extensively. with little or no disguise
Ordinary legal steps were Immediately
taken 10 arrest and nunish narties con.