The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-01-10


articles. Our merchantmen have been
and still continue to be, largely employet
by Great Britain and by France in trans
porting troops. provisi ms, and munitions
OF war to the principal seat of militar,
operations, and in bringing home thel
sick and wounded soldiers; but such us,
If our mercantile marine is not interdictet
either by the international, or by GU
m municipal law, and therefore does no
compromise our neutral relations will
Russia.
But our municipal law, in accordance
witt, the law, Of nations, p remioiily for
bids no, only foreigners. but our own citi
zens, to tit cut, within the limits of the u
nied States, vessel to commit hosti
lies against any State with which the U
nned States are at peace, or to increas'
the force oil any armed vessel intended TO
such hostlll;les against a fri nlly State
Whatever concern NAV have been fcl
by either OF the belligerent powers eas
private armed cruisers, or other vessels, il
the service of one might be fitted out IN
the ports of this country 10 depredate OF
the property of the other. all such fear:
have proved 10 be utterly groundcss.-
Our citizens have been withheld from Il
ny such act of purpose by good faith anG
by resp, CT for the law.
While the laws of the U1ion are thus
pefemptory in their prohibition OF The G
qu pmcnt or armament of belllyerent crui
sers into 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 Ol
re ain another person to enlist or enter
himself, or TO go beyond the limits OF
jurisdiction OF the United States with In
cent to be enlisted or entered, in the ser
vice OF any foreign State, either as a sol
der or as Il mariner OF seaman on board
of any vessel OF war, letter OF marque,
or privatecr And these enac mems are
in street conformity with tie law ofnaton:
which declares, that no State has the
right 10 raise troops for land or sea ser
vice IN another S a>e without its const Mt
and that whether forbidden b. the mu.
nicipal law OF net, the vcTy attempt to d.
II, "i,nout such consent, Is an attack Oh
the national sovereignty.
Such being the public rights and the
municipal law OF the United Staes, Nc
so'lcltude on the subject was entertained
by this government, when year since
the BRUSH Parliament passed an act t.
provide tor the enlistment of foreigners Ii
the military service OF Great Britain
Notking un the face of the act, or in is
public history, ind Gated that the British
government proposed to attempt recruit
ing in The Unlted S ates; nor did it ever
give lnumatlon OF such intention TO this
government. 1t was matter of surprise
therefore to find, subsequently,, that the
engagement of persons within he UniteC
States to proceed t., Halifax, in the British
province IF n va Scotia, and there enlls
i'll the service of Great Britain, was 90 n.
on extensively. with little or no disguise
Ordinary legal steps Were immediately I'd
ken toarreSt and punish parties concerned
and so put ain end 10 acts infringing th,
municipal law and derogatory to ou
sovereignty. Meanwhile suitable r,pre
sentaiions on the subject were addressed
to the British government.
Thereupon it became known, by til,
admission Of the British government ltsrlt
that Tire attempt to draw recruits iron
his country originated with 1t or at leaS
had its approval and sanction; but it al>'
appeared that the public agent engaged
in it had ''stringenL instructions" no. t.
|Nhslate the municipal l,w ol the Uniteo
IL is difficult to understand how
should have been supposed that troop
could be raised i.efe by Great Brian
without violation ofzlhe municipal law
rhe unmistakable object OF the law wa
20 prevent every such act, which, if per
Tor ed, must be ei her IN violation OF th
Law; or IL stuffed evasion Of it, and, il
either alternative, the act done would b
alike iniu ious TO the sovereignty OF tn
United States.
In the meantime, the matter acquir
additional Importance, 10y the recrul men
in the United States not being dl>continu
ed, and the disclosure ot the fact tina
th wer~ prosecuted upon a systemati
pian devised by official authority, tha
recruiting rendezvous had been opene'
in our principal cities, and dtpots for tn
rcce . ion recruits established on our from
-sier; and the whole business c0nducte'
under ihe supervision and by the regul4
co operation ot British officers, civil an
military, some in the North America
provinces, and some in the United State,
The completely OF those officers in an un
dertaking, which could only be accom-
plished by d fyng our laws, THROWN!
suspicion over our attitude of neutrality
nd disrega ling our territorial rights,
concIusively proved by the evidence {
lcted on the t ial of such OF their agent
as have been apprehended and convictec
Some OF the officers implicated are {
high official position, and many Of ther
beyond our jurisdiction, SO that legal pre-
ceedings could not reach tie source {
the mischief.
These considerations, and The fac
that the cause Of complaint was not
mere casual occurrence, but a dehherat
design, entered upon with full knowled3 :
of our laws and national policy, and cor
Quoted by responsible pub ic uciiona ie
! Iimpelled me to prcsent the case 10 III
British government, in order TO secure
not only a cessation OF the W ony. but j
rep ration. The subject is still undt
! discussion, the result of which will
communicated to You in due time.
BRITISH RELATIoNS- CONTINUED.
repeat the recommendation submit
ted to the last Congress, that provlslo
be made for the appointment OF con
,niSSinnnr In cnnn.nt In ,nitl, Grnnt Ri