Demoine courier., 1856-01-10

pose, and i is our recognised right that
on territory and jurisdiction shall u
be invaded by either of The beligereni
parlies for the transit of their armies,
the operation Of their fleets, The law of
troops for their service, The flung out OF
cruisers by or against either. or any 9th
er act or Incident of war; and these ua.
dcniable rights Of neutrality, individual
and national, The United S,eles will, un-
der no circumstances, sure nder. In
pursuance OF This policy, ,he Guyern-
ment Of the UEited States do not, forbid
their clizens TO sell to either OF The be-
hgeranI powers, articles con,raband Of
war. or take munitions Of war, Or sol-
diers on board their private ships. for
transportation. Although, in SO doing
the individual citizen exposes bis prop.
erty and peraon TO the haz ards of war.
his acts do not involve any ac, Of ma
tional neutrality, nor of themselves inn
p'icate The Government Thus, during
The progress cf tile presen, war in Eu-
rope, the citizen has, without natiorsl
responsibility thereiar, soll gunpowder
and srms to all buyers. Regardless Of
the destinations of those articles, our
merchantmen have been and sill con,in-
ue TO be largely employed by Grea.
Britain and by France in transporting
troops, provi.i ms and munitions Of war
to the principal seat Of military opera
lions, and IN bringing home their sick
aud wounded soldiers. But such use of
our mercantile marine is not interdicied.
and, therefore, does not compromise our
neutral relations with Russia. But our
municipal law in accordance with the
law OF nations. peremptorily furbids,
not only foreigners, 5u. our own c~rizeas
10 fl on. within The limits Of the United
States; vessels 10 commi. hostii.,ies
againa. any State with which The United
States are al peace, Q! TO increase The
force OF any foreign armed vessel in
tended Cor such hos,ilities against .
friendly State. Whatever concern may
have been fell by either Of The belligerens
powefs. lest private armed cruisers, or
other ,esseis in the service o: one might
be fitted oat in the ports of this country
TO depredate on the property Of The 9th.
er. sll such fears have prored to be per-
iec,ly groundless.
Our cilizens have oeen withheld fiora
any such act or purpose by good faith
aad by respect for The law. While the
laws Of the Union are thus peremp,ory
in the prohibition of the equipment on
srmamen, of telligeIeni armed cruisers in
our ports, they provide no, less absolu-
tely that no person shall in the territory
or jurisdietion of the United States, enter
or enlist himself, o. hire or retain an
other person to enliss or enter himseIl,
or to go beyond The limits or Jurisdiction
oil the United States with intent 10 be en-.
listed or entered in the service of aRv
foreign State, either as a soktter, or Is
a marine or seaman or board efany wee
eel OF war, letter or marque, or privateer:
and these eRactmenis. are also in strict
conformity with the law Of ma lions.
which declares III a, no State has a risht
to raise troops for land or sea service in
another Stale without its consent. and
that, whether forbidden by the munieip.
al law or net, the very attempt 10 dv il
without such consen, is an attack upon
national sosereignty. Such being the
public RICH: of the municipal law Of the
Unned States, no solcic,iute on ,he rob
jeci was entertained by this governments
when, a year since, tho Brinsh Paria-
ment passed an at for the enlistnem Of
foreigners IN the ~servise OF Great Brit.
ain. Nothlng on the face ofthe act. or
10 his public history imculcated that the
British Government proposed TO attempt
Secruinng in The Unised States. Nortid
il ever give in,imation Of such in,ent,o
this Government. II was q matter of
surprise, therefore, to find s~ubseeuen,.
y lhatihe engagement Of persons within
The United States 10 proceed TO Halifax.
in The British province of Nova Sco,is.
and there enlist in the service. OF (:rea,
Britain, was going on extensively,
with little or no disguise. Ordinary le.
gal steps were Immediately Mksna lc ar
rest and punish parties so concerned,
and put an end to acts 50 infringing the
municipal Law, and derogatoiy 70 our soy-
ereigniy.a Meanwhile. suitable repre-
sen.ation on the subject were addressed
to the British Government itself, tina, the
aitempito draw recruits from this U
try originated with il, or al Ieasi had i.s
approval or sanction; bal il also ppear
ed that the public agents engaged in il
had strong instructions not TO violate the
municipal law oil the United States