The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-01-05
geographical position and other circumstan.

sun hectares that u sees no reason why q
conci.iatnry spirit may not enable the two
governments to overeome all obstacles to
satisfactory adjustment cf the subject. As
sured OF the correctness Of the construction
of the treaty, constantly adhered TO by thi,
government and resolved to insist on tho
rights OF the United States, yet MS actuateC
also by the same desire which is avowcd by
the British government to remove all causes
OF serious misunderstanding between two ma
tons associated by so many tics of interest
and kindred, il has appeared to me proper
not to consider an amicablc solution Of the
controversy HOPELESS. There is, however
reason to arprchcnd that, with Great Britain
in the actual occupation of the disputed ter
rtorics, and the treaty, therefore practically
null so far MS regards our rights, this inter
national difficulty cannot long remain undc,
termined without involving in serious danger
the friendly relations which it is the interest
as well as the duty of both countries to che
IRISH and preserve 1t will afford me sincere
qualification if fu'urc efforts shall result in
the success anticipated heretofore, with nc
more confidence than the aspect Of the case
permits me now to entertain.
One other subject of discussion between
the United States and Great Britain has
grown out Of the attempt which the .Aigen
cics Of the war in which she is engaged Will
Russia induced her to make, TO draw recruit!
from the United States. 1t is the interna
tiona' and settled policy Of the United States
~ maintain impartial neutrality during thu
wars ".ich, from time TO time, occur among
the great ncwcrs of the " orll. Performing
all the Quite Of neutrality towards the re-
srcctiye bel'igcrcnt states, we may reasona
bly, expect them not to interfere with us il
the lawful enjoyment Of its benefits. Not
withstanding the Existence Of such hostiities
our citizens claim the individual right to con
tinuc all their accustomed pursuits by lane
or by sea, at home or abroad, subject only tC
such restrictions in this relation as the laws
OF war; the usage of nations, or special trea
ties may impose, and it is our recognize
right that our territory and 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
for their service, the fitting out Of cruisers by
or against either, or any other act or incident
of war; and these undenablc rights of ncu.
trality. individual and national, the United
States will, under no circumstances, suircn.
der. In pursuance Of this policy, the govern.
ment Of the United States do not forbid their
citizens to sell to either Of the bolligcrcnt
powers articles contrabanL Of war, or take
munitions Of war or soldiers on board their
private ships for transportation. Although,
in SO doing the individual citizen exposes his
property or person to some Of the hazards OF
war, his acts do not involve any breach p,
national neutrality, nor, Of thcmsrlves, I'm,
pcate The government. Thus, "u.,nn N,
progress of the present war in rurone H.,
citizen has, without naii.o.al responsibility
therefore so!dgunpc wGer and arms TO All buy.
ers: Nceard'.ss Vi the destination of those
articles, our merchantmen have been and
SUI! con'.nno TO be largely employed by
treat britain and by France in transporting
loops, provisions, and munitions Of war tC
the principal seat Of military operations and
in bringing home their sick ana wounded
soldiers. But such use of our mercantile
marine is not nterdicted, and, therefore, does
not compromise our neutral relations with
Russia. But our municipal law, in accord.
ance with the raw of nations, pcrcmptori' Y
iorbids, not only foreigners, but our own ci.
tizens, to fit out, within the limits of the Unit.
cd States, vessel to commit hostilties
against any state with which the United
States are at peace, or to increase the force
Of any foreign armed vessels intended ior
such hosti!ities against a friendly state
Whatever concern may have been felt by eli.
thcr Of the belligerent powers lest private
armed ciuizers or other vessels in the sery
ice Of one might be fitted out in the ports OF
this country TO deprodatc on the property OF
the other, all such fears have proved to be
perfectly Groundlcss.
Our citizens have been withheld from any
such act or purpose by good faith and by re-
Spect for the law. While the laws Of the
Union are thus percmptory in the prohibit
ton of the equipment or. armament Of belli.
gercnt armed cruisers III our ports, they
provide not less absolutely that no person
shall, in the territory or jurisdiction of the
United States, enter or enlist himself, or
hire or retain another person to enlist or en-
ter himself or to 90 beyond the limits or
jurisdiction of the United States with intent
to be enlisted or entered in the service OF
any foreign State, either as a soldier, or AS a
marine or seaman on board Of any vessel OF
war, letter Of marque, or priyateer; and
these cnactmcnts are also in strict contormi.
" with the law of nations, which declares
that no State has a right to 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 without such consent is an attack
upon national sovereignty. Such being the
public rights of the municipal law Of the
United States, no solicitudc on the subject
was entertained by this government, when,
a year since, the British Parliament passed
an act for the enlistment Of foreigners Into
the service Of Great Britain. Nothing on
the face Of the act, or in its public history,
indicated that the British Government pro-
posed to attempt recruiting in the United
states Nor did it ever give intimation of
such intent to this Government. 1t was a
matter of surprise, therefore, to find Subsc
quently that the engagement of persons
within the United States to proceed to Hall
fax, in the British province of Nova Scotia,
and there enlist in the service Of Great Br-
tain, was going on extensively, with little or
no disguise. Ordinary legal steps were i'm.
mediately taken to arrest and punish parties
50 concerned and put an end to acts so in.
ringing llc HluilClpi' Jaw, an" uI'oS"to'y
% our sovereignty. Meanwhile, suitable re.
prcscn,., tons on the subject were addressed
TO the Britis,. Government. Thercupon 1t
became known by the admission Of the Bri-
fish Government ITSELF that ne attempt to
draw recruits from this county originated
with it, or at least had its approve. or sane
ton; but it also appeared that the pIhI'c
agents engaged in it had strong instructions
not to violate the municipal law Of the Uni.
ted States. 1t is difficult to understand how
it should have been supposed that troops
could he raised here by Great Britain with
out violation Of the municipal law. The I'M
mistakablc object of the law was to prevent
every such act, which. if performed, must
be either violation of the law, or studied
evasion thereof In the meantime, matters
accrued of additional importance, by the re-
cruitment in the United States not being
discontinued, and the disclosure OF the fact
that they were prosecuted on systematic
plan devised by official authority; that re-
cruiting rendezvous had been opened in our
principal cities, and depots for the reception
of recruits established on our frontier, and
the whole business connected under the SUI