American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-01-03

This government. recognizing the obligations
OF the tteaty, has Of course desired to See il
executed in good faith BY both parties. and in
the discussion, therefore, has not looked TO
rights. winch Ne might assert. independently
OF the treaty, ia consideration Of cur geO-
graphical position and Of other circumstance,
which cfeaie for Us relations to the Central a
meIican States. different irum those Of any
government Of Europe.
The British government, in its last comm.
n~ication, although we'll knowing The views of
the CniIcd States. siiil declares that it sees no
reason why a concilistpry spirit may not eua.
bic the two governments to overcome all pb,
~Slaeles 10 i satisfactory adjustment Of he sub
iect.
Assured or the cor ectneSS hf the cnnSlruc-
lion ottiietreaiy constantly adhuTed to By this
government, and resolved to insist on the rights
tul the niled States, vel actuaied also ny The
same c.Slr,, which is avGW ed by the British
government, 10 remove nil causes OF misuuder-
standing between Two Nations associated BY so
many lies of inter- ST and kiudred. il has up
freafrd = ME proper ndt 10 CONSIDER an Emica
bic %s"iutI'p of the contrGversy hopeless.
There rs. b .w|v+r, reason to appTehend,
that, with Great Brian in actual %occupation
OF the disputed territories. and The treaty there
fore practically null. So far aS regards our rights,
this international difficulty cannui remain I'm
determined. wl:hoLt involving III serious dan
ger the fleni!y rcla.ions. which il is The inter
rSt as well os he duty Of both countries 10
cherish and preserve. II viii off 'td NE stu
cere Qualification, il future /, fnrts shall result
IN that 81. Cess, sntciI aitd lcrttofule with
more ron fdriire than the aspect Of the case
permits me iaow to entertain.
REcRi II NEST.
One other snhirctof discussion between The
United States andtGIest Britain has grown out
af the att mph which tile cxirencits Of The
war ~hichtshe is engaged with li,ssia in,
Ednced her TO- make, 10 draw recruits from the
tinted States.
II is The traditional md settled policy Of the
I niIrd States To mountain Impartial neutrality
during the wars, which from t,me TO time occur
among the great powers Of the world. Per
pTnlng ell he dn les Of neutrality towards
the respective bell gercnt States, we may lea
ShnhbIy exrect item not IN interfere with our
llawfnl enjoyment Of its benefits. N0twith
lstendIug the existence OF such hostillties, muT
citizens retain iLe individual right 10 continue
all thtir accustomed pursuits, by land OF by sea,
NJ homo or abroad, subject only 10 such re
s'rclions ir this relation, MS The laws Of war,
the usage Of nations, or special treaties may
impose; aud it is our SOVEREIGN right that our
%icrntnry and jmridic'ion shall not be invaded
by either of The hellieerent parties, for the
%lTansit Of their armies, the operalious Of their
fleets. the levy Of troops Tor their service, the
fitting out nf cruisers by or against either, or
any other act or incident Of war. And these
undeniable rights Of mentality. individual and
national, the United States will under no cil-
c"mSlnuces surrenl.r.
IN pursuance OF III s policy. the laws Of the
United States donot forbid their either MS to sell
to ether Of HE bellifercnt powers articles.
cnntTdband Of war, or In take munitions OF
war Or soldiers on board their priva'e ships for
transport tim; and although, in so doing, TIC
individual cilizen exposes his property or per
Son 10 some III the haZards of war, his acts dc
not involve any breach of national ne %utrality,
nor Of themselves implica,e tie government.
Tins, during the progress OF The present war
IN Europe. our citizens have, without nation
al responsibility therefor. sol: gunpowdcr and
arms 10 all buyers. re gardles SIS ofthe destination
of these articles. Our merchantmen have
been, MD still CONTINUE IN be. largely employ
ed nv Great Britain md by France in trans.
porting troops, provisions. and mnnitions Of
war t0ihe principal seat Of military operations,
and in bringing home their sick and wounded
soldiers; but such use of our mercantile marine
IS not in'erdicied either ly the International
or by our municipal law, and therefore does
mt compromise our neutral relations with
Russ n.
But our municipal law, in accordance with
The law Of nations, peremplOrily fnrbids, mt
only foreigners, but our own citizens. t, CT
out, within the limits Of the United States, n
vessel to comm hosiili,ies against any State
with Nhich the United States are ut peace, or
u increase The force Of any armed vessel in
tended for snch hos;ilities against a friendly
Slate.
Whatever cODceTn may have been felt by
either Ot te btliiReTent powers lest private
aimed cIulsvrS, or other vessels. in The ser
vice Of one might he fitted out in the ports Of
this country To deprrhate on the property OF
The o!her, all such fears have proved 10 be- ut
terry grounhlrss Our citizens have been
withheld lroni any Such act OF purpose by good
Hath and 10y respect lof the law.
While the laws OF the Union, are thus per
emp'ory in their prohibition Of The equipment
or armament Of ltfigeIent cruisers in our
ports, they pro, lie n I less absolutely that no
person shall. within the territory or %inrisdic-
ton Of The United States. enlist or enter him
sell. or hire or Tcta u another person 10 enlist
or ent,r hlmTtH, or 10 go beyond The limits or
Jurisdiction Of the United States with intent 10
be enlisted " entered, in the service Of any
foreign Sla;c. either as u soldier, or rs n mar
lner or seaman on hoard Of any vessel Of war,
letter Of morque, or pIivateer. And these IN
actmenls are in strict conformity with the law
OF nations, which declares, that no State has
The Ugilt TO raise troops fnr 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 il, without such con
sent, rs an attack on the national sovereignty.
Such being the public rights aud the mnn,c.
lpa' law OF inc United States. no soliciiude on
he subject was entertained by this govern
tnent, when a year since, the British PaTlia,
menl pissed an oct 10 provide for the enlist
ment OF foreigners in the military service OF
Great britain. Nothing on the face OF the act,
OF IN lis public history, indicated that The Brit
ISL government proposed TO attempt recruiting
in this United States; nor did il ever give init.
nation Of such intention 10 this government.
was matter Of surprise, therefore, TO find,
subsequently,. that The engagement OF persons
within the Gniled States to pIoceed TO Halifax,
N the British province of Nova Scotia, and
there ~enllst'in the service ~ Great Britain, was
rolug on extensively, with little or no dis
rnise. Ordinary legal steps were immediately
taken to ARREST and punish parties concerned,
aud so put an rnd 10 acrs infringing the mm
%niciral law and dtroraiory 10 our sovereignty.
Meanwhile suitable representations on the
subject were addressed 10 the British govern
Iitnt.
T,cTcnpon it became known, by the admis.
sion OF the British government Itself, that the
attempt Ia draw recruits from this country
originated with II, or at least had lis approval
and sanction; but il also appeared that the
public agents engpeed in il had stringent in.
slrnctiol,S' not to violate the municipal law
of the United States. q ,ff-t'
U Is dIiGcult TO understand how it should
have be-, n supp SEED that troops could be rails
ed here by Great Britain, without v~ialaiion oI
the municipal law. The unmisinkable object
Of the law was to prevent every such act,
which, ii ntTlOrmed, must he eli her in vioIo