Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-12-15

the members of the gre at family OF nations, 10
restrain its people from acts of hostile aggres-
sion against their citizens or subjects. The
most eminent writers on pubic law do hesitate
to denounce such hostile acts robbery and
murder.
VI e;,k and feeble States, like those of Cent
raj America, may not feel themselves able to
assert and yindicate their rights The ease
would be far different if expeditions were set
on foot within own territories to make PRIV
ate war against powerful nation. If such eX-
petitions were fitted out from abroad against
any portion of our own country, 10 burn down
our cities, murder and plumber our people, and
usurp our government, we should caiIany pow
er on earth To the strictest account for not pre-
venting such cnormities.
Ever since the administration of General
Washington, acts of Congress have been IN force
TO punish severely the crime of setting on foot
:; military expedition within the limits of the
United States, to proceed from thence against
nation or State with whom We are 81 peace
The present neutrality act of April 2Oth, 1878,
Is but little more than q collection OF pre-eNist-
ING laws Under this act the President is en-
powered to employ the land and naval forces
and the militia " for the purpose OF preventing
the CARRYING Of any such expedition Or enter
prise from the territories and jurisdiction Of the
United States, and the collectors OF customs
are authorized and required to detain any yes
sci in port when there Is reason to believe she
is about to take part in such lawess enterprises.
When it was first rendered probable that an
attic npt would be made to get up another I'M
Lawful expedition against Nicaragua. the Sec
relary of State issued Instructions To the Marsh
ais aud district attorneys, which We're directed
b. the Secretaries of " ar and the Navy TO the
appropriate army and navy officers, requiring
them TO be yigiiant, and to use their best eX-
ertioR in carrying into effect the provisions oi
the act of 1918. Notwithstanding these pre-
cautions the expedition has escaped from our
shores Such enterprises can do no posslb
good 10 the country, but have already intlict ed
/ much Injury both on its Interests and It's char
4 acter. They have prevented peaceful emlgra-
/ zion from the United States to Central America
which could not fail to prove highly beneficial
! TO all the parties concerned. IN a pecuniary
point OF view alone, our citizeLS have sustained
/ heavy losses from the seizure and closing Of the
! transit route by the San Juan between the tive
( oceans.
The leader Of the recent expedition was ar.
rested at New Orleans bat discharged ou
/ giving bail for his appearance in the insuflici-
ent sum ottwo thousand dollars.
| commend the whole subject to the serious
attention of Congress, believing that duty ano
| our interest, as well our national character
re luires that we should adopt such measure.
as Will be clFectual in restricting our citizens
from committing sUch outrages.
I / regret to inform you that the President o
Paraguay has refused to Tatlfv the treaty be
/ tween the United States and that State a,
@WcaIed by the Senate, the signature Of wLic!
was mentioned IN the message of my predeccs-
sol 10 Congress a. the opening ot It's session il
December 1888. The reasons assigned for his
refusal viii appear in the correspondence here
/ with submitted
1t being de -irlble to ascertain the fitness O
the river La Plata and lis tributaries for navi-
/ CATION By steam, the United States steamer
Wafer Witch was sent thithcr for that purpose
/ in 1893. This enterprise was successfully car
riel on until February, 1888, when, whilst IL
the peaceful prosecution of her voyage up tic
. ParaEuavan fort. The fire was returned: bot
a. he Water Witch was Of small force, and not
designed for offensive operations she retired
from the Conflict. The preteXt upon which Tho
attack was made was decree of the President
OF Paraguay ~ October, 1891, prohibiting for
ejGu vessels of WIZ from nav eating the river,
of rhrt State. ~ Paraguay, however, was the
owner OF but one bank Of e.. river OF That name
the other belonging 10 CurrIeutes, State of the
Argentine Confederation. the right of It's govern
% emf To expect that such decree would be
nhcycd c:luuot be acknowledged. Bat the
Water WITCH was not, properly speaking a YES
sci OF wa She was n small steamer engaged
iu i scientific enterprise intended for the adj
vantage OF Commercial States generally. I'M
der these circumstance, | am constrained to con-
/ slider tie attack upon her as unlustihINlc, and
Is calling for satisfaction from the Paraguayau
J Government.
Citizens of the United States who are cstab-
+ lishcI in business ia Paraguay, have had THEN
4 ~ ~ 49, ''' '"' '' ''i'' 40
Otherwise been treated by the authorities in
an insulting and arbitrary manner, which re-
qH,eN q demand t"F theee purposes VIII T., be
mad la h'n ON e'4 tiii'"fy spirit lis
VIII III" more PiooI'Iy oc gran ca Il the I-Aee'
u'IFc sAau nave "H' hoFI.y TO use "'hef means Ii
tAe event OF a refusal thiS IS accordingly re-
c'Inmeh"ei
IL Is unnecessary TO a'a,e IN oG'a a, tEe alarm
lH9 l,"''o" VI 'ut 52 % h"'t99 ''' th'
'i'i'I "l 'h, me posing I"i 'ICS
IHeh St""u III n1s'lle array 5s5aIh9, t"Ch G'hSf
ana any acsidehU iiiEnI hjt' g fciIShttd tht
flames Oh civil VAT. BESIDES at TINS citical mo-
meht, \dhstS Vas ielt without q Governor by
lAG f1siSha ,a,, 81 10Y. Ueafy.
oH Jhc i2th OF eoruary previous Tie lGrfl-
loil!I Leg u'e ma passed. d IA" prov ,q'h@
tof 'he Glecil'h OF ocLeSa'eS on me thiiH Mon
Gay OF June TO Il convention 10 meet on the mrs.
.i'Hat5 OF oeP.eihoeF' i"' the purpose o. it''lh
ing d Gohs'Itu'i , preparatory 20 admission IN
10 the Union; rms law was IN the man ian
ana lnst ana Il IS I" he regretted that all the
9Uii.1c1 g.eo.'iS l'u no, tS7'7-e.eu 'Ne'''9e4'e:
ana VOC" u'lIeI IS prov '9l'A9: