Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-12-26
PREsrDENT,s MEssAGE

= u
ble 70 both parties, The. Isthmus of Cen
tral America, including that of Panama. is
the great highway between the Atlantic
and Pacific, over which large portion of
the commerce of the world is destined to
pass The United States are more deeply
interested than any other nation in presorv
ing the freedom and security of all the COM
munications across this isthmus 1t is our
duty, therefore, to take care that they shall
not be interrupted either byinvasions from
our own country or by Wars between the
independent States of Central America
Under our treaty with New Granada of the
18th December, 1916, we are bound to
guaranty the neutrality of the Isthmus of
Panama, through which the Panama Rail
road passes, cas- we'll as the rights of soye.
relgnty and property which New Granada
has and possesses over the said Territory"
This obligation is founded upon equivalents
granted by the treaty to the government
aud people of the United States. N
Under these circumstances recommend
to Congress the passage of an act authori-
zing the President, in case of necessity, to
employ the land and naval forces of the
United States to carry into effect this guar
antee OF neutrality aud protection. also
recommend similar legislation for the secu-
rlty OF any other route across the isthmus
IN which we may acquire an interest by
treaty. g s." s
With the independent republics on this
continent it is both our duty and our inter
est to cultivate the most friendly relations
We can never feel Indifferent to their fate,
and must always rejoice at their prosperity.
tInfpIfnnotnlxy h,Ntl 4 r..
our example and advice have lost much of
their influence IN consequence of the law
less expeditions which have been fitted out
against some of them within the limits of
our country Nothing is better calculated
to retard our steady material progress or
Impair our character as a nation than the
toleratlon OF such enterprises in violation
OF the law OF nations.
1t Is one of the first and highest duties
OF any independent State, in its relations
with the members of the great family of
nations, to restrain its people from acts of
hostile aggression against their citizens or
subjects. The most eminent writer's ON
public law do not hesitate to denounce such
hostile acts as robbery and murder.
Weak and feeble States, like those nf
Central America, may not feel themselves
able to assert and vindicate their rights
Inc case would be far different if eXpedi-
tlons were set on foot within our own terri
tories to make private war against power
tul nation. If such expeditions were fitted
out from abroad against any portion of our
own country, to burn down our cities, mur
der and plumber our people, and usurp our
government, we should call any power on
earth to tho strietest account for not nre.
venting such enormitios
Ever sinceithe administration nof General
Washington, acts of Congress have been i'll
force to punishseyerely the crime of setting
on foot a military expedition within the
limits of the United States, to proceed from
thence against nation or State with whom
we are mt peace. The present neutrality
act of April 20th, 1918, is but little more
than collection of pre-existing laws. TN
der this act the President is empowered to
employ the land and naval forces and the
militia "for the purpose of preventing the
carrying on of any such expedition on en-
terprise from the territoriesan jurisdiction
OF the United States, and Che collectors
OF customs are authorized and required to
dctain any vessel in port when there is roa-
son to believe she is about to take part in
such lawlcss enterprises
When 1t was sfirstrendered probable that
an attempt would be made to get up ahoth-
er runlawful expedition against Nicaragua,
the Secretary of State issued instructions
to the marshals and district attorneys which
were directed by the Secretaries of War
and the Navy to the appropriate army and
navy officers, requiring them to be vigilant,
and to use their best exertions in carrying
into effect the provisions of the act of 1878.
Notwithstanding these precautions, the ex
pedition has escaped from urstidres Such
efttefpFises can do no possible good to the
country, but have already inflicted much
injury both on its interests and its cfafac-
ter. They hare prevented peaceful miSra-
zion from the United States 10 the States of
Central Amotica, which could not fail to
Prove highly beneficial to all the parties
concerned. In a pecuniary point Of view
alone, our citizens have sustained heavy
losses from the 6ei2ure and closing of the
transit route by the San Juan between tile
two oceans.
= The leader Of the recent expedition was
arrested at New Orleans, but was discharged
on giving bail for his appearance in the
insufficient sum Of two thOusand dollars.
i commend the whole subject to the Sc
rious attention Of Congress, believing that
our duty and our interest, as we'll as our
national character, require that we should
adopt such measures as viii be effectual in
restraining our citizeAs from COMMITTING
such outrages.