The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-12-12

contisent it is both our duty and our interest
to cultivate the most friendly relations. We
can never feel Indifferent to their fate, and
must always rejoice in their prosperity
Unfortunately, both for them and for us,
our example and advice have lost much OF
their influence in consequence of the lawless
expeditions which have been fitted out against
some of them within the limits of our coun'
try. Nothing is better calculated to retard
our steady material progress, or impair oui
character as a nation, than the liberation o.
such enterprises in violation of the laws o.
nations.
1t is one of the first and highest ties o.
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 writers on public law dc
not hesitate to denounce such hostile acts as
robbery and murder.
Weak and feeble States, like those of Cen
trail America, may not feel themselves able
to assert and vindcate their rights. The
case would be far different if expeditions
were set on foot within our own territories
to make private war against powerful ma
ton. If such exped tons were fitted on,
from abroad against any portion Of our own
country, to burn down our cities, murder
and plumber our people, and usurp our go.
vernment, should call any power on earth to
the stricteet account for not preventing such
enormities.
Ever since the administration Of General
Washington, acts Of Congress have been in
force to punish severely the crime eff setting
on foot a military expedition within the
limits Of the United States, to proceed from
thence agains. a nation or State with whom
we are at peace. The present neutrality ACT
of April goth, 1918, is but little more thar
cOllention of pre-existing laws. Under
this act the President is empowered to EN-
pioy the land and naval forces and militia
for the purpose of preventing the carrying
on of any such expedition or enterprise frou
the territories and jurisdiction of the United
States" and the collectors Of customs ar,
authorized and required to detain any vesse
in port when there is reason to believe sh,
is about to take part in such lawlass enter
priseS.
When it was first rendered propable thai
an attempt would be made TO get up anothe,
unlawful expedition against Nicaragua, the
Secretary OF State issued instructions to the
marshals an,. district attorneys, which were
directed by the Secretaries Of War and the
Navy TO the appropriate army ana navy ON
GERS. requiring them to be Yigiaut, ard tc
use their best exertiOn in carrying into effect
the provisions OF the act Of 1918. Notwith-
standing these precautions, the expedition
has escaped from our shores. Such enter
priseS,can do no possible good to the country,
but have already inflicted much injury both
on its interests aud It's character. They
have prevented peaceful EN- grafton from the
United States to the States OF Central Ame-
RIGA. which could not fail to prove highly
beneficial to ali the parties concerned. In a
pecuniary point Of view alone, GU: citizens
have sustained heavy losses from the seizure
and closing of the transit route by the San
Juan between the two oceans.
The leader of the recent expedition was
arrested at New Orleans, but was ssharged
on giving bail for his appearance in the in
sufficient sum of two thousand dollars
| commend the whole subject to the seri-
Gus attention of Congress, believing that
duty and our interest, al well as our national
character, require that we should adopt such
measures as will be ctfectual in restraining
our citizens from committing such outrages.
regret to inform you that the President
OF Paraguay has refused to ratify the treaty
between the United States and that State as
which was mentioned in the message Of my
predecessor to Congress at the opening of
its session in December, 1853. The reasons
assigned for this refusal will appear in the
correspondence herewith submitted.
IL being desirable 10 ascertain the fitness
of the river La Plata and its tributaries for
navigation by steam, the United States
steamer Water Witch was sent thither for
that purpose in 1853. This enterprise was
successfully carried on until February, 1855,
when. whilst in the peaceful prosecution Of
her voyage up the Parana River, the steamer
was fired upon By Paraguayan fort. The
FIRE was returned; bat as the Water Witch
was Of small force, and not designed for Of
fvnsivc operations, she retired from the con-
hict The pretext upon which the attack
vas made was 4 decree Of the President Of
Paraguay al October, 1854, prohibiting for
eign vessels of war from navigating the
rivers Of that State. As Paraguay, however,
was the owner Of but one bank OF the river
Of thai name, the other belonging to Cor
reDtes, State Of the Argentine Conf.dera-
fion, the right Of its government to expect
that such decree would be obeyed canno:
be acknowledged But the Water Witch
was not, properly speaking, a vessel of war.
She was small steamer engaged in a scien
titic enterprise intended for the advantage of
commercial States generally. Under these
circumstances, ! am constrained to consider
the attack upon her as unjustifiable, and as
calling for satisfaction from the Paraguayan
Government
Citizens of the United States, also, who
were established in business in Paraguay,
have had their property seized and taken
from them, and have otherwise been treated
1. IL. 81,
trary manner, which requires redress.
\ demand for these purposes will be made
in a firm but conciiatory spirit This will
the more probably be granted if the Execu-
tive shall have authority to use other means
in the event of refusal. This is accord
incly recommended.
1t is unnecessary to state in detail the
alarming condition Of the Territory of Kan
sas at the time Of my inauguration. The
opposing parties then stood in hostile array
a gainst each other, and any accident might
have relghted the flames Of civil war. Be-
sides, at this critical moment, Kansas was
left without Governor by the resignation
Of Gov. Geary.
On the 18th of February previous, the
Territorial Legislature had passed law
providing for the election Of delegates on the
third Monday Of June to . convention to
meet on the first Monday of September, for
the purpose of framing a Constitution pre-
paratory to admission into the Union. This
aw was in the main fair and Just; and it is |
% be regretted that all the qualified electors |
mad not registered themselves and voted IN !
Ter its provisions.
At the time of the election for delegates, !
IN extensive organization existed in the Ter
-itory, whose avowed object it was, if need
De, to put down the lawful government by
orce, and to establish government of their
,wn under the so called Topeka Constitu-
ion. The persons attached to THE revolu-
ionary organization abstaincd from taking
my part in the election.
The act of the Territorial Legislature had
omitted to provide for submitting to the
,eople the Constitution which might be