Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-12-10

bcrs Of tile great family Of nations, to restrain its
people from acts of hostile aggression against
their citizens or Subjects. The most eiuiDent
writers on public law DO not hesitate to de,iounce
such hostile acts as robbery and murder.
Weak and feeble States, like those Of Central
Ainerict, may not fsel themselves able to assert
and yindicate their rights. The ease wonld be
far different if expeditions were set on foot with
in our own territories to make war against a
powerful nation. If snch expeditions were fit
ted out from abroad against any portion of our
own country, to burn down our cities, to muir
der and plumber our people, and uSurp our gov
eminent, we should call any power on earth TO
the ~strictcst account for not preventing such
| enormities.
Even since the administration of General
4 Washington, acts ofg6ongJess have been IA
force to punish severely the crime setting on
foot a military expedition within the limits Of
the United States, to proceed from thence
against a nation or State with whom we are at
peace. The present neutrality act of April
goth, 1918, Is but little more than a collection
of pre-existing laws. Under this act the Presi-
lent is empowered to employ the land and ma
val forces and the militir ''f0r the purpose of
preventing the carrying on of any such expe-
dition or enterprise from the territories and ju-
risdiction of the United Stntes," and the col
~lectors of customs are authorized and required
to dctain any vessel in port when there is rea-
son TO believe she is about to take partin such
luwless enterprises.
When it was first redered probable that an
attempt would be made to get up another un.
lawful expedition against Nicaragua, the Secre-
tarv of State issued instructions to the mar
shals and district attorneys, which were direct
ed by the Secretary of War and the NAVY TO
the appropriate army and navy officers, reqir-
ing them to be vigilant, and to use their best
e~xeotiOnS in carrying into effect the provisions
of the act of IT'S. Notwithstanding these
precautions, the expedition has escaped from
our shores. Such enterprises can do no posi-
Die good to the country, but have already inflic-
ted much injury both on its interests and on its
character. They have prevented peaceful en-
migration from the United States to the States
of Central America, which could not fail to
prove highly beneficial to all the parties con-
cerned- In a pecuniary point of view alone,
our 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 ar
rested at New Orleans, but was discharged on
giving bail for his appearance in the insufficient
sum Of two thousand dollars.
/ commend the whole subject to the serious
attention Of Congress, believing that our duty
and our interest, as well as our national charac-
ter, require that We should adopt such measures /,
as will be ~effectnal in restraining our citizens
from committing such outragcs.
ssgsss g ls!9sa fas : e tAs Rsssiasas 6
tween the United States and that State as amend
| ed by the Senate, the signature of which was
mentioned in the message of my predecessor to
Congress at the opening of its session in De-
lcember, 1858. The reasons assigned for this
refusal will appeal in the correspondence here
with submitted.
1t being desirous to 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 1855. This
enterprise was successfully carried on until Feb
ruary, 1856, when, whilst in the peaceful prosecu-
ton of her voyage up the Parana river, the steam
cr was fired upon by a Paraguayan fort. The fire
was returned; but as the Water Witch was of small
force, and not designed for offensive operations,
she retired from the conflict. The pretext upon
which the attack was made was a decree of tho
President of Paraguay of October, 1854, prohibit
ing foreign vessels-of-war from navigating the riv-
ers of that State. As Paraguay, however, was the
owner of but one bank of the river of that name,
the other belonging to Corrientes, a State of the
Argentine Confederation, the right of its govern
ment to expect that such a decree would be obey
ed cannot be acknowledged. But the WaterWitch
was not, properly speaking, a vessel of war. She
was a small steamer engaged in n scientific enter
prise, intended for the advantage of commercial
States generally. Under these circumstances. 1
am constrained to consider the attack upon her as
unjustigable, 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 by the authorities
in an insulting and arbitrary manner, which
requires redress.
A demand Ir these purposes will be made in
a firm but conciliatory spirit. This will the
more probably be granted if the Executive
shall have authority to use other means in the
event of n refusal. This is a;cordingly recon-
mended.
1t is unnecessary to state in detail the alarm
ing condition of the Territory of Kansas at the
time of my Inauguration. The opposing par
ties then stood in hostile array against each
other, and any accident might have relighted
the flames of civil war. Besides, at this criti-
cal moment, Kansas was left without q COVER
nor by the resignation of Gov. Geary.
On the 10Th of February previous, the terri
torial legislature had passed a law providing for
the election of delegates on the third Monday
If June to a convention to meet on the first
Monday of September, for the purpose of fra
ming a constitution preparatory to admission
into the Union. This law was in the main fair
and just and it is to be regretted that oil the
qualified electors had not registered themselves
and voted under its provisions.
At the time of the election for delegates, an
extensive organization existed in the Territory,
whose ayowod object it was, if need be, to put
down the lawful government by force. and to-
establish Il government of their own under the
So. called Topeka constitution. The persons at
tached to this revolutionary organization alb
stained from taking any part in the election.
The act Of the territorial legislature had omit
tnl IN urnyila fr suhmittinu IN thu paopla Oh,
constitution which might be iramcd by the cum
%yeution; and in the excited state of PUBLIC feel
ing throughout Kansas an apprehension sxteu-
sively prevailed that a design existed to force