The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-12-16


across the sthmus in which we may az.
quire an interest by treaty.
With the independent republics on
this continent, it is both our duty and
our interest to cultivate the most friend.
ly relations. We can never feel indir
ferent to their fate, aud must always re
joice in their prosperity. Unfortunate
ly, both for them and for us, our exam.
pie and adv ice have lost much Of their
influence in consequence of The lawlcss
expeditions which have been fitted out
against some OF them within the
limits of our country Nothing is
better calculated to retatd our steady
material progress, or impair our charac
ter as nation, than the federation Of
such enterprises in violation of the Law
of nations
r. 1t is one Of the first and highest du
ties OF any Independent State in its re.
lstioDs 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 EN-
ibent writer's on public law do not hest
) D
berry and murder.
Weak and feeble States, like those Of
Central America, may not feel them
selves able to assert and vindicate their
rights. The case would be far different
II expeditions were set on foot within our
own territories to make private war
ganst powerful nation. II such ex.
petitions we're fitted out from abroad
against any portion of our own country,
to burn down our cities, murder aud
| plumber our people and usurp our gov.
etnment, We should call any power on
earth to the strictest account for not
preventing such enormities.
Ever since the Administrations of q en-.
Washington, acts of Congress have been
in force to punish severely 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 at peace.
The present neutrality act of April 20,
lelS is but little more than collection
| OF pre- existing laws, Under this act the
| President is empowered to employ the
land and naval forces and the militia
for the purpose Of preventing the car.
rylng on of any such expedition or enter.
| PRISE from the territories aud iu.isdic
ton CT the United States = and the coll
lectors OF customs are authorized and re.
CURED to detain any vessel in port when
there 10 reason to believe she is about %
take part in such lawless enterprises
When il was first rendered probable
that an attempt would be made to get
up another unlawful expedition against
Nicaragua, the Secretary of State issued
instructions to the narshals and district
attorneys, which we're directed by the
Secretaries Of War and the Navy to the
appropriate army and navy officers. re
curing them to be yigilani, aud to use
their best exertions in carrying into eff,
feet the provisions of the act OF 1918
Notwithstanding these precautions, the
expedition has escaped from our shores.
Such enterprises can do no possible good
to the country, but have already inflicted
much injury both on its interest and on
its character. They have proven ted
peaceful emigration from the United
States to the States Of Central America
which could not fail to prove highly ben
etcial tn the parties concerned. In =
pecnniary point o! view alone. our cti
zens have sustained heavy losses fra
the seizure and closing of the transit
route by the San Juan between the two
oceans.
The leader of the recent expeditio
was arrested at New Orleans. but wa.
discharged on giving bail for his appear.
anee in the insufficient sum of two thou.
sand dollars
commend the whole subject to the
serious attention Of Congress, believing
that our duty and our interest, az well
as our national character, require that
We should adopt such measures as will
be eftectunl III restraining our citizens
from committing such outrages.
regret to inform you that the Pres.
ldent OF Paraguay has refused to ratfy
the treaty between the United States
and that State as amended by the Sen.
ate the signature Of which was men.
TONED IN the message of my predecessor
to Congress at the opening of its ses
sion in December, 1853 The reasons
assigned for this refusal, will appear in
tbs correspondence herewith submitted.
1t being desirable to ascertain the ct.
ness of the river La Plata aud i;s tribu.
tarss for navigation by steam. the Uni.
ted States steamer Water Witch wa.
sent thither for the purpose in 1853.
This enterprise was successfully carried
on until February, 1855, when, whilst
IN the peaceful prosecution of her voy.
age up the Parana river. the steamer
was fred upon bya Paragauyan fort. The
IRE was returned, but a. the Water
Witch was OF small force, and not de
signed for offensive operations, she re.
tired from the conflict The pretext no.
on which the attack was made was A de.
cree Of the President of Paraguay of
October 1854, prohibiting foreign yes
sells OF war from navigating the rivers of
that State As Paraguay, however, was
the owner Of but one bank of the river
OF that name, the other belonging to
Corrlentss, State of The Argentine
Confederation, the right of its govern.
ment to expect that such decree would
be Obeyed cannot BIZ ack nowleJoed Rnt