Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-12-12

{ Washington, acts Of Congress have been III force
t. punish severely the crime Of setting on foot a
military expedition within the limits Of the c nj
ted States 10 proceed from thence against5a ma
tion or State with whom we are~at peace. The
present neutrality act of a pril goth, 1878 is bnt
little more than II collectinn of pre- existing laws.
Under his act tlie.i resident is empowered to
employ The land and naval forces and tie mill
tin TOR the purrusettsf preventing the carrying
on Of any such expedition or enterprise from the
territories and Jurisdiction of the United States :"
and the collectors or customs are authorized and
required To detain any vessel in port when there
is reason to believe she is about to take part in
such lawleSs enterprises.
When it WAS first rendered probable that an
attempt would be made to get UP another M
! 4nWf IL e. petition against Nicaragua the Seere-
tary OF STATE issued instructions to the marshas
and district attorneys, which were directed by
the Secretaries of War and the Navy t. The ap-
propriate y,oilicers, requiring them
TO- be visi}illli and to use thr best cxertons in
carrying into effect the provisions of the act OF
1918. Not with5tandng these precautions, tbs
expedition las escaped from our shores Such
enterprises o,,a do no posst lie good to the com
try, but have already inflicted much injury both
on is interests a,,d its character. They have
prevented peaceful eeligraticHfrpsl the United
States to the Stat eft Central America which
:
the parties concerned. In pecuniarys point of
view alone, our citizens have sustained heavy
l,,sses from the seizure ard elosinr of the tran
Sit ro;te ty HE slan' Juan between the two o.
eeans.
! The leader ef the recent expedition was ar
rested ut New Orleans. but was discharged on
giving bail for his appearance in the insufficient
SUN OF two II ensafd tollers.
: Ieenlhsend the Whole subject to the serious
LII,
and our interest, us well as our national charac-
ter require that we should adopt such measures
as will be efeetual in restraining orr citizens
from committing such outrases.
regret to inform you that the President of
paragna, hnS refused to ratfy the treaty be-
tween the United States and that State rs a.
mended by the Sense, the signature of which
WAS mentione,fin the message of my predeces-
sor to Congress At the opening of its session in
December, 1888. Tie reasons assigned for this
refusal will appear in the correspondence here
with submitted.
/ 1t being dra;fable to ascertain the fitness of
the river L. Plata antrts tributaries for naviga
ten by steam, thr tnited States steamer Water
Witch was sent thther for that purpose in 1858
..arseaterprse " esesucesssfnlly carried on until
February, 1857, Wien, whilst in the peaceful
prosecution of her voyage in the Banana river.
the steamer was fired upon b. a'Paraguan Fort.
The fire was returned but rs tie Mste. witch
was of small force, and not designed for ,ffen-
sve operations size retired from tie cesaiet.--
The pretest oi whieh.the attack was made was
decree OF The President of Paraguay OF October
1851 prohibiting foreign vessels otwar from
navigating the rivers of that State. As Paia
E