Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-02-27
Debate ON tie Walker Seizure,
SPEECH OE MIR. STEPHENS
or GEORGIA
er GEORGIA,
IL tie Eouse Of Repfes3ntatircs Jan 4M.

| cannot, in the little time which have
reply to all that has been said in this debat,
which does not meet my approval ant
which ! think founded in error. | shall
however, in ta4e remarks which I make
Genuine myself 10 a few principles which
govern the whole question.
The proposition before iiYo committee i,
to refer certain matters to the Committee OF
the Judiciary, with instructions to report
upon the eSpcdiency Of repeal or nodiG
cation pf the existing laws upon the subject
4 Of the neatrdlity Of the United States ]
stated to the committee, when the subject
was first mentioned, some reasons why
tbonght there ought to be a modification O!
some parts of the acts Of 1918. The views
! teen presented by me, and by others who
yoke on my side Of heisuestion, have been
commented on at large by gentlemen or
both sides Of the House.
j Now Sir, l wish to state in the cutset
that | do not intend that gentlemen shall
occupy my ground in this discussion. The,
Fsiiall not stand before tie country as til,
advocates oftaw and order to the exclusion
Of myself AID those iTlloSagrce with me in
the views which [ present. They shall not
stand before the country as the exclusive
defenders and friends Of the faith of the
treaties aud the duties growing out Of inter
national law. That, sir, is the ground
assumed when | addressed the committee
before. | ain here to-day as the advocate
OF law and order, Of constitutional and lit
national low | am not in favor of indivil-
uals or nations breaking faith. T am here
to defend the Constitution and laws, as |
understand them. and the maintenance of
tie gooi faith Of this nation.
/ Goi,tlumen have argued this question as
I if they sa.prosea that I were against tie
maintenance of the neutral relations OF this
government as if were in favor ether OF
ntloiss or in lividuals violating the public
tath | dlsel:,inl it, / All, ft>rtthe naiional
aisii; and, 50 Tar IS the LAWS Of the UaiteJ
states declare OF em5ody or set forth the
taW OF nations, | would 1T erase w,rl or
notify syllable. ain not FOR repeating
u aor"gating our neutrality laws, 50 far as
/ hey express the laws vi +l,atiot.s. BIT, if
1t be So that u part OF the act OF 1SI3tgocs
aatacr than the law Of Nations I'M myself
I Il favor OF Modification Of that act TO that
extent. And, il there b any part Of tic
law Of 1915, which admits Of Doubt, am
| a favor Of removing that doubt. Section
s,ig'.t Of the az Of 1918 Goes admit Of a
doubtful constructions Different Admnis-
tratlons of this Government have put differ
! mt constructions upon that section Of the
st Of 13!S ] sry t!.at II zhould be -s'iate
cicar ail;i distinct, ley, III doubt. AS
said the first day, [ say now, that IS the
! art Of Legislators, and tIa: is what | want
% have done.
Now, sir, I wish to call the attention ct
his committee to the eighth seotion Of the
ct Of 1913, and wish t c repo1t IL to
publish ib.rt section III full, that those who
may read hereafter, may understand as wei
| rs those who how he me, with the law be-
fore them, what is the law upon this sub
jcct
See. 8. lied he It fatticr caucir,1, That
III every case in wIl1ti; I: 'yesse. Shall be fit
ted oat and arnled, or Attempted to lie tis-
ted out OF armed, Or i'll which the force of
any Vess Or war, cruiser, Cf other armed
vessel, shall be increased or augmented, Or
IN wilIch Any military expedition or enter
prise shall D5 begun or set ca foot, contrary
20 tlsa provisions and prohibitions Of this
act and III every case Of the capture of a
snip Or vessel within the jurisdiction or pro-
teotion Of the United States IS before de-
tined, ana IN every ca Q in wlfsl;a any pro-
cess issuing out Of any court Of the United
STATIC ss''ssa.'i be disobcyed OF resisted by any
person Or persons having the custody of any
vessel OF war, cruiser, or other armed yes
sci Of amy foreign prince o. State, or of any
colony, district, Or people, OF Of any sub
jects CT any foreign trf!ssco Or State, or of
any colony, district, Or people, II every
such case it shall be lawful Tor the lArcsitlent
OF the United States, Or such other person
as he shall have empowered for that pur-
pose, to employ such part of the lni or
naval forces Of the Unit Sta. es, or of the
militia thereof for the purpose of taking
possession Of and detal.ing any such Ship
OF vessel, with her prize or prizes, if any,
IL ORDER to tire execution Of the prohibitions
and penalties eff this aet, ans tt the restor-
ing the prize or prizes in the cases in which
restoration shall have been adjudged, aad
also for the purpose Of preventing the car
rying ca Of any such expedition or enter
prise from the territories or jurisdiction of
the United States against the territories or
lominions Of any foreign prince or statc;or
Fof any colony, district, or people, with
whom the United States are at peace"
II the first place, / affirm, I challenge
contradiction: | defy any man to rise upon
this floor and say that, under this act as it
stands, the President can use the Army or
Navy. It is only by construction, It is on
y by interpolating some cords FIR tic Ian
guage Of the law is that he Shall use sssuch
part of the lAnd and naeal fcrcg'' What
part Does it mean such as be NAV deem
necessary? ltdoes not say 50. Does it
mean such as may be in certain place p
" hat does it mean? AS the section stands.
it is meaningless; words were omitted. =
Read it for yourselves. There was clearly
an omission in copying. But what mean
rs, that this section needs revision and a.
rlendmeut. Is it how stands, the prcsi-
dent cannot but by implication, but by cor
structlon, but BY supplying soine cords not
expressed use any part Of it.
Now, sir, | ain not opposed tc the presi-
dent using saoh portion Ct tie n&vai and
land force Of the country as may be rcces-
sary to enforce tie laws T d. not want
any gentleman to understand me as main
III. I