The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-24
Is ttt n8tl From the ST. Louis Republican Jan 18Th
INTERESTING NEWS FROM THE PLAINS

Notifications They also speak of large number Of In
dian allies and declare that the Mormons have idea
of running away.
r. From tho Boston Post
GEN. CAss AND NEUTRAL RIGHTS
We observe that certain journals reproducing two
letters of the accomplished and thoroughly furnished
statesman who presidcs over the Department of State
Lewis Glass; which characterized strangely con-
tlictng'' with each other One is dated Washington
May 2l 1885," and expresses admiration at the heroic
effort of countrymen Nicaragua and the conviction
that the difficulties which General Walker had
would place his high in the roll Of fame The other
letter is dated September 49, 1857 and states that no
nation had reached the department to the effect that
awless persons engaged pitm The iaas Of The United
in setting foot military expedition against Mex
leo Nicaragua and Costa RIGA and directing that the
1918 neutrality laws be enforced These letters forsoo
are gravely paradcd inconsistent with each other.
When Gen. Cass wrote his first letter, Gen. Walker
at the invitation of the berados Of Nicaragua had be-
citizen Of that State and its substantial ruler
There was no other power except the authority welded
by his party and therefore this the government de
to Of Nicaragua AS such it properly Acknowledged
by the administration who thus encouraged it 20 on
with its good work 'Snce the commencement of our
national existence, General Cass periodically and just
y writes in his letter of May 81 1856, lit has been
principle to consider every foreign government egit
mate which is received such in it's country
This is the condition of the present rules of Mica
ragua and it is less duty than it ought to be
desire to lend them the moral support they derive
from recognition. am free to confess that the he
roc effort of counymen in Nicaragua exctes my ad
miration while it engages all my socitude not to
be deferred from the expression of these feelings by
sneers, reproaches, OF hard words. He who don't
sympathze with such enterprise has little in
IA
pied by the erados of Nicaragua elaboratcly and found
in their action principles and objects which commended
them to the cordial sympathy of the American people
IT, to effect these objects, citizens chose to emigrae
to Nicaragua and become its citizens, they had perfect
right to do much right gallant officers had
to enlist under Mexican coos and help fight the very
battles which liberated Nicaragua itself from the Spanish
yoke What law Of the land is violated by such action
What principles recognised in the acknowledged code Of
international law violated? What right has gov
eminent prevent individuals from leaving the United
States and from going to any foreign country In 80 do
ing however, they place themselves out of the protection
of the United States and share the fortunes of the country
which they adopt and make their domicI If there lisa
line wrong in this letter, unable to see it, 1t
alike honorable the head and heart Of the veteran and
ilustrious statesman
Tho letter which is cited as strangely conflicting
with this is as follows
WASHINGTON, Sept. Is, 1857.
s'Sr: From information received at this department
there is to believe that awles persons
gagged within the limits Of the United States in setting
foot and preparing the for military expeditions
be used against the territories of Mexico Nicaragua and
Costa Rica-republics with whom the United States
at direct violation of the sixth section of the act
of Congress approved Goth April 1873 And under the
eighth section Of the said act II is made lawful for the
President such person as he shall empower to employ
militia thereof for the purpose Of preventing the carry
ing of such expedition enterprise from the ter
rtoes jurisdiction of tho United States am there
FORE directed by the President to call your attention to the
subject and to urge to all due diligence and to
avail yourself of all legitimate your command
enforce these and other provisions Of the said act of 10th
April 1878, against those who may he found to be cnga
ged In setting foot preparing military expeditions
against the territories of Mexico, Costa Rca and Nca
aqua manifesy preudicia to the national character
and injurious to the national interest And you are
hereby instructed promptly to communicate to this de
partment the earliest information you may receive ea
tive to such expeditions am, sir, your obedient ser
want a 4 i6r3 fe5sss "a LEWIS CASS
This letter is SO clear, proper and conclusive as to
speak for itself II is direction to do simply what the
President and every officer Of government is sworn to DO
and is bound to do viz to execute the laws of the land
Now in what consists the Inconsistency between the
two letters In the case, General Walker was "
Nicaragua, in full communion with The constituted au
thorties of that State and such administering It's al
fairs. In the other case General Walker was engaged
setting foot organized military expedition rpam VIC
An,ds Of he United States, destined to war on country
with which at peace At the date of May l. iSoo
Walker was violating law of this country Az 'ne
date of September 49, 1867, Walker violating an e
press statute of the United States and the duty
ing on the Executive is clear to the force at his com
mand anywhere with the jurisdiction of the United
to defeat such object as he was engaged In ID @
one case General Cass expressing the same sympe
with the hAerads, or democratic party, OF HicaSe'
that ne would he likely to expires, for any popular NOV
cnt in any country in the other case he simply s
porting the laws Of his country and sustaining ''
public faith. 1a9 Iii.
There il inconsistency whatever between the seo
ments of the two letters These lawless expeditions arc
naneshy prejudcial to national character and m
to national interests and democratic admnu
tions as we'll as other administrations, have exer's
the force they could lcgitimatcy exert to put them