The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-01-13
MESSAGE or THE PRESIDENT

In Relation TO the late arresf Of Gen. Walker
In response to call Of the Senate. III,
President transmitted to that body the cor
respondence in his possession, in relation 1,
the late arrest of General Walker, and &C,
companied it with the following message:
MESSAGE.
In submitting to the Senate the papers foi
which they have called. deem il proper tt
make few observations.
In capturing General Walker and hi,
command. after they had landed on the soil
Of Nicaragua. Commodore Paulding has. in
my opinion, committed grave error. 1t is
quite evident. however, from the communi.
cations herewith transmitted, that this was
done from pure and patriotic motives, and in
the sincere conviction that he was promoting
the interests and vndicating the honor Of his
conntry. In regard to Nicaragus, she has
sostained no Injury by the act Of Commodore
Padding. This has Injured TO her benefit.
and relieved her from dreaded invasion.
She alone would have any right to complain
oi the violation other territory; and II Is
quite certain she will never exercise this
right. 1t unquestiouably does not lie in the
mouth Of her invaders to complain in her
pame that she has been rescued by Commo.
dore Paulding from their assaults, The err
ror ot this gallant officer consists in exceed.
ing his instructions. and landing bis sailors
and marines 10 Nicaragua. whether with or
without her consent. for the purpose of max
ing war upon any military force which he
might find in the couHtry, no matter from
whence they came. This power certainly
did not belong 70 him. Obedience to law
and confarnity to instructions are the best
and safest guides for all officers, civil and
military, aud when they transcend these lin
It's, and act upon their avn personal responsi-
hlliiy, evil consequences almost inevitably
follow.
Under these circumstances, when Mar.
shall Rynders presented himself at the State
DepartneHt Oh the Goth ultimo, with Gen.
erai Wsikerin custadv, the Secretary inform.
ed him that the executive department of the
Government did not recognize General Wal.
ker as prisoner; that il had no directions
60 give concerning him; and that It is only
through the action Of the judiciary that he
could be lawfaily held in custody to an swer
any charges that might be broug ht against
him.
la thus Car disproying the con duet Of Com.
rodere Fauiding, no inference must be drawn
that ain less determined than | ever have
been 10 execute the neutraiity laws of the
United States. This Is nv imperative duty
and shall continue 10 perform il by all the
means whirh the Constitutions and the laws
have placed in my power.
My epinion OF the value and importance OF
these laws corresponds entirely with that
expressed by Mr.. Monroe, in his message to
Congress Of December Z. 1919. That wise.
prudent. and patriotic statesman says. cit
Is Of The highest importance to our national
character and indispensable to the morality
al our citizens that all violations Of our
neutrality should be prevented. No door
should be left open Tor the evasion Of our
laws. no opportunity afforded to any wha
may be disposed TO take advantage Of il TO
compromit The interest or the honor of the
nation,
The crime Of setting on f'ot or providing
the means for a military expedition within
the United States 10 make var against d for.
cign State with which, We are al peace, il one
Of an aggravated and dangerous character,
and early engaged the attention Of Congress.
Whether the executive Government posses.
ses any. or what pawer. under the Con,titu-
tion. independently Of Congress, TO prevent
or punish this and similar offence. against
the law OF nations. was a subject which en-.
gagged the attention Of our most eminent
-ia,esmen 10 the time Of the Administration
81 General Washington, and on the occasion
81 the French revelation The act Of Con-
gress IT The 9Th ~ June. 1894, fortunately
removed all the diiicultie. on this question
which had heretofore existed. The 9th aud
a. anNk ~ -.
the present question, arc the same in sub.
stance with the sixth and eight sections &c The
act Of April 90. 1878. and have now been IN
force tor period Of more than sixty years.
The military expedition rendered criminal
by the act must have il origin, must "begin..
az be :. set on foot" in the United States Il
bat the great object Of the law was To s,ye
fnreign States with whom we were at peace
from the rayagrs ol these lawless expeditions
proereding from our shnres. The seventh |
SECTION alone. therefore, which simply defines
the crime aud its punishment. would have
been inadequate 70 accomplish this purpose
and enforce uar international duties. In Or. |
der to render lie Law eleciaal. II was ncces-
sary to prevent " the carrying IN" ofsuch ex.
pcditions 60 their cnnsummaiion after they /
had succeeded IN leaving our shores.
This has been done eifectaaily, and in
clear aud explicit language, by the authority
given To The President under the eighth sec.
lion Of the ACT 10 employ the land Gnd naval
iorees Of the uni,ed States " Tor the prevent.
ing The carrying on u any such expedition or
enterprise Irum the territories orjurisdiction
81 the United Slatrs against the territories
or ,lomainof any foreign prince ~ State, or
q any colony. district. or people with whom
the United States are ~ peace"
For these reasons, had Commodore Paull. /
ing intercepted the steamer +" Fashion" with
General Walker aud his command on board, |
a, any periad before they entered the part Of
San Juan de Nicaragua. aud conducted them