Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1858-01-20

/, independently OF Congress. to prevent or pun>
ish this and similar offences against the law
: OF nations, was q subject which engaged the
D attention OF some of our most eminent states>
8 men in the time of the Administration Of
General Washington, and on the occasion Of
> the French Revolution. The Act Of Congress-
: Of the 9Th June, 1884, fortunately removed all
, me difficulties on this question which had
heretofore existed. The 9th and 9Th sections
Of this act, which relate TO the present Question,
are the same IN substance with the 9Th and
9th sections Of the act of April goth, 1918.
and have now been in force for a period Of
more than sixty years.
The military expedition, rendered criminal
by the act, must have its origin, must "begin"
or "be set on foot" in the United States; but
the great object Of the law was to save FOREIGN
States with whom we were at peace from the
ravages of these lawless expeditions proceed~
ing from our shores. The seventh section
alone, therefore, which simply defines the crime
ana Its punishment, would have been made
quate 10 accomplish this purpose and enforce
our International duties. In order 10 render
the law e%ttectual, it was necessary TO prevent
the carrying on of such expeditions to their
contamination, after they had succeeded in
leaving our shores.
This has been done eiIectually, and in clear
and explicit language, by the authority given
TO the President, under the 9Th section Of the
act 10 employ the land and naval forces of the
United States "for the purpose Of preventing
the carrying on of any such expedition or en-
terprlSe, from the territories or Jurisdiction of
the United States against the territories or
domain of any foreign prince or State or Of
any colony, district or people, with whom The
United States are al peace"
For sbaen Foosnuc H,d Tnn,p,.%aro D,pIJInv
Intercepted the steamer Fashion, with Ger.
Walker and his men on board, at any period
before they entered The pot of San Juan de
Nicaragua, and conducted them back to Mobile,
this would have prevented them from carrying
on" the EXPEDITION, and have been not only a
!!ustitiabie, but a praiseworthY act,
The crime well deserves the severe punish -.
ment inflicted upon it By our laws. Ii violates
the principles of Christianity, morality, and
humanity, held sacred by all civilized nations, {
and by none more than by the people of the /
United States. Disguise il as we may, such Il c
military expedition is an invitation 10 reckless '
and iawless men TO enlist under The banner Of d,
any adventurer, 10 rob, plumber and murder :
the unotfendlng citizens Of ueigbboring States, :
who have never done them harm. 1t is u l
nsurpation OF the war making power, which J
belongs alone to Congress; and the Govern =
ment itself, at least III the estimation of The
world, becomes an aceotnplice in the commits I
sion of this crime, unless it adopts all the !
necessary 10 prevent and 10 punish il. b
II would be far better, and more in accordance II
With the bold and manly character Of our \
countrvmen, for the Government itself to set T
ap such expeditions, Than to allow them to
under the commaud of irresponsible
ldgeaturers. We could then, at least, exercise
some control over our p3n agents, and pre-
rent them from burning down cities and COM
hitting other acts oi e~uoimity Of which we
iage read. 7,
The avowed principle which lies al the foun- fo
taiian Of the law Of nations is contained in the 10
Divine command, that %all things wiiatsoever =
'e would that men should do to you, do ye even
10 10 them" Tried by this unerring rule, we
be severely condemned if we shall not 3
ise our lie I exert ems to arrest such e~xpedi,
ions against our feeble sister Republic Of Nj
One thing IL very certain, that people
ever existed who would call aaP other nation c
o q stricfeF account than we should ourselves, y
or toieratiag lawless expeditions from their y
hores 10 make war upon any portion Of our Of
srritories. ~
BY telerating such expeditions, we shall soon pn
use the high character U.hictl we have enjoyed pa
yer since the days of Washington, for The d,
performance of oar international obii-
atoms and duties. and inspire distrnst against all
: smong the members Of fbe great family of W. y
Vilized nations. ais
,a,. : 49, - 10y "sIe nv. splleieut y be
80 'h - nom e"s's'us W suen 'a"tes Gu. at
our evident interest ought to dictate in
lis policy. These expeditions are the most
fectual mode of r~etarding American progress; no
though to promote this il the avowed object an
the leaders and contributors in such under. lin
sto
II Is beyond question the destiny of our race Ahh
spread themse YES over the continent Of r.
oTth America, and this, at no distant day, A.
ould events be permitted 70 take their natural
nrse. The tide ofemigrants will flow TO The pul
'nth, and nothing can eventually arrest its TO
ogress. If permitted to 60 there, peacefully, ma
America will soon contain an American An
~pulation, which will confer blessings and
nefits as well upon The natives, as their re-
governments. Liberty, under the A
straint Of law, will preserve domestic peace; TIL,
the different transit routes across the 1
linus, 10 which we are SO deeply.interested, i
have assured protection. "TI
has retarded this happy condition Of Just
SO much as the unlawful expeditions " {
ich have been fitted out in the United States nat
make war upon the Central American States. ,,1 D
d one.haIf of the number of American citi. ~.
IS who have miserably persisted ia the first eI;I,,
expedition of Gen. Walker settled ann
Nicaragua as peaceful emigrants, the object its /
irh we all desire would, ere this, have been, Il
] great degree accomplished. These ex- MOI
have caused the people of he Central Fac
States to regard Us with dread and ofdi
piclon. tt is our true policy TO remove this exps
.rehension and to convince them that we nc"
nd to do them good, and not evil. We
ia - tba I..3;.1 a,o y, tbis ,cntinapt a,