The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-01-15
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT IN
RELATION TO THE ARREST OF
GENERAL WAITER


In submitting to the Senate the papers for
which they have called, deem il proper to
make few observations.
In capturing General Walker and his COM
mand, after they had landed on the soil OF
Nicaragua, Commodore Phulding has, in my
opinion, committed grave error. IL is quite
evident, however, from the communications
herewith transmitted, that this was done from
pure and patriotic motives, and in The sincere
conviction that he was promoting the interests
and yindicating the honor of his country. la
regard 10 Nicaragua, she has sustained no In
jury by the act Of Commodore Pauldlng.
This has enured to her benefit, and relieved
her from dreaded invasion. She alone
would have any right 10 complain of the vio-
lation Of her territory; and it is quite certain
she will never exercise this right IL IN
questionably does not lie in the mouth of her
invaders TO complain in her name that she has
been rescued by Commodore PauldiDg from
their assaults. The error of this gallant Off
Ger consists in exceeding his instructions, and
landing his sailors and marines in Nicaragua,
whether with or without her consent, for the
purpose Of making war upon any military
force whatever which he might find in the
country, no matter from whence they came.
Th;s no,,.a, car,,;al,, Ala No, hslona 10 hin,
Obed;sncs 10 Law a1d coneorn,ity re ;ns,rnc-
,;ons s,o ,ha b.s, - s.c.., an;dss Co. ali
of;,sr. .;y;I on5 n,;I;,ary and whon ,h.y
,,,rs.anS ,h.sa I;,n;,. "a 40, mon ,ba;, own
nsrson,i ,ssnons;I,;I;,v av;I conseo,,encss in
sv;tablv eoIIpw
Undsr these c;rcpmsionces when Marshal
Rvnders nresented himseIf n, The State De-
n.rtmept an The ooh nj, with Can V.iLs,
n cnstody The Sse,a,.,v ;rformsd hin, ,hot
tbs Execntive dan,rtment NJ the Covarnmen,
did no, recognise General Walker as a nris.
oner. that il had no directions 10 give con-
cerninp him: ard that il is only tbrouob the
action of A judiciary that h. could be lawful
lv held in c1stodv. 10 answer the charges that
might be brouobt apainst him.
In Tins far disannroying The conduct of
Commodore pauldinp. no Inference must he
drawn that ann less determined tban have
ever been 10 ex.cute the nentraIitv laws Of
the United States. This is nv imperative
duty and sball continue to nerform il nv aIl
the means which the t,onstitntion and the
laws have placed in INV mower
NV opinion of the valne and importance of
these laws co.responds entirely with that OK.
messed nv Mr. Monroe in bis Messoga IN
Congress o: December 7, 1919. That wise.
prudent. and patriotic Statesman saws at is
of the highest importance to our national
character and INDISPENSABLE 10 the morality
of our citizens. thai all violations of our men.
tr.I;tv shnnlI ba n,eyan,ed No doc, should
be Isi, onar fo, The ov,s;on of onr i,ws. No
onnoriun;,v .ffordsd to any who NAV h. d.
posed 70 t.ka ,dvant.oe ~ n 10 comnrom;t
the interest ar ,ba honor NJ tho no,;onn
Tbs crime of s.,,;no ON foot or nrov;d;no
tho mo,ns 10, n,;I;,. % :, nad;,;on ,y;,b;r ,hs
limited States 70 m,Le war o,,;n.t a for.;an
State with which ,y., arc a, ns..s il ono of
an .oornva,ed and d.noerons cha,,c,er and
e,,Iy enooood The .,t.1,;on If 1,ono,.ss
Wbstbs1 t6s Eyscn,;vs aovs,nmeot nossss-
Sc. any. or what mower sudsr the Cansti,p.
lion. indep.ndentlv of Congress- In nrevent
mr. nnnisb tbis and similar of5snces ,r.;nst Tho
I,w Of nation, was . snh;oo, ssh;.h onn.aad
the attention of our most emnent s,,,es1en
in ,ba Tina of tho Adn;n,stra,;.n Of Canarai
W.sbno,on and on ,ha ooo.s;on os ,ha
French Revelation The az, Of Conorsss of
the 5tb lime. 1904 for,unatalv ramnvsd all
the diff;cnl,;es nm ri. oue.,;on which had
iba,etofo,e s~;s,.d Tba s,h ona nh sa.,;ons
heretofore existed. ne oth ana 1th sections
OF TINS ACT which relate 10 the present ques-
t'on' are the same in substance with the 9Th
ana ON sections OF the act oil April 2oih,
1910, ana nave now been In force Tor period
oil more IMAM sixty years.
Inc military expedition rendered criminal
oy the ACT must nave us origin must "oegm
or DC SET on 1901 10 the United states; but
.ne grea! oolec' Oh Inc law 70 save foreign
States with whom We were at peace from the