The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-14


judicial tribunal, battle our cruisers and escape
to the high seas. In none Of these cases, would
that section of the law suffice for the execution
of our obligations to States with whom we are
q. peace. To render the law efectual, it was
necessary, says the President, "to prevent the
carrying on of such expeditions to their consum
nation after they had succeeded in leaving our
Shores" and this has been done effsctually by
the 9th section of the act.
This position is denied in TOTO by Messrs.
Davis, Brown, Toombs, Douglas, Pugh, Quit.
man, and other leading men of the Party, in
both sections, who assume that, no matter
though hostile expedition against People
with whom we are at peace be begun or organ
lied within our limits, if it once escape beyond
our jurisdiction, which extends only three miles
upon the water from the coast, neither the Presi-
dent nor any other officer of the U nted States has
any authority to interfere with it; the law cor
ferripg upon him no power to act beyond the
limits ofthe United States.
The reader will see, on examining both Sec
tons Of the law, that they not only contain no
such limitation, but that their language, au.
thorizing the President to act has express ref
erence to action beyond the limits of the United
States-authorizing him to interfere anywhere,
at any point, from our coast to the coast of the
nation attempted to be invaded. ain every
case" so it runs, " il which any military expe-
dition or enterprise shall be begun or set on
foot, contrary to the provisions and prohibitions
of this act what are these provisions and
prohibitions?" the 9th section defines them
to be carried on from thence against the terri
tory or dominion of any People with whom we
are at peace: F." In every such case as this, 1" it
shall be lawful for the President of the United
States, or such other person as he shall have
empowered for that purpose, to employ such
part of the land or naval forces of the United
States, or militia thereof for what purpose ?
to break up such expeditions WITHIN the United
States I? that power he has already, under other
provisions of the act" for the purpose Of pre-
venting the carrying on of any such expedition
or enterprise from the territories or jurisdiction
of the United States against the territories or
dominions of any foreign Prince or State, or of
any colony, district, or people, with whom the
United States are at peace"
We cannot see any limitation on the power
of the President. He must act upon evidence
to be judged of by himsef-he may use the
whole military power of the United States-he
may act anywhere, within or beyond the limits
of the United States-on our shores, or en- the
high seas-for the purpose of preventing the
carrying on of these lawless expeditions. 1t is
q lar hut he
the great object of the law be effected without
its exercise. If Congress be unwilling to in
trust such power in the hands of the Presi.
dent, let them revoke it by amending the law,
and restricting his action to the territorial lin
its of the United States, and not attempt by a
false construction, to pervert It's meaning, and
defeat its end. Let them announce to TIE
world that they have law to prevent the Or
ganization of lawless expeditions witiin the
United States; but if adventures from these
States should succeed in organizing themselves,
and escaping to the high seas, only three miles
from our coast, they will be at liberty to fall upon
and ravage the territories of England, France
Spain, Mexico, Central America, or any other
country with which we are at peace-for there
exists no authority, no right in our Government
to interfere with them Let such a declaration
be made to the world, and we should soon be
called to an account by all Christian nations.
For the lawless piratical expeditions OF indi-
viduals from our shores, they would hold the
Government justly responsible.
In closing this article, we again call atten-
ton to the attempt made by the President to
propitiate the Shareholders, and win their assent
to the course which the Law has constrained
him to pursue. The tide of emigration, he as
sumes, must flow Southwardly. He eeems to
contemplate the enlargement of American en-
pire chiefly on our Southern border. The dea-
| tiny of the race is to ovel flow Central America,
Mexico Cuba 6ibustering only interposes OBJ
sacles to the accomplishment OF this destiny;
he, the President, has adopted a policy which
must promote it.
Are such sentiments as these calculated to
beget confidence and disarm jealousy in neigh.
boring States? Do they not tend to foster that
very lust of territory and brigand adventure
which Mr.. Buchanan affects to deprecate? And
why must our Chief Magistrates be forever
iOhihS W VIC OOuth iOi VIC utstiIly OI tue race
Central America, Cuba, and Mexico, are al
ready inhabited, by races with which ours will
not intermix, and which must be exterminated
or degraded, should the exclusive and proud
Anglo. American take possession of their coun-
tries. On the North of US, lying on our borders, is
a country, far more valuable than all of them,
inhabited by race identical with our own,
with political institutions, religion, and Ian.
guage like our own. Has our Destiny nothing
to do with them ? Would not their incorpora-
ton into our political system add more to the
dignity and power and resources Of our Union,
than all the mongrel Sccessions of pestlential
territory and semi barbarous people we could
acquire in the South
Let US cease from this demagogical decama-
ton about our Destiny, and be content to dis
chargs our Duty for the path of Duty is the
only path to high and glorious Destiny.
pI> We have received copy of the message
| of Gov. Chase to the General Assembly of
Ohio. 1t is document of much ability, and
contains very comprehensive array Of import
ant facts regarding the condition of Ohio a.
this time. The defalcation in the Treasury is
treated of in an impartial manner, and the case
fairly stated.
In concluding, Gov. Chase touches briefly
but clearly the fugitive slave case in Hamilton