Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-14

since the days OF Washington, for faithful
performance of our international obligations
and duties, and inspire distrust against us among
the members of the great family of nations.9
But if motives of duty were not sufficient to
restrain us from encouraging such lawless enter
prises our evident interests ought to dictate this
policy. These expeditions are the most efectual
mode of retarding American progress although
to promote this is the avowed object of the
leaders and contributors in such undertakings.
1t il, beyond question, the destiny of our race
to spread themselves over the continent of North
America, and this at no distant day, should
events be permitted to take their own natural
course.
The tide of emigration will flow to the South,
and nothing can eventually arrest its progress
If permitted to 90 there peacefully, Central
America will soon contain an American popula-
ton, which will confer blessings and benefits
on the natives and their respective governments,
and liberty, under restraint of law, will preserve
domestic peace, while the different transit
routes cross tho Isthmus in which we are SO
deeply intetested, will have assured protection.
Nothing has retarded this happy condition of
affairs so much as the unlawful expeditions
which have been fitted out in the United States
to make war upon Central American States
Had one-half Of the number of American cit-
aens who have miserably persisted in the first
disastrous expedition of Gen. Walker, settled
in Nicaragua as peaceful emgrants, the object
which we all desire would, ere this, have been
in great degree accomplished.
These expeditions have caused the people of
the Central American States to regard us with
dread and suspicion. 1t is our policy to remove
this apprehension, and to convince them that We
intend to do them good and not evil. We de-
sire, as the leading power on this continent, to
open, and if need be, protect every transit route
across the lsthmus, not only for our own benefit
but for that of the world, and thus open free
access to Central America, and through it to
our Pacific possessions. This policy was COM
menced under favorable auspices when the ex-
petition under the command of Gen. Walker
escaped from our territories and proceeded to
Punta Arenas Should another expedition of o
similar character again evade the vigilance OF
our officers and proceed to Nicaragua, this would
be fatal, at least for season, to the peaceful
settlement of these countries and to the policy
of American progress. The truth is, that no
administration can successfully conduct the for
eign affairs of the country in Central America,
or anywhere else, if it is to be interferred with,
at every step, by lawless military expeditions
set on foot in the United States.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Mr. Mason moved reference of the message
to the Committee on Foreign Relations and that
it may be printed, together with the accompany
ing documents.
Mr. Houston was anxious to have the docu
1nents printed, because he wanted information
on the subject. When the information was made
public, he would express his views.
Mr., Seward referred to the fact that the Pres
ident had announced, in his message, that thu
arrest of Walker was without the authority o
law but the question then came up whethe
the officer who committed this act should be cen
surcd or punished in any way. On that poin
the President makes an excuse for Paulding
which was that the parties who had been arrest
ed had been indicated in the United States 70
an ofense against our laws, and failing to arres
them on the high seas, the naval officer had ar
rested them in the performance of the very &C
they had meditated. Here were two parties VIII
were delinquents In the first place there wa
band of lawless men, who had escaped the Wig
lance of the police, and gone abroad to lev
war, in violation of the laws of the Uniee
States, with nation with whom we are q
peace; and, on the other hand, there was an Of
fcer who, through an excess of violence, ha
surpassed his instructions, and had himselfc CON
mitted violation of the law.
He thought the President had balanced th
case which exact Justice. The President Ger
sured the fugitive, and while admitting the goo
intentions Of that officer, had also censured hin
for violating the law. What more could b
asked ? Suppose q punishment more or less sew
ere should be imposed upon this officer, wht
shall be done with the chief offender, who ha
been brought back? Nothing has been done t.
ward bringing him to trial for the ofense
which he stands indicated, and the President
defed to his teeth by Walker, in his letter,
which he states that no matter who may int
fere at home or abroad, he is determined to pr
coed in the prosecution of his design, If ho
orable Senators insisted upon it, he was qui
willing that Gems ure should be passed upon Pau
ding, but he must ask them, in justice, to me
out some punishment for the greater criminal
Suppose government should punish Pauldn
and leave the Others to 60 UNPUBLISHED, what
the lesson that will be learned from this affair
1t is that you may 60 out of the jurisdiction
the United States and levy war against any n
ton with which we are at peace, provided yc
can only escape the vigilance of the police
land and, if you shall be arrested after "
commence your acts, although the State shall
grateful for the protection they receive, still,
officer who makes the arrest shall be punishe
and you shall be applauded. To be consisten
they should 20 furthor, and propose to resto
Walker to the place from which he was take
If it was right to invade Nicaragua it W
equally right to invade New Gradada or Braz
or any other South American State, WI
81 ,,,x,oh tha Doxu Ayoo
committing depredations on our citizens, al
claim that our people shall go abroad with in
punity and CONT depredations upon the peoE
Of other States? If gentlemen think the pri
ciple is right, let them introduce bill to repe
the neutrality laws.
Mr.. Pugh was of the opinion that the prin
piles laid down in the message were neither WI
ranted by the Constitution nor by any statu
law of the United States, nor by any princiI
of the law of nations. The question was n
whether Walker was committing crime agail
Nicaragua. Let her punish if she is alb
Who made us the avenger of her wrongs? W
Walker committing any crime upon the hi
sea? What has he done? The Senator FRI
New York Says he has made war on forei
nation, but that ism crime by any law of
United States.
1t is crime to set on foot, within the limits
the United States, any expedition against f
egn nation with whom We are at peace but
20 outside of our limits and make war is no
Tense, either by the neutrality laws Or anyth
else. He did not want to punish any man
an error of judgement. If Paulding did rig
he ought to DO rewarded with med
Just as Ingraham was for violating the neutl
ity laws in Turkey for praiseworthy object.
- ,b,+n kbotA
justifes the means. He denied the right of
and ask them where they were going and W
their business, and send them home if they "
not satisfied about them. The right of an An
lean citizen to expatriate himself was sac
right, and we should be careful how we trel