The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-08

free access To Central America, and through 1t TO
| our Pacific possessions. This policy COM
mensed under favorable auspices, when the expe-
| dihon under the command Of General Walker es-
| capped from our territories, and proceeded 70
Punta Arenas. Should another expedition Of . simi
lar character again evade the vigilance Of our oni-
GERS and proceed TO Nicaragua. This would be fatal
at least for to the peaceful settlement Of
these countries and TO the policy Of American pro-
gress. The truth Ks that no administration can sue.
cessuliy conducted the foreign affairs OF the country, in
Central America elsewhere, Il is To be nerfered
with at every step by lawess military expeditions set on
| foot In the United States. JAMES BUCHANAN.
WAsnseros January. t
| Accompanying the documents, many Of which arc
| already published, is letter from the Secretary
| Of the Navy to Lieutenant Almy, Of the steamer
| Fulton, dated October 18th last, in which he tells
| him tnat his Instructions do not authorize him
where he found an American vessel nanesty engaged in
carrying expedition enterprise from the terri
tories jurisdiction Of the United States against Mexico
Nicaragua Costa RcA, he will the force under his
command to prevent il, and not permit the
engaged or destined for it to be landed any part Of
Central America or Mexico.
Similar instructions sent to Commodore Pauld-
| ing, who, in letter from Aspnwall, dated October
20, complained to the Secretary or the Navy Of his
having entrusted Lieutenant Amy with the execution
Of the orders independently of himself, adding that he
felt that his prerogative Commander Chief Of the
squadron turned aside with but little consideration,
and that bis presence at Aspnwa could have but slight
Secretary Toucey replies that ne hal right under the
instructions Of the President to order the Fulton busi
ness Of which Commodore Pauding could not have the
| slightest knowledge.
Mr.. MASON (adm.) n Va, moved the reference of
the message the Committee Foreign Relations
that be printed together with the accompanying docu
| mepts.
The motion agreed 10.
Mr. DAVIS fadm Of Mss. dissented from the argu-
ments contained in the message. Tho President had
assumed that tho neutrality laws which required that
such expeditions this should be suppressed, also
ferred upon the Exc cuve the power go beyond the u
rsicton Of the United States to suppress them This
seemed to be the key TO the policy the part tho ad
mnistraton, which sent he navy down the coast of
Central America instead OF slatonng the vessels where
they should have been stationed namely-at the mouth
Of the Mississippi and on the coast of Alabama We're
this expedition all that IL is described TO be- il is only
misdemeanor instead OF violation Of the neutrality law.
| The suspicion that there intent 10 make
| against nation with which at peace,
| would have justified tho detention Of General Walker
and his men within the limits Of the United States, but
not their arrest beyond our limits. As have
exradion treaty with Nicaragua, they could not have
lawfully been taken upon her soil, even had they been
fugtves from justice. The President has more po
to make such arrests than any member Of Congress If
our neghbors are 100 weak 10 protect themselves,
should use all lawful means to protect citizens from
invading their territory but II s not within the theory OF
government TO 1T out expeditions TO catch half dozen
or dozen, one or two hundred men who NAV choose
TO leave the United States and land upon their shores In
this respect he thought We were making great depar
tuTe from those principles which heretofore guided the
conduct of our government If be the pleasure Of Con
gress 10 give the President police power the high
seas and authorize him 10 the army and navy a
eoDsabuary force let be done by the passage OF laws
Mr. MASON doubted the expedieney OF discussing the
subject without mature deberation The President
was by the constitution the head OF the army and navy
and the laws OF the land direct eese arc to be used
lie contented himself with the remark that clearly
incumbent on the President 10 see that the neutrality laws
/ were faithfully executed.
Mr. CrTrSDrs, (opp) of KY, referred 70 the Presi-
\ dents admission that Commodore Paudipg committed
gross error According to his own premises such
cusion altogether Illogical and the conduct Of Paud
ing was as conormabIe TO law as he had received ex
! press instructions TO do what he did.
Mr.. Baowy, (adnn) of Miss regarded IL little sim
gular that while the President disapproved OF tho.
arrest Of General Walker, he at the same time
in violation OF law, for Paudng had tho right mako
the arrest his conduct not TO DO c.cused butte be
the President TO the people Of the country 70
demn 1t. II Walker guilty of any violation of law,
and had been arrested and brought back 10
fugitive from JUSTICE why he not put into the clutches
Of the law? Why was he taken TO New York and placed
the hands Of the Marshal there then brought here and
delivered to the Executive, and then at liberty Why
he no, carried back 10 Louisiana by tho sntho
sSarse Of violating the w & @ wp en ns rss seOe O
played out before the american people, which was dis
reputable 70 all engaged in H. There bad been trumped
had been no violation OF law. they believe that he has
violated the law they have been guilty OF derecton Of
duty IN not punishng him for H. The fitting out Of an
pedi9n in violation OF the neutrality laws thing,
buthc voluntary eypatriaon of citizen altogether
different thing Walker went 10 Nicaragua avowng that
twas his purpose 10 endeavor regain the rights o which
he had been dspoescsscd, he did no more than he had
D n sn S1s a s sh rsn, 70 sS MS
OF War and District Attorneys and Marshas every whore,
that he meant TO wage war against Nicaragua any other
nation, and they would have no right 70 moest him. II
has that right two men Eve hundred have H.
The mistake that the administration intending
punish what the Law meant should be punished,
namelytho intent while in tho United States lit
expedition beyond the limits with hostile purposes towards
nation with which We arc al peace. He had as high
anything could bring eternal reproach and disgrace upJn
%r,eSom mandcr cha,ard allowed ecn' Walker 20 paSs
him, and then, seeming 10 have glmmering idea that
he msook his duty he undertook 10 cover his neglect by
rcsortng 10 mean and dirty attempts 10 insult Walker in
his camp evidently with the intention Of provoking him 10
act that be might have 20 Gre upon him.
doing what every he has done and which Il
unnecessary N recapuste and writing just such letter
ought 10 alx the seal OF eternal Disgrace upon him
was disgrace TO very epauletes on lis shoulders
10 high time that naval officers should be confined
to the discharge OF their du,es according law Tor there
too much disposition 10 exceed the law by and
all Of them. He could not fcrbcar saying that the Presi
dent would better have discharged his dzty TO tho
laws and the best interests OF the country by pontedy
rebukpg the lawes act Of Commodore Pauldng than BY
excusing II would do for the President say that
Commodore Pauldinc's act was violation o law, and
then wink at Il. No matter II Nicaragua docs com
plain. II was not for w " violate laws, even though
Nicaragua docs not complain and execute them when she
docs complain. Our duty Is 20 70 according " law. n
Commodore Paudne has conformed 10 law, LET him be
mircd the spunk Of the senator from Illinois 1r pongas)
in boldly expressing his views heretofore although he d
fercd from every view uttered by that Senator on the
Mr. Hou1oS, (opp os Texas, anxious 10 have the
documents printed, because he wanted information on
the subject when the information made public he
would express hrs views.
Mr. srwaEp, (opp) of ~ Y, referred TO tho fact that
President had announced in his that the
rce OF Walker without the authority OF Law, bu, the
question thcn came up whether the officer who committed
this act should he censurcd punished any way FOR it.
On that point the President makes excuse for paudDx,
which was that the party who had been arrested nas
been indicted The United states for an offence against our
laws, and failing 10 arrest them the high the
naval officer had arrested them the performance o the
very act they had medtaed Here wcretwo parties who
delinquent In the rst place there band of
awcss men, who had escaped the vigilance Of the police
and gone abroad 10 levy war violation Of the laws ~
the United states, with n nation with whom at
amty. On The other hand, there officer Who,
through Of vigilance, had surpassed his instruc
tons, and had hnisc committed n volsticn Of uhc
law. He thought the rrosidcn, had balanced this