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

nothing worthy of censure but had acted under
Instructors properly Issued. Walker had given
bail to answer to a criminal charge, and then
escaped, WI Oh increased the necessity for Wig
lance, and warranted TIE instructions. The
recognizancs given by Walker, was not like
bail in the coInmoo sense, but a reccgnizauce,
the object of which was to insure his appear
ance to answer; and he held as lawyer that
Walker had violated his bonds, and was fugi.
tive from justice.
M. Stanton, of Ohio, said the tenth section
of the ac. of 1918 provided that bail should be
required not only for his appearance, but that
he should be good behaviour, and not violate
the law. 1t was clear, therefore, that Walker
had violated his bonds, and was fugitive.
Mr.. Gilmer said there was in common law
such thing as trespass without damage; and
that, if anything, he contended, was the char
acter of Paul3iDg's offence in arresting Walker
on the soil of Nicaragua. Suppose Walker
had gone off with three hundred North Carroll
ma negro slaves, and had been pursued by
Pauding, and captured Just after landing them
on the beach of Nova Scotia. They would
never have heard Southern politicians com
plain that Paulding was getting the nation into
trouble. He regretted that people at the South
on Paulding's conduct, which he was sure they
would hereafter be generous and Just enough
70 retract.
TIE Committee rose, and the House ad.
jonri.ed.
Thursday, January Z, 1853.
SENATE
Resolred, That the Committee on Foreign
Relations be instructed to inquire into the ex-
pediency Of making an appropriation by law
for the compensation of a minister plenipoten-
tiary to the Empire Of Japan, and for other of.
fcers of the United States Government in said
Empire.
On motion by Me-. Bayard, the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration of Executive bust
ness, and after having remained therein until
ten minutes past o'clock, the doors were
reopened.
Nicaragtsan Afdirs.-A message was re-
ceived from the President of the United States
in answer to a resolution calling for all the cor
respordence, instructions, and orders to the
naval forces on the coast of Central America,
connected with the arrest Gen. William Walker
and his associates, at or near the port of San
Juan, in Nicaragua.
The message was read at length, and COM
manded universal attention. The President
says that Commodore Paulding committed
very grave error in landing his forces on the
coast, but had acted from pure and patriotic
motives. He censures the lawless expeditions
set on foot in this country, as calculated to
bring sus picion and disrust on the American
character, and to retard American progress !;
and pledges himself to see that the neutrality
laws Of the country shall be respected, and all
violations of the same punished.
Mr.. Mason moved that the message with the
documents transmitted, be referred to the Com
mitsee On Foreign Relations, and be printed;
on which motion debate ensued, which lasted
until half past six O'Clock.
Mr.. Davis di5sented from the ground assum.
ed by the message, that the neutrality laws gave
the power to use the navy as police force on
the high seas, and contended that instead of
sending vessels to a foreign port to intercept
arrivals on those chores, they should have been
stationed of New Orleans, at the month of the
Mississippi, at Mobile, and New York. If all
that was charged we're true, it was but mis-
demeauor, which, though it would Justify the
arrest here, would not do it there these par
ties were safe from our Jurisdiction as soon as
they touched the shore of Nicaragua.
Mr.. Brown also spoke at some length, dis.
senting from the ground assumed in the mes.
sage IN relation to the neutrality laws, and
censuring the act of Commodore Paulding,
which be contended the President should have
openly condemned, without seeking to paliate
Mr.. Seward rather sustained the message, as
holding an exact balance He passed a high
eHcomium upon Major Gen. Scott, who had
been sent by the Government to put an end
10 filbustering on the Northern frontier,
and said it was the brightest of all his honors
and greenest of all his wreaths, that he had
preserved a peace between two great nations.
The debate was further continued by Messrs.
Critteuden, Pugh, Toombs, Doolittle Mallory,
Brown, Pearce, Douglas, and Stuart when, at
the suggestion of Mr.. Johnson, of Arkansas,
the motion to print referred to the Com
mittee on Printing, and, without taking any
question on the motion of reference, the Senate
adjourned to Monday.
N HOUSE.
Adjourilment til Monday-On motion, the
House agreed, when i. should adjourn, TO ad.
journ until Monday.
Tile Neutrality LGWS.-On motion of Mr..
Phelps of Missouri, the House went into Com.
mittee of the Whole, Mr.. Phelps in the chair, J
and resumed the consideration of the resolu.
tions referring the Presidents message to va
rious standing committees.
Mr.. Thayer, of Massachusetts, addressed the
Committee. His speech will be published in
our next.
Mr.. Adrein, Of New Jersey, defended the neu-
traiity laws of 1918, founded upon right
principles, and In entire consonance with the
law of nations. The nation had the same moral
obligations towards other nations as one indi.
vidual has towards another. The law of ma
tions was complex system, and entirely of
modern growth. In ancient times, it was
thought proper to make marauding and pratt
cal excursions; but it would not be WELL, in
this ligbtened age, to 60 back to the barba-
rous usages Of the past He trusted they would
adopt, in the affairs of Government, just and
honorable principles, that cur example
would be worthy of being followed by othersna.
fions. The only right and proper mode OF
Americanizing the Isthmus OF Central America
was by peaceful emigration and if the gentle
man from Massachusetts Mr.. Thayer chose
TO emigrate there, any of his constituents
let them go. He regretted the line of argument
followed by the gentleman from New York
Mr. Haskln, who declared be was in favor O
national grand larceny. Such was not the cen
timent of Northern Democrats. They believed
in public as well as private morality, and were
opposed to both private larceny and public lar
ceny or robbery Of any kind. He would no
follow the example of England, but rathe
chose TO set her an example worthy to be fol
lowed. BE proceeded to argue against 6libus
tering expeditions, and keld that the Presiden
was right in his message when, in common
with al, the great writer's on international law
he characterized such expeditions as robber,
and murder