The Feliciana Democrat., 1858-01-23

and by none more than by the people Of the
United States. Disguise it rs we may, such a
military expedition is an invitation TO reckless
and lawless men to enlist under the banner OF
any advcnturcr, to rob- pIundcr and murder
the unoilrnding citizcus Of ncgIiboring states,
WHO have never done them harm. 1t IS Il
uSurpaton Of the war.making power, which
belongs alone to Congress and the Govern
mrnt ITSELF at least in the estimation OF the
world, becomes an accomplee in the com
mission Of this crime, unless it adopts all the
means necessary to prevent aud to punish It,
1t would be far better, and more in accordance
with the bold and manly character OF our coun-
trymen, for the Government itself to get up
such expeditions than to allow them TO pro-
cecd under the command of irresponsible adj
venturers We could then, at least, exercise
some control over our own agents and prevent
them from burning down cities and commit.
ting other acts of cnormty OF which we have
read.
The avowcd principle which lies at the loun-
dation of The law of nations is contained in
the Divine command, that "al things whatSo-
ever yc would that men should do to you do
ye even 50 to them Tried hy this nncrriAg
rule, wc should be severely condemned il We
expeditions against our feeble sister Republic
Of Nicaragua. One thing very certain, that
people never existed Who would call any other
nation to 4 strictcr account than We should
ourselves for torrating lawe>a expeditions
from our shores TO make war upon any portion
Of our territories.
by tolertng such expeditions, We shall soon
lose the high character which we have enjoy
cb ever since the days Of Washington, for the
1 faithful performance Of our international obi
cations aud duties, and inspire distrust against
Us among the members Of the great family Of
civilized nations.
But if motives Of duty were not sufficient
70 restrain rs from engaging IN such lnwleSs
enterprises our evident interest ought TO die
tate this policy. These expeditions arc the
most elcctual mode of retardng American
progress although to promote this is the
avowrG object Of the leaders and contributors
I in such undertakings.
II is beyond question the destiny Of onr race
to spread themselves over the continent Of
j North America, aud this, at 10 distant day,
Should events be permitted TO ta ke their nutur-
al course. Tie tide Of emigrants will flow to
the South, and nothing can eventually arrest
It's progress. II permitted to go there, peace
fully, Central America will soon contain
An American population, which viii confer
\ blessing, and benefits rs well upon the natives,
las hcr respective governments. Liberty. un-
der the restraint of law, will preserve domcs
Tie peace; whilst the different transit routes
across the l,tlmuS, il which we are 80 deeply
interested, 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
10 make war upon thc Central American
States Had one.half Of the number Of Amc
rcan citizens who have miscrabIy pcrishcd i,
the first disastrous expedition Of Gen Walker
settled in Nicaragua as peaceful cmigrants, tht
object which we all desire would, ere this, hny,
been, in great degree accomplished Thcs,
e 'iexpeditcus have caused the people Of The Cen
) tra American States to regard MS with drcat
> and supicion. 1t is our true policy to remove
this apprehension, and to convince them we in
tend TO do them good, AID not evil We dc
sire, as the leading power on this continent, tC
open and, if need be, to protect, every transit
route across The Isthmns, not only for our owl
: benefit, but that Of the world, and thus open
? free access to Central America aud through
: il to our Pacific possessions
This policy was commenced under favorable
: auspices when the expedition uadcr the CON
, m0nd of Gen. Walker, escaped from our terri
tories and proceeded to Pnnta Arenas Should
: another expedition ofn similar character ngair
: eyad" the vigilance Of our officers, and pro
cced to Nicaragua, this would be fatal, at Icas
for a season. TO the peaceful settlement of thcst
countries, and to the policy Of American pro
gress The truth is, that no administration
can successfully conduct the foreign affairs o
the country in Central America, or anywhere
else, if it is to be intcrfcrcd with at every stc)
by lawoss military expeditions :" set on foot
in the United States,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Washington, Jan, 7, 1898.