The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-01-21
ERnM WASHINGTON

Mr.. tlmr"nn has lr"n ""miirn,yl by III" ,rn.
a'r. 81 Judy" "f H." Sup'"mr Count.
lh" S"nn," >r."nl t"uni'r. "n the Pacific
Rn'lI"ad have held several conferences II ~
sn'd tina, they will SOM unite upon II hill. the
general i"aur" Of which, " i'll b. no, tn riyr olt
the contract for the construction of II road but
to authorize the payment of larry" surns in the
shape Of United States bonds upon contracts To
transport mails und munitions Of war also, To
make liberal land grants to the company in the
Territories.
We do not Object to the general government
extending her aid to private company of re-
sp"n>Iblc stockholders, who, from lccuniarv in.
tcrrst are likely I" make the enterprise success
ful. but We think it unwisc as tl. history Of nll
national Internal Improvement schemes. will
ahnndantly prove that the government should un
dcr:ake the construction of the Pacific Railroad
upon its own account The disposition Of GOV
"rnnent agents to rob the public, the absence of
personal and pccuniary interest (and hcnc. an
entire absence of ccon"iny,) in the prosecution of
such public works, render them i'm most instances
entire failures.
The arrest of General WALKER by Commo
d"rc fArLpISG has been freely discus ed, botb
III the Senate and the House There seems 1,
be great variety of opinions in reference TO
THIS matter. Mr. D"nLIrrLr in the Senat. in.
'r""''ccS resolution TO present P,rLpryG with
gold medal for his conduct in arrcstir,. Wnv
EE. Mr. BR"wS gives notice of :: rcsou,i,n :,
condemn the action of the Comu,o,l,r w,
have II" doubt, in our own minds, but that ,L,
conduct OF General WALKrn, while r.tin,, ~,
his eSledi'"n IN the United sta,cs and while he
was under her Jurisdictions was vin.utiv. or H..
spirit and intention of our Neutrality Laws Vet
at The same ''ne' we deem his arrest upon !.
i"reiSn S"li "S wrong in practice and principle.
lhc acl oi ISIS, making it Il hi-h mis,l.
iiIcanor fur any pcrsrn to set on foot a military
expedition against amy country with which w.
are at peace, III PLAIN language defines the on
tent OF the jurisdiction of the United States II
makes the capture "i any vessel, havin. such
"'ycctS III view, Legitimate within the waters or
the United States, or within a marine l.,ru. ,r
the shores thereof
The following are tho sixth and seventh S.c-
tons Of the Act
"cc. u. lliat u any person shall, within ti,r
tcTr''"rS or jurisdiction of The United States be-
-. w I", 'u' OF prepare The means
'"r' any m'i'ary expedition or enterprise, I, lr
carried on tr"in thence against the Territory ar
d"iliiiI,iis ot any foreign prince or State or
'"! e"'"hE. "iStfi':t or people, with whom the
United Stai"s are at peace every person 81, ,I.
lending, shall he deemed guilty "f !. l.h m,,I.
'nc"nor, and shall not he tnc not cxcccliun
three thousand dollars, and imprisoned not n,orc
than three years.
Sec Z. That The district courts shall t;kc co,,
iiizancc ni complaints, !y wllornsoev.r iu,tituid
IN cases "t c"/frs mn,h ,rjitin ihc m.t,.ty offh,
t"t'" Sf"fes, "r mifhim marine hayu. ,j Lc
co"Sts Or horrs M'rof.
There Is no authority given by these Acts to
the President, or any other department of the
government, to seize any vessel in The open sea.
beyond the jurisdiction Of the United States.