The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-13

certain TO lead at 10 acrimonious discussions and
ultimately terminate in war, where the party suf-
ering by them Is in condition to ayenge itself Neu-
tality consists aolng greater advantage to one
party than the other There many circumstances in
witch although paper either belligercn may have the
right to levi troops fn neutral country In reality but
one only can profit by II The hate between Great
Britain and France ON one side, and Rivi the other,
affords striking example. The allies had complete
command of the ocean, and could have transported any
number Of men, enlisted in the United States, without
let or hidrguce, to the Crmea the Russians could not
have conveyed or munition OF war to the relief
of sebastopol Our neutrality worId, in that case had
we permitted enlistment have only been nominal, and
Russia would have had just cause to complain OF our con-
ioSt 10 this danger should have been exposed had
not the laws of 1894 and 1918 been our statutebooks
The continental governments of Europe have no occasion
for such legislation becuse, with them the executive
power can ALWAYS control the movements OF its citizens
In Great Britain the Queen, in council can always ss-
pend the operations of the foreign enlistment Dill or pre-
vent the shipment of arms, ammunition on other miL
~ and equipments This power desire 70 confer
upoi the President when Congress is not IN session. 10
not attempt to conceal that IT Isl very grave perhaps,
in the hands of indscreet OF Interruptions man,
dangerous one but it is to be exercised bndcr
all the high responsibilities that attach to the
Chief Magistrate; and it is useless to disguise that
although the making power is given by the constit
ton to Congress- any President cah conduct our for
egn relations that Congress will have but to choose the
alternative Of sustaining him or dsgaong the country
in the eyes of the world Besides although my resol,
limitation do not desire to confer ON the President the
power suspend the laws except in where actual
cxs between the powers In references to which he
suspension is to operate or when civil war and by TINS
do not comnotion or rebcony shall have
broken out ia foreign State ito colonies. When
made four years since movement for tho suspension
Of our neutrality laws, believed as now believe, that
large majority of the people of Cuba was prepared to
make vigorous effort to throw off the yoke OF their
transatlantic oppressos, and, far as my influence or
councils could be useful was willing to ald them
believed then as / now believe, that hostile feeling to-
wards us then existed with the governments of France
and Great Britain and that they desired to Arcanize
Cuba avail myself gladly, of the occasion to say that
such, satisfied is not the feeling of these gov
ernmens. Besides this, the people of Cuba, although
st desirous of peaceful annexation, are not willing to
run the risk of civil and servc insuuecton to become
members of conederacy Public policy must accom-
MEDIATE itself to circumstances and any attempt to obtain
Cuba except by negotiation should in my opinion, now
be abandoned But should Spain be rash enough invade
Mexico with the purpose OF establishing adespotc govern
c there under the of Santa Anna dictator or u
der any other ttle then think that citizens
should be permitted to take part in the contest wish
this to be done legally All the power of the govern
ment cannot restrain them from doing it, and there
should be no law statute book that cannot be en-
forced There are many contingencies about which do
not choose to speculate where the interests of the
try would clearly call for the suspension of our eutra
y laws and if this power be not given to the President
under such restrictions the wisdom of Congress may
suggest am not prepared say that would not pre-
fer to abolish them altogether excepting SO far they
may be necessary to carry out treaty shpuatons and
these have before remarked, only apply to the fit
ting out of armed vessels have little hope OF the pas
sage of such a law us have suggested. have pride
Of opinion the subject and if fail shall be satisfied
with the conviction that have done my duty in calling
the attention of the Senate and the country to the sub
ject and il may be proper to state in conclusion, that
in presenting and advocating my resolution, speak only
for myself and act without concert or with
any one.