The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-03-25
THE SEIZURE OF THE F1LL1BusrERs

THE SEIZURE OF THE FILLIBUSTERS
The following is Mr.. Clingman's report from
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives, in reference TO General Walk
crs capture, and Cam. Paul'lings conduct OH that
OccnsIon:
The Committee Of Foreign Airnrs, to whom
was referred the message of he President Of the
United States. Ini accompanying documents, 10
lating To the seizure Of " ilIiam Walker and his
followers IN Nicaragua. having had the same url-
der consideration. Respectfully report:
That by the action Of the House they have
been relieved from tho necessity Of expressing
their views on several questions which seem to be
connected with the transactions detailed in these
papers. The whole subject of the neutrality
laws, considered with reference to their consiitu
tIonnsiv, "Np"dicncy. and proper Interpretation,
l''s t:ecn referred to the Committee on the Judi
ci.ry.
The question as {" how fan Commodore Pauld-
ing Gh-y"d th" orders of his s!I,criurs, upon
which his merit or trncrit as an officer mainly
depends, has been referred to the Committee on
Naval Affairs.
The inquiry as to whether private rights have
been inte'!crrrd with in these proceedings, would
seem moe property I" come up whenever amy
person ag.ricvcd shall by petition or application
IN some other mode seek redress.
There rc'nains, however, f"r the consideration
Oh the COMMITTEE tw"iInportanl questions which
directly conccrn the foreign affairs Of the count
ry. The first is. whether there has been an in
ras'on of the territory Of Nicaragua. foreign
State with whic, on terms of peace and
friendship. And, secondly, whether that act Of
invasion, either with "r against her consent was
al such n character as that ii could be properly
done without the authority Of Congress.
Under the laws of nations, no right is believed
{" cAist by which the United States or any of IFS
officers. are authorized To enter the territory Of
friendly lorc,gn Power, and forcibIy seize and
carry away persons who may be there. And as
IN bnSl,
Nicaragua. iheact of Commodore Paudnr in for
cihiy entering her territory and scizng William
alker and his followers, is ono Which il is the
duty Of uis Government to dis;,vOw, and To make
satisfaction for, provided complain, should ever
ho made. In fact. however, your committee have
every reason to believe that this proceeding was
entirely i'll accordance with the wishes Of the rx
isiing Government Of Nicaragua, and regarded
by II aS cininrntly beneficial.
SHOULD this br concluded the second question
rrrSc:.ts itself: Can officer of the United
states us': force under his command in the terri.
Tory "' Il f'rrgn State with It's assent anil for lis
benefit.
The wnr.making power hc!"ngs To Congress-
AMI the right Ia enter into alliances. offensive aud
defensive, belongs (" the President anil Senate ;s
the ircay-nak'mg luwrr. In tn" absence Of :lii-
ih"rity derived from onc of illc>.. sources vuur
c"'n'''it"" are of "Ini"n hat our officers cannot
Use The forces under their command .nr any scl,
purpose. As these forces "bv lSlv int ended
Ter the ser: ice "i the United States they cannot
hr riHhtiui!y cnpuyr n ANY foreign State for
Ms brilrtit or as It's ally. II s in the Judgment
"f your ce'nmiitcc, wholly immatcral whether
such forces to he employed to cxprl from the
State invaders from Abroad to put ,inw,, rebellion
or lnSurrrction there, &" aid the police Of such
state IN SURPRISING disturbances anl popular out.
breaks. /" acknowledge amy such right would
he i'll effect to transfer the war making ,owrr to
such officers might happen to have. the com
maid of any part III our naval nr military forces
III the vicinity Of any foreign State that might he
in want of .a
Your c"irmIrc are happy to find that the
President csncmrs fully in these views. They
therefore recommend the Gop,ion Of the follow.
in. resolutions:
Rcs"ir'I That inasmuch as the United States
can never consent that any foreign l"wor shall
have the right I" enter its territory with IL view
"t "rcibly carrying oil any person who may be
therein, $" it becomes the duty Of tie Govern
ncnt to ''is"wn ami dsc;i,n all right on its part
10 enter for similar purpose, The territory Of any
foreign power or state which we are on terms of
alniiv and friendship.
ErSoir"d. That officers of the United States
have no rig ght to use the forces under their cnr-
mhnd III the territory Of any foreign state at the
instance "l for the benefit Of such state. unless
previously authorized by Congress
E'SDfrtd, That inasmucli as the views of the.
President rs made known IN his mr$s:.rc To the
tw" houses of Congress, are in accordance with
these principles no action is necessary OH the
part of Congress.