Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-02-27

fS5ys II was Illegally done.
] (5Isre Mr. Stephens introduces much au-
'ho';5y to sustain his poai..d1s. which VIC o.
init 4
New, II. IN The 9pi,ion Of these men. /
say 'lsaG our law, as it now exists, docs net
picvelt e.t'zons Of the United States, with
art N tltoir hands, going Into any coun-
try thy please, provided they do not go IN
military organization. Military expedi-
t;oas a:e prevented Military oxnedjtions
aya known there is no niistakinp tbcm -
ogar l''t:s ssg that they should be proven
TEL, and say 80 toe. Bat / say that Mr.
Walker bad right to 80 to Nicaragua.
Those enc hundred ana CITY .;lt had right
70 60 taere twas no glilitary orgauiza-
Some gen5lcmaa has said chat 3Tr. Walk
er sailed in fraud Of cur laws. Mr. Chair
man, with all due respect, think that was
mistake. General Walkers expedition
was imp ,cted. Tie got a regular clear
ance lie had right to il. lie went out
upon the high seas with just as clear man
lfest any Of or ships sailing the ocean.
MIR. Webster has affirmed as Just read, that
there IS no power in the President, in the
naval oihcers, Or in the courts, under cur
laws as they were and still exist, to pre-
vent the emigration of cur people to other
countries. That is all | affirm. Armed
expeditions should be prevented
| repeat sir, in conclusion, as I have cot
put fey minutes left, that am not here
against the neutrality laws of nations.
am for having them clearly and distinctly
expressed. Armed expeditions, organized
against the law Of natons, [ ain against
but when American citizens see fit I'd change
their allegiance, and to go with rife ana
bowie knife in hand, say that thew have
right to do 50. Yes, sir, thew have
constitutional right to bear arms in this
country and to carry them wherever they
see fit 10 go They cannot use our soil on
which to organize military expeditions -
Ii they do 50, stop them. If Walker CON-
mitted wrong, let him be led. If his
men viclated the law, let them be tried;
but do not add insult to wrong, moekerv t.,
outrage. DO not commit this great wronr
upon him if he be not guilty. IF YOU ac.
cuse him. try him and if found not guilty,
redress the 5Trong as you ought Az opin
ION is that he is innocent that he has yio-
lated no law. | am not here as his euio-
gist History will take care Of him.
Believing that he has violated no Law.
and indicating, as do, the constitutional
rights Of every man in our jurisdiction,
whether citizen Or not, say, sir, that If he
be guilty, try him: but 10 not interfere
with the rights Of any man upon the bare
assumption Of his being an offender, with
out trial. Ills guilt has to bcprorea
Mr.. Chairman, I stated, and repeat now.
hat Walkers government 10 Nicaragua
vas recognized by ills Mr.. Wheeler, our
minister, recognized the Riyas Govern
meut, and recognized Walker as President.
The representative Of that Government
here was recognized by this Government;
and this Government did not, sir-and I
want this House to know it-recoenize anv
other than the Government under Which
Walker held office until after he sailed on
this expedition. Let no man say that | am
IN favor OF violating national faith let 10
man put me 10 the position of speaking
lightly of the national faith or the national
fag. Gentlemen cannot occupy that GROUND;
| stand upon it myself Tie stars and
stripes, whenever they wave over gallant
Navy il defence Of the rights Of our citi-
zans, and n defence OIL national law shall
hail with delight, and be ready to rcgpond.
from the bottom Of my heart, in praise of
It's ohivalrous officers and men.
But, sir, tae members of this ITousa have
been unfortunate III abiding to General
jackson and to the case of Captain Ingra-
ham. General jackson himself took nos
session Of Florida. lie was, ifyou nle3sa.
q grand flli5uster himself Ihat was lie
gu. His error was On virtues side. lFe
erred for t'1o co.1ntry. and for fhe.oeobles
interest,". but it reinainod 10 Councillors
pauldlng. for the first time IA cur country's
history, to bear that gallant flag, not in de-
fence o. men Of his own blood, of his own
flesh, OF his own race, who had changed
Their allegiance, but it was the honor o f
Commodore Padding to do deed that he
boasts OF having done in anticipation of
British captain. lie boasts Of tlle deed, and
says If he bad not done it the British would.
have done it, Lis glorY, as [ understand
it, is, that ho stepped in and did the lrie
'ish work. When the American fuq IS
prostitnted to perform the work Of a Britisl,
officer, cannotcommcnd the deed. WHY.
sir, when Davis took this same man. 4
British commander was alongside. Ifitis
coming to this, that our Navy in Central
America is 10 do British, worl, ard British
bidding, say it is time. they were callel
home. 1t was not such work as This that
cur daring commanders dil in the last war.
when they elevated tie American NAVY to
that height Of glory that it has attained, and
Of y h'oh re may all BE- justly proud. That
was achieved BY fighting the British and
opposing British policy.
I am fer maintaining the same American
policy against British policy that our Navy.
then maintained. am fer mail.taininl
TIE laws OF our coantry, and against ag-
greSs-6ns Of all sorts. | stand here to-day
upon general principle which inyokes Tie
rights df American citizens. [ am here
also to defend the American flag, whether
upon land Or upon sea, as long as it is borne
aFoft in defence of these rights. Accor-
ding 70 these principles 30 citizen of The
United States, or foreigner, within cur iur-
i !jetoa, can be deprived of his life. Of h;s
liberty, ST his hroncrtv, lmt b,- the ipdo-