The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-01-20
WAsuINGToN, Jan. 7, 1858.

In submitting to the Senate the papers
for which they have called, deem il pro
per to make a few observations.
In capturing General Walker and his
command after they had landed on &c
sol OF Near qua, Commodore raulding
has, III my oihuiOn. committed IA grave
error. 1t is quiic evident, however, from
the conlmunica. .i0Es herewith transmitted
that this WAS done hom pure and patri.
otic motives, aud in the sUcere cunvic.
ton lhat lie was Promoting the interest
and viudica,mg the honor o! his country.
la regard 20 Nicaragua, she has sus
tanned no Injury ty the ACT of Commo.
dore Paulding. Tbs has mured to hen
brucht, aud relieved her from dreaJe.
iuvasion. She a.one would have an,
right TO complain Of the violation of her
territory, aud it is quite certain she viii
never exercise ths night. 1t uuqueslion-
ably does not le III the mouth OF her in
vaderS To complain in her name that she
las heea rescued 10y Commodore paull
iug from their assaults
The error "f this gallant officer con.
siNts in rXcrcdin. his instructions aud
landing his sailors aLL ..,nrimao in Mica
ragua, whctl!er with 81 without her con-
sen,, tor the pmrtn,e Of making VA. upon
any miirt ry for. whatever, which he
rght 'nl in th, country. 10 matter
lrom whence tE"v came. Ills power
ce'taiuly d d not b long to him. Obe
deuce L. Jaw and couirru,iry TO ims.ruc
ton, are the best and y. est ,uidcs for all
officers, C!vIi and m't:.ary; aud when
.nek :rtn'cemd these limits, and act upuu
tier own person responsibility, evil CON
sequences almost inevitably follow. In
dcr th,sc circumstances, wien Marshal
Rynd,r, prcsentel himself ut the State
llp r!meut, on the @0th uiImo, with
t'cn. Walker III custody, the Secretary
III oyrnei hm ,hLt the Executive Drjar,
ne"t Ht the Government! d,d not rr,o.
n'ae Gcu. W aiker ~ u prisaner that II
had tao dIicctiuns To give cuuccgumg lin
and that il is only through the action OF
,me judiciary that he could be IawlulI,
h'lI III custody, 10 nnsw,r any charges
that m :h' be hrnnght ngninSt him.
lhe crime oi setting on foot "r rrnvid-
irg the means fnr IN i,nry expedition
Wit in the Un;teI States, IL m. ke war
;eai I>t u foreign Safe viii hjch We are
~
dangerous character, and c,uiy engaged
q "itcm :On Ul Cougrs'. Wnr,hcr the
'Aeaui,vc government po>srssrs any, "r
what power, under the con. i;utn ;, luLc
r"ndeuIly Of Cungtcs>, t" Prevent OF
PUNISH tbs aud similar uil,hcrS ng";usl
the law OF nations, was "A suui.cl wh.ch
engaged lhe attention Of oar mos, emr.
nc'.t Statesmen in the time of the ,Imln
i'irasinn of General Nasbia .ruu. ond on
the occasion of thu TGrrch rev uiuiioi.-
lie act "t Congress - the > II Jane,
1895, fortunately remo.cl all tic dtli
cult'rs on this question which had here,o.
FIRE existed. The 9th aud 7lh sections
# th's act. which reiic 10 the present
question, are tie SAM IN Suh>tnUcr with
t"e q Ia anj 9Th sect "n> nf tie act OF
ri 20 H. 1918, and have now brrn ia
i"rce tor a Iei,d Of mo,e than sixty.
yrMs.
In thus l'r dsapprnving tie conduct
OF Connno"ore P"uh!lns, 40 inference
nuss be drawn that AN less determined
thsn have ever been TO execute ,lc ueu.
trsliiy laws OF Ilc United States. lhi,
Is my ilnpura'ivedusy, and | shall contin
u@ 10 perform Il by all the means which
the Constitution aud The laws have placed
IN my power. Ny opinion Of the value
and Importance OF these laws corresponds
entirely With ;hat expressed by Mr.. Mon.
roe m his message to Congress in Dec. 7,
1919 That wise, prudent and patriotic
statesman says +:
1T Is Of lac highest importance to our
national character, and indispensable TO
the morality OF our citizens, thas all yio-
iat'ons oi our neutrairty should be pre-
vented. No door should be left open for
the evasion Of our laws no opportunity
nti"rded TO any who may be disposed to
take advantage OF it 10 compronit the
interest or The honor Of the nation"
The military expedition rendered Grim.
inaI by the acl must bay, its oriyip nina,