The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-12

ecutive whose duty ii was 10 have called him 10 a
severe account in tolerating this highhanded act"
The question was not between the United States
and Spain, nor II considered by those who
advocated the punishment Of Gen. jackson, and
thereby involved the censure Of the administration
The similarity between the question Of 1919 and
1858 doesnot solely upon the act of the respect
i've officers in experimenting persons charged with
the violation of law, upon the territory of foreign
nation but likewise in the of justification.
The principle assumed by Gen. jackson, in his gen
eral orders commanding the execution OF Abuth,
not and Ambrister is worth repeating in connexion
with the circumstances which surround General
Walker. Gen jackson held that it is establish
ed principle Of the law of nations, that any ind-
yidual of nation, making against the citizens OF
any other nation they being at peace forfeits his
allegiance, and becomes an outlaw and pirate"
As we stated before, these questions were ably
discussed in sl9 and after mature delibcraton, tho
republican majority in Congress- refused either to
buke the military cheftain who was charged with
disobeyng orders, and violating the constitution, or
to restrain the action Of tho government in future
cases that might arise This decision of the states.
men of 1919 has worked injury to the govern,
rnent The constitution has been productive Of
good as if the alleged usurpations Of General Jack
son and the endorsement thereof by Mr. Monroe
had never occurred Nor does il appear from the
subsequent history of General jackson that i ope-
rated prejudicaIly to his patriotism and devotion to
the constitution Of his country that his alleged us
pations and violations of that sacred instrument
permitted to pass unrebuked
We place this precedent on record in order
to refresh the recollection of readers. We
shall refer to the subject again. Meanwhile
let it not be forgotten that the grave error of
Commodore Paulding in arresting Walker and his
men upon the soil of Nicaragua. has been distinctly
marked by the President. 1t is well to remember.
however in the same connection, that the govern
ment of Nicaragua unlike that of Spain in 1870
only does not complain of the act Of Commodore
Paulding in arresting Walker and his men, but
through her minister in this country cordially ap
proves of it. Mr.. Irsarri letter to this effect is
before the House. Let il not be forgotten either
that the great question before the country and the
world, on this subject, is not as to the precise
measure of condemnation which ought to be Wis,
tied upon Commodore Paulding for q violation
of Nicaraguan sovereignty, but whether the
set at defiance, and illegal expeditions against
friendly nations TO be set foot within our Dor
ders, and then carried out to their contamination
without interruption by authorities. 1t will
do to put Commodore Paulding and William Walker
in the same category. However sophistry may at
tempt to disguise it, tho latter engaged in an il
legal expedition, and the former was cndeavoring to
interrupt that expedition If acriminal takes refuge
in my house, his pursucr may have no right without
a legal warrant, to enter after him but if he does
enter, and make complaint, and the criminal is
arrested it would be hard to place the parsnsr and
the criminal upon the platform Of guilt. We
hail it the whole good symptom, that in the
discussions on the Paulding Walker subject both in
Congress and in the newspapers, even they who
seek to incupate Paulding are hardly bold
enough to assume the defence of Walker. This
clustering is great wrong. This point being ad
mitted, nobody deny that, under the neutrality
laws it is the duty Of the government to suppress it.
Let add that when the people elected James
Buchanan TO be President Of the United States they
believed they elected a Chief Magistrate who would
not hesitate to do his duty. Time will show, in
Judgment that in this belief they were quite right
KANSAS
Black republicanism is about to be robbed Of the
food upon which it has long existed, and its lead
ers are likely soon to be deprived of the by
which they have been enabled, for the past three
four years, to keep the country in state of trouble
and connection, and to manufacture for themselves
capital upon which to operate at home The wounds
of bleeding Kansas are fast being healed, and in q
few days. or weeks at furthest, the country may We
think, calculate seeing this vexed and dangerous
question pass forever from the theatre Of national
politics. Kansas will soon present herself for adj
mission into the Union, and that Congress viii
promptly vote to receive her, there can be no
doubt All the advces from that country
cur in stating that majority of the free
State men arc willing that it should be ad.
mitted into the Union with the Lecomptun eonst
tuition; and it is hardly reasonable TO suppose this
being So that their selfconsttuted champions here
those who have threatened opnostion npon the pre-