Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-01-15

where they were going and what their business was,
and send Them home if they we're not satisfied about
them. The right Of an American citizen 70 eLpat'
riste himself was sacred right, and We should De
careful how we trench upon it. While the admin
straton are talking about the iniquity Of Walker
proceedings in Central America, they 60 on dehD-
efately in violation OF the faith Of treaties anu
! honor Of nations to invade the soil OF foreign
/ country for the purpose Of arresung hlm.
Mr. ToomBs, Of Ca, thought the message con
tanned grave and important errors, ana en,ereu ms
/ dissent from them The President dared not de-
fend, while he endeayOred to palliate TINS outrage
| n an American Senate. After examining some OF
/ tbe grounds upon which that palhalon was at
tor,r5eJ he said The President assumed question
nov before the legal tribunals Of the country lie
assumed that the neutrality laws had been violated
/ ond IL vas his business to enforce them. Mr..
Toombs denied that there was any proof that such
was the case but admitting, for the sake Of ar
orment that this were true. what right has the
President to use the army and navy all the face
of the earth. This was usurpation Of authority,
not only in derogation Of law, but in derOgatOn Of
his oath of Office. He must get the authority Of
law to use any extra territorial jurisdiction what
ever. He could command popular respect as q
vndicator Of the laws Of his country unless he
himself should obey the laws. But in this case
one law has been violated for the purpose Of vind
eating another. Governor KOssuth was in the
Senate chamber, to show himself years ago. That
gentleman driven from power by Austria and
Russia and came here after material aid replace
himself That was Just the case Of Walker, and
while one was glori6ed, the other was villifed As
to the letter Of Psulding, the brutality Of
that correspondence must be admitted by every hu-
man being. It totally untitled him TO be the com
mander Of a ship, and even to be its cabu boy.
Mr.. DOoLITTLE, of Wis, understood that it would
be a cause OF war by NicarSgua against this coun-
try If an expedition was unawtully set on foot
within our jurisdiction against her. The President
as much bound TO maintain the faith Of treaties
any law Of the country.
Mr.. MALLORY viudicated Inc character Of Com
mOdOre Paulding, and alluded TO has revolutionary
ancestry, but did not pretend 10 pallste this act
If such acts were permitted to be committed by
val officers, in very short time this country would
be involved in hOstilties with foreign nations. II
you send naval captains to stop hllbusterlng with
loose Instructions, they will understand them as
seamen, not as jurists He understood that the adj
ministration had detached Chatard because he did
not arrest Walker. If he is punished for not doing
that act, We ought to applaud Paulding for do
ing it.
Mr.. DOUGLAS returned the compliment Of Mr..
Brown, who had said he admired his (Douglas)
pluck for expressing his opinions. He (Oouglas)
found he was getting into good company and beat
ing up recruits faster than Walker He tDouglas)
thought il would be found after while, that they
all in the party and we're not 20 be accused OF
faction because they happen to differ from the Pres
ident in some Of their views. Some strange things
happen now. a-days. Even the Senator from New
York was supporting the Administration and de-
Tending it from the attacks Of Democrats.
SEWARD said the President had announced that
Walker had not only violated the laws of the land
but the higher law, and he (Seward) would be
reCreant to his duty as advocate Of the higher
law if he did not support the President. Laughter
MIR. DOUGLAS thought the higher law very well
in its place, but not in executing the neutrality
al,
United States and see where the authority was for
the President to use the army and navy. The law
Of IS defined the jurisdiction to extend one
marine league from the coast, and the government
had no authority to make arrest beyond that dis
lance. He was in favor Of giving the neutrality
laws a fair, faithful and vigorous execution. This
Is a government of law and let US stand by the
laws and execute them whether we like them or dis
like them, long they stand on the statute book.
He had sympathy for flibustering. Its tendency
is defeat the very object havein view, namely,
expansion of the area of freedom. He was in favor
Of the expansion Of this country, but in lawful
and regular manner. He was not willing to send
out naval officers with vague instructions, libuster-
ing all over the high seas, under the Pretence Of
putting down flibustsring He had opposed the
Clayton-BulWer treaty; because he did not wish 10
bind this country not TO do thai which 1t might be
necessary for its safety 10 do-that Is, TO annex
those territories only half the distance 10 California
and on the direct road.
Mr. PEARCE thought the debate premature. Moth
ing had been read but the message. They did not
know what light the instructions would throw on the
subject. He believed that the expedition of Walker
from the United States YVES hagrant violation Of
the laws Of the United States, and that the Presi-
dent did nothing but his duty in authorizing the
naval forces to prevent that expedition from attack
ing people with whom we are at peace. He believed
that it was due to the character of the nation that
such steps that should be akentO put down these
marauding expeditions which bring disgrace on the
country.
No question was taken on the reference Of the
message Adjourned ill Monday.