Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-01-28
Extra Message of the President
of the United States
ON CENTRii. A5IERICAN AFFAIRS.


capturing Gen. Walker and his com
mand. after they had landed on the sol
Of Nicaragua, Commodore Paulding ba
! in my opinion, committed grave er
Tor. 1t is quit, evident. however, from
/ the communications herewith transmit
ted. thai this WAS done from pure anC
patriotic motives and in sincere convic
ton that he was promoting the interest:
and vindicating the honor of his coun
try. In regard 10 Nicaragua, she Ia:
sustained no injustice by the act o
Commodore Pauiding. This has enured
to her benefit, and relieved her from a
dread invasion. She alone would have
any right to complain of the violation
Of her territory. aud it is quite certain
that she will neger exercise this right.
1t unquestionabIy does not belong to her
invaders TO complain in her name. She
has been rescued by Commodore PauId-
ing from their assaults. The error of
this gallant officer consists in exceeding
his instructions and landing his sailors
and marines in Nicaragua, whether with
or without her consent. for the purpose
of making war upon any military force
whatever, which he might find in the
country, no matter from whence they
came. This power certainly did not
belang 10 him; oGedieHce to law and
conformity to instructions IRE the best
guides for all officers, civil and military,
and when they transcend these limits
and act upon their own personal respon-
sibiIity, evil consequences almost inva-
riabiy follow Under these circumstan-
ces, when Marshal Rynders presented
himself at the State Department, on the
29lh ult.. with Genera! Walker in Gus
tody, the Secretary informed him that
the Executive Department of the Gov.
ernment did not recognize Gen. Walker
as prisoner. That it had no direc-
tions to give concerning him, and that it
was only through the action of the Ju-
dietary he could be lawfully held in Gus
lody to answer any charges that might
be brought against him. In thus far dis
approving the conduct of Commodore
Paulding, 10 inference must be drawn
that am less determined than | have
ever been to execute the neutrality laws
of the United States. This is my i'm
perative duty, aud shall continue to
perform it by all the means which the
Constitution and laws have placed in my
power.
My opinion of the value and impor-
tance of those laws correspond entirely
with that expressed by Alr. Monroe inI
his Message 10 Congress of Dec. 7, 1919.
That wise, prudent, and patriotic states
man says, it is of the highest import
aEce TO our national character. and in
to the mortality of our citi-
zens, that all violations of our neutrality
should be prevented; 10 door should be
left open for the evasion Of car laws; no
opportunity afforded to any one who may
be disposed 10 take advantage Of it to-
ihe interest or honor OF the
nation; the crime Of setting on foot or
the means ior military expe-
ditlonS within the United States to make
war against foreign state with which
we are at peace, is one OF an aggravated
and dangerous character and early en-
gagged the attention Of Congress-
Whether the Executive possesses any or
what power under the Constitution in
Of Congress. TO prevent or
punish this and similar offences against
he law Of nations was a subject which
engaged the attention of our most eml |
nent statesmen in the tire Of the Ad-
of Gen. Washington and |
On the occasion of the French Revolu-
.ion-the act Of CONGRESS of 5th June.
1874, fortunately removed all the diff
,ulties on this question which had here
to ore existed The 5th and 7th sections
IF this act, which relate to the present
question are the same in substance with
.hs sixth and eighth sections OF the Act
of April 28th, 1918. which have now
been iu f"rre for period If more than
sixty years The military expedition
criminal By the Act must have
rs origin must begin or be set on foot
IN the United States, but the great OBJ
ect of the law was TO save foreign States
with whom we are at peace, from the
-avaee~ OF these Iauless expeditions pro-
,eeding from orr shores. The seventh
,ection alone, therefore, which simply |
lefines crime and its punishment fully,
nave been INADEQUATE to accomplish this
purpose and enforce our international
iu:ie$. In order TO render the law ef-
sctual it was necessary n prevent the
,arrying on Of such expedite rs to their
afrer they had s'rcceeded
n leaving ctr shores. = his has been
lone elIecIually, aud in clear and eHpli-
it iangu,ge. 6y the authority given to
he President under the eighth section
# the ac; to empov the land and naval
0rces Of the United States, for the pur-
,ose of preventing the carrying on any
uch Cxpejit ons or enterprise from the
crritory or jurisdiction of the United
States against the territory or domain
If any foreign Prince OF Stale, CT Of any
colony, district. or people with whom
he United States are at relcs. For
hese reasons had Commodore Pauld-
NC intercepted the steamer Fashion
yi,h General Walker and his command
N board at any period before they en-
cred the Port San Juan de \icaragua.
nd conducted them hack 10 Mobile this
YOU have prevented them from carry
ug On the expedition. and have been
lot only mstidable bu. praisewor-
hy act. This well deserves the severe
punishment inflicted upon it by our
avs itviolales the principles Of Chris.
ianiiy. morality and humanity, held sa-
red by ali civilized ra'inrs, and By
,oue more than by the people Of the /
states. Disguise as We NAV. such
military expedition is an iuyIintion 10
rckless and la0 less men to enlist un-
Ter the banner of any auveEturcr TO rob
iunIcr end murder the uncHtEamg ct
lens Of uriahborjne Sigi-- who h.
.cver done them la. IL is usu- .Ie
'f the war m.L.u power Vii patton
Hone 10 ..o,.r. ~ -ch belongs