Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-14

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read the history of his country, he found that
the policy of that act was handed down from
the days of Washington, and embodied in our
statutes from that to the present time aud 1t
had never been dissented from by any admins
tration or party Had gentlemen forgotten
that Mr.. Champion was dismissed because no
committed acts violative of the neutrality laws!
lie had supposed the whole country sustained
the wisdom and frmness of the Executive in the
enforcement of the traditional policy of tho
government, not to permit our own citizens or
the representatives Of any foreign power, great
or small, to compromise the neutrality of the
United States with regard to nations with whom
we are at peace. We have made treaties with
various powers, in which we have entered into
stipulations based on this very statute-one re-
Gently with New Granada, and another, Us ru-
NOR has it, with Nicaragua.
After considerable sparing tho Committee
arose and the House adjourned.
Jan. 7.
Senate-Mr Hammond, Senator from Sonth
Carolina, in place of Mr.. Butler, deceased,
took his scat.
Mr. Seward presented petition from the cit
liens of Canandaigua, N. y, praying for the
adoption of some practical measure by which
the people of the North may cooperate with
the people of the South for the extinguishment
of Slavery, by making fair and honorable COM
pensation to slave owners for the full value Of
their slaves The petition was ordered to lie on
the table.
The President sent in his message in response
to the call for information relative to Central
America.
! MESSAGE.
| II ,hp,sf 10 tba 10 tha g.
which they have called, I deem it proper to make
few observations. In capturing Gen. Walker
and his command, after they had landed ON the
soil eff Nicaragua, Com. Paulding has, in my
opinion, committed grave error 1t is quite
evident, however, from the communications
herewith transmitted, that this was done from
pure and patriotic motives and in the sincere
conviction that he was promoting the interests
and indicating the honor of his country. In
regard to Nicaragua, she has sustained no mjus-
ticc by the act of Com. Paulding. This has in
ured to her benefit and relieved her from
dreaded invasion. She alone would have any
right to complain of the violation of her terri
tory, and it is quite certain that she will never
exercise that right. 1t unquestionably does not
belong to her invaders to complain in her namo.
She has been rescued by Com. Paulding, from
their assaults The error of this gallant officer
was in exceeding his instructions and landing
his sailors and marines in Nicaragua, whether
with Or without her consent, for the purpose of
making war on any military force, whatever,
which he might find in the country, no matter
from whence they came.
This power certainly did not belong to him.
Obedience to law and conformity to instructions
are the best guides for all officers, civil and mill
tary, and when they transcend these limits and
act upon their own personal responsibility, evil
consequences almost inevitably follow. Under
these circumstances, when Marshal Rynders pre-
scented himself at the State Department on the
Doth ult., with Gen. Walker in his custody, the
Secretary informed him that the Executive De-
partment of Government did not recognize
Walker as a prisoner that it had no directions
to give concerning him, and that it was only
through the action of the Judiciary that he
could be lawfully held in custody, to answer any
charges that might be brought against him.
In thus far disappearing the conduct of Com
Paulding, no inference must be drawn that
am less determined than have ever been to exc
cute the neutrality laws of the United States
to perform it by all the means which the const-
tuition and laws place in my power. Ny opn-
ion of the value and importance of those laws
correspond entirely with that expressed by Mr.
Munroe in his message to Congress of Dec. T.
1909. That wise, prudent, and patriotic states
man says it is of the highest Importance to our
national character and indispensable to the NOR
atty of our citizens, that all violations of our
neutrality laws should DO prevented. No door
should be left open for evasion of our laws, no
opportunity afforded to any who may be dispos-
ed to take advantage of it to compromise the
interests or honor of the nation The crime of
setting on foot or providing the means for mill
tary expeditions within the United States, to
make war against foreign State with whom
we are at peace, is one of an aggravated and
dangerous character, and early engaged the at
tention of Congress Whether the Executive
possesses any or what power under the Constitu-
ton Independently of Congress, to prevent or
punish this and similar offenses against the law
of nations, was subject which engaged the at
tention of our most eminent statesmen in the
time of the administration of Gen. Washing
ton, and on the occasion of the French Revolu-
ton. The act of Congress of 5th of June,
1894, fortunately removed all the difficulties on
this question which had heretofore existed. The
9Th and 7th sections of this act, which relate to
the present question, are the same in substance
with the 9th and 9Th sections of the act of
April 20, 1918, which have now been in force
for period of more than sixty years.
Military expeditions, rendered criminal by
the act, must have its beginning or be set on
foot by the United States but the great object
of the law was to save foreign States, with
whom we at peace, from the ravages of those
lawless expeditions proceeding from our shores.
The seventh section alone, therefore, which SIM
ply defines the crime and its punishment fully,
has been inadequate to accomplish this purpose
and enfnroa our intarpa finnoI dvtias IN nrxjor
: to render the law effectual, it was necessary to
prevent the carrying on of such expeditions to
their consummation, after they have succeeded
in leaving our shores. This has been done cffcc-
tualy, and in clear and explicit language, by
the authority given to the President under the
eighth section of the act, to employ the land
and naval forces of the United States, for the
purpose of preventing the carrying on of any
such expedition or enterprise upon the territory
or domain of any foreign prince or State, or on
any colony, district or people with whom the
United States are at peace.
For these reasons, had Com. Paulding inter
copied the Steamer Fashion with Gen. Walker
and his command ON board, at any period before
they entered the port of San Juan de Nicaragua,
and conducted them back to Mobile, this would
have prevented them from carrying on the ex-
pedition, and have been not only justifable
but praiseworthy act. This expedition well
f deserves the severe punishment inflicted by our
laws. ltvlolates the principles of Christianity,
morality and humanity, held sacred by all civ
ilized nations, and by none more than the people
of the United States. Disguise it as we may,
such military expedition is an invitation to
reckless and lawless men to enlist under the BAN
ner OF an adventurer, to rob, plumber and muir
der the unofending citizens of neighboring
States, who have never done them harm. 1t is
an usurpation of the war making power, which
belongs alone to Congress. The government it