The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-21
THE NEUTRALITY LAWS.

t...a AnE NEUlAAAIII La w D.
SPEECH OF HON G. B. ADRIAN, OF NEW JERSEY,
Deseered N as House @ Representatives, January T. 1858.
The House having resolved itself into the Committee
OF the Whole the state of the Union and resumed the
consideration OF the Presidents annual message Mr.
ADRIAN said % 1s ralsie.G hae ia-,. sa9
Mr.. CHAIRMAN 1t is the interest aud policy of this
government to cultivate the most friendly relations with
all other powers Such has been the policy Of gov
eminent from Its foundation down to the present period
is policy that has preserved domestic peace it is
policy which has preserved us from foreign war a
policy which has enabled citizens to pursue their
riouS ayocations In peace policy which has given rise
to wide and extensive commerce, until ships
now floating proudly upon every 1t Is wise and
udicious policy policy adopted by the first President
OF this great and powerful nation and 1t s for this gov
ernment to dstermne whether that policy shall be aban
doned whether another policy shall be pursued which
viii interupt friendly and peaceful relations with
fosnign nations How those friendly relations be
preserved unless government takes effective and
stringent measures for the purpose OF putting stop to
these military expeditions that forming In midst
TO out and prey upon the property and lives of those
who at peace with us And the President of the
United States In his message calls the attention of the
House to this subject and proposes that shall give to
it most serious and deliberate consideration. |
The neutrality laws which are upon our statutebooks
not sufficient to put stop to this maraudg spirit
which is likely to bring into difficulty with foreign
powers and which interrupts peace and exctes the
hostility of foreign nations against As this is the
hope that when this matter is referred to the
mittee, laws will be changed and modified
not to give fuller license to this maraudng spirit
prevent and check it. Y, 5t gsft
Now sir it is proposed by the distinguished gentleman
from Mississippi that these neutrality laws should be
abolished altered in such way that they shall not in
fringe what he conceives to be the rights of American ct
zens Now, sir am not In favor OF having the rights of
American citizens inteered with at all by the govern
mont But what are those rights What right has any
citizen of the United States to band together with others
to form these military expeditions 60 make
upon foreign powers! deny the right Every Ameri-
citizen has the right Of leaving his country Of expa
riatng himself he please and of seeking and receiving
protection In another country But his right does not
extend so far as to allow him to get up military expe
diton for the purpose of making upon those powers
that at peace with when those military expeditions
interfere with great national interests attri
These neutrality laws Mr. Chairman, founded upon
the great law OF nations LAWS have been passed from
the period of Washingtons administration the present
time founded upon this great law Now what is this
law of nations Although this law, by some nations,
has been disregarded yet It is law which Is founded
upon morality, justice, and humanity Every nation
ought to do much good to another in peace and
little harm in war; possible have here standard book
upon the law Of nations and beg leave call atten
ton OF the House to few remarks of the late Chance
lor Kent, when treating upon this subject. He says
Thc faithful observance Of this
on hs s nsaas
ought to do each other much good peace little harm
oug, not therefore, separate tho science Of public law
S @ Of srn s n nor sd tho @ % %
Justice and humanity in relation TO other
persons having public will capable
% do rigas nAsnsch they
ais each Of whom carries with him into
binding law morality religion ought
system composed Of various ngreents consists Of general
principles Of right and Justice equally suitable TO tho
duct Of nations Of collection Of and the
% and s ss and q code Of M tive
conduct Of nations are TO be governed by principles fairly be
obligation and have the authority Of the lawyers antiquity
o some q the frs, masters the modern scsoo Of public for
grounds and for considering individual and national morality
/ Of one and the same science l9H tE E.e3rgLlT zE
Here, sir the principles upon which the law of
tions is based They correct principles and maintain
that there is moral obligation resting upon nation
we'll moral obligation resting upon every ndivid
ual to observe them What right has any to deprive
another of his property his e If he does it, the law
Furnishes him and il he gives out indication of bis
intention to commit crime the restraint of the law is
put upon him, and he is bound keep the peace
If this is So has not the government equal right to
prevent its citizens from committing depredatons upon
Others who at peace with us Have not they the
moral obligation to prevent injury to their neighbos
Is not that just Is it not morally right? And Is it not
humane?
Therefore maintain that the neutrality laws of our
country founded upon the great law of nations which
comends itself to the judgment and conscience of every
right thinking This law of nations ia Of modern
growth The ancient republics knew nothing about 1t
they knew nothing of right wrong and they paid
regard to the rights and property Of others We all know
that the best fleets of Athens went out upon these pratt
cal excursions to deprive others of their property and
their lives. 1t is for us for this governmentfor this
great people-to determine whether will 60 back to
those ancient times and initiate these paical excursions
whether we will keep citizens within the restraints
OF law, and morality, and Justice. aNsgf IEEH I1E
am In favor, Mr.. Chairman, OF putting stop to this
marauding spirit that is aoa in this country. 1t
mischievous, dangerous spirit 1t is spirit that has done
good, but great deal of harpi 1t il spirit that
haap he nf