The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-08
Y OF WASHINGTON. FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 8, 1853.

public interest To communicate 10 the Senate the
pondence instructions and orders To the United States
naval forces the coast OF Central America connected
with the arrest of VIM. Walker and his associates at or
near the port of San Juan, IN Nicaragua and, also, to
transmit such further information he may possess in
relation to that event.
The message was read 1t win be found in another
column
The reading of the message having been concluded,
Mr. MASON moved its reference to the Committee on
Foreign Relations and that it be printed together with
the accompanying documents. -t g .-le
The motion to print agreed To, and ON the ques-
tion Of reference long debate ensued.
Mr.. DAVIS took occasion TO dissent from of the
arguments contained in the message He remarked that
the President had assumed that the neutrality laws,
which required that such expeditions this should be
suppressed also conferred upon the Executive the power
to 60 beyond the jurisdiction of the United States TO
suppress them This seemed to be the key to the policy
on the part of the administration which sent the navy
down to the coast OF Central America instead of station
ing the vessels where they should have been sta
toned, at the mouth of the Mississippi and the
coast of Alabama. Were this expedition all that it
described to be- it is only msdemeanor instead OF
violation of the neutrality laws. The suspicion that
there intent to make against q nation
with which we sre ut peace would have justified the
detention of Gen. Walker and his within the limits
of the United States but not their arrest beyond
limits AS have extradition treaty with Nicaragua
they could not have lawfully been taken upon her soil,
had they been fugtves from Justice The President
has more power to make such an arrest than any
member of Congress If neghbors are too weak to
protect themselves, should use all lawful means to
prevent citizens from invading their territory but it
Is not within the theory of government to fit out
pedons to catch half dozen dozen or one or two
hundred men, who may choose to leave the United States
and land upon their shores In this respect he thought
we were making great departure from those principles
which have heretofore guided the conduct of govern
ment If it be the pleasure of Congress to give the
President police powers the high seas and authorize
him to use the army and navy constabulary force,
LET it he done by he Of laws % this end
Mr. MASON said that he doubted the expediency of
discussing this subject without further and more mature
deliberaon The President of the United States ap-
pointed by the constitution the head of the army and
navy and the laws of the land direct how they to be
used Without going into any lengthy argument he
thought clearly incumbent the President to that
the neutrality laws were faithfully executed.
Mr. CRlTIENDEN alluded to the remark of the Presi-
dent that Commodore Pauldng had committed grave
error and said that according to his premises such
conclusion altogether illogical and the conduct of
Com p was as comormable to law as if he had received
express instructions to do what he did. ....
Mr. BROWN thought il little singular that while
the President disapprovcd of the arrest of Gen Walker
yet he at the same time excused that act The arrest of
Gen. Walker in violation Of law; for if Commodore
Pauding had right to make the arrest his conduct is
not only to he excused, but applauded If he had
legal right to do that act then the President it to
the people Of the country to condemn it. But if Gen
Walker has been guilty Of any violation of law and has
been arrested and brought back to shores fugitive
from JUSTICE why is he not put nthe clutches of the law
Why he brought to New York, placed in the hands OF
The marshal then brought here and delivered into the
hands of the Executive and then set at liberty Why
he not carried back to Louisiana by the author
y that arrested him. and there put upon his trial this
charge of violating the law Mr.. b. went to say that
this farce being played out before the American
people, which dsTeputable TO all who engaged
nit There had been no violation of law. Those who
have trmped up this charge against Walker knew that
there had been violation of law If they believe that
he has violated the law they have been guilty of dere
ction Of duty in not furnishing him for it. The fitting
out of an expedition in violation of the neutrality laws
thing and the voluntary expatration of citizen
was altogether different thing. ..-.
If General Walker went there avowng that it his
purpose endcavor to regain the rights of which he had
been dspossessed he did than he had right to
do Mr. b. argued that he himself had right to take
his msket upon his shoulder and go and tell the Pes
dent of tho United States and the Secretary of War; and
the district attorneys and the marshas everywhere that
he meant to wage against Nicaragua any other
nation and they would have right to moest him. If
one man has that right, two men, three men, five
hundred men, have It, Tho mistake was that the ad-
mnistmtion were intending to punish what the law
meant should be punishedto wit the intent while in
the United States to fit out expedition beyond the linn
its of the United States with hostile purpose towards
nation with which at peace. He illustrated this
point by reference to law which makes it penal Of
fence for person to go beyond the limits of the District
of Columbia with the intention of fighting duel Be-
fore that law was passed. people had right to do this
act and did do it, The law being passed. made the in
tention penal offence Now if there similar law
furnishing the intention of collecting and materials,
and going beyond the limits of the United States to fit out
expedition then the government might get hold OF
General Walker; but there is no such law. ssIsra
Mr.. b. proceeded to remark that he had high
gard for the navy any other citizen but if any
thing could bring reproach and eternal disgrace
upon the navy, it this precise course OF
action. First Commander Chatard lets Walker pass
him. and then, seeming to have glimmering
idea that he had mistaken his duty, he undertakes to
his neglect by resorng to and dirty attempts
to insult Gen. Walker in his camp, evidently with the
intention of provoking him to act that he might
have an to fire upon him. Then Commodore
Pauldng comes, of ripe years, doing what every
knows he has DONE and what it unnecessary to
capitulae, and writing just such letter rs ought to
alix the seal of eternal disgrace upon him. 1T dis
grace to the very epauetts which he upon his shoul
der 1t high time that naval officers should be
confined the discharge of their duties according to law
for there too much disposition to exceed the law by
one and all of them And he could not forbear saying
that he thought the President would better have dis
charged his duty the laws and best interests of the
country by poinedy rebuking the lawess act of Commo
dore Pauldng than by excusng it, 1t would not do for
the President that Paudngs act was in violation
OF law, and then wink at it. No matter If Nicaragua
does not complaint It is not for to violate our laws
when Nicaragua does not complain, and execute them
when she does complain Our duty is to according to
law. IfCommodore Pauldng has conformed to law, let
him be applaudcd and il not let him be condemned.
Mr. B. said he might go into history of the matter and
show that In the first instance Walker invited to go
to Nicaragua that he accepted the invitation, became
citizen of that country and lawfully elected Presi
don't that he taken out Of the country by one OF
our naval officers and that patriotic men in the diff
ferent States had volunteered TO go and assist him
10 snatch back the rights which had been wrcsted
f,n,, him, H,th ha not po TINT