The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-01-09
MESSAGE or THE PHEs1DEKT
e, RELATIVE TO THE ARREST On WALKER

|, Y A., SAIUkDAY,J JAl
MESSAGE or THE PREs1DEH
RELATfyET0 THE ARREST on WALKER
wAsHIssTox, Jan. Tia submitting 10 the Sc
ate the papers FOE which they have called, dss
It proper to make few observations.
Ia capturing General Walker aud his eannaan
4 after they bad landed on tbs soil OF Nicaragu
Commodors Pauidipg has. In my opinion, comm
tod grave erIsr. Il IL quite esident, hoveve
| from the Communications herewith transmItte
that this was icne from pure aud patriotic motive
| and ~ the sincere conviction that be was prom
ting the interests and vindicating the honor Of b
| country.
| In regard to Nicaragua, she has sustained no 1
jury by the oct OF Cornmodore PHuldipg. This hi
enrred to her benefit, and relieved bsr from
dreaded Invasion. She alone would have any rigl
TO complain OF the,vioation Of her territory, az
| 1t is quite certain she will never exercise th
right. IL Inquestioasbly oes not lie in the inoni
Of her invaders 70 complain Ia her name that 81
has been rescued BY Commodore Paulding fro,
their assaults The error of ttis gallant ofics
consists tn exceeding his instructions and landfn
his sailors aud marines in Nicaragua whether Wit
or without her consent. for the purpose of maxim
var upoE any military force whatever which b
might fnd in the country, no matter from whene
thsy came This power certainly did not belon
Obedience to law and conformity to instruction
are the best and safest guides for all officers, civ
and military; and when they transcend thes
limits, and act upon their own personal rsspons
oility evil consequences almost inevitably follow
Under these circumstances, when Marshal Rynder
presented himself at the State Department. on tn
18th ultimo, with General Walker in custody tn
Secretary informed him that the Executive Ds
partment of the Government did not recognis
Gen Walker as prisoner; that it had no diree
tons to give concerning him; and that 1t ia onl
through the action of the Judiciary that be coui,
lawfully be held in custody to answer any charge
that might be brought against him.
In thus far disappearing the conduct of Gommo
dore Psuldfng. no inference must be drawn that
am less determined than have ever been to exc
cute the neutrality laws OF the United States -.
This Ia my imperative duty. aud shall continu,
TO perform 1t by all the means which the Constitu
tion and ths Laws have placed in my power. Nj
opinion OF the value and Importance Of these laws
corresponds entirely with that expressed by Mr.
Monroe In his message to Congress Of December Z
1873. That wise, prudent, and patriotic statesman
says:
lit is Of the highest Importance TO our national
Character and indispensable to the morality Of our
citizens that all violations of our neutrality should
be prevented. No door should be left open for the
evasion Of our laws no opportunity afforded to any
who may be disposed to take advantage of IL to
cnmpromit the interest or the honor of the na-
tion."
means for military expedition within the United
States, to make war against O foreign State, with
which we are at peace, IL one of an aggravated
and dangerous character, and early engaged the
attention OF Congress. Whether the Executive
Government possesses any, or what power, under
the Constitution, independently of Congress to
prevent and punish this and similar offences
against the law OF nations, WAS q subject which
Engaged the attention Of our most eminent states
men In the time of the administration Of General
Washington, and on the occasion Of the French
Revolution. The act Of Congress of the 5th of
June, I94, fortunately removed all the difficulties
on this question which had Heretofore existed
The 5th and 9TH sections of this act which relate
10 the present question: are the same In substance
With the 9th and 9th sections of the act Of April
10Th, 1918, and have now been 10 force for period
sf more than sixty years. The military expedi-
lion, rendered criminal by the act, must have its
,rigin, must "begin" or ''be set on foot" in the
United States; bus the great object OF the law WAS
20 save foreign States with whom We were at
,esce from the ravages Of these lswless expedi-
ions, proceeding from our shores. The 5th sec
ion alone, therefore, which simply defines the
,rime and its punishment, would have been made
luate to accomplish this purpose and enforce our
International duties.
In order to render the Law efiectual 1t was ne
essary to prevent "the carrying on" of such expe-
iitions to their consummation after they had sue
'eeded in leaving our shores. This has been done
fectually, and in clear and explicit language, by
he authority given to the President under the sth
ection Of the act to employ the land and naval
orces Of the United States for the purpose Of pre-
renting the carrying on Of any such expedition or
enterprise from the territories or Jurisdiction OF
he United States against the territories domain
# any foreign prince or State, or of any colony,
listrict or people with whom the United States are
It peace"
For these reasons, had Com nodore PauldinC in.
ercepted the steamer Fashion" with Gen. Walker
md bis command on board. at any period before
hey entered the port Of San Juan de Nicaragua.
I'd conducted them back to Mobile thi. would
lave prevented them from ''carryIpg on" the ex.
'edition, and have been not only justi6able, but
praiseworthy act. |
The crime well deserves the severe punishment
Inflicted upon it by our laws. It Violates the
of Christianity, morality and humanity,
leld sacred by all civilized nations, and by none
more than the people Of the United States. Dis
luise Il as We may, such a military expedition Is
IN invitation to reckless and lawesamen to enlist
inder the banner OF any adventurer to rob, plum
Ter, and murder the unoffending citizens of neigh
boring States who have never done them harm-
Il is an usurpstion Of the wsr-making power
which belongs alone to Congress; and the Gov.
'rnment itself. at least ip the estimation of the
world, becomes an accomplice Ia the commission
,f this crime, unless it adopts all the means ne
,esssry to prevent and to punish it, 1t would be
ar better, and most in accordance with the bold
Ind manly character of our countrymen. for the
iovern ment itself to get up such expeditions than
% allow them to proceed under the command Of
adventurers. We could then at least
exercise some control over our own agents, and
prevent them from burning down cities and COM
hitting other acts Of enormity Of which we have
,ead.
The avowed principle which lies at the founda-
ion Of the Law Of nations is contained in the Di.
7ine command that "all things Whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you, do ye even 80 TO
HEM" Tried by this unerring rule, we should be
everely condemned 1--WE shall not use our best
'xertions to arrest such expeditions against our
eeble sister Republic of Nicaragua. One thing is
Tery certain, that people never existed who would
all any other nation to stricter account than
hould ourselves for tolerating Iawless expedi
ions from their shores TO make war upon any por-
ion of our territories. BY I, t,lsrating such expe-
litions, We shall sson lose the high character
which We have enjoyed ever since the days of
NashiDgton for the faithful performance of our In
obligations and duties, and inspire dis
rust against as among the members Of the great
amily of civilized nations
But if motives of duty were not sufficient to re-
train us from engaging in such Ia wless enterpri-
es our evident interest ought to dictate this poll
y. These expeditions are the most effectual mode
II retarding American progress; although to pro-
note this is the avowed object of the leaders and
contributors in such undertakings. 1t is beyond
question the destiny Of our race To spread them
elves over the continent Of North America, and
his at no distant day, should events be permitted
% take their natural course. The tide OF emf
.rants will dow to the South, and nothing can
arrest its progress. II permitted to 60
here peacefully, Central America will soon con-
ain an American population, which will confer
blessings and benefits as we'll upon the natives as
heir respective Governments. Liberty, under the
estraint Of law, will preserve domestic peace:
whilst the different transit routes aerossthe 18th
nus In which We are so deeply interested will have
assured protection Nothing has retarded this
Happy condition of affairs much az the unlsw-
nl expeditions which have been fitted Jut In the
United States to make war upon the Central
American States. Had oae-half Of the number Of
american citizens who have miserably perished In
he first disastrous expedition of Gen Walker set
led in Nicaragua peaceful emigrants, the object
which we all desire would ere this have been, In
.rest degree, accomplished.
These expeditions have caused tie people.of the
,entral American States to regard US with dread
ni suspicion. II is our true policy to remove this
and to convince thtm q o. We int d
o do them good, and not evil. Vie desire, ss the
eading Power on this continent, to open, and, II
reed be- to protect every transit rouSe scroes the
sthr1us, not only for our own beneftssbut that Of
he world, and thus open free access to Central
America, and throughout it to our Pacific posses
ions. This policy was commenced upder favora-
,le auspices, when the expedition, under the COM
maud OF Gen. Walker, escaped from our territories,