Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1858-01-21

to prevent or punish this and similar often.
ses against the law ofnations, was a sub.
ject which engaged the attention of our most
eminent statesmen in the time of the admin
istration Of General Washington, and on the
occasion Of the French revolution. The
act Of Congress of June 8, 1884, fortunate
ly removed all the difficulties on this ques.
ton which had heretofore existed, The
9th and 9Th sections OF this act, which re-
late to the present question, are the same
in substance with the 9Th and 9Th sections
of the act of April 20, 1878, which have
now been in force for period of more than
sixty years The military expedition rem
dered criminal by the act must have its orr
gin--muSt begin or be set on foot in The
United States, but the great object OF the
law was 10 save foreign states with whom
we are at peace from the ravages OF these
lawless expeditions proceeding from cur
shores. The seventh section alone, there
fore, which simply defines crime and its
punishment fully, have been inadequate to
accomplish this purpose, and enforce our
international duties. In order TO render
the law eifsctual, it was necessary TO pre-
vent the carrying on of such expeditions to
their contamination after they had succeed
ed in leaving our shores. This has been
done effecually, and in clear and explicit
language, by the authority given to the
President under the 9Th section Of the act
to employ the land and naval forces Of the
United States, for the purpose of prevent
ing the carrying on any such expedition Of
or enterprise from the territory or jurisdic.
ton of the United States, against the
territory or the domain Of any foreign prince
or state, or of any colony district or people
with whom the United States are at peace.
For these reasons, had Commodore Pauld-
ing intercepted the steamer Fashion with
General 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 eXpe-
dition and have been not only a justifable
but praiseworthy act. THIS well deserves
the severe punishment inflicted upon it by
our laws. 1t violates the principles oil
Christianity, morality and humanity, held
sacred by all civilized nations, and BY none
more than by the people of the United
States Disguise it as we may, such mil
itarv expedition is an invitation 10 reckless
and lawless men to enlist under the banner
/ of an adventurer TO rob, plumber and MUIR
der the unoffending citizens of neighborine
states who have never done them harm. Il
is uSurpaton Of the war making power
which belongs alone to Congress. The
government itself, at least in the estimation
of the world, becomes an accomplish in Tho
commission Of this crime, unless it adopts
all the means necessary to prevent and t
punish it. 1t would be far better, and more
in accordance with the bold and manly spir
it of our countrymen, for the government
itself TO get up such expeditions than to al
low them to proceed under the command o
irresponsible adventures. We could then
nj least, exercise some control over our owl
agents, and prevent them from burning
down cities, and committing other acts o
enormity of which we have read The q
vowed principle which lies at the founda
ton of the law of nations is the divine com
mand that sail things whatsoever ye woulc
that men should do TO you, do We even s.
unto unto them" Tried by this unerrini
rule, we should be severely condemned i
we shall not use our feeble sister republic
of Nicaragua.
One thing is very cerstain, that peo
pie never existed who would sooner call an,
other nation to stricter account than W,
should ourselves for tolerating lawess ex
petitions from their shores to make wa
upon any portion of our territories. BY tol
Grating such expeditions, we shall soon loos
the high character which we have enjoye'
ever since the day OF Washington, Tor