Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1858-04-24
Extract from Senator Slideu's Speech On
Walkers arrest, AMI the Neutrality

Walkers arrest, AMI the Neutralit
Laws.
Datss7ed in the United ISAes Semae, april 8, 1885,
But we have seen tia
England, whenever it suits her policy, not oll
auglor.zcs but encourages her subjects to tax
part In foreign wars. She twice VI thrice sls
ptudod the enforcement of the foreign eulistllcn
iaW, and Will do so again, whenever Il ~sufi4icn
reason offers. We alone have adopted the sllici
DIAL policy Of SO ma.lacllng ourselves that u law
adding Executive caniIot free us from our s,lf
imposed letters, although the best interests of the
countly demand it.
The act, thtl, Of April, 1878, is not an enforce.
nlent OF the law OF n*tlons, but it is a restraint
upon what, without it, would have been lawful
ahd, Ill many INSTANCES, merlt0rlous ACTIONS OF
our citizens. The ol;y really free 1, preventative
governments OF the world nave thought proper
To pass laws preventing the lcvying armed bodies
Vi men within their territories lor the purpose OF
Waglng war against States with whica they are ut
peace. Why? Becausc in these countries, in the
absence of such laws, the Executive would he
without power to prevent the fitting cut any eH-
padition, however much the object might conflict
with the interests OF the nation or the policy OF
the government. These expeditions, although in
themselves 10 violation of neutrality, where equal
liberty is attordt d to both belligcrunt parties 10
enlist men and purchase munitions ot war, arr
certain to lead at once to acrimonious discus
sions and ultimately 10 terminate in war, wh,rc
the party suffering by them is in a condition to
avenge itself. Neutrality consists in atfording
no greater advantages to one party than the 9th
er. There are many circumstances in which, al
though on paper either belligercnt may have the
right to levy troops in a neutral country, in re-
atty but one only can profit by it. The late war
between Great Britain aud France on one side,
and Russia Ga the other, affords q striking exam
pie. The allies had complete INA of the
ocean, and could have transported any number
of men, enlisted in the United States, without let
or hindrance, to the Crimea; the Russians could
not have conveyed a man or munition of war to
the relief OF SGlastOPOl. Our neutrality would.
i'll that case, had we permitted enlistment, have
only been nominal, and Russia would have had
just cause to complain Of our conduct. To this
danger we should have been exposed had not the
laws of 1894 and 1873 been Oh our statute books.
The continental governments of Europe have no
occasion for such legislation, because, with them
the executive power can always control the move
mcnts of its citizens. In Great Britain, the
Queen, in council, can always suspend the opera
ton Of the Foreign Enlistment Bill, or prevent
the Shipment OF arms, alnunltiOn, or other militia
ry stores and equipments. This power | desire to
confer upon the President when Congress is not
in session. lido not attempt to conceal that it is
a very grave, perhaps in the hands of an indis- !
Greet or inscriptions man. a dangerous one but
1t Is to be exercised under all the high response
bslitIes that attach to the Chief Magistrate ; and
it is useless to disguise that, although the war
making power is given by the Constitution to
any President can so conduct Our for
elSn relations that Congress will have but to
choose the alternative of sustaining him or dis
the country in the eyes of the world
Besides, although my resolution is couched in
general terms, and indicates no such limitation. |
DO not desire to confer on the Plesiden the DOW
ar to suspend the laws, except in'cases where ac-
tual war exists between the Powers, in ref
70 which the sl> pension is to operate, or when a
,ivil war { and by this | do not mean a mere
or rcb,llion) shall have broken out
IL a foreign State, or its colonies. When | made.
our years since, a move ment for the suspension OF
,ur neutrality laws, ] b liev.d, as l now believe,
hat a large majority of the people of Cuba were
Prepared to make a vigorous effort to throw off
he yoke OF their transatlantic oppressors. and
o far as my infirence or councils could be useful.
was willing to aid them. ] believed then. Us ]
low believe, that a hostile feeling towards us
hen existed with the Governments of France and
treat Britain, and that they desired to African
re Cuba. | avail myself, gladly, of the occasion
0 say that such, | am satisfied, is not now the
ceilings of these governments. Besides this. the
OF Cuba, although still DESTROYS of peace
III "HiieAdtioH, arc llot Wiling tO run tue FIX OF
ivil war and servile Instruction, to become mem
ers Of our confcderacy. Public policy must ac-
itself to circumstances, and any at
empt to obtain Cuba, except by negotiation.
hould, in my opinion, now he abandoned. But
honld Spain be rash enough to invade Mexico.
18th the purpose Of establishing a despotic gov
there und'r the name of Santa Anna as
.ictator, or under any other title, then / think !
hat our citizens should be permitted to take part t
l the contest. ! wish this to be done legally. All I
he power of the government cannot restrain S
lem from doing II, and there should be no law i
n our statute book that cannot be enforced h
here are many contingencies about which | do t
OF choose to speculate, where the interests of the
ountry could clearly call for the suspension of
ur Neutrality Laws; and if this power be not
lven to the President, under such restrictions as
he wisdom OF Congress may suggest, | am not
to say that | would not prefer to abolish
lem altogether, excepting SO far as they may be
ccesary to carry out our treaty stipulations, and
lese. as | have before remarked, only apply to :.
le fitting out of armed vessels. i have little Il
ope of the passage Of such a law as l have sug-
ested. | have no pride of opinion on the sub c
It and if / fail, shall be satisfied with the con- +
Ietion that | have done my duty in calling the |
of the Senate and the country to the S
inject; and it may be proper to state, in %conclu- /
on, that in presenting and advocating my reso-
'tlon, l speak only for myself. and act without t
'ncert or understanding with any one. a
FATAL RENcouNrER.-IerriM Fight t
nth Pistols and Boacie Knires.-On Satur-
%yenin one of tho a~hloodioct apd