The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1859-12-07
The Neutrality Laws.


Washington despatch will be found in another
column which purports to give some of the points
oftbe auuua' message which Mr.. Buchanan has
,,emred. The same despatch GAYS in conclusion:
distinct recommendation is made for an altera-
,o, of the neutrality laws, so as to permit Ameri.
can. 10 enlist in defence of any cgitimately estab.
l,hed government, without mourning the penalties
ofthis law.
This may be merely asurmise Of the Geographic
reporter but We sincerely hope that the President
will recommend . very material alteration of the
odous, III. American, cowardly and superannuatcd
statutes which have fettered our advancing footsteps
As much they have belied our national character
We have little reason to expect that our influence
wapeople will be telt among the neighboring
states of this continent or that our natural and
necessary acquisition of the whole North American
continent will fairly begin, so long as these absurd
prohibitions disgrace our statute books As the
lev fApril goth 1918 now stands, no military or
naval expedition whatever can be prepared in this
country to opsfate in another not even at the e1.
press invitation of Republic which is about to be
overwhelmed. That it has been permitted to re-
main so long without modification is something not
easy to reconcile with American feeling and Ameri-
can character. ~
q We are not at liberty to believe, however, that
che President will propose or favor any such abro-
gstOn or change as will deprive the U. S. govern.
ment Of the power Of preventing military expedi.
tons Of as Furious sort and ola maniiesty Injurious
tendency. The only document in which he has vet
referred at any length to the subject of the Neu.
;r.ity LAWS Was his message of JAM 7th 1858 rela.
tive to the arrest of Walker by Pauldng, in which
he says:
ain thus far disappearing the conduct of Com.
modore Paaldipg, no inference must be drawn that
am less determined than have ever been to exc
cute the Neutrality Laws of the United States.
This is my imperative duty and shall continue to
perform it BY all the means which the constitution
and the laws have placed in my power"
lie quotes and approves in the next paragraph
the expressions used by Mr. Monroe in his message
Of Dec. 7th 1919, as follows:
ut is Of the highest Importance to our national
character and Indispensable to the morality of our
citizens, that all violations of our Neutrality Laws
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 advan-
sge oil it to compromit the interest or the honor Of
the nation
lie gives brief summary of the laws of June
9th. 1874, and April 10th, 1918, and dcscants with
bis usual Sigor on lawless expeditions and the
necessity OF preventing them. He regards them as
''the most efectual mode OF rcta,dine American
progress" although he recognizes ''the destiny Of
our race to spread themselves over the continent
OF North America and this at no distant day should
s7ents be permitted to take their natural course
1t will be remembered that, in January 1868,
Senator slidell renewed an effort which he had
made four years previously, to vest in the Prcsi
dent fthc United States in certain contingencies
and under proper restrictions, the power of tempo
rarlly suspending by proclamation the operation Of
the Neutrality Laws. When his resolutions were
frs. read in the Senate and ordered to be printed
be said
u believe the policy to be suicidal which de.
prises us, at all tines and under all circumstances
Of the faculty to aid the struggles of oppressed aud
suffering communities against the despotsm of their
rulers fE5
There is reason to believe that these resolutions
had the appreciation Of Dr. Buchanan and that he
'!mpathlzed in the sentiments expressed by Mr.
shdell. We hope the subject has been made
prominent in the forthcoming message, that it will
be thoroughly canvasscd by both branches of the
federal legislature and that some law will be SUBJ
'''uted Tor that Of 1918, more compatible with the
spirit and more promotive of the progress of this
nation.