The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-11

i
Law?
IL IL curious fact that In all the wise prov,
sicns of fdc constitution of the United States
there IL none to provide for the punishment OF
setting on foot armed expeditions in one State
for the purpose Of invading another, nor has
Congress ever supplied the omission. Neu-
trality laws have been enacted against setting
on foot armed expeditions against foreign ceun-
tlies with which our government is at peace
but none to prevent the citizens of one State in
this Union entering into conspiracies to invade
another, and organizing an armed force for that
purpose.
1t seems as if the idea was SO horrible to the
founders of the republic that they shrunk from
| naming or suggesting such crime. They took
for granted that it never could arise-that no
parricides could ever be found who would gain
any considerable support for such an impious
enterprise. They concluded, therefore, that il
was time enough to make provision against the
enOrmity whenever the occasion arose and that
as Congress would have the power in its own
hands to apply the remedy, sufficient unto the
day was the evil thereof"
Unfortunately, the time has come for the ac-
ton of Congress. Parricides have appeared,
and some Of them have paid the forfeit of their
crimes some have yet to iquidate the debt
due to justice, and some have escaped her long
arm and fled to foreign lands. But the evil
does not stop here. The Southern States are
dangerously alarmed and excited at the facility
with which they may be invaded by Northern
hordes of desperadoes, and servile insurrec-
tons organized and carried into effect As the
law now stands there is nothing to proven.
successor to John Brown setting on foot in any
Northern State another armed expedition
against Virginia or any Of her sister States
on Mason and Dixon's line.
Now, as prevention is always better than
cure and as the cure may sometimes be too
late, there is an absolute necessity for q law
Of Congress to prevent such conspiracies
as those in which John Brown embarked State
laws cannot be depended on; for the local
authorities might be SO tainted by treason
themselves, or so strongly sympathize with the
traitors that they could not carry out the laws,
if indeed it were possible to have the neces-
raj law, therefore. is needed as would reach all
men in every State-even United States sena
tors and Governors Of States; and that Ian
should have for its sanction nothing less than
the dealt penalty, and not even the President
should have the power to pardon the criminal
or commute his sentence.
There now seems no doubt Of the neces-
sity Of such law. But the question is. will
Congress in which the black repub-
lican element is so large-an element which
sympathizes with John Brown and endorses
Helpers reasonable book-be likely to adopt
this strong measure, so inperatively called for
by the times. Ont of 23l votes for
Speaker in the House of Representa-
tives on Friday, NJ. Sherman, whose
name has been signed to the circular
endorsing the Impending Crisis received
10 votes, or within six Of what were necessary
to elect him. In fact, it is well known that he
really required but two, and If these two could
only be brought over the rest would follow.
It seems therefore, forlorn hope, to ask such
House Of Representatives to pass this INV.
But it ought nevertheless, to be urged. and the
onus thrown upon it Of refusing to provide for
the safety Of the Union, and the better securi-
ty Of the Southern States against the raids of
men like John Brown. In this way either the
republican party would be compelled to show
its hand more distinctly, and fully develope its
reasonable designs, or consent to a law which
cannot injuriously affect any good man, any
man loyal to the constitution. Such bill
would have the effect Of drawing the line Of de-
marcation between traitors and loyalists; and
the country will have no difficulty on which
side to place those who may dare to oppose
measure which now appears so necessary for
the peace and the safety Of the Union.