New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-02
NEU TR Atty.

Anxious about, in relation 10 the recent ana
threatened armed invasion from Canada, is:
What should be the conduct thereon OF the
British Government itself This IS, and ought
10 be insisted upon by Us, as the controlling
view; inasmuch as our Government cannot
lawfully authorize our own people TO enter into
our neighbor's territory to suppress even such
unlawful combinations for hostile purposes
unless, in the language of Mr. Secretary Web
xter, there exists "a necessity OF sell-deiense'
instant, overwhelming, leaving no choice 81
means, and no moment for deliberation." SUch
a necessity of sselfdefense may yet ARISE II
these warlike incursiOns are permitted to De sci
xfoOt, either from lack OF means Tor adequate
restraint upon evl-disposed persons, or through
the negligence of the Canadian local auihori-
ties.
Early in the history of this Republic, iesisla
zion was directed toward providing means Tor
effectively preventing our citizens and aliens
resident among us from engaging in hostiliiies
against other nations with which We are at
peace. Indeed, the United States mayproudy
and truthfuly arTogate 10 itself, that il was the
first among civilized States to enforce the OBJ
Eeryance of the Just rule of neutrality ard peace
BY special and adequate legal enactments
That rule is founded in the improperly and
danger of allowing individuals to make war on
their own authority, or, by mingling themselves
M the belligerent operations OF other nations, to
run the hazard of counteracting the policy, or
L. fha!-
Government" (Uebster.) So that, when
the South American Colonies took up
Arms against their European sovereigns'
oven then we represSed our natural
feeling for affiliating with those colonies, and
remained faithful to our settled policy, and in
accord with the law Of nations. Indeed, our
Government availed itself of the occasion OF
those revolutions to make, as it were, a con-
firmation of that policy, by causing Congress to
pass acts specially applicable, not only 10 the
ease of colonial Instruction, but also TO that
of eiril nar And let US, with some emphasis
cav that, at this time, it will well become the
British Government to remember that the heavy
penalties Of those statutes were faithfully im-
posed upon the persons who, within cur iuriSdic.
lion, acted, during the late Canadian Rebellion,
in concert with her revoted subjects; and that
our Congress, on the 10th Of March, 1893, enact
ed a law for the very purpose of more c6eetaGty
restraining military enterprises passing from the
United States into the British Provinces. by
authorizing the most sure and decisive proven
tive means.
Nor are We without solemn and most author-
itative declaration on the part Of Great Britain
as 70 what is the rule of international law, and
what she thinks to be her duty, in such eircum-
stances. The late Lord Ashburton, at the
time Of the making of the treaty of Washing
ton, says, in reference to just such forcible In
cursions and threatening preparations as those
which are the occasion of this article: Respect
for the inviOlable character OF the territory OF
5ndependent nations is the most essential found
alton Of civilization 1t is useless TO strengthen
principle, so generally acknowledged, by
any appeal to authorities on international law;
\ and her Msjesty's Government set tho highest
possible value on this principle, and are sensible
OF their dnty to support it by their conduct and ri
ample for the maintenance Of peace and order
Il a
ity were not sufficient security for their OBJ
servanoe of this duty toward all nations, it will
be readily believed that the most common die
tates of interest and policy would lead TO it in
the case Of long conterlninous boundary OF
some thousand miles, with country Of such
great and growing power as the United States
OF America, inhabited by kindred race, gifted
with all its activity, aud all its susceptibility on
points Of national honor
This is an official declaration, on behalf Of the
British Government, by its authorized emb&sa-
dor, Of its rule of conduct in cases coming
within the principle enuncated. We look to
the British Goctrnmtni, on this occasion, for the
practical enforcement Of this rule Ofinternatonal
law upon the offenders which it now holds in
custody, and amenable TO its judicial and politi-
cal jurisdiction. Those offenders are already
liable TO punishment for the preparation Of
crimes known to British law, by British courts,
and according to British procedure. We, there
fore, ask the crown officers not 10 forget the
language and conduct of our own Government
upon a somewhat similar, but no means as
course, TO the time of the Canadian rebellion of
1888. Some of our citizens, encouraged and led
OH by refugees from the British provinces, united
with them and organized military expeditions
against the British Government in Canada.
The President Of the United States promptly