The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-06-20
, The Law of Neutrality.

To understand the occasion and motive of
the recent proclamation of the president,
bringing to the notice of the fenian organize
ton the fact that their movement upon Cana
da was an infraction of the law of the land,
we publish In tull the neutrality oct of 1918,
''for the punishment of certain crimes against
the United States" 1t will be seen that the
law dsnouncss heavy penalties for the com
mission OF Just such deeds as have been done
and contemplated by the feniaDs.
Speaking of this law the New York World
says:
Thirty years ago, under Mr.. Van Buren's
administration, il was called into full vigor
along the same Canada border which has
now been disturbed but, at that time, against
excited citizens of American birth. among
the activs sympathIzers with the patriots"
we're many old soldiers who had served in
Canada under Gen. Scott, In the proceeding
war with England. Gen. Scott was sent to
the border TO restrain our citizens, and he
| told the soldiers who had served under him
that they should not 60 into Canada without
passing over his body. Mr.. Van Buren, is
| susd proclamation, as Mr.. johnson has
done; be sont troops to the frontier, char
| tered steamboats, en- the lakes, and called on
the state governors for their active coopera-
| tion We recall these facts to show the feni.
| ans that no more is done in their case than
| has been done in similar before; and
that, in such a matter, the government knows
| no difference between Irshmeu and native
| Americans In a communication to congress
on this subject Mr*N an Buren, concluded by
| saying:
| ssBut this government recognizes a still higher
obligation repsess all attempts the part of Its
citizens to disturb the pesce OF country whei e
order prevails or has been re-establlshed. Depre-
datlons BY our citizens upon HAtons at peace with
the United States, or combinations for committing
| them, have all times been regarded by tn
| American government and people with the great
adherence. Military Incursions by our citIzens
into countries situated, and the commission OF
acts OF violence on the members thereof, IN orceI
TO effect change IN the government, or under any
pretex whatever, have, from the commencement OF
our government, been held equally criminal on the
part OF those engaged in them and as much deserv
ing OF punishment would be tho disturbance o.
the public peace by the preparation OF similar act'
| within our own territory"
To show that the party relations of the
government has had rs little TO do with such
measures of repression as the neutrality OF
the adventures, we will recall an instance
which occurred under q whig administration
Mr.Van Buren, having been one OF the ahle-
of our democratic presidents. Irishmen who
have not been long in this country may new
er have heard OF the famous Lopez expedl
ton fitted out in our southern states, IN lo49
against the island of Cuba Its motives were
almost identical with those of the fenar
movement against Canada. The Cuba pat
riots wished to release their beautiful island
from the control OF the mother country
When the expedition abhut to sail from
New Orleans, President FilliiSore issued q
strong proclamation against it, aid Caused
the arrest of Gen Qui5man for having aided
it, although Gen. Qui1man was at that time
governor of the state of Mississippi. The fe
mans will therefore see that they are treated
precisely as others have been treated in simi
. | lar circumstances.