The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-12-13

srd there is some reason to expect that
It will now be considered in becoming
and friendly spirit The Importance of
an early disposition of the question
cannot be exaggerated. Whatever
might be the wishes of the two Govern
ments. it is manifest that goodwill and
friendship between the two countries
cannot be established until a reciprocity,
in the practice of good faith and neu-
trality, shall be restored between the
respective nations.
On the 9th Of June last, in violation
ofour neutrality laws, military expe-
dition and enterprise against the Bril-
fish North American Colonies was pro-
iccted and attempted to be carried on
within the territory and jurisdiction Of
the United States. In obedience to
the obligation imposed upon the Exc
cutive by the Constitution, to see that
the laws are faithfully executed, all
citizens were warned by proclamation,
against taking part in or aiding such
unlawful proceedings, and the proper
civil, military, and naval officers were di-
rected to take all necessary measures
for, the enforcement of the laws. The
expedition failed, but it has not been
without its painful consequences.
Some of our citizens who, it was
alleged, were engaged in the expedition
were captured, and have been brought
to trial, as for capital offence, in the
Province of Canada. Judgment and
sentence of death have been pronounced
against some, while others have been
acquitted. Fully believing in the
maxim of government, that severity of
civil punishment for misguided persons
who have engaged in revolutionary at
tempts which have disastrously failed,
is unsound and unwise, such rcpresen-
tations have been made to the British
Government, in behalf of the convicted
persons, as, being sustained by an en-
lightened and humane judgment, will,
it is hoped, induce in their cases an ex-
ercise of clemency, and judicious
amnesty to all who were engaged in the
movement. Counsel has been employed
by the Government to defend citizens
of the United States on trial for capital
offences in. Canada; and discontinuance
of the prosecutions which were institu
ted in the courts of the United States
against those who took part in the ex-
petition, has been directed.
have regarded the expedition as not
only political in its nature, but as also
in a great measure foreign from the
United States in its causes, character
and objects. The attempt was under
stood to be made in sympathy with an
insurgent party in Ireland, and by
striking at British province on this
continent, was designed to aid in obtain
ing redress for political grievances
which, it was assumed, the people of
ireland had suffered at the hands of
the British Government during per-
iod of several centuries. The person
engaged in it were chiefly natives of
that country, some Of whom had, while
others had not, become citizens of the
United States under our general laws
of naturalization.
Complaints of misgovernmenti in Ire
land continually engage the attention
of the British nation, and SO great an
agitation is now prevailing in Ireland
that the British Government had DEEM
ed it necessary to suspend the writ of
habeos corpus in that country. These
must necessarily modify
the opinion which we might otherwise
have entertained in regard to an expe-
dition expressly prohibited by our neu-
trality la S. So long as those laws re-
main upon our atut,-books, they should
be faithfully executed, and if they ope-
rate harshly, unjustly or oppressively,
Congress alone can apply the remedy, by
their modification or repeal
X X ** x .tt
Peace is now prevailing everywhere
in Europe, and the present seems to be
favorable time for au assertion by
Congress of the principle, so long main
tanned by the Executive Department,
that naturalization by one State fully
exempts the native born subject of any
other State from the performance of
military service under any foreign Gov
eminent, so long as he does not volua-
tarily renounce its rights and benefits Z
In the performance of a duty imposed
upon me by the Constitution, [ have
thus submitted to the representatives
Of the States and of the people such in
formation of our domestic aud foreign
affairs as the public interests seem to-
require. Our Government is now un-,
dergoing its most trying ordeal, and my
earnest prayer is that the peril may be
successfully and finally passed, without
impairing its original strength and
symmetry. OIL 4G Il
The interests of the nation are best
to be promoted by the revival of frater-
nal relations, the complete obliteration
of our past differences, and the reinau-
guration ofall the pursuits of peace
Directing our efforts to the early accom-
plishment of these great ends, let us
endeayor to preserve harmony between
the coordinate Departments of the
Government, that each in its proper
sphere may cordially cooperate with
the other in securing the maintenance
of the Constitution, the preservation of