The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-12-11

there is some reason to expect that it
will now be considered in q becoming and
friendly spirit. The importance Of an
early disposition Of the question cannot
exaggerated. Whatever might be the
wishes of the two Governments, it is
manifest that good will and friendship )
between the two countries cannot be
established until reciprocity, in the
practice Of good faith and neuirslity,,s
shall be restored between the respective.
nations.
On the 9th Of june last, in violstion1
of our neutrality laws, military expe-
dition and enterprise against the British
North American colonies was projected
and attempted to be carried on within, the
territory and jurisdiction Of the United
States. In obedience to the obligation
imposed on the Executive BY the Con-
stitution, to see that the laws are faith
fully executed, all citizens we're warned,
by proclamation, against taking part in
Or aiding such unlawful proceedings, and
the proper civil, military, andsnayal off,
GERS were directed 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, il. was alleged, were
engaged in the expedition were captured,
and have been brought to trial as for d = :
capital ofense, in the Province Of Canada "a
Judgment and sentence Of death. have
been pronounced against some, awhile yoth.o
ers have been.acquitteds Fully abelieyingo
in the maxim of Government, that seserso
lity Of civil punishment for misguided
persons who have engaged in revolution
ary attempts which have disastrously fail
ad, is unsound and unwise, such repre-;
sentations have been made the British
lGoyernment, in behalf sof the convicted
persons, as being sustained by an enlight-
ened and humane judgment. will, it Is
hoped, induce in their cases an exercise
of sclemeney,' and judicious amnesty tol
all who were engaged in the movement.
Counsel has been employed by the Cow
ernment to defend citizens of, the United
States on trial for capital ofenses I'm Can
ada; and 1iscontinnance Of. the prosecu.
tions which were Instituted IN the Courts
of the United States against those ,Yhq
took part in the expedition, has been d,
rected. in lsa4 mo- lsss sgIa d : i,S-1.gs
/ have regarded the expedition as mot
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 understood to be made
in sympathy with an insurgept party in,
ireland, and, by striking at British
Province on this continent, was designed
to aid in obtaining redress for political
grievances which, it was assumed, the
people of Ireland had suffered at the
hands Of the British Government during
a period of several centuries. The peri
3sons engaged in it were chiefly natives of
that country, some of whom had, while
Others had not, become citizens of thef
United States under our general laws of
naturalization. Complaints 7of misgos-s
ernment in ireland, contiuually engage
the attention of the British nation, and
$50 great an agitation is now prevailing iu
j ireland that the British Government have
deemed it necessary to suspend, the writ
tof habeas corpus in that country These
circumstances must necessarily modify
the opinion which we might otherwise
have entertained in regard to an expedi-
ton expressly prohibited by our neutral
Iity laws. So long as these laws remain
upon our statute books, they should be
faithfully executed, and If they operate
harshly, unjustly, or oppressiyely, Con-
gress alone can apply the remedy, ,bytheir
modi ication ororepeal. 81 sa5a III II
Political and commercial interests Of
the United States are not unlikely to be
effected in some degree BY events which
are transpiring in the eastern. regions Of
Europe, and the time seems to have come
when our Government ought to have a
proper diplomatic representation in
Greece.
- This Government has claimed for ihail
persons, notconvicted, or accused, or sns-
pected of crime, an absolute political
right Of selfexpatriation. and choieesof
!, new national aIlegiance Mostof the
I European States have dissented frerns this
4 principle, and have claimed right to
4 hold such of their subjects as have immir
grated to and been naturalized .ind.the
:. United States, ,and afterwards returned en-
J transient visits to their native countries,
/ to the performance Of military service in
Hike manner as resident subjects Com
4 plants arising from the. claim in this re-
Il spect made By foreign States, have here.