Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-13
THE NEUTRALITY IAw-THE PRES
IDENT AND CONGRESS-.


IDENT AND CONGRESS-.
The sixth section Of the act of April 20,
lSlS-the neutrality LAWS in the follow
ing words:
That II any person shall, within the territory or
jurisdiction OF the United States begin to set on
foot, or provide or prepare the means for any
military expedition or enterprise, TO be carried
on from thence against the territory or dominions
Of any foreign prince State, or OF any colony or
district Of people, with whom the United States
are at peace, every person so offending shall be
deemed guilty OF a high misdcmeanOr, and shall
be fined not exceeding three thousand dollars,
and imprisoned not more than three years.
The President, when the recent Fenian
movement developed itself into a viola
ton Of this law, promptly proclaimed it,
and required those engaged in the hostile
invasion Of Canada to desist, and empow-
cred his subordinates TO use force, if neces-
sary, TO compel its observance. This
was his duty-nothing more and nothing
less. For this action he is being severely
criticised by the press of that party who
would scruple at nothing TO break him down
in public esteem, and who seek to array
against him that class of our Irish fellow
citizens who sympathized with the Fenian
project The political wireworken in Con-
gress have taken hold Of the question, and
the proceedings of Monday exhibit an adroit
game No less than four resolutions were
offered in regard to it-some proposing a
repeal of the act of 1918; some declaring
that the Government, in the matter
between Great Britain and the Fe-
mans, should observe them no further than
that Government had done in the issue be-
tween the late Confederacy and the United
States Government; some insisting that the
action of the President in the Fenian case
was uncalled for and disgraeeful;' and
some demanding in the name of the good
faith and honor of the Government that the
neutrality law should be faithfully executed
the whole Of it intended 10 effect purely po-
litical ends. A grave question involving the
execution of statute law, and the performance
Of international duty is seized, upon the spur
Of moment, for this unworthy purpose.
Shortsighted, reckless men, such as compose
the majority of Congress, would set at naught
a positive law Of the land, and threaten for
eign war in order TO render unpopular the
Chief Executive of the laws by pandering
TO the feelings Of class of their country
men. Oh, what need there is for thought
ful, prudent statesmen in the public councils!
But fortunately the good sense of the
people is generally able 70 render harm
less such mischieyous ;riflipg with their
interests. We do not thins anything
more is 10 coIne Of il than a wrangle,
in which dissolute American politicians
propose TO play the same game with the Irish
people OF this country that some of the Fe-
nian leaders have done in the late unfortu-
nate movement. Such conduct rs that dis
played in Congress the other day deserves to
be severely condemned. The law which
required the Presidents interposition against
the Fenian enterprise was upon the statute
book He would have been grossly and I'M
pardonably faithless 10 his oath of duty, if ne
had not executed it. This is government
of laws. When it becomes anything else it
shouldnot command therespectof British,
the Fenians, or any one else. If the conduct
Of Britain in our late intestine struggle was
violatiye of her duty, let US, as a great ma
ton make the issue direct with her. We can
do so with better grace if we are conscious of
having done our own duty in the same re-
gard. This mode of striking the British
Government over the back of the Fenians is
unmanly, and unworthy of the people who
have twice warred successfully with her,
and the political maneuver against the Pres
ident on account Of his action in the affair
is despcable to the last degree.
The President has maintained the faith of
the Government, and as we said on yester-
day, he will prove himself more sincere
and steadfast friend to the Irish people than
the clamorous demagogues who abuse him,
while they would at the same time sacrifice
the honor or imperil the peace af the ma
ton.