The New York herald., 1866-07-26

statutes OF ise4 aud 1901, ~ ch had pee d s, I,r
s,rar ~ win France. did nol sa,~ly thao sap''
Tie authority Of spain ov.r Colonies + quo 80
sss.lsns Of neutral STATE the o. m
acted The purpose Of this act led u s iitie Il
act 70 'preserve neu;fa relations" Ths statute
embraced two principles not coniane" u tho acts of
1894 and 1891 Irequlred the govern eu to ake nas
from owners OF armed vessels that no person within or
Saoa. sIsa ssa q &
authorized and directed cole lnrs 81 Gust upon
suspicion Of such intent and de,aa them until
order OF release sh uld DO Obtained from the Pre-
sldeut
IL was not denied /, at an armed vessel might be law
fully sold by an c,.'zen 70 foreign subject
necessary 70 aae the American citizen resonsloe Tor
might ~ and q thus indirectly aI 70 sohbis the sale Of
Amer ez1n yessela II an act 10 punish CRIME
" tho part Of American citizens deriving Mem
to0 of Tho right Of bciigerent not only 70 punish
the violation Of Law, but 70 demand the surrender Of
70 punish against the law OF nations but TO punish
crime against pain, and that a. moment when she
was drawing her supplies from the United States carry
on the against her colonies through the port VI
Havana which was open 70 ns only for that purpose
1si7 strong and general as 70 suggest revision
Of the several neutrality acts and the consoiida ion OF
the peace Of this country with other nations in single
statute. This was done In 1873 The act OF that year
constitutes the law OF neutrality now in opeat on IN this
country, and il the repeal OF this which the
attention Of the committee has been call by order OF
This was the result Of a strong public feeling against
the act of 1877 and the and united representa-
T. ics asains' @ ,ne ss ca o
States for independence AGAINST Spain. Owing TO Inc
rstent Of fore gn representatives, the new act
notwithstanding tho unp"pularty OF these provisions,
embodied all the obectonab isions OF preceding
legislation Its merit thai IL embodied in one statute
all legislation upon this subject, giving 10 It's provision
the vigor act, to which the attention Of the
ecuve officers of tho country would be newly called
Its abest opponent Clay then Speaker Of tho
House He characterized It act or the ben ht of
Spain against the republics Of America 1t was enacted
npon the pressing claims OF Spain and Portugal, backed
by the rel resen alive Of Great Britain.
No Other country had adopted such provisions OF law
for the maintenance OF neutral obi gaions Il for
bade citizens OF the United tes to accept commissions
In the service Of any government al war with other
IL the he r Da or hs
force OF vessels Of within beyond the jurisdiction
Of the United states with intent to enter such servce
under the penalty Of the conscaton Of property and
punishment by fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars
and Imprisonment not to exceed ten years Owners or
double the value Of the vessel cargo and armament
that they should not be used In of law;
to seize and detan unit the will Of the President could
be ascertaned vessels upon mere suspicion that they
were to be so used Previous statutes had been tenn
porary in whole or In part.
This act was made permanent II is imposs bio to sup
merc hostile 70 the cause Of Liberty and 80 strongly
In favor OF government whose principles we're repug
nan. 70 the people e those Of were ~
pean governments hostile to the Of the Colonies
But was not this consideration alone that led TO the
enactment Tho established policy Of the
crnment that Of peace with all nations To maintain
this policy waived both at home and abroad interests
which, under other circumstances would have been reso
lutey adhered TO- The declarations Of Washington upon
this subject familiar require repetition. They
accepted by all his SUCCESSORS and perhaps In
instance foriby and justly expressed than by MIR
Adams, in 1926 In setting forth the objects Of tho
by the Father Of his Country IN hs farewell address,
extending . have with
OF Washington" said Mr. Adams. In that instance, as
In all the couns Is Of wisdom, were founded tn
situated at the time when II given that the
assigned by him for his advice that Europe
had set Of primary interests, which TO US had mono
very relation that hence be engaged in
frequent controversies the causes Of which cssen
distant situation invited and enabled Us 70 pusus d
feren course that BY our union and rapid growth with
an efficient government the psrd was not far distant
cause our own neutrality 70 BE- respected and with rsie-
. Sy
the same principle Was stated ~ John Quincy Adams
s % "a. sSa
liberty In 1928 "The policy Of the United Satos with
upon moral principles and natural aw-peace with ali
mankind From whasever cause war between other ma
law s s be- s.:a che
both begerena From the nrst Of the French
luton e the rscens invasion Of Spain there has been
liberty and :ss srs. ' sssoiasionssy
Of the United States to take aides with The
party which, q ~ oommsncement was consending
United States NO. been essentially pacific . stronger
70 claim their nssrencs could scarcely have been
Neutral and the prnspis then dsSerssey settled has
been invariably adhered 70 ever since" II upon this
mands Of European naiions in It's legislation upon the
subject Of neutrality in 1873 II not RED be-
cause every affection q our government was wrapped up
Spain, as Mr. Clay declared This legislation in har.
mony with he esabshed policy Of the government, the
Another consideration gave force to this view Of pub:
c duty IL had been the established policy Of the gov
srnment In submission TO the views Of the dominant
political party Of that day, TO dispense with armies ma
our territory TO tho protection Of just moderate and
pacific public policy. President Monroe was the rst TO
the federass had done tho forsiacalon OF our coast
and nontcr-the organization OF army competent TO
invasion OF foreign foe He advocated navy suicient
s maintain with dignity .he neutrality Of the United
ton and become powerful engine Of Annoyance t 10
Il was at this period that oicia declaration Of The
doctrine made which bears the namo Of Pres
dent honrvc and has become the roco2 policy Of
the American government II appears therefore, that
the early policy OF the government the result OF the
situation Of the country and that the denc ency in
armes navies Notifications the Implements OF war
opinions OF its legislators, executive officers or the
people II is also apparent that urging the creation
OF armies navies fortincaons, the implements the
study Of the science Of war especial was
given to the purpose OF establishing principle Of neu
tray consistent with the dignity Of the country, and
projecting the continent against the cncroachments Of
European Powers and mc0archical or imperial instltu
tons Of government
Il was, nevertheless, wise and lust policy, adapted
TO the condition OF things at that time, and deliberately
chosen, but with vew TO the time not far distant
when. BY union and rapid growth, we might Choose
peace or war with bcgercnt nations. IS our interests,
guided by justice, should counsel"
II was policy Of isolation and estrangcment from
other nations, rather than OF neutrality, which,
when interpreted BY the law OF nations. means
nothing moro nor less than s.r.ct imparliaily
between nations at with each other Il was
this principle which enabled the administration OF
Washington and the psope 10 hsrmonizc upon .
measure operating, n favor ofnatons hostile 20 us
against patriots who were NOT only friends, but