The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-06-21
THE FENIAN MOVEMENT.
ALEGAL VIEW OF THE AFFAIR.
Liability Of Its Abettors.
Judge Drunnend's Charge to the
Grand Jury.

The following is copy Of the charge Civ
On by Hon. Thomas Drummond, judge OF tho
district court Of the United States for the
Northern District Of Illinois, to the Grand
Jury of that court, at Chicago, on the 18th
inst.
GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND JuRY-The dis
trict attorney will call your attention to any
offences which have been committed against
the laws of the United States, and particu.
larly to any violations of the law of April
26. 1918, commonly known as the neutrality
act. Various events have recently occurred
of an unusual character, and are 30 well
known that l consider ii my duty to refer to
them. There can be now no doubt that con-
certed project was for some days 10 process
of execution by people who are citizens and
residents of the United States, for military
expedition against the province of Canada,
colony of the queen of Great Britain and Ire.
land, with which nation the United States are
at peace.
There has been an actual invasion of Can
ada by an armed force organized and pro-
cseding from our territory. 1t is sufficiently
notorious that in many of our principal cit
ies for some time past, men have been en-
listed and money and arms furnished for that
or a similar object. All this has been done
in violation, and. as it is presumed, by most
of the principal men engaged. in defiance OF
an express law of congress. 1t 10 not only so
but it has been in Disregard of all those rules
of comfy which pass under the name of in
ternational law and which ordinarily regu-
latsi the conduct of one nation towards anoth-
er. even in the absence of specific statutes.
The intercourse of nations, as such, IL kept
I'm nv ont how Yod 1oh IN
personal and political unity. We call the gov
ernment. The government of the United
States and of the kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland are ut peace with each other
There would seem TO be something incongru-
GUS and radically wrong for any OF our peo-
pie under such circumstances to make war
against that country. Undoubtedly each ma
ton is made up of the individuals who COM
| pose it, and so long as individual and person
alopinions and acts 10 not touch the safety and
| welfare of the nation, they are left untram
melted; but when the result may be to em
broil two great nations In war, is plain that
the person can no longer claim exemption
| from the consequences of his conduct rs a
| part af the nation. His individual free agen-
| cy NH yield to the demand of the whole
| Without such q principle governments could
| not be organized or maintained. 1t follows,
| from what has been said, that every person,
citizen or resident of these United States, and
| under the protection of their laws, who has
| been concerned. directly or indirectly in these
military expeditions prepared here to be sent
90 Canada, has been wanting in the duty he
| owes to this government and nation.
To comprehend the full truth and force OF
this, we have only to reverse the case, and
suppose similar expeditions by some people
of Great Britain and Canada against this
| country How we would feel and reason un.
| der similar circumstances is not merely con-
! iectoral and because 1t Is net, sort of pal
| lation has been put forward for the present
| acts. But the wrong of one man or people
can never make the wrong of another right
| On the contrary, there is in q certain sense
an additional obligation imposed ON us tc
prove the sincerity Of our convictions and the
| Justice of our demands heretofore, particular
| ly when we consider the high ground we as
sumed. that if the municipal laws of a natior
were not sufficient tosnforcs the duties which
it's citizens owe to another natien, they ough
| to be made sufficient. and that even its inter
probation of Its own statutes should not be re-
ceivsd as the true standard of Its action.
I We welcome to our shores the citizens O
other countries, who take up their permanent
abode among u.s. We throw around then
the protection of our laws and of our institu
tions. They expect and claim this, and 1t il
a claim to which we cheerfully yield. Blu
in return there rest upon them correspondent
obligations. They owe obedience to the laws
and they cannot be permitted to transplan
here their political domestic quarrels. 1t i
inconsistent with their duty and allegiance t
this government that they should plot her
against another government, with which our
is at peace, 40 as to endanger those friendly
relations. Even if those relations are 10 b
changed to the actualities of war, it shoul
only be done by the voice Of the constitute
authorities of the country. The United State
have not been unmindful of the duties the
/ owe to the other nations of the world, an
through their whole history may fairly chal
lenge rigorous examination of their condue
in this respect. And for the purpose of NOR
efficiently performing their obligations. cor
gress has, from time to time, enacted lawl
and among pthers, that OF April 20, 1918.
, The sixth section of that act is brief, Blu
seems to be quite comprehensive. 1t Is c
follows: @That If any person shall, With
the territory or Jurisdiction of the Unite
States, begin OF set on foot or provide or pre-
pare the means for any military expedite
or enterprise to be carried on from thenc
against the territory or dominions of any fol-
eign prince or state, or OF any colony, distric
or people with whom the United States ar
at peace, every person so offending shall b
deemed guilty OF high misdemeanor an
! shall be fined not exceeding $4,000 and i'm
prisoned not more than three years.,
This law is binding upon every officer O
the United States upon citizens and rosi
dents, upon courts and juries. It was lmp
,sible that such acts as have occurred could b
permitted to proceed, if the president obeye,
the injunction of the constitution to ".tak
care that the laws be faithfully executed
It is impossible that courts and grand jurie
should pass them by, SO long as they conscienti
ously discharge their duty. In whatever ligh
the parties concerned may regard them, the Law
treats them as crime, ga high misdemeanor."
The court knows no more of what has beer
done within its Jurisdiction concerning the mill
tary expeditions or enterprises referred to thar
has appeared in the public press and been gener
ally reported through the community. Accept
ing this evidence at least Of the public belief
on the subject, it may become your duty to as
certain by proper investigation how far there
may have been within this district attractions Of
this law. All who have been instr umental in
any way, by any act, as by furnishing men OF
money, arms, provisions, clothing, means or ma
.sfiai OF any kind, for such military expedition
, enterprise, knowing the use TO be made of the
would be liable to the penalty of the stat
u'.. ana there can be no doubt that every con