Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-06-21
The Fenian Movement and the
Neutrality Laws.

Government in relation 70 the sailing
of the Alabama and other rebel
pirates from English ports during the
late rebellion. Although the Fenian
raid upon our neighbors across the
border offered us rare opportunity
of repsyiHg the English in their own
coin, vet the administration at Wash
ington held fast to the principles we
had before proclaimed, and by its
prompt and energetic action in ar
resting the leaders of the Fenian
army, and checking the Transports
ton of arms and supplies towards the
border, saved Canada from invasion
and pillage. And this action of the
administration all good citizens will
approve. For the Government is not
only bound to take this action by the
recognized laws of international
comfy, which, forbid one govern
ment to allow its citizens or others to
organize war within its border against
friendly government, but a positive
law of the United States makes it i'm
perative. The law was passed in
1918, and provides for the punish
ment of any citizen accepting and
exercising commission to serve q
foreign government in war. for en-
listing others for foreign service, for
fitting out vessels of war for the same
purpose, and other similar ofenses.
The sixth section of the law ap-
plies directly to such enterprises as
the Fenian movement against Can
ada, and is as follows: "That if any
person shall, within the territory or
jurisdiction of the United States, be-
gin or set on foot, or provide the
means for, any military expedition
or enterprise, to be carried on from
thence against the territory or do
minions of any foreign prince or
State, or of any colony, district or
people, with whom the United States
are at peace, every person so Offend
ing shall be deemed guilty of a high
misdemeanor, and shall be fined not
exceeding three Thousand dollars,
and imprisoned not more than three
years"
Another section authorizes the
President to employ the land and
naval forces and the militia to carry
this law into effect. And the whole
action of the administration in sup
pressing the attack of the ''armies of
Ireland" upon the Canadas is nothing
more nor less than the faithful per-
formance of the sworn duty which
they assumed, when they bound them
selves by their oath of Office faith
fully to execute the laws Of the land.
Such ere the penalties to which the
Fenians, who have participated in
this movement, are made liable by
the laws of the United States. The
law of Upper Canada, under which
such Fenians as shall be so unfor-
tunate as to be caught on that side
will be tried and punished, is as fol-
lows: sin case any person, being a
citizen or subject Of any foreign state
or country at peace with her majesty,
be or continues in army against her
majesty within Upper Canada, or
commits any act of hostility therein,
or enters Upper Canada with design
or intent to levy war against her
majesty, or TO commit any felony
therein, for which any person would
by the laws of Upper Canada be lia-
BILE to suffer death, then the Cover
nor may order the assembling of a
militia general eourt-martial for the
trial Of such person, agreeable to the
militis law, and upon being found
guilty by such court-martial of Of.
Tending against this act, such person
shall be sentenced by such court
martial to suffer death or such other
punishment as shall be awarded by
the court Thus the way of the
Fenians is hedged in by legal penal
ties both on this and the other side
of the border-fine and imprison-
ment here for setting on foot, or so
much as contributing the means for
raid upon Canada, and death if
caught there in the act.
AS for our own laws bearing upon
this subject, they must and should be
enforced in good faith and the ma
rauders punished; yet not out of any
special tenderness or Difference to
Great Britain, but rather for the vim
dication Of our own national integ-
rity and henor. The duty of our
government to prevent the invasion
of Canada from this side is unmis-
taxable, and no effort shonld or will
be spared to perform it. Yet at the
same time we have not forgotten and
can never forget the perfdy Of the
Canadians in harboring our rebels
and permitting them to organize
raids across the border during our
late war.