The New York herald., 1866-07-26
Jhs Laws Should be Put Upon the Same
Footing with the Foreign Enlistment
Act Of Great Britain.
Modification Of Penalties for It's Viola
tion to the Standard Imposed
by England.
SYMPATHY FOR THE TENIANs.
Proposed Repeal Of the Clause Proh'hi'ins
the Sale OF War Vessels to Belllgcrepts nc
Peace with the United States.

WASHINGTON, July 25, lsoo
Ncncral Banks Chairman Of the Committee on Foreign
Aas to which referred for consideration resolu
Nou Of House of Representatives upon the repeal OF
fhe neutrality laws with other papers relating TO the
same subject having attended the duty imposed by
she order of the House, TO-DAY made the following
Report.
The statutes affecting the neutral relations OF the United
Sta,es with nations ought rest upon the recog
nized principles OF the law OF nations the stipnations
ssaton as nav be enacted IN concert or cooperation
with other States for the promotion OF pubic peace
There is nothing at this time which can justly compel
the United states enact maintain or enforce principles
OF neutrality which not accepted or acted upon by
other States The duties that neutrality imposes are
reciprocal and arbitrary II is doubtless cxpedient
and necessary that these principles whatever they are,
should be in the form OF statute, simple and compre
mems oes n ana in the prv,eees secured to them
The repeal Of existing statutes imposes the necessity OF
enasilng other laws upon he same subject IL IS DC,
is changed relations TO other governments, which ma
suay from the great events Of the last half cen
swy will Justify II they do not demand cr cal and
liberal revision with view TO their better adaptation 70
the present condition OF public affairs.
brief review Of the several neutrality acts passed
sy Congress since the organization OF the
win show how far existing legislation is justified by the
principles Of international law the treaties we have ne
e0ttaCed with other governments or the legislation OF
other nations and 10 what extent the repeal amend
sncnt Of these acts may be justified or demanded.
me independence Of the American colonies was ac-
knOwledged by Great Britain The participation Of the
solonies In the Indian aud French and the severe
ana long continued struggle OF the Revolution made
necessary that the new government under the constitu
tun should husband Its resources and, possible avoid
al complications with foreign nations. The foreign
p0sy OF the administration Of WESTINGHOUSE wise and
necessary ulwas based upon this idea
10 conceded that the safety Of the republic i'm
paEonsly demanded this policy. But the people, not
hnaedately responsible for tho success OF the admins
ent0n, impatient for more resolute and decided
s1Sn q s o
1he friendship which had been constantly manifested
during struggle by the government and people OF
France for created intense interest among
I'll classes OF Amer for the victory Of France against
shs common enemy OF both nations THIS feeling was
evsrywhere enthusiastically expressed In addresses and
ysiu,ons Of legislative and popular assemblies in the
Russons Of the public Journals In the ery appeals or
The enthusiasm of Americans for
rance, and their hostility % England, Was mot much
ta marked In America than in France. They brought
pubAc opinion verge OF revolt against the peaceful
Sssey of washington Accountable 70 people for its
vssance TO popular camor and the consequences Of Its
yonnt pretensions intensified the popular friendship for
oce, the administration was threatened with formida-
inscmp.ats % Conduct Of an agent Of France changed
- current Of popular opinion and gave 20 Washing
ssss administration strength whch y could mos have
Sseslved from ~ measures, they were then inter
prssed by the people, Mr.. Genet the agent Of France
vs semboldsned BY the enthusiasm with which he was
che government he authorized the raising Of trcops
- commissioned oce and vessels 70 cruise upon the
vsossdngs The British Minister a. washington mad,
esnsst protest. Public opinion In % presence OF the
i opposition ana enabled the administration not only
30 yFsserve NJ neutrality between France and England,
s also 70 gatfy England BY the enactment Of statutes
H0 hs protection, explicit and stringent than those
supposed by the law Of nations Tho act Of 1894 the
eA, law Of the United States upon this subject The
pSu1raty which this statute contemplated that
forced BY the law Of natonsan absolute impartiallty
hssween contendinR parties and the assertion and
Aowever fully answer the purpose nor silence the claims
Of Great Britain
provisions OF the constitution, making the duty OF
ooegreAs 10 punish against the laws OF nations II was
entitled IAN act to punish offences against the laws Of
sne United States'-onenccs not found In previous
lesiealion Of this other icns but mainly created
By the itself II prohibited citizens Of the United
Bates under heavy penalties Of nnc, imprisonment and
sonAscaton Of property from accepting commissions in
NE Service OF nations at with each other, with
as Of f %
seyvice and gave the President full power 70 compel the
sSd hs extent ' 70 which came IN conc, wI,S INC
OPINION OF the people, as well as the extraordinary
tnneences under which It was enacted, arc Indicated by
sbe fact that its operation limited 20 the OF
swo years For time IL answered the demands Of
sther eovernments; but in 1927 the statute
rserse and the people. Neither the interests
u France nor public sentiments prompted this
change the existing law II could have suggested
-sny by tho power that prompted the original enact.
Bnep1 The Law OF l7e$ operated only upon citizens OF
s United States within the Jurisdiction n the United
States The law Of 1901 operated against citizens Of the
United sta,es beyond ia limits and Jurisdiction.
The Law OF 1924 prohibited under heavy penalties the
kng out vcssels Of for certain specified purposes
chat OF 1907 made this provision applicable not only 70
yees OF war; but TO prvae ships" and increased tho
penalties for its violation II increased the nns from
$4,000 TO $4,000 and the Imprisonment threatened from
three years 10 ten years also prohibited the exporta
s o. arms sSapmsS rent ,ssses os ,S1 Se until The end Of
years That Of 1927 except 70 the exportation Of
srns he, was made permanent These provisions In
dcae clearly undcr what influence they enacted
and what interests they intended 20 subserva But
70 be especially noted not only with reference TO
suen, legislation upon he sabcs, Of our neutral gss
sons that IN the terrible conflict between Eng.
land and France. IN which each nation conteodsd
nos only for supremacy In Europe but for It's exist
spce that these statutes OF iIpl l7eT-thc frst for
Ierod o. three years and the second for twenty years.
aernR which the whole OF Europe involved IN war
were sufficiently stringent In their prohibitions upon
american commerce and the American people 70 satsfy
and silence the claims Of the most ambitious for suprc.
macy apon the land and sea We were then in condition
90 have done more and gone further ha, d recton N
- hsd been deemed necessary just But no further
claim or protection made and tho neutrality stat
ues 81 1924 and 1871 remained unchanged for than
has the present century the Spanish provinces in
Ansra retoied against the governments Of Portugal
0f this revolution 20 the world eight sovereign
aud independent nations The Independence Of The
ransh republics hailed by tho people Of this coun.
faent Europe, except that Of Spain resisted the
freedom of the Spanish provinces by force But ali the
nations % Europe In alliance with SPAIN her
rhs 70 the government Of tho colonies Great britain
had been invited BY Spain, IN conjunction with
the European alliance 10 mediate between her aud the
colonies upon the basis Of their continued submss,on 10
her authority with certain anelorations commerce
ard the appointment Of on1ccrs The United statce
whose operation solicited by Gruat Britain DO
cned 10 enter into any plan Of paccaon except upon
basis OF their independence The recognition OF their
Independence wss deferred for several years In defer
cnce 10 the authority OF tho Holy Alliance Spain de-
caed that such recognition would be regarded by her
sn scs o. husliJy Their Independence was recognized
In 1922 amer q contest Of twelve years.
The SYMPATHY OF the American people for the srsnIsh
Istrols sincere and universal and their hostility TO
fhe government and institutions OF Spain equally
.tr1rg The proylnt of the Spanish provinces 70
csn coyny md their inability on account OF the want
ered u dncali TO prevent citizens from giving them
mid n their struggle for liberty. II still din.
" I'M Sqpplcaioss with The rveluMonista The