The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-15

gated July 4, 1871. It is OF no Importance h
recall the circumstances which attended tn
negotiation of this treaty-to tell how FISH
was captured by the offer Of indemnity TO-
the depredatons Of the Alabama, and wa
thus made the instrument Of this diplo
matte surrender to Great Britain, II
which are sacrificed the policy and princi
pies the government had always held as
neutral. At the time the treaty was negoti
ated the Republicans had an Overwhelming
majority in the Senate, and they voted dowr
the amendments Of Senators Bayard Gas
serly and Thurman, and the treaty retained
all its exceedingly liberal features, by which
we are "bound to act for the protection O
England as police on our own soil ant
against our own people"
The rules imposed by that treaty are as
follows:
| neutral government is bound:
First to use due diligence to prevent the e.
ting out. armiDg. or eauippneg. within it's liable
dicton OF any , vessel which it has neage or to
carry against power with q 10 nrev W nt
peace: and also to use like diligen ~ INV vea
he departure from ts on o. aV war vas as
above snci, vessel HAVING pi,een specially adapt
ed IN Whole sho t or IN par' whin such ursdic-
'S seco 90 Mxr no Us suffer either bel
lgerent to MAXI We Of ts ports or W.. waters pa as
or for The a. Impose of the renewal or augmenta-
ton a. of ~ airy supplies or arms. or the re-
fTThhTrdly, to exercise due diligence in its own
pets and waters. and. as to all persons within
la jurisdiction. to prevent any violation OF the
foregoing obligations and duties.
The mistake Capt. Semetschkin makes Is In
assuming that these rules are suspended in
time of peace. This is not the case, as clear
ly appears from the above. Russia may buy
vessels in our ports, but she cannot fit out
arm, equip or specially adapt them to war
like use for the purpose of preying on British
commerce. On the contrary, 1t Is made the
duty of our government on reasonable
ground OF belief" that such vessels are to be
so used to prevent their departure The law
Is plain and it's pledges must be carried out.
Nor are our neutrality laws less explicit in
regard to raids across our borders on coun-
tries with which we are at peace, such as that
proposed by the Fenian against Canada.
Our laws declare such a raid high crime
and misdem eanor and authorize the employ
ment Of the whole military and naval force of
the government to prevent 1t. Under these
laws President johnson issued his procama-
ton, declaring the Fenian movement of 1866
q crime against the laws Of the United States
as well as the laws of nations, and ordered
the arrest OF the ringleaders. These laws
provide that whoever begins, or sets on foot,
Or prepares the means for any military ex-
petition against the territory of a people with
whom the United States are at peace shall
be liable to $1,000 fine and three years i'm
prisonment. Nor does it require a state of
war to give this provision effect. Its penal
ties may be incurred in time Of peace, and
the mere preparation for such an expedition
is legal cause for arrest hereunder. Under
this view Of the case the duty Of the govern
ment is clear, and Col. Mulligan and other
eminent Fenians had best be careful how they
behave themselves If they would keep out of
the penitentiary.