The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-06-26
Hands Off,.
CUBANS MUST FIGHT IT
OUT UNASSISTED.

toward the Cuban nsurrection. in
letter to Cuban sympa'hlzer, the
ca>hier of bank. who wrote Mr.. o.
ney for advice with regard TO receiving
contributions to the insurgent cause on
deposit at the institution of which be Is
the cashier The bank cashier wrote
as follows
Farmers and Merchants Nat. Bank.
Waco, TEX, June Is. 1895.
Hon. Richard Oluey. Secre'ay Of State:
have been approached by alleged
agents of the Cuban insurgents with
the view of securing this banks con
sent 10 act as depository for con'ri-
buttons from sympathizers in the
United States. but nave withheld con-
sent until such time as could hear
from your department as to whether
we would, by doing so, lay ourselves
liable to prosecution under the Deu-
tralitv laws. This we desire to avoid,
not only technically. but morally, for
we are 700 loyal to our country 10 seek
to ogersnrn. in any sense. her laws.
|. myself, am in enflre sympathy with
the cause Of Cuban Independence, and
attribute the singing "ut of this bank
to that fact being known to few who
are identified with the cause in that
country. 1t is needless to say that
from business standpoint, it would re-
suit in great advantage to this bank,
and | hope you will see your way clear
to allowing US to publish acceptance OF
the trust to the world.
JOIN P. MASSEY, Cashier.
TO this the Secretary Of State re-
piled on June IS, 1895:
Whether the bank or its officers could
be criminally prosecuted under the neu-
traliry laws of the United States be-
cau.e the bank had knowingly made
itself depository Of funds con:ribu-
ted BY sympathizers i" the United
States in support of the present C"osn
insurrecriou, is question as to which
opinions may differ aud which can ouly
be satisfactorily settled by the adjudi-
cation Of the proper court Should a
bank engage in such a transaction.
and. as you suggest. publish It's accept
ance of such trust to the world. 1t
would be my duty to call upon the de-
partment of justice to test tie question
whether or not 'be proceeding was
crime against the United States. 1t
might also be my duty to suggest
whether bank holding United
States charter does not abuse its fran
chises and furnish ground for their
forfeitures BY acts in aid of hostlli'ies
against nation with which the United
States is at peace.
Il do not anticipate. however, that
anything done by your bank or its of
6cers is likely to promote the so'ufion
of the interesting legal questions your
letter presents You ask ne DOT mere-
ly as to your technical legal liability.
but also as to your moral obligations.
adding for we are all too loyal 20 our
Own country to seek to overthrow IN any
case her laws. I heartily commend the
sentiment of the quotation aud am in a
position to say that your moral duty
iu the premises does not admit Of the
least question. 1t has been ezpounded
by no less an authority than the Su-
preme Court in the following language:
The Intercourse of this country
with foreign nations and its policy in
regard to them by the legislation of
the United States III the hands of the
government and its decisions upon
these subjects are obligatory upon
every citizen of the Union. He is bound
to be at war with the nation against
whatever war making power has de-
clared war, aud equally bound 70 COM
Mt 10 act Of hostility against nation
with which the government is it amlty
and friendship The principle is uul
versally acknowledge by the laws Of
natious. 1t lies a: the foundation Of ali
laws of governments. as there conld De
no social order or peaceful relations be-
tween the citizens of different countries
without it. 1t is, however. more en.-
phatical!y true in relation to citizens Of
the United States. For as the sover-
eighty resides in the people every citl-
zen is portion of it ana is himself per-
sonally bound by the laws which the
representative of the sovereignty may
pass of the treaties into which they
may enter. within the scope Of their
delegated authority. Aud when that
authority has pligh;ed its faith to an
other nation that there shall be peace
and friendship between the cititizens Of
the two countries every citizen of the
United States is equally and personally
pledged. The compact is made by the
department Of the government upon
which he himself has agreed to confer
tLo ,oror II 70 hio oun oorcopo o nom