that in any instance a more unexceptionable course was ever pursued by any Government." Mr. Madison, Sec. of State (unofficial), to Mr. Monroe, Mar. 10, 1806, 2 Madison's Writings, 220. The war between Mexico and Texas gave rise to voluminous discussions as to the preservation of the neutrality of the United States, against the fitting out of hostile expeditions. As to the limits of neutrality in the war between Mexico and Texas, see In 1837 an insurrection occurred in Canada, under the leadership of Wm. Lyon McKenzie, a printer, and certain other persons. The movement was attended with commotions at various places in the United States along the Canadian frontier. December 7, 1838, Mr. Forsyth, who was then Secretary of State, addressed a letter to the district attorneys of the United States for Vermont, Michigan, and the northern district of New York, stating that it was "the fixed determination of the President faithfully to discharge, so far as his power extends, all the obligations of this Government, and that obligation especially which requires that we shall abstain, under every temptation, from intermeddling with the domestic disputes of other nations." On the same day Mr. Forsyth wrote to the governors of New York, Michigan, and Vermont, requesting their "prompt interference to arrest the parties concerned, if any preparations are made of a hostile nature against any foreign power in amity with the United States." Meanwhile the Canadian insurgents were defeated, and some of them sought refuge in the United States. Among the refugees were two of the leaders, McKenzie and Dr. Rolfe, who held public meetings in Buffalo and solicited recruits, of whom they succeeded in obtaining a considerable number, as well as a quantity of arms and ammunition. The collectors of customs on the Canadian frontier were instructed to lend their aid in enforcing the neutrality laws, and the marshal of the United States for the northern district of New York was directed to proceed to Buffalo for the purpose of suppressing the violations of neutrality in that quarter. On the 28th of December, 1837, he reported that on his arrival at Buffalo he found 200 or 300 men, mostly from the American side of the Niagara River, encamped on Navy Island, in Upper Canada, armed and under the command. of Rensselaer Van Rensselaer, of Albany, who had assumed the title of "general." The encampment had received accessions till it numH. Doc. 551-vol 7-59 bered about 1,000 men, well armed. This expedition had been organized at Buffalo after McKenzie's arrival. Warrants had been issued for the arrest of the men, but could not be served. On the 29th of December occurred the destruction of the steamer Caroline, at Schlosser, in the State of New York, by a British force from Canada. December 30 the collector of customs at Buffalo wrote: "Our city is in great alarm. The whole frontier is in motion, and God knows where it will end. An express has been sent to Governor Marcy to call out the militia." The collector feared that the laws could not be enforced without great loss of life. The revenue cutter Erie was placed at his disposal to aid in enforcing the laws; and he was ordered to seize any vessels or boats which might be engaged in carrying arms, ammunition, or military supplies to forces arrayed against the Government on the Canadian side of the line. January 5, 1838, President Van Buren sent a message to Congress, saying that the existing laws, as experience on the southern border and the events daily occurring on the northern frontier had shown, were insufficient to guard against the hostile invasion from the United States of the territory of neighboring and friendly nations, and recommending that the Executive be clothed with "full power to prevent injuries being inflicted upon neighboring nations, by the unauthorized and unlawful acts of citizens of the United States, or of other persons who may be within our jurisdiction, and subject to our control." General Scott was sent to the frontier, with letters to the governors of New York and Vermont, requesting them to call out the militia. Congress passed the act of March 10, 1838. See, for a fuller account of the situation on the Canadian frontier, Moore, On the receipt, in Washington, Jan. 4, 1838, of news of the burning of the See President Van Buren, annual message, Dec. 3, 1838. As to the execution of the sentence imposed on McKenzie, on his con- See, as to alleged conspiracies to produce a revolution in Canada, paper See, also, Mr. Webster, Sec. of State, to Mr. Seward, governor of New "We have received information from various sources, both official and unofficial, that among the creoles of Cuba there has long existed a deep-rooted hostility to Spanish dominion. The revolutions which are rapidly succeeding each other throughout the world, have inspired the Cubans with an ardent and irrepressible desire to achieve their independence. Indeed, we are informed by the consul of the United States at the Havana, that there appears every probability that the island will soon be in a state of civil war.' He also states that 'efforts are now being made to raise money for that purpose in the United States, and there will be attempts to induce a few of the volunteer regiments now in Mexico to obtain their discharge and join in the revolution.' "I need scarcely inform you that the Government of the United States has had no agency whatever in exciting the spirit of dissaffection among the Cubans. Very far from it. A short time after we received this information from our consul, I addressed a despatch to him, of which I transmit you a copy, dated on the 9th instant, from which you will perceive that I have warned him to keep a watch ful guard both upon his words and actions, so as to avoid even the least suspicion that he had encouraged the Cubans to rise in insurrection against the Spanish Government. I stated also that the relations between Spain and the United States had long been of the most friendly character; and both honor and duty required that we should take no part in the struggle which he seemed to think was impending. "I informed him that it would certainly become the duty of this Government to use all proper means to prevent any of our volunteer regiments now in Mexico from violating the neutrality of the country by joining in the proposed civil war of the Cubans against Spain. "Since the date of my despatch to him, this duty has been performed. The Secretary of War, by command of the President, on the day following, (June 10th,) addressed an order to our commanding general in Mexico, and also to the officer having charge of the embarcation of our troops at Vera Cruz, (of which I transmit you a copy,) directing each of them to use all proper measures to counteract any such plan, if one should be on foot, and instructing them. 'to give orders that the transports on which the troops may embark proceed directly to the United States, and in no event to touch at any place in Cuba.' "The consul, in his despatch to me, also stated that, if the revolution is attempted and succeeds, immediate application would be made to the United States for annexation; but he did not seem to think that it would be successful, and probably would not be undertaken without the aid of American troops. To this portion of the despatch I replied-knowing the ardent desire of the Cubans to be annexed to our Union-that I thought it would not be difficult to predict that an unsuccessful rising would delay, if it should not defeat, the annexation of the island to the United States,' and I assured him that the aid of our volunteer troops could not be obtained. "Thus you will perceive with what scrupulous fidelity we have performed the duties of neutrality and friendship towards Spain. It is our anxious hope that a rising may not be attempted in Cuba; but if this should unfortunately occur, the Government of the United States will have performed their whole duty towards a friendly power." Mr. Buchanan, Sec. of State, to Mr. Saunders, min. to Spain, June 17, 1848, MS. Inst. Spain, XIV. 256; H. Ex. Doc. 121, 32 Cong. 1 sess. 42-49. "Although these offenders against the laws have forfeited the protection of their country, yet the Government may, so far as is consistent with its obligations to other countries and its fixed purpose to maintain and enforce the laws, entertain sympathy for their unoffending families and friends, as well as a feeling of compassion for themselves. Accordingly, no proper effort has been spared and none will be spared to procure the release of such citizens of the United States engaged in this unlawful enterprise as are now in confinement in Spain; but it is to be hoped that such interposition with the Government of that country may not be considered as affording any ground of expectation that the Government of the United States will hereafter feel itself under any obligation of duty to intercede for the liberation or pardon of such persons as are flagrant offenders against the laws of nations and the laws of the United States. These laws must be executed. If we desire to maintain our respectability among the nations of the earth, it behooves us to enforce steadily and sternly the neutrality acts passed by Congress and to follow as far as may be the violation of those acts with condign punishment. "But what gives a peculiar criminality to this invasion of Cuba is that, under the lead of Spanish subjects and with the aid of citizens of the United States, it had its origin with many in motives' of cupidity. Money was advanced by individuals, probably in considerable amounts, to purchase Cuban bonds, as they have been called, issued by Lopez, sold, doubtless, at a very large discount, and for the payment of which the public lands and public property of Cuba, of whatever kind, and the fiscal resources of the people and government of that island, from whatever source to be derived, were pledged, as well as the good faith of the government expected to be established. All these means of payment, it is evident, were only to be obtained by a process of bloodshed, war, and revolution. None will deny that those who set on foot military expeditions against foreign states by means like these are far more culpable than the ignorant and the necessitous whom they induce to go forth as the ostensible parties in the proceeding. These originators of the invasion of Cuba seem to have determined with coolness and system upon an undertaking which should disgrace their country, violate its laws, and put to hazard the lives of ill-informed and deluded men. You will consider whether further legislation be necessary to prevent the perpetration of such offenses in future. "No individuals have a right to hazard the peace of the country or to violate its laws upon vague notions of altering or reforming governments in other states. This principle is not only reasonable in itself and in accordance with public law, but is ingrafted into the codes of other nations as well as our own. But while such are the sentiments of this Government, it may be added that every independent nation must be presumed to be able to defend its possessions against unauthorized individuals banded together to attack them. The Government of the United States at all times since its establishment has abstained and has sought to restrain the citizens of the country from entering into controversies between other powers, and to observe all the duties of neutrality. At an early period of the Government-in the Administration of Washington-several laws were passed for this purpose. The main provisions of these laws were reenacted by the act of April, 1818, by which, amongst other things, it was declared that if any person shall, within the territory or jurisdiction of the United States, begin, or set on foot, or provide or prepare the means for, any military expedition or enterprise to be carried on from thence against the territory or dominions of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people, with whom the United States are at peace, every person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and shall be fined not exceeding $3,000 and imprisoned not more than three years. And this law has been executed and enforced to the full extent of the power of the Government from that day to this. "In proclaiming and adhering to the doctrine of neutrality and nonintervention, the United States have not followed the lead of other civilized nations; they have taken the lead themselves and have been followed by others. This was admitted by one of the most eminent of modern British statesmen, who said in Parliament, while a minister of the Crown, that if he wished for a guide in a system of neutrality he should take that laid down by America in the days of Washington and the Secretaryship of Jefferson;' and we see, in fact, that the act of Congress of 1818 was followed the succeeding year by an act of the Parliament of England substantially the same in its general provisions. Up to that time there had been no similar law in |