PROFESSIONS AND CONDUCT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN REFERENCE TO THE WAR BETWEEN MEXICO AND TEXAS.
The Government of the United States has at all times been hberal in its professions of neutrahty in regard to belligerents, and has on various occasions endeavored to prevent its citizens from engaging in hostilities against friendly powers. In 1793, President Washington issued his proclamation warning American citizens against " com- mitting, aiding or abetting hostilities against any of the Powers at war," and threatening with prosecution all who should " violate the laws of nations," with respect to the belligerents. Washington's subsequent acts abun- dantly evinced the sincerity of his proclamation.
In 1806, President Jefferson issued a proclamation de- claring, that " sundry persons, citizens of the United States, are conspiring and confederating together to be- gin and set on foot a mihtary expedition against the do- minions of Spain ; fitting out and arming vessels in the western waters of the United States ; collecting arms, military stores and other means ;" and he commaritls all such persons to cease all further proceedings as they will "incur prosecutions with all the rigor of the law." He moreover enjoined it upon all mihtary officers of the army and navy of the United States, " to be vigilant in bringing to condign punishment persons engaged in those un- lawful enterprizes."
In 1815 a similar proclamation was issued by President Madison against persons chiefly in Louisiana, who were preparing to invade the Spanish provinces.
In 1838, President Van Buren by proclamation informed the citizens of the northern frontier who were aiding the Canadian rebels, that, by