PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. ueni Styes y' the Senate and House of Reprueuta• When we compare the condition of .the country at the present day with what it was one year ago, at the meeti ng of Con. grees,we have much reason for gratitude to that Almighty Provide ace, which has never failed to interpostifoe our relief, at the most (tittlesl periods of 'our history. One. year ago; the eoctiona'4strife between the N oral and South on t'Aie diegerous* subject of sla nry,had arAttin • become so intense as to lartaten ttse peace and perpetuity of the -v"..infideriscy. The application for the ad miesiortnf liansateas -ft State into the Union fostered this unhappy agilation,and brought the whole subject once more before Congress. It wee the desire of. every patriot that - such mettenree of legislation might be adopted as would remove the excitement from the States, and confine it.to the Territory where . it legitimately belonged. Much ,has been done I am happy to eay,towards the ocean . plislintent of this object, during the last sew sien of Congress. The Supreme, Court of the United States had previously decided that all American citizens have an equal right to take into the Territories whatever is held as' property un der the .lawe 'of any: of thcStutes, nod to hold such property, there. under the gear diariehip of the Federal COnstitution",so.long as the Territorial conditien shall. remain.— This is novra welbesteblished position, and the proceedingi of the last session were alone wanting to give it a practical.. etTect. The principle has been reeeen.zed, in some form or other, by an ahneet unanimous rate .of both Houses of Congress, that a Territory ;etas a right to come into the Uni.,)ii.eith.n. its .a free or a slave. State, -nceolding to the avill cf a majority of the people. The. just equality of all the State d has thus been vin•. dicatedi and. a- frultfubsoartets of dangerous dissensions among them. hee been 'removed ' . Whilst such has been the beneficial ten deuce tf your legielativo pmceedings oo tai de of Kanses,their irrfluenee has nowhere been so happy as within thnt Territory itself.— Left to manage and &tarot its own affairs in its own way, witheut the preeliiire of' ex ternal influence, the revolutionnry Tupeke organization. and jilt resistance to the Ter titorial Government established br Goo green, have been finally ebitedoned. As a natural consequenee,t i tine Territory now appears to he treequil Red prusperoua, and is attracting iecreesieg tletustinds 'of immi grants to make i. heir . happy b:.nie, The past unferturette experienee of Kau sas has enforced ties lesson so often already taught, that resistance to lawful authority, under our form of goverment, car.nut in the end to peeve disastrous to its authot Had the peeple'.of the . Territory yie'ded obedience to `the lame enacted by their Leg - islature,_ it would at the present moment have contained a large additienal eepula liOrd indoetrhms and enter prising citi. seas, '4lO ht.ve bet a dettrrcd from enter ing its bordere by the existence ef civil strife and organized rt hellion. It was the resistance to a ightful . atit:bority and the persevering attempts to establish a revclutiunary• poverrrnent. un der the To : peka Constitution, which caused the people of Koreas to commit the lance Fl rbr of re fusing to vote fur deice? tea to the Conven tion to frame a C-ntlitution, under a law not denied, to be fair and jest in is provi. eons. This refusal to vote has been the Frail" source of all the evils Which have followed. In their hoprility to the Territo rill Gent rnentrit, they disregarded the grin ciple, auttultitely srrntiel ete the eat kin_ of our foto, of el•verrmt r t, that a majority f those Who vett --inet the mejerity who kinay remain at home, hum st le:tever eeti)e— 'must decide the ref ult of an election. Fur This ta.sGn, eeekine to lake eche:lnt:3,LP of their own et rk.r they denied the authority oldie (R.i.re• 'i on •boa fleeted tit !reale a %-onst'.iut!t•.n. The Cuorention,ntilli Itstatiding proceed- ed to ti . dt , t,t a Constitution unexceptionable in ire general fiatmes,and providing for the Futruist ion of the do%ery queeiion to a v,:ie of the people, rsLair, in my opinion, they were Lcupd ludo tinder the Kansn.s cod I I Nebraska act. This. wart the stillropor!ant ituestitin v l,nd Mot e et rixuired the ,Teti;to ; Lid act the.. r perer is of tht! I Gereirrernt, r:Ci Fier tvg in th(ir first rtfraired from exercising their right to tofe,'erd prefcricd thr,t thinly should rt - hey put surreoder their rrvolu i ttonary Ty)pelt7.?.r:rgn'n:eittion. A wiser lietter tef ' ine ' d bcflv re t h e 'first flllcndny r f 'eTatceare NO, when an C3fection was held unittr Constitution A Wtajority of tie people then'voted fu'r a Ouvernitrancl ether Slate Gffir;ers, for a mem her of. Co,ngtees, and r f tbc'State Legirlalure. This erection was warmly eon. tested Ly the ,two pnlitieal parties in Kan C 93 and, a gr eater vote was polled thun at `Any previous election. A large majority of the metal:we of 'the Legislature elect he longeld to the party which had previausly refused to vote: The anti , sigyery .party were thus placed ire the ascendant, and the political power of the State Nrns.in their own hands. - End Congress admitted Kansas into the Union under the Lecompton Con• atifution, the Le'Aialeture might at its very. first session, breve submitted the question to a vote - of the people, whrther lb( y would or would riot hare is Convent:on to amend their Constitution either on the slavery or any other question, and have adopted all neees nary means for g lying speedy effect to the will of the rnitjorlt.. Thus the Hansatt ques -lion would have been immediately and finally settled: Uncler these eiroutristences, I FLO:milted to Congress the Cr nstitution rho; Iramed. with all the officers already elected neces nary to put the Sate Government into operation, accompanied by a titre tig rection mendatirn in favor of the admission of Kan eas as a State. In the course of my lone public. life I have never performed any of cial act which in the retrospect hag tiffor ced me more heartfelt satisfaction Is ad mission could have inflicted no possible in• jury on any human being, whilet it would, within a brief period, have rest: red peree to Kansas and harmony to the Union. In that event. OR , . shivery que4tinii would err• this have..beren fin rily setrlo%i, according to the legally exuresse,i will of a ma.; rity o: the votrrel and pa t r Fr , T •rf ietoy W OCI Id thug 114 ,, 1:1;.0 jolted iii a Cllrlbtf u tional maniter. With my delp convictions oft uty,l could have pursued no , other. course. It is true, that, as an indiVidual, I had expressed an 97:!nion, ofore and during the session of the Convco uan,in favor of submitting the remaining 1./?l , " efi tlf the .Cohstitution, as well as that emr eetniug shivery, to the pew ple. But, seting in an offici3l character, neither myself nor any human authority. had the power to re judge tt o proceedings of the Convention, and declare the Constitu tion.vvbich it had framed to be a nullity...— To- have done this w! !IA have been a tion viola ,f,fahe Kansas end Nebraska act, which left the , people of the Territory, "perfettly free to form and regulate their domestic institutions in their oat way, subject only to the C,onstittition of the United States." It would, here violated the great rtily principle o popular severeignty, at the foundation of cur i'VEtitutions, to deprive the people of the power, if they thought proper to exerbise ft, of confiding to dele gates elected by •theinselveo the trust of Ira ming b Constitution,withourrequiring them to subject their Constituents to the trouble, expense, and delay of a second election. It 'would have been ;n opposition! to many pre cedents in our history, commencing ltd the very beat ages of the Itep,uhlio, of the ad mission of Territories ar Stakeir into the Union, without a previotua vote of the people " opproviog their Constitution. tfte Lecompton Constitution, the people of Kansa. had claimed double the quantity of puliliVands for the support Of coutsou 410h9910 1 Which had ever been preViously' ~...,,,:,,,„..„,_,,,.....,,......„....,.. • c c ...... ~... .... _........., ~. c: .. ..,_ • . • . .i. • r:,.,,02, .....,...--,."... , ' Z‘... , C .1 . , '‘C--'. -"...C. ' -'..., - ...- _ .. ... VIRTUE . LiT. 7 4. Y .- -- 4 4 16e.iiiFt 4 OKW . . • e • VOL. 10---NO. 26. rated to.any State upon entering the Un. T on; and also•the alternate sections of land fortwelve miles on each side of two rail roads, proposed to be constructed from the N or thern to the - Southern boundary, and from the eastern ,to the western boundary of the State. ." -Congress , deeming these claims unreasonable, provided, by the act of May 4, 1858, to which I have just refer red,•.for theadmission of the State on an equal footing with the original States . , but "upon the fundamental conditieu prece dent" that a majority of the people thereof, at an election to be held for that purpose, should, in place of the very large grants'of public lanes which they had demanded un der the ordinance, accept such grants us had.been made-to .M lac-so - ea and other new Stet-s. Under thi§ - act. should a majority reject the proposition cifered them, clo shaft be redeemed and held that the people or Kansas do not desii'e admission into the Onion -with Said Constitution under the coil; dioiorts met forth ior said proposition." in that-event, the act authorizes the people of .the Territory too Hem d ielegates' to 'mem a Constitution al.d Slew Government for themselves.; -atw bee ever, "oit ad root': before - , it is aseeriatioe.tl try a Census; duly and legally ta k en, t h at th e population of said •Teuttory eqr..als or exceei.s the iatur of represedta tion-required for a theniher of the HOuse of Representative of the.Coitgresse of the Uttio ted States'' The delegates tins assembled "shall first de:ermine by a : vote whether it is the wish of the peoPle. of the , Proposed ,State to he admitted into.the Union at th a t time ; and ; lino, shall proceed- to, form - a Constitution, and take. all,necessary steps for the establishment of a State Government in conformity with the Federal Constiiti. lion." Alter this constitution. shall have been forme d, Collr resF; it'nt the principles of popular .soVe'reiktit'y'and pan triterst mien, 'haVe left ."'thi? triode and man lier of if "approval or 'ratifleatiOn by the people of the proposed 'State" to be pre sc•ribed by laW," and they , -"shall then be admitted into the Unicnas4 - State under It to be lamented thr.f a eiCestionso &gnifleet-1i when vie wed in its practical efo I.o:cis on the people of liansaa„ whether de eided one way or 11. e olVir, - sl.oulti have kindle:! such a flame of excitement through ' out the country. This reflection may prove to he a lessi ro of wisdom 'and of warning for our future Guidance. 'Practicatly cen• sideretl, the ques ion is simply • whethet the people of that Terri•oty - shOlild first come into the Union, and then changeany provi sion in their Constitution Cot agreeable to themselves, or accomplish the very same object by remaining cartor the Union and framing another Constitution In accordance tv:.th their wit? In eithei case, the result would he precisely the same. The only difference. in point of fact is, that the object tvou'd have been much sooner attained,and the pacifieation of Kansas more speedily of fected had it been admilted• as, a State du rine the last sees:on of Congrss.. My • rscort merdation; however, for 'the immediate r.dmissi, n of Kansas, failed to meet atirn of Congress. They deemed it %%Mel: to adopt - a diflererot meek tire for ihe seitlemenVol the .rtur, - ,,, a joe, For my n.v. - n part, I ni.ve lieen•eilling to yield. ;ay escent to almostany coo stitutional tneesure to accomplish this object ',there fore; cordially acquiesced in what has been called the English Comprornise,•and ap proved the -Act for the admission of the State it Kan=as 11110 11140 Union" opan the terms ttrerein presc'ribed. ..I_ l 'n'd'e'r the ordinal ce ehich accompanied such Constitminn thus fairly and leg ally m r ade, ith oai!hout slavery, as said Con stitutir it may prescribe.'' Art rd.ection was held throughout Kansas, ' ito 'pursuance :if the pro.virtotos of . this act,. on the sect rid day of August last, and it re Felted in the rejection, by a laree majo ity of the propoiitton submitted to the people by Congress This being the case, they are now authorized to form another Consti 'short, preparatory - 0 the admission into tie Union lot.t riot their number, is esccrtaitoeli by a eenSus, shrill equal or ex need the ratio required Or elect a member to the House Of Representatives. h is not probable, in the prese:.t state of.. the case, that a third Constitution can be lawfoilly.framerl and presented to Cong - -ess hy.K.ansas, before is populwion shall have reached the vesignated number. Nor is it to be presumed thay after their sad expeti ence in resisting, the Te:ritorial laws, they will attempt to.ado.pt a Consthution in ex. preen violation of the proviFio", of an art ul Congress. During the session of 1856, r•.:ach of the time` of Congress was occupied on the question of adruittir g Kansas under the Topeka Cansitoution. Again, nearly the la hale of the last a. &thou was; devoted' to the qu'estion.of its admission under the Lecomoon Constitution. Surely it is not unrettionable IO require" the people of Kan eas to wait, belitre oinking a third attempt; nntil..the -nunteer.of their inhabitants shall amount to riinehy.three thousand four bun dred and twenty. During this brief perriod the harmony Siates, as well a . s the great business - interests cl the country, de. minds that the people it the Uhion -shall not, fur a third time, be Convulsed by another agiratiOn'Of the Kansas question. By aa.iitirr for,,a...short t.rne, and actin g iii obedience to ; law, Kansas will glide into the Union without the slightest impedi meat. This excellent provision, which Conoress have applied to Kart as, ought to be ex tendril and rendered applicable to all Ter ritories which limy hereafter stek Sion into the Union.: Whikt Congress fhAsesis the undoubted puwer -1 admitting a hew Suite into the Union. I,nwe-..ere Hid) may be the num. , ber of its it, habitants yet this power ought not in my opinion,to be exercised before the population shall amount to the- ratio re quired by the act for the ailtnission of Kan has. Had this been previebsly the rule, the country would have escaped all the evils and - misfortunes to which it has been expo.ed-by ,the Kansas 9rtaition. - Of course, it would .be unjust to give the rule a retrospeeivii application, and ex clude a State which, ictirig upon, the past practice of the Government, has already forined its Constitution, elected its Legisla• .dure.and other ..fficers, .and is now prepared to enter the Union. The rule ought to be adopted, 'Whether we consider its bearing on the people of ft.et Territories or upon the people Of the existing States. Many ofThe seriobs dis sensions which have prevailed in Congress and throughout the country would have been avoided had ibis rule been established at an earlier period of the Government. Immediately upon thVormation of a new Territory, people from diffetent States and from foreign countries. rush into it; for the lauds' le purpose of impiovin - - - their condi tion. :Their first duty to themselves is to open and cultivate farros,to construct roads, to abools. to erect places of OPP worship, aneto devote - their energipe g?nergily to reclaim h lay the foundatfons i ot p wilderness and to prosperous commonwealth. ti l °ur ' ishing 413 d Anpient conditi o n,• with a 11111 thiq in -11341b","Pd: they should P°PulatiPil ;of prematurely en • ter the union,. they are oppreaed the LEBANON, PA., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1858. burden of State• taxation, and the means necessary for the improverneef of the Ter ritory and the advancement of their own in terests. are thus diverted to very different The Federal Goternment has ever been a liberal pa rent to the Territories, and a generous contributor to the useful enterprises of the early settlers. It has paid the experfses of their governments and legislative assem blies out' of tbm common treasury, and ,thus relieved them of . a heavy charge. Under these circumstances. nothing can be better celculatno to retard their material progresstban to divert them .from their useful employ. meets, by prematurely exciting angry political contests among themselves; for- the benefit of aspiring leaders— It is surely nohardship for embryo Governors, Senators, and Members of Congress. to wait until the number of inhabitants shall 'equal those Of a single Congressional I district. They surely ought not to be permitted to rush tato the Union with a population less than One half of ' Several of tits large counties in the interior of some of the States: This was the condition of Kansas when it Maileupplication to be adatitted under the Topeka Con. stitution. Besides, it r -quires some time to - render the mass of a population collected in a new `territory at all homogeneous, and to unite them on anything like a fixed policy... Establish the rule, and all will leek forward to it and govern themselves accordingly. But justice to the people of the several States acquires that this role sbonld.llp established by Congress. Each* State is entitled to two Senators. and at toast one Repro sentative in Coogress. Should the People of the States fail to elect a Vice President. the miner devolves upon the Senate to select this officer front the two highest cendblates iu the list. In case of tio death of the Pres- Mont, the Vice President, time elected by the Senate he 'edifies Preaident of the L'itPed States. On all questions of legislation, the Senators from the smallest Staten( the Union have an equal vote with those of the largest. The same may be said iii regard to - the ratification of treaties anti of Executive nopeintments. All" this hits worked admirably in practice, whilst it conforree in principle With the character of a Government instituted by Soy ereign States. I presume no-American citizen would de sire the slightest change in the arrangement. Still is it not unjust and unequal to the existing Shays to invest some forty or fifty thousand people collected in a Terri. tory with the attributes of sovereignty, and place them on an - equal footing with Virginia and New Yeti: in the Senate of the United States ? For these reaso, s I earnestly recommend the phtsage of general act, which shall provide that upon the plication of a Tarritoriol Legislature, declaring their be lief that the Territory contains a number of inhabitants which, if in a State, would enthle them to elect mem ber of Congress, it shall-be the duty of the President to cause a cm:must" the inhabitants to Le takennud if found then.by the aeons of this net to authorize theni to pressed "in their own way" to frame a State Constitn. Von, preparktory tosalmisainp into, the Union. I also recommend that an appropriation may be made to enasda the President to take the CAMPUS at the people of Kansas, The presentconditien - of the Territory of Utah, a hen contrasted with What it.was one year ago.is it sultject fog congratulation. It WLS then in astete.of open rebellion, and,,cost what it might, the charaeter of`the Goirernment required that this rebellion should be •sitppressell, and the Mirmosis compelled to yield obedience to the Consti tution and the laws In pride fetteeemPllsb this object es inforrhed you in my last anneal inessage,l appointed a new Governor instead of 'Brigham Young, and other - Federal officers to take the place of those win, consul t hug their tersonal safety, had found it necessary to with \draw from the Territory, To protest. these / eivil officers, and to aid them, as a posse comiiatto, in the execution of the laws in case of need. I ordered a detachment of the army to siccompiny them to Utah. The necessity far adop ting these measures ie now demonStrated, On the 15th September, 38OI ti Gov. Young issued his proelatiration.ln the style of an independent sovereign, announcing his purpose to resist "by force: of arms the entry of the U. S. troops into °mown Territory of-Utah, ny this he et-toiled nit the totem it, the Territory to ;-hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice to repel any and all such Itirsaion,"and e-tab kited mattial law from its date throughout the Territory.--• These proved to he no idle threats. Pot ts Bridger and Supply were vacated and burnt down by the Mormons, to deprive our troupe of a shelter after their long mid fa• tigning march. Orders were issued by Daniel IL. Welts. styling himself '.l.iettt. Oen., "Sleeve(' Legion," to stain past the animals of the U. S. troops on their march, to set.fire in their trains, to burn the grass and the whole country b. fore them. mid on their flanks, to keep Orin from aleepingby night. Surprises and ta,,lilockade the road by fellin trues ; and destroying the fords these Orlerg trgre Dromptiy effectually obeyed. Ou the 4th of Octouer, 1867, the Mordrons captured nila burned on Green river three of our supply ttains, con• sisting of seventy wageng, loadd' with provisions and terll; for the army, and carricitaway several hundred au heals. This diminished the supply of previsions so ma terially that General John , on was obliged to reduce the ration. and even with this precaution, there was only sufficient left to subsist the troops until the first of June. Our little nrtny beharel admirably in their encamp• merit at Fort Bridger, under these trying privations. In the midst of the mountains. in a dreary, unsettled, and inhospitable region. more than a thousand miles from home, they irassed the severe and 'inclement winter With out a ritartnur. They looked forward with ponfidenco for relief foir. their cpuutry in due seis in, and in this theY Were ntt 4isanpolnted. The Secretary of War en:ploy:ell all his energies to for. ward tttvlU the ticce-atry supplies, and to muster and send wadi a TOIHUtry force to Utah as would render resis tance on the part of the 3lormotis hopeless, and thus terminate the war without the . Munn of blood. lit Ids efforts he was efficiently sttstained by Congress. They gran ted appropriations sufficient. to cover the deficiency thus necessarily created, and rign pt orbital for raising two regiments of volunteers, ;Tor the purpose ot quel ling disturbances iu the Ter: itory (LA' Utah, for the pro tection :tad supply of emigrent - ns, and th: supple,- sion of Indian hostilities on the' frontiers" Ilappily, - here was no occasion tticali theSeregimeuts inteserylee. If there had heen. I should have felt serious eintatrress., meat in selecting them, so great.waif the number of our brave and patriotic citizens anxious to serve their coun try in this distant and apparently dangerous expedition., Thus it has ever been, sae thus tally iterer be! The wisdom and economy of seeding sufficient reia. forcementa to Utah ere established not only by the event, but in the opinion of those who" front their position and opportunities, are the niciA capale or-forming a correct judgment. Oen. Joltuson, - the cominentler of the forces, in addressing the Secretary of War,- fr. lit Fort Brideer, under date of OctiTher IF, lBf.r. expresses the opin ion that •'stoless arge force is'Sent here, from the nasure of the country, a protract, d war on.their [the Mortitons) part is inevitable." This he considered necessary, to termi nate the war "speedily and more rcononlically than if at , tempted by insufficient means" - In the meantime, it. was My ninvietts desire that the blortnons ilmuld yield obedience to. the Constitntion and thelawe, ithout rendering it 7:eeeaStlcV resort •. . to military force. To aid in accompllshinS this object, I deemed it - advisable in April last to despatch two diutim guishill citizens of the United States. Messrs: Powell and. M teulloli. to Utah. They bore with them a proclamation tuldremed by myself to the citizens or Utah, dated ou the nth day of that month. warning thtw of their true con dition. and hove hopelesit it was in thei: part •to p-rsist in rebellion against the United States, and offering all those who should submit to t°e lane, a full pardon for „their past seditione find emone: At the fame tiler. I assuivd all those who should persist in rebellion against the United States, that they must expect no further tem ity, but look to be rigorously debit with according. to their deserts. Thu instructions of these ;lo uts. as well as a copy of the proclamationaind their rep rts, are here with Fliblilitt(ll. It will batmen by their report of dm of July last. that,they have fully confirmcd the opinion expretsed by Gen. JohltSMl in the previous October, as to the necessity of sending reinforcements to Utah. le this they state that they Mire tit rely iMpressed with lid that the 'presence of the tinny here. and the lateral ditional force that had been ordered to the 'Territory, were the chief inducements that , cankal the Mormons to abandon tie idea of resisting the authority , tff - the United States. A less decisive policy wantil probably have re sulted in a long, t loody. and expensive war." These gentlemen canditeted themselves tom) , ebtire satianettien,lind retiderall useful services executing the humane intentions of the Government. It also affords me great intishiction to state that Gov ernor Cumming has performed hie duty in an able anal Conciliator} =leaner, and with timbal:pica effect. Ico n not, in this connection, ref:l3)n front mentioning tier Ylll 'cable sortie:4g or Colonel Thomas K Kane, who, from MO tiVCII ot pare benevolence, aud withtlut any ttfieial char. eater or pecuniary compensation, visited Utah during the last inclement winter, for the purpose of contributing - to the pacification of the Territory. I am happy to infornt yea that the Governor and other civil officers of Utah 'are nnw perfoloing their appropt ate funetiOns bitheittresteoure. The authority of the Constitution and tee:. law,' has been Wily restored, and peace prevails the Teri itOry A portion of the :mops sent to Utah are now en camped in Cedar Valley. forty Mih miles south-west of Salt Lake City; and :he reakeimiel have been ordered to Oregon to supple a Inaian • Toe march of the army to . Salt Lake City, through the Indian Territory.has had a powerful effect in restraining the hostile feelings against the United States, which ex , bated among the Indians in that region, and in seeming emigrants to the Far West against their depredatious.— This will alto be the means of vetablisidngroilitary posts and promoting settletuents along the Tonle. recommend thkt toe benefits of our land laws an.i 'preemption system be extended to the people of Utah, by the establishment of a irald'afilee in that Territory. I have occasion. WOO, to congratulate you on the result of our negotiations with China.. You wore informed by my last annual message_ that our miniater had been instructed to occupy a neutral position in the hostilities coed utted by Great Britain and France against Canton. Ile WaP, however, at the same time, directed to co operate cordially with the Brit- IA and French miuistere, in all peaceful ag*ures to se core by tveaty,thosejnat coucvseinns to foreign commerce which the nations of the world had a right to Armand.— It was impassible for me to proceed Rather than this, on my own authority, without usurping the war making poker; which, under•, the Constitution, belongs cxclu• sively to Congress. Besides, after a careful examination of the nature anti extent of -our grievances, I did not believe they were of each a p. easing and aggravated character as _would have justitled Congress in declaring war against the Chinese Empire. without first making another earnest attempt to adjust them by peaceful negotiation. I was the more in • alined to this npruioa,beeause of the severe chastisement 'which had then but recently bean inflicted on the Chinese brour squadron, in the capture and destruction of the Barrier forts, to avenge an alleged insult to our flag. The event has proved the wisdom of out neutmlity.-:- Our minister has executed his instructions with eminent skill and•nbility. In conjunction with the Russian ple nipotentiary, he has peacefully, but rill deafly, co-ope• rated with the English and French plenipotentiaries; and eac h d f the four Powers gas concluded a separate treaty -- - " a ';!!hly Satisfactory character. The with Utuna,.... vtnoteutiarywill imme treaty concluded by our own • • diatoly, submitted to the Senate. • am happy to announce that, through the energetic, *et conciliatory efforts of our Consul General in Japans new treaty haskeen concluded 'With - that empire, which may be e*Rec;ed mate - fatly to augment our trade and intercourse In that quarter and remove from 'our min. • t rymen the disabilities which have heretofore been int. posed epee the exercise of their religion. The treaty shall be submitted to the Senate for approval without delay. It is thy . earnest desire that every misunderstandingwith the government of Great Britain should be amica bly and speedily adjusted. It bus been the misfortune of both countries, almost ever since the period of the Itevo lotion. to have been annoyed by a succession of irritating and dangerous questions, threatening their-friendly rela tions. This bee partially prevented the development of those feeling's of mutual friendship - 1n tween the peepleof the two countries. so natnral in themselves and so condo. cive to their common interest. Arty serious interrnption of the commerce between the United States sod Great Britain wmf tl be equally injurious to both. In fact, ite two nations have ever existed on the face of the earth which could do each other ea much geed or so lunch 'harm. Entertaining these sentiments, /am gratified - to inform yon, that the .leng-pending controversy between the two. Governments in relation to the question of visitation and search. has been amicably adjusted.' The claim on the part of Great. Britain. forcibly to visit American vessels on the high seas in time of peace. could not be sustained under tholaw of nations, and it bad been overruled by he- own most eminentjurists. Thin qtreetion . Was recent ly bronghtfto an issue, by the repeated acts of British cruisers. in boarding and searching any penitent vessels in the Gulf of Mexico .and The adjacent. seat. These acts ,were the Mast injerieue and annoying, as these waters are tray,,rsedby a large portion -f the commerce and wi g-Moe of the, flailed F. tates,aud their free" unrestricted use is eesentlid to the security of the coastwise trade be tween diffe , retit States of the Union. 'Snell vexatious in. terruptienn coold not fail to excite the feelings of country, and . 79 require-the interposition of the Govern melt. itegetmsirenete Were 4tidressed to the British Go. veentmetttrinst these violitione of our rights of sove reignty. and a naval forceless at the same limo ordered to the Cuban waters, with directions "to protect all vessel's of the United States on the high Seas from search or fie tuition by the vessels el waeof auy other nation." Thene measures reegived the unqualified, and even enthusiastic, apprebation of the American people. . . Meet fortunately, however. no collision took place, and the British Gaverm meet promptly avowed-its recognition -of the - principles of international law wenn this subject, as laid down by the Ginernment of the United States, in the note of the Secretarynf 'Stete to the British minister at Washington, of April 10,1895, which scours the vessels of the United States upon the high .sears from visitation or search in time of petibe, under any circumstances whatever. The claim has been abandeped in a manner reflecting honor On the British- Government, and evincing a just regard for the taw natioes, .ont cermet fail to. strengthen4l:e amicable reletions betereen the tem et - Metz:Mg. The British Government, at the same time, proposed to the United States that some moue should be adopted, by mutual arrangement-between the two countries, of a character which may i 'be found effective without being. offensive, for verify-big:the nationality of vessels sus pected on coed grounds, of carting false colors. They have also invited the United States to take theinitiative, and propose measures for this purpose, Whilst declining to assume so , grave ai responsibility, the Secretary of State has informed the'Britisla Government that we are ready to receive any proposals which they may feel dis posed to offer, having this object in view, and to consider them in an amicable epffit. A strong opinion is, howev er, expressed, that the occasional 'abuse of the flag army Cation is an evil far lose to be deprecated than wbuld be the establishinent of any regulations which might be in eompatible with the freedom of the teas. This Govern- inent iiftB yet`received no communication specifying the manner in Vebleb the British GoVernment would propose to carry out their eug'restion't and Yam inclined to believe that no plawarbich con be devised will be free front grave emberrassnieuts. Still, I shall Aim no decided opinion on the subject, until I shell have carefully . and in the beat spirit examined any prop:is:as which they may think proper to make. , I tan trot( sorry I. cannot also Inform you that the... h0 ,.,, c3r and interests of France, no person complications between Greatßritain and tbetinited States 1 '' • throughout the world has imputeul Warne : t 9 arising out ot. tii. Clayton and Bulwer treaty of April, 1650, hare been finally adjusted. him for itec , .4&ng a pecuniary equirilert for At the confniencement of your last session I had . rea. • 800 to hope that. emancipating themselves front further 11;ift cession - . nnataling diseissi.lns, the two Goyertstaants would pro ft publicity, which has becu given to see d to settlethe Central American questions in a practi- i our former negotiations upon . this suljeet, cal manner. alike honorable and satisfactory to both; and , this hope I have not yet abandoned. Jo my last annual , and the large appropriation which may be British Covr.rement for his purpt's, in a fr, %endlY spirit, 1 ped i ent, Message, I stilted that overtures lied been made by the j yegil ;mid to effect the purpose, render it ex Which I cordially reciprocated Their proposal was, to l. Are malting IP. another attempt to withdraw these questions from direct negotiation be renew the -neflotiation that I should lay the tweet' the artt:th Goverment and melt Of the Central ). whole American republics Whose territorial interests are.hrtme- I „ , .. dhetely in:mitred, The settlement was to he made in no- : especially necessary, as it - may _became izii . dispensable to success that I shouid be in vortlance.with the general tenor of tide tr.terpretation , placed upon the Clay ton and Bohm treaty by thelTaited I ~,__ 5 . - : i.ru t eel With the means of makin , an aci=- ~ States, with certain modifintions. As negotiations are ! still pending upowthis basis, it would not be proper for i vance to the . Spanish *Government he Me-, me now tocoinframicate their presenteolutition. A final 1 diately after signing the treaty, without settlement of these questions is greatly to he destred,and , . , this would wipe nut the last remaining entject of flisputo ! ttwaiting the ratification of it by the Senate. between the two countries. . I , I - am encouraged to make, this suggestion h. Our relations with the 'great empires of Franco and Russia, as well as with ell other Governments on the eon. Gaeta of Enropo, except that of Spain, continue to he of the most friendlychuracter. With Spain our relations remain in an _unsatisfactory I coalition La toy rne-sitemh,,ey_isst.l taformed ion thafltuftWivariTtaidiritiffil.er pleitiple tent Mry. to Mad: Id had asked for bls recaf F, and it seamy purpoip la semi out a new minister to ,that court, with .1 special instrrimionton a,l questions pending between Oaf tap florcentnents. tiralwith adeter,nination to Intro theta speedily and amicably alusteti,ll that were possible.-- , Tine purpose has td•CAt hitherto defeated by causes which I I need not ontmierate. - . . . Ile mission to t‘nain bus I eon intrusted to a distil]• g.uished citizen of Kentucky, who will proceed to Madrid witbout , delay, and make another and final attempt to ob tain justice from that Government. . Spanish officials. under the ditect control of tbeCaptaitt- General of Cuba, have insulted our national flag, and, in repeated instances, havo,,:frourtftne time, intlicte lin juries an the persona and property of our citizens. Thhso have given birth to numerous claims against the Spanish Government, the merits of which bare been fully dis. . . cussed for a series of years, by our sem:solve diplomatic representatives. Notwithstanding this, we haTe not ar rived at a practical result in any Mimic instance, unless wetnay excl.pt the ease of the Black Warner, miller the late Administration; and that-presented an outrage-of :such a character as would have justified an immediate assert to war. All our attempttuto.obtain redress have been bellied and defeated.' The &event and oft-recurring rhanges in the Spanish Ministry have n employed as reasons for delay. We have been:compelled to vialt,agaim and again, until the neteitlinister shall have bad time to investigate the justice of our demands.. • Even Atha tlitive been denominated "the Cahaw•alitima.. in which mobs than a lrindred of our citizens are directly interested. bare furnished no. exception. These claims were for the refunding of duties unjustly exacted from Amer icon veiscle at different custom-houses in Cuba ' so. tong ago as the year 1844. The principles upon which they rest are so manifestly equitable And Just, that. after a period +Smarty ton years, in 1854. they were recognized by the Fcanirb Government. ,Proceedinge were afterwards , . instituted to meet tain their stoonnt,and this was finally fixed according to their own atatemen. (with which we were stabbed) at the sum of-one hundred and twenty eight thtrisand *la hundred and thirty-fire dollars and Fifty-four cenfE, duct at the moment, after it delay'of fourteen years, when we had reason to expect that this cum would bs repa,d with interest, we bare received a offering to reinnd one-third of thatamonnt.(for ty-two thousand right hundred and seventy eight dollars en!) foro'.olie emits.) but without interest, if we would ceient.ti , isinfull ratiafactton The offer is, also, accom panied by declaration that this indemnification is not f,,u , teed tot any reason of strlctjustice, but is made as a tpecial 0111! 11iiPgP I cause for pr - oorastinat:on in the ex:rrninction liner adjustment -of oar claims arises from an'obstecle which it is tbe doty,,,of the, Spanish Government to remove Wbilet the Captain General of CUI is invested with general deSpotin au• thoriry in the government of that island, the nowt.r is withheld from him to examine'' anti redress the wrongs committed by °Miele under hie control, en citizens of the United States. Instead of making our• complaints directly to him at Ifavanna, we are obliged .to present them throug,h our minister Madrid. These are then referred baCk to the Captain General ; for, information ; and much time is thus consumed in preliminary investigations nod correspondence between Madrid and Cubit, before the Spahish Gov cromtnt will content to proceed to negotia. Mlsny of she difficulties between the two'Governments wculd Le obviated, and a long train of regutiation avoided, if the Captain General nere invested with au. thority to settle questions of easy-Solution on the spot, where alt the facts are fresh, and could he promptly end satiefectorily ascertained. We have. hitherto in vain urged upon the Spanish Governthent, 'te, confer this power upon the Captain• General, and our minister to Spain will again be in etructed to urge this subject on theirnotice. I n this respect we occupy a different psi• thin from the Powers of Eurote. Cuba is' almost in sight of our shores; our commerce with it is far greater that that of any other nation, including. Spain itself, and- our citi• zneae in habits of daily and extended perennial intercourse with every part of the island. It is, therefore, a great grievance that, when any difficulty occurs,no matter h ow :unimportant, un i m p o rtant, which might be readily settled at the moment, we should be obliged to resort. to Madrid, especially when the very first step to be taken there is to. refer it back to Cut-a. • The truth is, that Cuba, in its existing co lcnial condition, i@ a consent source of in• jury and annoyance to the American people. It is the only spot in the civilized world where the African slave Trade is tolerated; and we are bound by treaty with Great Britain.te maintain a naval force on the. coast of Africa„, at much expense of life solely for the purpose of ar• ''at: island. The and tremi.—__ resting slavers -bottria late !patinas diffictittiei between the 'Unittu States and Great Britain reaneeting tbo right•of search, now so happily terminated, could never have arisen if Cuba bad not af forded a market for slaves. ' As long as this I market shall remain open, there can be no hope for the civilization. of benighted Africa. -Whilst the demand for -slaves eon linnet; in:Cuba. Wars will be waged among the'petty and barbarous chiefs in Africa, for the purpose of seizing subjects to Sup 'ply this„trade. In such% .condition of af fairs, it is impossible that the light of civili• zation and religion can ever penetrate these dark abodes. ' rid ' -- .. I' hes beew me known' to the world by my predecessors, that the United. States have , on several oceasions, endeavored to acquire Cuba from Spain by• honorab'e ne gotiation. If this were accomplished, the - last rPlio of the African slave trade Vr ciu Id instantly disappear. We would not, if we could, acquire Cuba in any other manner. This is due ‘ to our national character. Ail the territory which we have acquired since the origin of the Government, his been by fair purchase from Pr trice, Spain, and klex ion, or by thefree and voluntary net of .the Independent State• of - Teifai,in blending her destinies with our own. This . course 'we shall ever pursue, unless circumsta7ces should occur, ,which we do not now antici pate, rendering a departure from it clearly justifiable, under the imperative and over ruling law of self .preservation. • The island of Cuba, from its geographical position, commands the mouth of the illis .issippi, and the immense and annual-int creasint , in trade, foreign end coastwisei fro the .valley r,l that noble- river, now einbrit. eing half the sovereign. States of the Union. With that islind under the dominion of a distant foreign Power, this trade, of vital importance to these Sta es, is exposed to the danger of beinz daStroyed in time of 'war, and it has hitherto been subjeeted to per petual injury and annoyance in time of peace. Our relations with Spain, which ought to be of the most friendly character, must always he placed in jeopardy, whilst the existing colonial Gwerument over the island shall remain in its' present condi tion. Whilst thO possession of ihe island would _ be ot vast importanee to the United States, its value:lo Spain is, comp - drat:yelp, Unim portant._ 'ouch was the rela.7,ive situation of the partite, when the great Napa!eon trans ferred Louisiana to the United States. Jealous, as be ever was, of the national -- gr B, the example of Mr. Jefferson previous ti the nurehtise of Louisiana from France; and by that cf Mr. Polk in view of the atAnisition of territory;from Mekico. I refer the whole soiled fo C gresind minen'd It to their careful consideration. I repeat the recoMmenilatlon made in-my Messao of I)e:cern:her last, in favor of an ape prOpriation "to be paid to the Spanish Gov ernment fpr the purpose cf distribution I among the claimants in the Amistad - case," President Polk first Made a.similar recom. mendation in December, 1847, and it was I repeated 14y my immediate predecessor in December ; 1853. I entertain no doubt that indemnity is fairlY due to these claimants wider our trelity with Spain of 27th October ; and whilst demanding justice NVP ought to do justice. An appropriation promptly made for this purpose could not fail to exert a favorable ingueAce on, our ne gotiations with Spain. Our position in relation to the indipendent States south of us on this continenWand es peciallythose within the limits of N.America isof a pectiliar obaracter; The northern toundary of Mexico iseojncident with • our own southern boundary from.. ocean to ocean; and we must necessarily feel a deep interest in all that concerns the. well-being and the fate of so near a neighbor. We have always' cherished the kindest wishes for the success of that republic, and have indulaed tt.e.hope that it might at last, atter all its trials, enjoy peace and prosperity under a free 16(1 stable government. We - have t ever hitherto inter. ferhd, , directly or indirectly, with its intern .1 affairs, and it is a duty which we owe to O l ir selves, to protect the integrity of its territory against the - hostile interference of any other Power. Our geographickl position,our direct interest in all that concerns Mexico, and our well settled policy in regal d to the 'North AmeriCrin continent, re'nder this an Indis •,pensable duly. Mexico has been in t. constant state,of re volution almust ever since it achieved its Lindependence. One military leader after [another has usurped the Government in rapid' succession; and the. various .conetitutions, from time to time adapted, ha% e been set at naught almost as soon as they were proclai med. The successive nauvements have afford ed no adequate protection, either to Mexican citizens or foreign residents, against lawless violence. Heretofore: the seizure of the cApital by "a military chieftain bas been gen orally followed by, at least the nominal sub• mission of the country to his rule fora brief period, bul not so at jho present crisis of Mexican affairs A civil war has been raging for enure lime rbroughont the republic, be the Central Government at the Sity of Mexico, which has endeavored to subiert the' Constitution last framed, by military power, and those who maintain the authority of that. Constitution. The antagonist parties each hold poseession*of different States of the Republic, and the, fortunes of tte war are constantly changing. Meanwhile . the most reprehensible means have been einployed-by both parties to extort money from fereigners, as well as natives, to carry on this' ruinous contest. The truth is, that this line country, blessed with a prc..ductive soil and a benign climate, has been reduced 'by civildisectsion tb a condition of almeet hopeless_ anarchy and imbecility, It would be vain for this Government to attempt to enforce payment in money of the claims of American citizens, now amounting to more than ten million dol. Jars, against Mexico,becatise she is destitute of all pecuniary means to satisfy these de 15ur1ate ministerfurnished - with am was ple powers and instructions -fdr the tidjust ment of all pending questions with' the Den. tral Government of Mexico, and, has per ' formed hie duty with zeal and The claims of our eitizenee, some Of_ them art. , sing out of the violation of an express pro. vision of- the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and oiliere 'ltem gross injuries to persons as well as. property, have remained- unredreh eed and even unnoticed. Remonstrances against these greivaiices have been addressed without effect - to that Government. Mean ' 'ttarionis parts , of the republic, im. ^der of-our citizens by prieontnlnt, Vsu • WHOLE NO. 494. 'different parties, claiming and exercising a legal jurisdiction ; but the Central Govern- I' tent; although repeatedly urged thereto, have made *no tffott either to piinieb the _ , authors of these outraees or tO prevent their Irecurrence. o . merman citizen can now visit Mexico on lawful business without impaitierit 'danger to his parser' and prop erty.. There is no adequate protection-:to' `either;, and in this respect our treaty with that-republic is almost a_dead letter. ' nris state of Waite was brought to a crisis in „ m a y No,_hy the prOfini.us..,,on -• a ,I, ti ..of • decree levying a contribution pro rata upon all the capital in the Pbepublic between,. certain specified amounts whether held by Mexicans or foreigners. Mr. Forsyth, regarding this -decree - in the light of a :lorced loan," for ma,lly..protested - a2ainst its applicatiA to' his' countrymen, and advised them not -to. p a y .tire euntrilution, Vitt suffer it *o he for- : ciblypkacted. Aeting unen this advice - , an Am "ipan citizen refused. to pay .the ecntri. buti, ,;.. ,and hi,e property was .se zed by arm •meniP,-anti§fy the amount. ...Nut cen- Anti.th. ihre,ift - .e Government ,went Still further,-and "issued a. decree, 'banishing him from the csuotry. Our minister immedi-, mei) , notified them that if this decree should be carried into exec - ad:N.la, hc wouldfccl it" to be his duty-to adopt "the- wrist decided measures that belong to the powers and oh lig:miens of the representative.effice."- Not withstanding this warning,. the banishment was enforced, and Mr. Forsyth . ;,romptly announced to the Government the suspern. lion of the political relations of his legation with them, until :the ..pleasur.e of his or.n Government should be an - attained. - This Government did not regard the cant tributinn imposed by the decreh 'of the 15th ; ] of May last to be -in strictness a "forced I loan," and as such prohibited by the tenth articleEuf the trdety of 1826 between Great Britain and Mexico to-the hi ncAte of Which American citizens are entitled by'lrenty ; yet the imnosition of the contribution up.en foreigners was considered an unjust and op . piessive measure. 'Besides, internal fee twos in other parts of the Republic were at the same time levying similar c , .xactires upon the Property _of, our citizens, and in terrupting their coMmeree. There had been an entire failure on the paiinf our ministers to secure redress for the "wrongs which on: citizens had endured, notwithstanding his Fereevoring efforts. And from the temper, mlnifestedby the Menican Govern:4.o'u, be had repeatedly a..s.sured,us that no favorable change could be expected until the United States should give "steking evidence,of their will and power to Trotect their c iti. zees;' end that "severe chastening is the only earthly remedy Ea- our grievanees.”— From this statement of facts, it wou:d have been worse then idle to direct Mr. For,yth to retract his steps, and resume diplomatic relatiims with that Government ; and it was therefore, deemed proper to sanction his withdrawal of the legation'from the city of Merli): Abundant eau - se now undoubtedly exists for a resort to hostilities against that. GOV' ernmerrt 8611 holding possession of the cap ital. Should they e/cooed . in subduing the constitutional .fotces, reasonable hope will then have expired of a 'peacefUl settle ment et ourdifficulties. - On the other hand, Should the constitin -party-prevailrand--tfreir adthorittbi estahl:stioil'o.yer the Republie, there 'area son to hope' that they will be animatsd by a less unfriendly spirit; and may grant that redress to American citizens which justice. requires so far as-lhey may posse s the means, justice-requires, for this expectation, I should at once have recornmended to eon gress; to grant the necessary power - lit the President, to take possession of.a sufficient portion of the remote and unsettled territory of MeKico, to be held in pledge until our injuries'ithall he redressed and our just de• mends be satiSfied. We have exhausted every milder means of obtaining juitice.— In such' a caSe, this remedy of reprisala is recognized by the law of nations, not only as, just in itself, but as a nicansof preven• tang actual - 'War. But there is another view of our relations with' Mexico, arising from the unhappy condition of affairs along our southwestern frontier, which demands immeliato 'action. In that remote region, where there are but few white inhabitants,lariie bands of hostile and predatory Indians roain promiscuously over the Mexican States of Chihatahua and Sonora, and our adi , dning territories, Toe local ,Governments of chase States are pe r , feebly belplees, and are kept in a atate of 'constant' alarm by ihe Indians. Tf,fly have, not the - pnwer if t' cy •, ,, o , seA,,ed the Ival, even to resii:Lin laatieea Mexicans fro r n passing the -border co,arv_raitting depre , dations n our r, :N.lf 'ern. A state of anard on our orevaile f - tar,,st_tion.t that dist.4nt Ttle ov-k:r2 :v..? a cis 1 i letter,'and at. d pte!.c7 , y wbotly secure. `or thi% s•stticmcnt i f Arizona is arts u . .rit:,4 ,C 2rJat im, portance that ii ".; extend ad a.;ong • rd:l.r for their own 1 ,r,,ti0, ir,at tlut United fluted mail 1,34.,,,p„, to and li a ,fu California..Weli,i, itztoted . appr•abensiens are now entertained that the Indianromd - wandering Mexicans equally lawless, may break hp the important stage-and postal contriludieation repent! v established between our Atlantic and Pacific Imseessions. This' passes very-near to the Mexican boundary,. throughout the whoh. lengtii of Arizona.— I can' imagine no-possible remedy for t".e-i•-e evils, and nil, mode of restoring en,i order on that remote and unsettled froutin7, but t: , e Government of the United States ,to 'assume . - a temoorate pniteciorate over t:.,41 northern portions of Obititialitta and Sonora and to establish military peqs NNithin the same--lepd tide I eartestly _rotioniroend con g re l 4v. This protection may be with drawn, 43 each es' local govornmonia snail hs established it , thee4J3le;frienn Suites. ea, pable of performing their, duties to the Uoif tedeStales, restraining the lawlsas-and pre , serving . 'peace along the boi.der. I do net doubt that this meailire will be viewed is a 'friendly f , ,pirit, b p-e, Gev rin m e nts and people of Chihuahua and 1 4 0 nom ai it will prove sou,Dy the protection of the) , mete and ireatier, Of the United Stabs. And in this connection, pi!' 1.7 me to re call your attention,to the' condition of . Ari vine. The population of that Territ o ry, numbering, as is alleged, mote than 11.11 thousand souls, are praciicaily without a' government, without)awr,amt withont an y regular a-'ministration of juslice.- blurrier apd other crimes are committe.l . with im punity. This elate of things calls loudly for redress; and l therblcite repeat ray recom mendation for the c7tabl.shrnent of a Terri• tonal Government Over Arizona. The politica.l condition of the narrow isth mus of Central America, thiough which transit routes pass between the ./ttlantic and Pacific oceans, presents subject of deep interescie All commercial nations,. It is-over theselransits that a large portion of the trade and travel between the European and Asiatic continents is destined to pass ; To the United 'States these routes are.ofim calculable importance,` as a means of Cone munieation between their Atlantis and Pa _ . .. cilia possessions. The litter now itateht i throughout seventeen degrees of latitude out the• Pacific coast, embracing the important; ' - Stateri*Califorma and.-the-tku4hing Ter-4 ' ritories of Oregon and Washington. AIN ' „commercial nations, therefore, h a ve a deep f end directAntereet that the communica- ' Lions shall be rendered secure from inter ruption, If any arm of the sea, connecting, the twcepeeans, penetrated through Nicara- 4 Ina and Costa „Rica, it could s not 'be pre- tentred -that these ,States . would-have the tight to arrest ~.or, retard its navigation, to : the iniary.of other rations. The transit by 4 arid:,.e.ieri - thia,.. narrow, isthmus occupies neartkiliireitote:ls,sition. -.lt is a highway in which they-theinseives have little inter- ' -est, when compnred With the veat interests of the rest Of the world. - Whi'st Mei r.riehts of seven i,griti,- ought to be respected, it is the duty of ether-nations to require that this ,:important passage ehalt-not rte. interrupted I by the - civil,-ware and reveltu'onary out , ' breaks ir'hieh have so 'frequently occurred in that region. The stake is too important to be left at the tne'cy of rival companies, ciairising to hold conflicting contracts with ,Nicaragua.. The commerce of other nations is not to stand 81111 and await thi.'adingme n t of indhpetty controversies. The Govern' rnent of the United States expect no more Mao thie.and they will not be satisfied with less.' They would not if they could, derive any-advantage from the. Nicaragua transit, not common to the rest. of the world. Its neutrilityand . protedtion for the common vise of all ' nations, is ;heir . Only object. Tbe'ye have ro otjection that Nicaraeua shall demand andJeceive a lair corn pees a , lion, from the corn parlie's and imlit ideals who trta'y traverse the route; but they insist that it shall. ieverhereafter be close- by an arbitrary -dp4t;e, of that Government. If disputes arise .between if and those with whom they may have entered into contracts, these must be adjusted by some lair tribni nal .provided for, the purpose, ave. the rnu:e must rot be closed pencmg the controversy. This is cur whole policy, and it cannot fail to he acceptible to other nations. All these difficulties .might be araide(Lif, consistent with the goOd faith of Nicaragua, the use of this transit could be thrown open - to general competition; provitlirz, ot the same time for the payment of a reasonable rate to the Nicaraguan Governnent,nn pas, sengers and freight. . . - In August, 1852, the Access.,ry Transit Comp ny tr.:vile its first interoceania trip over the 14icara2mart route, and continll,?:: in successful op . eration, with ore. t ad.. - ,'n, tette to the public, until the ISth February, 1856. when it was closed, and the grant to this company, a' well as its chart. r, was summatily and arbitrarily revoked by the Government of President Rivas. i':ev:ous to-this dare, ht,r.erer, in 18.54, s -lions dic, pates conc,..rding tt.e settlement of . their accounts had wine - it I fuween the company and tho'Ct.y.r. me.Lt, 'Li. reatenic.: the inter ruption of the mute at coy moriiel:t. These the United ts= 'tea ~in emit endr.avore e to compose. I- wo,-.1.1 if' in.ele.s to narrate, the various peocce,tins••• blob took p!pco - between the parties, up till tl.o time when the Imusit wits (115=11i-tied Suffice - it to say f...at, Eit:ee February, 1856, it has re , mairie elosti, greatly .to the pr-jodice, of citizens of the United States. t-ince, th a t time the competition Las erased between the rival routes of. Panama and Nicaragua, an 1, in consequence, thereof, an unjust and unreasonable amount has been exacted from our citizens, fur their passagst to and from California, A treaty was signed on the 16,h tiny of November, 1857, by the Secretary of S a t o and Minister of Nicaragua, under the stip ulations of which the use and protection of the transit route would have been secured, ?, net only to the. United States, but equali; to all other nations. How- and on whia pretext this treaty has failed to receive the -ratification of the Nicaraguan Government mil! appear by the priers herewith corn municated from the State Department.— The principal objection seems to hive teen to the provision anthorizing the United • States to-employ force to- keep the route open, in case Nicaragua-should fail per form her duty in this respect From the leebleitess-r-t that repul,iit:•, its frequent changes of gc - ivernmen!, ptld its constant internal tlisensious, this - . . come a most important anpinnunn.:.;,{l n;e essentially necessary not only for tio , secu rity 'of the route, but for the safety of Amer ican 'citizens passitig and iepi ,, sit,:z to an d from our Pacific posseesious. IVere such a stipulation embraced in a treaty hettteett the United Srates and NiCaragu „the edge of this fan.? would of it...A; nest pr „b, ably prevent hostile pta.tties ting nagreFsions on the rcw...% a 1: our:actual interference for unnecessary. The Executive Government -• • try, in its intereottr.e wnth 1; ;;• i is limited to the employment alone. When this fails, it ea- et.-ce;-,i na further. It cannot legi timan ly re - Ott to force, without the direct authority of Con grest4,-except in repelling and resirline hos tile attacks. It would have to authority to enter the territories of_Nicarat.tua.evee to prevent the destruction of the transit, and protect the lives anti, property of nor own citizens on their pasrage.. It is true that on a Suidde•it emergency of this character, the President would direct at y armed force in the vicinity. to march to their relief : but in doing this; he would act open his 'own respOnsibility, • Under these circumstances, I earnestly recommend to Cartgress'the passage of an act authorizing the President, under such restriction as they may deem proper,to em ploy the land and naval farces of the Uni ted States in preventing ;the transit from being obstructed or Oozed by lawless vio lence, and in protecting the lives and prop. erty cif American citizens traveling there upon, requiring- at. the same time that these forces shall be withdrawn at the moment the danger shall have paSsed away. With out such a Provision; our-citizens will be: constantly exposed, to interruption in their progress, and to lawless violence. • A similar necessity tikitts for the passage of such an act feu the- protection of the Pat nema mid Tehuantepec ; routes. Fi t referenee to the Panama route, the trtitsrl State, , , by their exit:ling treaty with Nt ,„ y 4 rana d a , expressly guarantee the - t f entrality of the Isthmirs, "with the view that ..fir,te,Lritrit,,fronr:one to the ether ;.,;ea interrepted or embarrassed tithe White this treaty exists." t!',o,Tehuatitepecroute,whi c h lies'--en opened under- the most curlremt. with Mexico et the. 3t.oh• f • •••••:-.c.: eeure ., t o t h e ter; L. . g!" nftransit over it fur fa Y'r }vitiates that nettiter tilove A 1 . any c•tstacte" to the Mate.: , ! t across the Isthrtitts oQ#lzt. : kts. • mails of the distribu• tint atiew ;nor.. •• tt., i t -at-ion; alsothe ttt. s .1 S.i.•es Gov. ertnere aml n:ay he in* tended for t..insit; My., act tor d'--tribution tiit . the I thtnus, free of custom-house or miter eltar.Bea, by, the. Mexican Govern. mem." ''These treaty Eti pulmions with New Gran. ads and Mexico, in addition to the consid, orations applicable to the Nicaragua route, seem to require legislation for the purpose of carrying them into 'effect. The injuries v,liieh have been inflicted upon oar gith-?nei in• Costa Rica and Nieara. gua, daring.thedest .two or three years, have receivei the promptatjention of this Govern, ment. Rome, of tbeee,injuries were of the most aggra:vated,ohat4et.r. The nen Faction at Virgin Buy; in - A - pril, 1856, when a com. puny ofinnittfriedAiiinitcaos, who were in no. Way - COrii4cted' With; any belligere in conduct ,n r, party, were fired upon by the troops of Costa Rice and'ritimbers of them killed and • _ fXDITINWID 1r /Mali NA0114), ME
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