where to the 6ame extent as though they had
drawn their first breath in this conntry. We
can recognize no distinction between our na
tive and naturalized citiizer.p.
BUSBIA.
Between the great empire of Russia and the
United States the mutual friendship and r. gard
which has so long existed still continues to pre
vail, and, if possible, to increase. Indeed, our
relations with that Empire are all that we j
could desire.
SPAIN.
Our relations with Spain are now of a more i
complicated though less dangerous character
then th> y have been for many years. Our citi
zens have long held, and continue to hold,
numerous claims agiinst the Spanish govern
merit These had teen ably urged for a seiies t
of years by our successive diplomatic represent
atives at Madrid, but without obtaining re- i
drtss. The Spanish government finally agreed
to institute a joint commission tor the adjust
ment of these claims, and on the stb day of
March, 1860, concluded a convention for this j
purpose with our present minister at Madrid.
Under this convention, w hat have been denomi-!
nated " the Cuban claims," amounting to j
$128,635,44, in which more than one hundred I
of our fellow citizens are interested, were re- i
cognized, and the Spanish government agreed j
to pay SIOO,OOO of this amount "within three
months following tire exchange of latilica- j
tions." The payment of the remaining S2B,- j
635,54 was to await the decision of the com- !
missioners for or against "the A mist ad claim j
but in any event the balance was to be paid to
the claimants either by Spain or the United!
Stutes. These terms i lave every reason to
know are highly satisfm tory to the holders of
the Cuban claims. Imbed, they have made a
formal oiler authorizing the Mate Department
to settle the e claims, and to deduct the
amount of the Amistad claim from the sums
which they are entitled to receive from Spain.
This offer, of course, cannot be accepted.
All other claims of citizens of the United
States against Spain, or of subjects of the j
Queen of Spain against the United States, in
cluding the "Amii-t id claim,'' were by this
convention referred to a board of commission- j
eis in the usual form. Neither the validity of j
the Amistad claim nor of any other claim j
against either party, with the single exception i
of the Cuban claim, was recoguized by the ;
convention. Indeed, the Spanish government
did not insist that the validity of the Amistad
claim should be thus recognized, uotwithstand-1
ing its payment had been recommended to
Congress by two of my predecessors as well as '
by im self, and an appropriation for that pur
pose had passed the Senate of the United States. !
They were content that it should be submitted
to the board tor examination and decision, j
like the other claims. Both governments were ;
bound respectively to pay the amounts award- j
ed to the several claimants "at such times'
and places as may be fixed by and according to j
the tenor of said awards."
I transmitted the proceedings of this conven
tion to the b'enate for their constitutional ac
tion ou the 31 of May, 1800, and on the 27th
of the succeeding June they determined that
they would "not advise and consent" to its
ratification.
These proceedings place our relations with
Spain in an awkward and embarrassing position.
It is more than probable that the final adjust
ment of these claims will devolva up„n my suc
cessor.
I reiterate the recommendation contained in
my Annual Message of December, 1859, and
repeated in that of December, 1859, in favor of
the acquisition of Cuba from Spain by fair
purchase. I firmly believe that such an acqui
sition would contribute essentially to the weli
being ar.d prosperity of both countries in all
future time, as well as prove the certain means
of immediately abolishing the African slave
trade throughout the world I would not re
peat this recommendation upon the present
occasion, if I believed that the transfer of
Cuba to the United States, upon conditions
highly favorable to Spuin, could justly tarnish
the national honor of the proud and ancient
Spanish Monarchy. Surely no person ever at
tributed to the first Napoleon a disregard of the
national honor of France, for tranferring Lou
isiana to the United States foi|a fair equivalent
both in money and commercial advantages.
AUSTRIA, &C.
With the Emperor of Austria, and the re
maining continental powers of Europe, inclu
ding that of the Sultan, our relations continue
to be of the most friendly character.
CIIIKA.
The friendly and peaceful policy pursued by
the Government of the United States towards
the Empire of China, has produced the most
satisfactory results. The treaty of Tientsin of
the 18th of June, 1858, has been faithfully ob
served by the Chinese authorities. The con
tention of the Bth November, 185S, supple
mentary to this tieaty, for the adjustment and
satisfaction of the claims of our citizens on
China, rehired to in iny last Annual Message,
has been already carried into effect, so far as
)tliis was practicable.
Under this convention the sum ot 500,000
itaels, equal to about $700,000, was stipulated
to be paid in satisfaction of the claims of Ameri
can citizens, out of the one-lifth of the receipts
for tonnage import, and export duties on
American vessels at the ports of Canton,
ShaDghae, and Fuchau ; and it was " agreed
¥ that this amount shall te in full liquidation of
all claims of American citizens at the various
ports to this date." Debentures for this
umouut— to wit: 800,000 taels for Canton,
100,000 for Shaughae and 100,000 tor Fuchau
—were delivered according to the terms of the
convention by the respective Chinese collectors
of the customs of these ports to the agent se
lected by our minister to receive the same.
Since that time the claims of our citizens
have been adjusted by the board of commis
sioners appointed for that purpose uuder the act
ot March 3, 1859, and their awards, which
proved satisfactory to the claimants, bave been
approved by our minister. In the aggregate
they amount to the sum of $198,601 78 The
claimants have already received a large propor
tion of the sums awarded to them out of the
<jaud provided, and it is confidently expected
the remainder will ere long be entirely
After the awards shall have been satis
fihete will remain a surplus of more than
HjOO at the disposition of Congress. As
■ll in equity belong to the Chinese gov-
Bfi, would not justice require its appro-
Bn to some benevolent object in which the
B'c may he specially interested ?
Uur minister to China, in obedience to his j
instructions, has remained perfectly neutral in i
the war between Great Britaiu and France and j
the Chinese empire ; although, in conjunctions
with the ltussiau minister, he was ever ready
and willing, had the opportunity offered, to'
employ his good offices in restoring peace be
tween the parties It is but an act of simple
justice, both to our present minister and his
predecessor, to state that they have proved fully
requal to the delicate, trying and responsible
-positions in which they have on different occa
sions been placed.
japAS.
The ratifications of the treaty with Japan,
concluded at Yedo, ou the 29tli of July, 1859,
were exchanged at Washington ou the 22d of
May last, and the treaty itself was proclaimed
ou the succeeding day. There is good reason
to expect that, under its protection and in
fluence, our trade and intercourse with that
distant and interesting people will rapidly in
crease.
The ratifications of the treaty were exchanged
with uuusual solemnity, lor this purpose the
Tycoon had accredited three of his most distin
guished subjects as envoys extraordinary and
ministers plenipotentiary, who were received
! and treated with marked distinction and kind-
I nose both by the Government and people of the
! United States. There is every reason to believe
that they have returned to their native land
entirely satisfied with their visit, and inspired
by the most friendly feelings for onr country.
ijct in ardi ntly hope, in the language oi lire
treaty itself, that "there shall henceforward le
perpetual peace and friendship between the
United States of America and bis Majesty the
Tjcoon of Japan and his successors."
BRAZIL.
Wi'b the wise, conservative and libera! gov
ern m nt of the empire of BrazM, onr relations
continue to be of tl e most amicable characti r
NEW ORAKADA.
The exchange of the ratification of tbe con
vention with the republic of New Granada,
sizned at Washington on the 10th September,
! 1857, Las been long delayed from accidentia!
i causes, for which neither partv is Censurable.
! 'lhese ratification were duly exchanged in this
city on the 6th of November last. Thus has a
controversy been amicably terminated which
! had become so serious at the period of my in
auguration, as to require me, on the 17th
April, 1857, to direct our minister to demand
his passports and return to the United St ates.
Under this convention the government of
New Grauadahas specially acknowledged itself
to be responsible to our citizens "for damages
which were caused by the riot at Panama on
j the 15th April, 1856," These claims, together
with other c'airns of our citizens which had
j been long urged in vain, are referred for ad
■ justment to a board of commissioners. I sub
mit a copy of the convention to Congress, acd
recommend the legislation necessary to carry it
: into effect.
COSTA RICA AND NICARAGUA.
Persevering efforts have been made for the
adjustment of the claims of American citizens
against the government of Costa Rica, and I
am happy to inform you that these have finally
prevailed. A convention was signed at the
city of San Jose, on tbe 2d of July last, be
tween the minister resident of the United
States in Costo llica and the plenipotentiaries
of that republic, referring these claims to a j
Board of Commissioners, and providing tor tho
payment of their .awards. This convention
will be submitted immediately to the Senate
for their constitutional action.
The claims of our citizens upon the republic
of Nicaragua have not jet been provided for
by treaty, although diligent efforts lor this pur
pose have been made by our minister resident
to that republic. These are still continued with
a fair prospect of success.
MEXICO.
Our relations with Mexico remain in a most
unsatisfactory condition. In my two last an
nual messages I discussed extensively the sub
ject of these relations, and do not now propose
to repeat to length the facts and arguments
then presented They proved conclusively that
our citizens residing in Mexico and our mer
chants trading thereto had suffered a series of
wrougs and outrages such as wo have never
patiently borne from any other nation. For
these our successive ministers, invoking the
faith of treaties, had, in the name of their
country, persistently demanded redress and in
demnification, but without the slightest effect.
Indeed, so confident had the Mexican authori
ties become of our patient endurauce, that they
universally believed they might commit these
outrages upon American citizens with absolute
impunity- Thus wrote our minister in 1850,
and expiessed the opinion that "nothing but a
manifestation of the power of the Government,
and of its purpose to punish these wrongs, will
avail."
Afterwards, in 1857. came the adoption of a
new constitution for Mexico, the election of a
President and Congress under its provisions,
and the inauguration of the President. Witliin
one short month, however, this President was
expelled from the capital by a rebellion in the
army, and the supreme power of the republic
was assigned to General Zuloagn. Thi3 usurper
was in his turn soon compelled to retire and
give place to General Miramon.
Under the constitution which had thus been
adopted, beffor Juarra. as chief justice of the
Supreme Court, became the lawful President of
the Republic, and it was for the maintenance of
the constitution aud his authority derived
from it that the civil war commenced, and still
continues to be prosecuted.
Throughout the year 1858 the constitutional
party grow stronger aud stronger. In the previous
history of Mexico a successful military revolu
tion at the capital had almost universally been
theaignal for submission throughout the repub
ic. Notso on the present occasion. A majority of
the citizens persistently sustained the constitu
tional government. When this was recognized
in April, 1859, by the Government of the
United States, its authority extended over a
large majority of the Mexican States and people
including Vera Cruz and all the other import
ant tea ports of the republic. From that pe
riod our commerce with Mexico began to re- 1
vive, aud the constitutional government lias
afforded it all the protection in their power.
Meanwhile the government of Miramon still
held sway at the capital and over the surround
ing country, and continued its outrages against
the few American citizeus who still had the
courage to remain within its power. To cap
the climax : After the battle of Tacubaya, in
April, 1859, Gen. Marquez ordered three citi
zens of the United States, two of them physi
cians, to be seized in the hospital at that
place, taken out and shot, without crime and
without trial. This was done, notwithstand
ing our unfortunate countrymen were at the
moment engaged in the holy cause of affording
relief to the soldiers of both parties who had
been wounded in the battle, without makiDg
any distinction between them.
The time had arrived, in my opinion, when
this Government was bound to exert its power
to avenge and redress the wrongs of our citizens
and to afford them protection in Mexico. The
interposing obstacle was that the portion of the
oouutry under the sway of Miramon could not
be reached without passing over territory un
der the jurisdiction of the constitutional gov
ernment. Under these circumstances, 1 deemed
It my duty to recommend to Congress, in my
last annual message, the employment of a suf
ficient military force to penetrate into the inte
rior where the government of Marimon was to
be found,,with, or, if need be without the con
sent of the Juarez government, thought it was
not doubted that this consent could be obtain
ed. Never bave I had a clearer conviction on
any subject than of the justice as well as wis
dom of such a policy. No other alternative
was left, except the entire abaDdonmc-nt of our
fellow-citizens who had gone to Mexico, under
the faith of treaties, to the systematic injustice,
cruelty, and oppression of Miramon's govern
ment. Besides, it is almost certain that the
simple authority to employ this force would of
itself have accomplished all our objects with
out striking a single blow. The constitutional
government would then ere this have teen
established at the city of Mexico, aud would
have been ready and willing, to the extent of
its ability, to do us justice.
In addition—and I deem this a most impor
tant consideration—European governments
would have been deprived of all pretext to in
terfere in the territorial aud domestic concerns
of Mexico. We should thus have been reliev
ed from the obligation of resisting, even by
force, should this become necessary, auy at
tempt by these governments to deprive our
neighboring republic of portions of her terri
tory ; a duty from which we could not shrink
without abandoning the traditional aud estab
j fished policy of the American people. I am
j happy to observe, that, firmly relying upon
j the justice and good faith of these govern
| m ent, there is no present danger that such a
j contingency will happen.
Having discovered that my recommendation would
not be sustained by Congress, tie text alternative was
to accoapii-h, in some degree, if | oss ble, the same ob
jects by treaty stipulations with ihe roustitutioi al gov
ernment. Suclt treaties were accordingly concluded by
our lato a' le and < xcelient m'nister to Mexico, and 'n
the 4th January last was submitted to-the Senate for
ratification. As the-e have cot yet received the final ac
tion of that body, it would be improp* for me to present
a detatlod statement of their provisions. Still I may be
permitted to oxj rcsstne opiuion in advance that they ore
calculated to promote the agricultural, manufacturing,
and ccrn > erelal interests of ihe country, and to secure
i ur just influence with an adjoining republic as to whose
fortut.es ami lato we can never fee! indifferent; whilst at
the fame time they provide for the pavraant of a c n
side-able amount towards the satisfaction of the claims
of one injaved fellow-citizens.
KANSAS ASD UTAH.
At the period of my inauguration I was confronted in
Kansas bv a revolutionary government, existing under
what is called the Topeka constitution. Its avowed ob
ject was to subdue the territorial government by force,
and, to inaugurate what was called the Topeka govern
ment in its s cad To accomplish this object an extensive
military organization was termed and its command en
trusted to the most violent revolutionary leaders. Under
these circumstances, it became my imperative duty to
exert the whole constitutional power of the Executive to
prevent the llames of civil war from again raging in Kan
sas, which, in the excited state of the public mind, both
North and South, might have extended into the neigh
boring States.
I The hostile parties ia Kansas had.bceu inflamed against
each other by emissaries both froai the North and the
i South to a degree of malignity without parallel in our
I history. To prevent actual collision, and to assis' the
civil magistrates in enforcing the iiws, a strong detach
ment'of the army was stationed in the Territory.ready
to aid the marshal and bis deputies, when lawfully call
ed upon, as a posoe comi'.alus in the execution of civil
and criminal process.
Still, tbo troub'es ia Kansas cou'il not have been per
manently settled without an election by the people. The
ballot box i the surest arbiter of disputes among free
men. Ui d r ths conviction, every proper effort was
employed to induce the hostile parties to votoat the cle •-
tiou ol delegates to frame a State constitution, and aft to
wards at the election to docile whether Kansas should
be a slave or a free State. The insurgent party refm'd
to vote at eit' er, lest ibis might be considered a recog
nition on their part of the territorial government estab
li hed by Congress A better spirit, however, seemed
scon after to prevail, an t the two parties met face to face
at the third election, he'd on the first Mondap of January,
185 8, fur members of the legislature and State officers
under the Lec impton constitution. The result was tho
triumph of the anti ' lavery party at the polls. This de.
cisian of the ballot-box proved olearly that this party
were in the majority, and remove i the daDgcr of civil
war. From that time we have hoard ittle or nothing of
the Topeka government, and allsetious dinger of revo
lutionary troubles in Kansas was then at an end.
i The Lecompton constitution, which had been thus re
cognized at tuis State election by the vot s of both po
litical parties ir. Kaunas, was transmitted to inc with
the request that I should present it to Congress. This I
could not have refused to d) withont violating my clear
est and strongest convictions of duty. Th c nstituiion,
and aU the proceedings which proceeded aud followed its
formation, were fair and regular on tteir face. I then
believed, and experience has proved, that tho interests
( f the people of Kansas wou'd have been best consulted
by its admissio* as a State in'o the Union, especially as
the majority, within a brief period, could have amended
the constitution according to their will aud pleasure, if
fraud existed in all or any of these proceeding', it was
not for the President, but for Congress, to investigate
and determine the question ot fraud, and what ought to
be its consequences. If, at the two flrst elections, the
majority refused to vote, it cannot be pretended that this
refusal to exercise tite elective franchise could invalidate
en election fairly held under lawful authority, even if they
had not subsequently voted at the thirdelection. It is true
that the whole constitution bad not been submitted to the
people, as 1 always desired ; but the precedents are nu
merous of the admis-lon ofStates iuto the Uuion wllhout
such submission.
It would notc-mport with the present purpose to re
view the proceedings of Congress upon the Lecomptou
constitution. It is sufficient to observe that their final
acti on has removed the last vestigo of serious revolu
tionary troubes. 'lh e desperate hard recently assem
bled, under a notor ous outlaw, in the southern portion
of the Territory, to resist the execution tf the laws aud
to plunder peaceful citix us, will, I doubt not, bo speedily
subdued and brought to justice.
Had 1 treated the i.ecompton constitution ai a nullity
and reiused to transmit it to Congress, it ; s not difficult to
imagine, whilst recalling the position of the c<untry at
that moment, what would have been the disastrous con
sequences, both in and out of the Territory, from such a
dereliction of duty ou the part ot the Executive.
Peace has also been restored within ihe Territory ot
Utah, which, at the commencement of my Adminigtra
tion, was in a state of open rebellion. This was tho
more dangerous, as the people, animated by a fanatical
spirit and entrvm bed within their distant mountain fast
nesses, might have made a loug and formidable resist
ance. ( ost what it might, it was r ecessarv to bring
them into subjection to the Constitution and the laws.
Sound policy, therefore, as well as humau ty, required
that this object should, if possible, be accomplished with
out tho effusion of blood. This could only be effected by
sending a militaty force into the Territory sufficiently
strong to convince tho people that resistance would be
hope!ess, and at the same time to oiler them a pardon
for past off n es on conditiou of Immediate submis-ion
to tho Government. This policy was pursued with emi
nent success ; and the only cause for regret is the heavy
expenditure requirol to march a large detachment of
the army to that remote region and to furni h it subsist
ence. Utah is now oomparatively peaceful and quiet,
and tho m iliary force has been withdrawn, except that
portion of it necessary to keep the Indians iu chock und
to protect tho emigrant trains on their way to our Pacific
possessions.
PtXAXCES.
In my flr t annual message I promised to employ my
best exertions, in co-operation with Congress, to reduce
the expenditures of the Government withir he limits
ofa wise and judicious economy. An overflowing treasury
bad produced habits cf prodigality and extravagance
which could only be gradually corrected. The work re
quired both time and patience. I applied myself dili
gently to this task from the beginning, and "was aided
by thejible and energetic efforts of the heads of the dif
ferent Exeeutivo Departments. The result of our labors
in this good cause did not appear in the sum total of our
expenditures for the first two years, mainly in c nse
quence of the extraordinary expenditure necessarily in
curred in the Utahexpedltion, and the very .large amcunt
of the contingrnt expenses of Congres-i during this period
These greatly exceeded the pay and mileage of the
members. For the year ending 3uth June, 1858, whilst
the pay and mileage amounted to $1,490,214, the contin
gent expenses rose to $2,093,309 79. and for the year
ending 3Cth Juno, 1859, whilst the pay and mileage
amounted to $859,093 OC, the contingent expenses
amounted to $1,431,505 78.
I am happy, however, to be able to inform you that
during the last fiscal year ending on the 30th of June
1860, the total expenditures of the Government in all its
branches—legislative, executive and judicial—exclusive
of the Pubi c debt, w re reduced to the sum of $55,402,-
405 46. This conclusively appears fnm the books of the
Treasury. In the year e ding on the 30th of June, 1858,
the total expenditure, exclusive of the public debt
amounted to $71,901,129 77, aud that for the year ending
the 30th cf June, 1859, to $06,340 226 13. Whilst the
books of the Treasury show an actual expenditure of
$59,848,4,74 72 for the year ending on the 30th of June,
1860. Including $1,040,667 71 for the contingent expen
ses of Congress, there must bo deducted from this aniouut
the sum of $4,296,01.9 26, wilh the interest upon it of
$150,000, appropriated by the act of the loth February,
1860, ' for the purpose of supplying tho deficiency iu
the revenues aud defraying the expenses of the Post Oflloe
Department for the year ending the thirtieth of Juno
one thousand eight hundred and filty-nme." This sum',
therefore, justly chargeable to the "year 1859, mug! be
deducted from the sum of $59,848, 474 72 in order to as
certain the expenditure for the year ending on tho 30th
of Jnne, 1860, wbkh leaves a balance for the expendi
tures of ihat year of $55,402,465 46. The interest on the
public debt, including Treasury notes for tho same fiscal
year ending on the SOthof June, 1860, amounted to
$3,177,314 62, which, added to the above sum of $55 .
402,465 46, makes an aggregate of $58,579,780 08. '
It cuglit in justice to be ob.-erved that several of the
estimates from tho departments for the year ending on
the 30th of June 1860, were reduced by Congress below
what was and still is deemed compat ble witti tho public
interest. Allowing a liberal margin of $2,000,500 for
this reduction, ana f r other oausos, it may be safely as
-erted that the sum of $61,000,000, or at "the most $62,-
000.000 is amply sufficient to administer the Government
and to pay the intere.-t ou the public debt, unlc'g con
tingent events should hereafter render extraordinary ex
penditures necessary.
This result has been attained to a considerable degree
by the care exercised by the appropriate departments in
entering into i üblic contracts I have myself never in
terfered with the award of any such contract except in
a single case with the Colonization Society, deeming it
advisable to cast the whole responsibility in each case on
the proper head of the department, with the general
instruction that these contracts should always lie giTen
to the lowest and best bidder. It has ever been my
opinion that public contracts aro not a legitimate source
of patronage to be conferred upon personal or political
favorites : but that iu all such cases a public officer is
bound to act for the Government as a prudent individual
would act for himself
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE, &C.
It is with great satisfaction I communicate the fact,
that, since the date ot my last Annual Message, not a
single slave has been imported into the United dates in
violation of the laws prohibiting the African slave trade.
This statement is founded upon a thorough examination
and investigation of the subject. Indeed, the spirit
which prevailed sometime since among a portion of our
fellow-citizens in favor of this trade seems to have entire
ly subsided.
jjfl also congratulate you upon the public sentiment
which now exists against the crime of setting on foot
military expeditions within the limits of the United
States, to proceed from thence and make war upon the
people of unoffending .-tales, with whom we are at peace
In this respect a happy change has been effected since
the commencement of my Administration. It surely
ought to be the prayer of every Christian and patriot,
that such expeditions may never again receive counte
nance In our country or depart from our shores.
It would be useless repetition to do more than reler
with earnest commendation, to my former recommenda
tions in favor of the Pacific railroad—of the grant of
power to the President to employ the naval force in the
vicinity, for tho protection of the byes and property of
our fellow-citizena passing in transit over the different
Central American routes, against the sudden and lawless
outbreaks and depredations ; and also to protect Ameri
can merchant vesso's, their crews and cargoes, agairat
violent and unlawful seizures and confiscation 1 the
orts of Mexico and the South American republcs, when
thesi may be in a disturbed and r volutlo ary condi
t on. It is my settled conviction, that without such a
power we do not afford that protection to those engaged
in the commerce of the country which they have a right
to demi; d.
r LECTION or XRXBLRS Or CONGR! S3.
I again recommend to Congress the passage of a la a
in pursuance ef the provisions of the Constitution, ap
pointing a day certain previous to tho 4th cf March, in
each year of an odd number, for the election of repre
sentatives throughout all the States. A simiiar power
baa already been exercised with general approbation, in
the appointment of t'.c same day throughout the Union
for holding the election of electors for President a d
Vice President of the United Slates. My attention was
earnostly directed to this subject from the ract. that the
35th C digreii terminated on the 3d of March, 1869, with
out making the necessary appropriation fur tie service
of the Post Otli-io Department. 1 was then forced to c. n
sider the best remedv for this omission, and an imme
diate call of the present Coogress was the natural resort
Upon enquiry, however, 1 ascertained that fitteen out or
the thirty-three Stato3 composing tho Confederacy w. re
wiihout representatives, and that, consequently, these
fifteen States would be disf anohised by guch a call.
These fifteen States will be i . the same condition on the
4th of March next. Ten of them cannot elect representa
tives, according to existing State laws, until different pe
riods. extending from the beginning of August next until
the months of October and November.
In my last message I gave warning that, in a time of
sudden and alarming danger,the salvation of our institn
t ons might depend udon th ■ power of ths President im
mediately to assemble a full Cong ess, to meet the emer
gency.
TARIFF.
It is now quite evident that the finauml necessities of
the Government will require a nrodiacatlon of the tariff
during your present session, for the purpose of increas
ing the revenue In this aspect, I desire to reiterate the
recommendation contained in my last two annual mes
sages, in Tavor or imposing specific instead of ad valorem
duties on al! important articles to which these can be
properly appiie'. From long observation and experience
1 am convinced that specific duties are necessary, both
to piotect the revenue and secure to our manufacturing
interests that amount of iuci leutal encouragement which
unavoidably results from a revenue tariff.
As an abstract proposition It may bo admitted that ad
valorem du'ics would, in theory, be the moat just and
equal. But ii the experience of thisand all other commer
cial nations has demonstrated that such duties cannot ba
assessed and collected without great frauds upon the re
veuue, then it is the part or wisdom to rcsott to specific
duties. Indeed, from the very nature o' an ad valorem
duty, this must be ths result. Undor it the inevitable
con equecco is, that ioreign goods will be entered at less
than their true va'ue. The treasury will, therefore lose
the duty on the difference between their real and'ficti
tious value, and to ibis extent we are defrauded.
'1 lie temptations which ad valorem duties present to a
dishonest importer are irre-istable. His ot-jjct i. s to p lB3
Lis goods through the custom-house at ibo very lowest
valuUion necesrary to give them from confiscation. In
this he too often succeeds in spite of the vigilan e of the
the revenue offlcerg. Hence the resort to false iuvoices
one ior the purchaser and another for the custom house'
and to other expedients to defraud the Government
The honest importer produces his invoice to the collect
or, staling the actual price at which he purchased the ar
ticles abroad. Not so the dishonest Importer aud the
agent of the foreign manufacturer. And here it may be
observed that a very large proportion of the manufac
tures imported from abroad are consigned for sale to
commiss on merchants who are mere ateuts emploved
by the manu.acturors. In such cases no actual sale has
been made ts fix their value. The foreign manufacturer
if he be dishonest, preparosan invoice of the goods not
attheia actual value, but at the very lowest rate ueces
sary to escape detection. In this manner the dishonest im"
poiter and the foreign manufacturer enjoy a decided ad
vantage over the honest morchant. They a e thus enabled
to undersell the fair trader, and drive him from the mar
ket In fa t, the operation of this sy.-tem has alreadv
driveu trom tne pursuits of honorable commerce mauv of
that class ot regular and conscientious merchants whose
character, throughout the world, is tho pride of our
country.
The remedy for these evils I* to he found in specifle
duties, so far as this may be practicable. Thev dispense
with any Inquiry at the custom houae into the actual
cost or value of ihe article, and it pays the precise
amount of duty prov.ously fitod by law. Thev Dre.er.r
uc temptations to the appraisers of foreign goods who
reeelve but small salaries, and might, by undervaluation
in a few cases, render tiiemselvea independent.
Besides, specific duties best conform to the requisition
in ihe Constitution that "no preference shall be vivo a bv
any regulation ot commerce or revenue to the puts of
one ct .te over those of another." Under our adi-alorem
system snch proterences aro to some extent inevitable
aud complaints have often been made that the spi'lt of
this provision has been violated by a lower appraisement
ot the same artieies at ouo port than at another.
An impression strangely enough prevails to some ex
tent that the sped tic duties are necessarily protective du
ties. Nothing can be more fallacious. Great Britain
glories in free trade, and yet hor whole revenue from
imports is at the pre ent moment collected under a svs
tem of specific duties. It is a striking fact in this con
nection that, in the commercial treaty of the 23d of Jan
nary, 1860, between France and EDgiand, oue of the ar
ticles provides that tho ad valorem dutios which It impo
tes shall be converted into specific duties w.thin six
months from its date, and these are to be ascertained bv
making an avorageof the prices for six months previous
to that time. The reverse of the proposition would be
nearer to the truth, because a much larger amouut of
revenno would be collected by merely converting the ad
valorem duties of a tarifflato equivalent sjiecific duties
Te this extent the revenue would be increased and in the
prop ortion the specific duties might bo diminished
Specific duties would secure to UieAmerican manufac
turer the incidental protection to which he i fairlv en
titled under a revenue taritT, and to this surely no'per
son would object. Tho frame, sof the existing tarill have
gone further, and in a liberal spirit have distrimmated
in favor of large and useful branches of our manufac
tures. not by ratsiug the rate of dutv upon tne Importa
tion of similar articles from abroad but what is the same
in effect, by admitting articles free of duty which inter
Into the composition of their fabrics.
Under the present system it lias been often truly re
marked that this incidental protection decreases when
the mau fa turer ue<fs it most, and increase? whea he
needs it least, aud constitutes a sliding scale which al
ways operates agaiu t him. Iho revenues of the coun
try are subject to similar liuctaticn. lustesd of approach
iug a steady standard, as would be the case under a sys
tem of specific duties, they sink an t rise with the sinking
and rising prices of article? hi torelgu cjuutries. It '
would not be difficult for Congro s to arrange a system
of specific duties which would afford additional stability
botn to our revenue and our manufactures, aud without
injury or injuslico to any interest or the couut-y. Ibis
might bo accomplished by ascertaining tho average value
of any given article for a series of years at the place of
exportation, and by simply converting the rate of ad va
lorem duty upon it wbien might be deemed necessarv fer
revenue purposes, into the form of a specific duty. Such
an arrangement cculd net iDjuro the consumer." If he
should pay a greater amount of duty one year, this would
bo counterbalanced by a lesser amount the next, and iu
the end the aggregate would be the same.
I desire to call your immediate attention to the present
condition of the Treasury, so ably and clearly presented
by the Secretary in his retort to Congre s : and to re
commend that measures be promptly adopted to enable
it to discharge iu pressing obligations. The other re
commendations of the report are well worthy of your
favorable consideration.
1 herewith t unsmit to Congress the reports of tho Se
cretaries of War. of the Navy, oi the Interior and of the
Postmaster General. The recommendations and sugges
tions which they contain are highly valuable and deserve
your careful attention.
The report or tho Postmaster General detail-: tho cir
cumstances under which Cornelius Vanderbilt, on my
request, agreed, in the mouth of July last, to carry tho
ocean mails between our Atlantic aud Pacific coast*.
Had he not thus acted, thi important intercommunica
tion must have been suspended, at least for a season.—
The Postmaster General had no power to make him any
oiher compensation than the postages on the mail matter
which he might carry. It was known, at tho time, that
these postages would Tall far short of an adequate com
pensat on, as woll as of the sum which the sam - service
had previously cost tho Government. Mr. Vanderbilt,
in a commendable spirit, was willing to rely upon ihe
justice or Congress to make up the deficiency ; and I,
therefore, recommend that an appropriation may bo
granted for this purpose.
I should do great injustice to the Attorney General,
were I to omit the mention of his distinguished services
in the measures adopted land prosecuted by him for the
defence of the Government against numerous and un
founded claims to land in California, purport ng to have
been made by the Mexican government previous to the
treaty of cession. The successful opposition to these
claims has saved to the United states public property
worth many millions of-dollars, and to individuals hold
ing title under them at least an equal amount.
It has been represented to me, from sources which I
deem reliable, that the inhabitants in several portions of
Kansas have bren reduced nearly tea state of starvation,
on account of the almost total failure of their crops,
whilst tho harvests in every other portion of the country
have been abundant. The prospect before them for the
approaching winter is well calculated to enlist the sympa
thies of every heart The destitution appears to be so
general that it cannot be relieved by private contribu
tions, and they are in such indigent oircumstances as to
be nnable to purchase the necessaries of life for them
selves. I refer the subjectto Congress. If any constitu
tional measure for their relief can be devised, I would
recommend its adoption.
I cordially commend to your favorable regard the In
terests of the people of this District. They are eminently
entitled to your consideration, especially since, unlike
the people of the Mates, they can appeal to no Govern
ment except that of the Union.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
WASHINGTON CITY, 3d December, 1860.
To KEEP ICE OFF WINDOWS. —Take an ordi
nary paint brn sh or sponge, and rub over the
glass, once or twice a day, a little alcohol, and
it will keep the glass as free from ice as in the
middle of summer, and will give as good pol
•sh as ean be got in any other way.
The Horrors of the Papal Prison.
The Florence Xazione presents us with
the summary of a little work, entitled the
'•Prisons of Paliano." It is the record of
the experience of several political prison
ers, writteu in the Pontifical dungeons of
Paliano. These tombs for the living are
now, thanks to recent events, empty. One
prisoner writes:
In the fort of Paliano there are about two
huudred political prisoners, dressed like
the criminals condemned to the galleys,
and, like them, shaved. They are divided
into five sections, Those condemned for
life are shut up in cells, about nine spans
wide and about sixteen long, including the
little table of brickwork. Other cells about
three spans wider, contain three prisoners;
and others, not much larger, have seven
teen all huddled together. In the first of
these there is a small grating over and
opposite the door, through which the food is
introduced. The other cells have one win
dow, and sometimes two, with an opeuing
of about four spans in breadth aud one in
height, and through this the prisoners are
fired upon if it be necessary to keep them
quiet. The food and hospital arrangements
were villianous. The patients are neglect
ed and ill-treated. The medical attendants
will hardly ever send a patient to the hos
pital, and when they do send him they
always keep him on strict diet.
Perhaps they have a secret understand
ing with those who contract for the food.
One day, when some complaints were made
on account of the bad soup in the hospital,
the person who made the ccmplaint was
taken by two keepers, and by dint of blows
and kicks, was forcibly thrust along into
the darkest dungeons, and there detained
many days by order of tho governor.—
When some prisoner at the point of death
refuses to receive a confessor, he is re
moved into a solitary cell, and there, after
having heaped on him a thousand outrages,
orders are given to one of the lowest turn
keys to kill him by suffocation. The fact
is known from the confession of tho turn
key himself, who, on or e occasion, refused
to be a party to this barbarity. The corpse
is interred in the interior of the fort, and
the governor is present at the funeral.—
Sometimes he gives a kick to to tho head
of tho corpse, and commits similar out
rages.
'lhe following is the testimony of another
victim of Papal misrule:
"Whilst I was an inmate of this den of
horrors, a wife with her little boy obtained
permission to see her husband. It was ten
years since the Papal government had torn
her husband from her embrace; the boy
had never known his father, for he was
born alter the arrest. Neither tho prayers
ot the afflicted wife, nor tho tears of the
tender child, nor the sobbings and despair
of the unhappy father, could induce the
governor to allow them but oue embrace—
to let them mingle tlieir tears together.—
It would be impossible to describe the
rigors and the tortures, always new and in
creasing, which have been invented to aug
ment the sufferings of the prisoners after
the last tatal attempt at flight. In order to
prevent the political prisoners from holding
the slightest communication with the outer
world, recourse was even had to the very
strange and absurd expedient forbidding
the physician (although an individual com
pletely subservient to the government)
trom personally visiting the sick iu prison,
lie was to treat them on the report of a
creature who but a short time before had
been in tho galleys, and was transferred
thence to perform the office of an hospital
attendant.
This liberated galley-slave felt the pulse,
made his diagnosis, drew his conclusions,
and the physician meanwhile waited in the
room of the governor for the report of the
attendant, and, according to the character
of that report, prescribed remedies for the
patients whom he had never seen. Rep
resentations on representations were neces
sary before the Papal government could be
induced to abandon this singular mode of
proceeding; and it was only after some time
that the physician obtained permission to
approach the bed of his patients; but even
then only in the company of the turnkeys,
who were placed as spies over his move
ments, his words, and the very expression
of pity which his countenance might betray.
One of the patients, a certain M ~ of
iiologna, begged to see the governor, to
implore in the name of his companions, the
permission to have the period lor exercise
extended for half an hour. The only reply
he received was an order that he should
be put in chains weighing eighty pounds,
and thrown into the tower. The tower,
situated in the ceutre of the citadel, is the
most horrible of prisons—damp, isolated,
with an opening at the roof, leaving the
prisoner exposed to all the inclemency of
the weather.
Be it summer or winter, the inmate of
the tower has no bed save the bare ground
—no covering save bis own apparel—no
food save bread and water. When I left
the fort to be conveyed as an exile across
the frontier, a poor prisoner had just died
in consequence of illness caused by the
repetition of this punishment, from which
more than one prisoner had died whom the
government, perhaps, wished to get out of
the way. A certain P , of Ascoli, on
returning from the chapel to his own cell,
happened, when he reached the courtyard
oi the fortrees, to saiute a condemned pris
oner belonging to another section, who was
looking through the grating. For that
offence the head janor, after beating liiru,
had the usual chains put on, and then sent
him to the tower. It was in March, on an
Easter Sunday. After three days of suffsr
ing he was lound stretched out, almost
frozen, on the ground. Then he was re
moved to the hospital, and, thanks to a
strong constitution, alter some time lie re
covered. Many amongst the political pris
oners, in consequence of the treatment they
had received, from the moral and physical
tortures endured, have becomo insane.
1 hey howl in their prisons, sometimes
mingling with the other victims, at other'
times alone, but without auy difference of
treatment. One of these wretched maniacs
committed one day an insane act. The head
jailer heat him so cruelly as to leave him
almost lifeless on the ground. Young C ,
who was in the same cell, indignant at the
outrage, called out that they were murder
ing the man. Thereupon the jailer depart
ed, hut immediately returned with a band
of turnkeys; who at once fell upon the
youth, removed him to another prison, and
there, with sticks and ropes, mercilessly
belabored him. Another poor fellow, whose
intellect was temporarily wandering, A.
i M , having made some complaints
about his food, was kicked and thrashed
back to his old cell—there left without at
tendance, without the visit of the physician
and with the corsest diet. He recovered
from his mental illness, but now, owing to
the length of the imprisonment, of the suf
ferings endured, aud to tho treatment to
which he has been subjected, his health
has suffered to such an extent that his
friends have no hope of ever seeing him
again on this side of the grave.
J Pedestriaiiism in England,
. THE FASTEST TIME EVER MADE.
r A MILE IN 4 MINUTES 224 SECONDS.
3 •
> COPENHAGEN GROUNDS, Oct. 27.
t Though the abovo grounds arc of comparative
; ly recent formation, they have already been the
. scene of some extraordinary achievements, ca
f nine as well as bipedal. Some time ago it'wili
j be remembered that Tom Hosspoll, of Basfurd,
was considered the fastest mile runner, even
3 when he occupied 4 min. 28 sec. in accomplish'
" ing the distance; but when he subsequently met
'< Job Smith, of Manchester, upon this course, aud
t traversed a mile in 4 min. 23 sec., his pwrform
-5 ance then, and up till to day, was unparalleled
l in pedestrian aunals. But the event of this
3 afternocn proved that Lancashire may now
. pride herself on possessing the hero in mile ra
s ces in the person of Biah Albison, of Bowlee a
rural village situated near Hiddleton. Before
, describing the contest, a few particulars of its
origin may not be uninteresting to our pedes
trian readers. On the 11th of August last, the
spirited proprietor of these grounds gave a
• splendid champion belt to be run for, which
> had been manufactured expressly for the occa
, sion by Mr. Pieston, of London, the value of
i which was 60 guineas, and on that day the fol
-3 lowing men contested for the coveted prize:—
) Biah Albison, of Bowlee, near Middleton; Job
I Smith, of Hulme; W. Lang, of Middlesborough;
J. White, of Gateshead, and C. Mower, of Dur'-
ham. Ptior to the race, Albison was so much
pleased with tho trophy that he declared his
intention either to become its possessor or to
cause the man who defeated him not to let the
grass grow under his feet whilst contending for
t, and Albison fulfilled his prediction by car
rying off the prise. The conditions under which
he held it required bim to hold himself in
readiness to ruu any one who might challenge
him through these columns at six weeks' notice,
for £25 a side and tho belt, the distance of
course being one mile. W. Lang, (late of Mid
dlesborough, but now of Manchester) not con
tented, it would appear, with having to suc
cumb to Albison in their former engagement,
threw down the gauntlet, and this afternoon
was fixed for champion honors. Soon alter
articles had been signed, both men went into
active training, Lang betaking himself to in
hale the invigorating breezes of Darley Dale,
in Derbyshire, and Albison's preparation was
entrusted to his veteran tutor, Mr. J Etchells,
of the Weavers' Arms, Ellsworth. As the day
of running approached, the interest as to the
result became more intense, especially as a few
who were supposed to be acquainted with
"stable secrets ' pronounced both pedestrians
to be in first-rate fettle. The excitement, how
ever, reached its culminating point this after
noon; a considerable number of cabs, heavily
laden 'busses, crowds by rail, and large bodies
of persons on foot, all assisted to swell the at
tendance within the inclosure into a monster
gathering, between 3,000 and 4,000 persons
being present, and gave proof that the heydey
of foot racing has not yet passed. Added to
this the day was fine, the course in capital or
der, and the same excellent arrangements as
usually prevail here having again been made,
everything foreshadowed a more than ordinari
ly interesting struggle for the "pride of the
place," and such it was. Mr. Hayes, filled the
office of referee, and the beating, which opened
at 7 to 4, closed at 2 to 1 on Albison. At about
a quarter to four o'clock Lang male his ap
pearance on the scene of action, accompanied
by his friend and backer, Mr. G. Hardy.—
Shoitly afterwards, Albison also entered the
arena, both looking well and each appeariug
sanguine of the result. Lang won the toss, of
course then taking the inside place, and alter
a couple of failures they left the crease at tho
third attempt. After running nearly side by
side for a tew strides Lang began to show the
way at a pace the reverse of slow, and gradu
ally gaining upon his opponent, he was leading
ly nearly half a score yards when the men first
passed the stand. This gap Lang still lurther
widened during the succeeding revolution of
the course, on the complexion of which beheld
the premiership by upwards of a dozen paces,
but shortly afterwards Albison began to make
up leeway. On going along the back of the
ground on the final lap, the Champion gradu
ally reduced the distance between himself and
his formidable opponent, and became more
J close than pieasant to Lang. Rounding the
bend they were nearly breast aud breast, and
on entering the straight the struggle as to
which should claim the belt was commenced in
earnest. Every energy of which Lhey were in
possession was now brought into action, a3
yaid by yard they rushed on, and though Al
bison's backer sbied his castor into tho air,
when the men had about ICO yards to run, the
race was not then over. Albison, however,
having got just io front, succeeded in slightly
increasing bis lead during the concluding forty
yards, and the trophy once more fell into his
possession, after a magnificent race, Mr. Hayes'
fi°t being that Albison had won by a yard. The
winner covered the distance in four minutes and
twenty two and a quarter seconds! thus excelling
I ilosspol s fastest time by three-quarteis of a
second. Both pedestrians had had quite enough
|at the finish, Lang especially beiug much dis
tressed, and Albison was warmly congratulated
on his biiltiant victory. Lang's performance,
though an unsuccesstul one, reflected great
credit upon him, aud though he did not win
the belt, lie lost little of his well earned fame.
Surprising as was Albison's achievement, we
cannot help thinking but tftat he, at times,
somewhat hazards his chance by purposely tail
ing so far behind, such being the ca.se not only
to-day, but also when he first contended for
the prize. Should Albison continue so to do,
lie may on a future occasion, when coping
against some pedestiian—even if not quite so
fleet find the beautiful trophy, upon the pos
session of which he so justly prides himself,
trom his grasp. We may add, in con
clusion, that L ing is just over twenty-one years
of age, and Albison attained his twentieth birth
day on the 26th of April last.
POPULATION OF KANSAS TTRIUTEKY. —The pop
ulation of the lerritoiy of Kansas, r s ascer
tained by tbe United States census, just taken,
is 109,401. i bis does not include the Pike's
Peak region, which has a population of 75 000
more. Kansas proper has, therefore, 12,000
more people than would entitle her to elect a
member of Congress at the present time. There
can be no doudt that, as the most stringent
provision of the " English" Bill has been com
plied with, Kansas will be admitted into the
Union as a State the coming winter. No rea
sia can now exist for her refusal.
DlPTHEßlA. —Steubenville, Ohio, and vicinitv,
have suffered terribly from the ravages of Dip
theria. The Herald says : "The disease had
attacked both old and young, but has prevail
ed most geuerally among children, among
whom it has been mcst fatal. The number of
deaths from tbediptheria in this city from the
first of Jannary, 1860, up to the present time,
among the children alone, is not far short o
two hundred The deaths among adults have
been, probably, one fo> r;h of that number.
Many families have beeu made desdutu fiom
the virulence of this disease."