E. O. GOODRICH, EDITOR.
Towanda, Saturday, December 9,1851.
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flexibly adhered to
This number of the Reporter will reach some
oi our subscribers a day or two later than usual,
owing to tho impossibility of procuring paper.
CONGRE-S met on Monday last, a quorum ap
pearing in both branches. In the Senate, the Pre
anient, Mr. ATCHISON having resigned, Mr. BRIGHT
was elec'ed Piesident in his place.
The President's Message, which was delivered
on Monday, will be found be low. Its length ex
eludes our usual variety, and the comments we
had designed to make.
(pfj- REMOVAL. —The Post Master at this place,
Mr. WM. II PERKINS has been removed, and Dr. II
C PORTER appointed in his s ead.
We have neither lime nor space, this wetk, to
eomment upon '.his outiaue as it deserves, but we
will endeavor, next week, to do full justice to the
act and the actors.
TCE BRIDGE —The recent coJJ weather has froz
en the River at this place, forming a vety con
venient Bridge, over which teams pass in perfect
safety.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the House nf
Representatives :
The past has been an eventful year, and will be
hereafter referred to as a marked epoch in the his
tory of the world. While we have been happily
proserved from the calamities of war, our domestic
prosperity has not been entirely uninterrupted. The
crop*, in portions of the country, have been nearly
cutoff. Disease has prevailed to a greater extent
than usual, and the sacrifice of human life/through
casualties by sea and land is without a parallel.—
But the pestilence has swept by, and restored salu
brity invites the absent to their homes, and the re>
turn of business to its ordinary channels. If the
earth has rewarded the labor of the husbandman
less bountifully than in preceding seasons, it has I
left him with abundance for domestic wants, and !
a large surplus for exportation. In the present, I
therefore, as in the past, we find ample grounds for
reverent thankfulness to the God of Grace and Pro.
videncc, for His protecting care and merciful
ings with us as a people.
Although our attention has been arrested by pain
ful interest in pa-sing events, yet our country, feels
no more than the slight vibrations of the convul- !
sions, which have shaken Europe. As individuals, ]
we cannot repress sympathy with human suffering
nor regret for the causes which produce it. As a
nation, we are reminded that whatever interrupts
the peace, or checks the prosperity of any part of
Christendom, tends, more or less, to involve our
own. The conditions of States is not unlike that
of individuals. They are mutually dependent up
on each other. Amicable relations between them,
and reciprocal good will, are <aspntin! for thp pro.
motion of whatever is desirable in their moral, so
cial, and political condition. Hence, it has been
my earnest endeavors to maintain peace and friend
ly intercourse with all nations.
The wise theory of this Government, so early
(•<!•> pied and steadily pursued of avoiding all entang
ling alliances, has hitherto exempted it from many
c m; lications, in which it would otherwise have
become involved. Notwithstanding this our clear
ly defined and well sustained course (.faction, and
our geographical position so remote from Europe,
increasing disposi ionjhus been manifested, by some
of its Governments, to supervise, and, in certain
respects, to direct, our foreign policy. Tn plans for
adjusting the balance of power among themselves,
they have assumed to take us into account, and
would constrain us to conform our conduct to their
views. One or another of the Powers of Europe
has, from time to time, undertaken to enforce arbi
trary regulations, contrary in many respects to es
tablished principles of international law. That law,
the United States have, in their foreign intercourse,
uniformly respected and observed,and they cannot
recognize any such interpolations therein, as the
temporary interests of o'hers may suggest. They
do not admit,that the sovereigns of one continent, or
of a particular community of States, can legislate
for all others.
Leaving the trans-Atlantic nations to adjust their
political system, in the way they may think best for
their common welfare, the independent powers of
this Continent may well assert the right to be ex
empt front all annoying interference on their part.
Systematic abstinence from intimate political
connection with distant foreign nations, does not
conflict with giving the widest range to our foreign
commerce. This distinction, so clearly marked in
history .seems to have been overlooked, or disre
garded, by some leading foreign States. Our re
fusal to be brought within, and subjected to, their
peculiar system, has, I fear, created a jealous dis
trust of our condnct, and induced, on their pari, oc
casional acts of disturbing effect upon our foreign
relations. Our present attitude and past course
give assurance, which should not be questioned,
that our purposes are not aggrestve,nor threatening
to the safely and welfare of other nations. Our mil
itary establishment, in time of peace, is adapted to
maintain exterior defences, and to preserve order
among the aboriginal tribes within the limits of the
Union. Our naval force is intended only for the
protection of our citizens abroad, and of our com
merce, diffused, as it is, over all the seas of the
globe. Tho government of the United States, be
ing essentially pacific in policy, stands prepared to
repel invasion by the voluntary service of a patri
otic people, and provides no permanent means of
foreign aggression. These considerations should
allay all apprehension, that we are disposed to en
croach on the rights, or endanger the security of
other States.
AMERICAN EXPANSION.
Some European Powers have regarded, with dis
quieting concern, the territorial expansion of the
United Stater. This rapid growth has resulted from
the legitimate exercise of sovereign rights, belong
ing alike to all nations, and by many liberally exer
oised. Under such circumstances, it could hardly
here o?en eTp fC r f J ;ha: those amor.* thenv which
hare, within a comparatively recent period, subdued
and absorbed ancient kingdom*, planted their stan>
dards on every Continent, and now possesses, the
control of, the islands of every ocean as their appro
priate domain, would look with unfriendly senti
ments upon the acquisitions of this country, in ev
ery instance honorably obtained, or would feel
themselves justified in imputing our advancement
to a spirit of aggression or to a passion for political
predominance.
Our foreign commerce has reached a magnitude
and extent nearly equal to that of the first maritime
power of the earth, and exceeding that of any other.
Over this great interest, in which not only our mer
chants, but all classes of citizens at least indirectly
are concerned, it is the duty of the executive and
legislative branches of the Government to exercise
a careful supervision, and adopt proper measures
for its protection. The policy which I have had in
view, in regard to this interest, embraces its future
as well as its present security.
NEUTRAL RIGHTS.
Long experience has shown that, in general,
when ttio principal powers of Europe are engaged
in war, the rights of neutral nations are endangered.
This consideration led, in the progress of the War
our Independence, to the formation of the celebrati
cd confederacy of armed neutrality—a primary ob
ject of which was to assert the doctrine that free
ships m ike free goods, except in the case of articles
contraband of war—adoctrise which, from the very
commencement our national being, has been a cher
ished idea of the statesmen of this country. At one
period or another, every maritime power has, by
some solemn treaty stipulation, recognized that
principle ; and it might have been hoped that it
would come to be universally received and respect,
cd as a rule of international law. But the refusal
of one power prevents'this, and in the next great
war which ensued, that of the French Revolution, it
failed to be respected among the belligeren' States
of Europe. Notwithstanding this, the principle is
generally admitted to be a round and salutary one ;
so much so, that, at the commencement of ihe ex
isting war in Europe, Great Britain and France an
nounced their purpose to observe it for the present
! —not, however, as a recognized international right,
] but as a mete concession for the time being. The
1 co-operation, however, of these two powerful mari
time nations in the interest of neutral tights, appear
ed to nie to afford an occasion, inviting and justi
fying, on the pari of the United Siaie.% a renewed
effort, to make the doctrine in question a principle
of international law, by means of special conven
tions between the several Powers of Europe and
America. Accordingly,a proposition, embracing
net only the rule, that five ships make free goods,
except contraband articles, but also the less contest
ed one, that neutral property, othei than contraband
though on board enemy's ships, shall be exempt
from confiscation, has been submitted by this Gov
ernment to those of Europe ar.d America.
Ku-sia acted promptly in this matter, and a Con
vention was concluded, between that country and
the United States, providing for the observance of
principles announced, not only as between them
selves, but also as between them and all other na
tions, which shall enter into like stipulations. None
| of the other powers have as yet taken final action on
I the subject. lam not aware, however, that any ob
jection to the proposed stipulations has been made;
j but, on the contrary, they arc acknowledged to be
I essential to the security of neutral commerce; and
the only apparent obstacle to their general adoption
is in the possibility. that it may be encumbered by
I inadmissible condi'ions,
The King of the Two Sicilies has expressed to
| our Minister at Naples his readiness to concur in
I our proposition relative to neutral rights,and toen
: ter into Convention on the subject.
| The King of Prussia entirely approves of the pro
j ject of a treaty to the same effect, submitted to him,
| but proposes an additional article providing for the
renunciation of privateering. Such an article, for
most obvious reasons, is much desired by nations
having naval establishments, large in proporti -i to
their foreign commerce. If itweiead pted as an in
ternational rule, the commerce of a nation having
I comparatively a small naval force, would be very
' much at the mercy of its enemy, in cise of war
with a power of decided naval superiority. The
bare sta'ement of the condition in which the United
States would be placed, after having surrendered
the right to resort to priva'eers, in the event of war
with a belligerent of naval supremacy, will show
that this Government bould never listen to such a
proposition. The navy of the first maritime power
in Europe is at least ten timesas large asthatofthe
United States. The freign commerce of the two
countries is nearly equal, and about equally expos
ed to hostile depredations. In war between that
power and the United Slates, without resort on our
part to our mercantile marine, the means ofour en
emy to iDflict injury upon our commerce would be
tenfold greater ours to retaliate. We could not ex l
trica'.e our countrv,from this unequal condition,with
such an enemy, unless we at once depart from our
present peaceful policy, and became a great naval
power. Nor would this country be better situated
in war with one of the secondary naval powers,—
Though the naval dispiri'v would be less, the greati
er extent and more exposed condition of our wide
spread commerce would give any of them a like ad
vantage over us.
rniVATEEas.
The proposition to enter into engagements to
forego resort to privateers, in case this country
should be forced into war with a great naval power,
is not entitled to m ire favorable consideration than
would be a proposition to agree not to accept the
services of volunteers for operations on land. When
the honor of the rights our country require it to as
sume a hostile attitude, it confidently relies upon the
patriotism ofits ci.izeas, not ordinari'y devoted to
the military profession, to augment the army and
the navy, so as to make them fully adequate to the
emergency which calls them into action. The pro
posal to surrender the right to employ privateers is
professedly "founded upon the principle, the private
property of unoffending noncombatants, though
enemies, should be exempt from the ravages of war ;
but the proposed surrender goes but little way in
carrying out that principle, which equally requires
that such private property sh mid not be seized or
molested by national ships-of-war. Should the
leading powers of Europe concur in proposing, as a
rule of international law, to exempt private proper
ty, upon the ocean, from seizure by public armed
cruisers, as weil by privateers, the United Stales
will readily meet them upon that broad ground.
TtlE RECIPHOCITr THCiTI.
Since the adjournment of Congress, the ratifica
tions of the treaty between the I'nited States and
Great Britain relative to coast fisheries and to re
ciprocal trade with the British North American'
Provinces, have been exchanged, and someofits
anticipated advantages are already enjoyed by us,
although its full execution was to abide certain acts
of legislation notyet fu'ly performed. So soon as
it was ratified, Great Britain opened to our com
merce the free navigation oQlte river St. Lawrence,
and to our fishermen unmolested access to the
shores and bays, from which they had been previ
ously excluded, on the costs of her North American
provinces ; in return for which she asked for the im
troduction . free i.fdutv, into parts of United States,
of fish caught on the same coa.-t by British fisher
men. This being the compensation, stipulated in
the treaty, for privileges of the highest importance
and value to United States, which were thus vol
untarily yielded before it became effective, the re
quest seemed to me to be a reasonable one; but it
could not be acceded to, from want of authority to
suspend our laws imposing duties upon all foreign
fish. In the meantime, the Treasury Department
issued a regulation, for ascertaining the duties paid
or secured by bonds on fish caught on the coast of
the British provinces, and brought to our markets
by British subjects, after the fishing-grounds had
been made fully accessable to the citizens of the
United States. I recommend io your favorable con
sideration a proposition, which will be submitted
to you, for authority to refund the duties and can
cel the bonds thus received. The provinces o;
Canada and New Brunswick have also anticipated
the full operation of the treaty,by legislative arrange
ments, respectively, to admit, free of duty, the pro
ducts of the United States mentioned in the free list
of the treaty: and an arrangement, similar to that
regarding British fish,has been made forduties now
chargable on the products of those provinces enu
merated in the same free list, and introduced there
from into the United States; a proposition for re
funding which will, in my jndgment, be, in like
manner entitled to your favorable consideration.
BRITISH BOUXI) ABIES.
There is difference of opinion between the Uni
ted States and Great Britain, as to the boundary
line of the territory of Washington adjoining the
British possessions on the Pacific, winch has al
ready led to difficulties on the part of the citizens
and local authorities of the two Governments I re
commend thai provisions be made for a commia
sion, to be joined by one on (he part ol Her Bri'an
ic Majesty, lor the purpose of running and estab
lishing the line in controversy. Certain stipulations
of the third and fourth articles of the Tieaty con
cludod by the United States and Great Bream in
1846, regarding possessory rights ol the Hudson
Bay Company, and property of the Rugnt's S nutid
Agricultural Company, have given rise to s-.uious
disputes, find it important to all concerned, that
summary means of settling them amicably should
be devised. I have reason to believe, thai an ar
rangement can be made on just terms, for the ex
tingnishrn!it of the rights in question, embracing,
also, llu tights o| he Hudson's Buy Company to
navigation of the River Columbia ; and I therefore
suggest to your consideration, the expediency ol
making a contingent appropriation lot that purpose.
ESI CATIONS WITH FRANCE.
France was the early and efficient a!L ol the
-United States in their struggle for independence.—
From that time to the present, with occasional
slight interruptions, cordial relations of friendship
have exis'ed between the governments and people
ot the two counties. The kindly sentiments, clier
isfied ahke by both nations, have led to e.vensive
social and commercial intercourse, which 1 tm-t,
will not be interrupted or checked by any casual
event ot an apparently unsatislactory character.—
The French Consul at San Francisco was, not long
since, brought into the Unfed States District Couii
at that place, by compulsory process, as a witness
in favor of another loreign Consul, in violation, as
the French Government conceives, of his privileges
under our consular convention with France. There
being nothing in the transaction which could
imply any disrespect to France or its consul, such
explana'ion has been made, as I hope will be sat
islactory. Subsequently, misunderstanding arose
on the subject of the French Government having
as it appeared, abruptly excluded the American
Minister to Spain from passing through France, on
his way from London to Mardiid. Bit that Gov
j ernme .t has unequivocally disavowed any designs
j to deny the right of tra .sit to the Mirns er o| the
j United States ; and, after explanations to this ef
' feet, he has resumed hi* journey. and actually re-
I turned through France to Spain. 1 herewith lay
j before Congress the correspondence on this sub
j j-ct between our envoy at Raffs, and the Minister
| of Foreign Relations of the French Government.
RELATIONS WITH SPAIN
I The position oi our affairs with Spain remains as
■at the close of your last session, lu'ema! agitation
assuming very nearly the character ol political re
j volution, has recently convulsed that country. The
I la'e ministers were violeo ly expelled from p uver,
I and men, ol very different views in relation to its
internal affairs, have succeeded Since this change
; there has his b*eu no propitious opp mnrii'y to re
! some, and press on. nego'nations for the adjustment
j of serious questions ot difficulty between the Span
| ish Government and the United States There is
( reason to believe that our Minister will ffud the
present Government mote favorably inclined than
j the preceding to comply with onr jnst demands,
i and to make suitable arrangements lor restoring
harmony, and preserving peace, between the two
countries.
THE SOUND DUES.
Negotiations are pending with Danmaik to dis-
I continue the practice of levying to'D on our vessels
| and cargoes passing through the Sound. Ido not
! doubt that ive can claim exemption therefrom, as a
matter of right. It is admitted ori all hands that
this exaction is sanctioned, not by the general prin
ciples of the law of nations, but only by special
conventions, which most of the commercial nations
have entered into with Denmark. The s'.h article
of out treaty of 1826, with Denmatk. pioviJes that
there shall not be paid, on the vessels ot the Uui'-
ed States, and their cargoes, when parsing through
the Sound, higher duties than those ofthe most fj.
vored na ions. This may be rpgurded as art im
plied agreement (n submit to (he lolls during the
continuance of the treaty, and, consequently, may
embarrass the assertion of our rights to be releas
ed therefrom There are also oilier provisions in
the trea'y which ought to be modified. It was to
remain in force for ten years, and until one year
after ei her party should g've notice to the other ol
inten'ion to terminate it. I deem it expedient that
the con emplated notice should be given to the Go
vt rnmcnt r f Denmatk.
JAPAN.
The naval expedition, dispatched about two
years since for the purpose ol establishing relalions
wi h he Empire ot Japan, has been ably and skil
fully couduc ed to a successful termination bv the
officers to whom it was entrusted. A treaty, open
ing cei ain ot the porls of that populous country,
lias been nego iated; and in order to give fail ef
tect thereto, it only remains to change ra'ifiealion.*,
and adopt requisite cominerea! regulations.
RELATIONS WITH MEXICO.
The trea'y lately concluded between the United
Sates and Mexico sealed some otour rnot embar
rassing difficulties wi h hat county, but numerous
claims upon it for wrongs and injuries to our citi
zens remain unadjusted, and mmy new oa c e have
been rev en ly aided to 'die former li-it ofgffevnnces
Our legation has been earnesi in its endeavors to
ob ain lu rn the Mexican Government a favorable
corieideraiion ot these claims, but hiiheuo without
success This failure is, probably, in some meas
tire, to be ascribed (o the dts urbed condition of
that country. It ha been my anxious derire to
maintain triendly relations wrdi the Mex can Re
I public, and to cause its rights and territories to be
respcc ed not o.dy by our citizens, but by foreign
ers, who have resorted to the United Sates lor the
purpose of organizing hostile expeditions against
some ol the States ot the Republic. The ilefencs
iesscondi ion in which its frontiers have been left,
has stimulated lawless adventuers to embark in
these enterprise*, and greatly increased the diffi
cul y of enforcing onr obligations ot neutrally. Re
garding it as my solemn duty-to lulfil efficiently
ihe-e obligations, not only towards Mexico, but
o tier loreign na'ions, [ have exerted ah the pow
ers wiih which I am invested to deleat such ciirn
id.-.l proceedings and bring to punishment those
who, by taking a part therein, violated our laws
The energy and activity ol onr c t vil an I military
audi ri'.ies have fiustra ed the designs of ihose who
medita ed expeditions ol this chancier, pxcept in
two instances. One ol these, composed of foreign
er*, was at first countenanced and aided by tiie
Mexican Government itself, it having been decerv.
Ed as to their real object The other, small in num
ber, eluded the vigilance of the magistrates at Sin
Francisco, and succeeded in reaching the Mexican
territories ; but the effective measures taken by this
Government compelled the abandonment ot the
undertaking
The Commission to establish the new line be
tween the United Sta cs and Mexico, accoiding to
the provisions ofthe 39 h of December last, ha*
been organized, and the work is already commenc
ed.
SOUTH AMEBIC A.
Our treaties with the Argentine Confederation,
and with the Republics of Uruguay and Paraguay,
secure to us the free navigation of the river La
Plata, and some of its largest tributaries: but the
same success has not attended our endeavors to
open the Amazon. The reasons in favor of the
free use of that river, I had occasion to present
fully, in a former message; and, considering the
cordial relations which have long existed between
this Government and Brazil,it may be expected that
pending negotiations will, eventually, reach a fa
vorable result.
CENTRAL AMERICA. .
Convenient means of transit, between the sever
al parts of a country, are not only desirable for the
objects of commercial and personal communica
tion, but essential to its existence under one gov
ernment. Separated as are the Atlantic and Pac : -
fic coast of the United State* by the whole breadth
of the continent, still the inhabitants of each are
closely bourd together by commirnitv oforigin anJ
institutions, and by strong attachment to the Uuion.
Hence the constant and increasing intercourse, and
vast interchange of commercial productions, be
tween these remote divisions of the Republic. At
the present time, t ie most practicable and only
commodious routes for communication between
them are by the way of the Isthmus of Central
America. It is the duty of the Government to
secure these aveuues against all danger of inter
ruption.
In relation to Central America, perplexingques
linns existed between the United Stiles and Great
Britain at the time of the cession of California.—
These, as well as questions which suhscquetly arose
concerning inter-oceanic communications across
the Isthmus, were, as it was supposed adjusted by
the Treaty of Apriel 19, 1850; but, unfortunately,
they have been reopened by serious misunderstand
ing as to the import of some of its provisions, a read
justment of which is now under consideration.—
Our Minister at London has made strenuous efforts
to accomplish this desirable object, but has not
yet found it possible to bring the negotiations to a
termination.
THE BOMB.iniIMF.XT OF GREYTOWN.
As incidental to these questions. I deem it proper
to notice an occurrence which happened in Central
America, near the close of the last session of Con
gress. So soon as the necessity was perceived if
establishing inter-oceanic communications across
the Isthmus, a company was organized, under
authority of the .State of Nicaragua, but composed
for the most patt, of citizens of the United Sta'es,
ior the purpose of opening such a transit way, by
the river San Juan and Lake Nicaragua,which soon
became an eligible and much used route in the
transportation of our citizens and their property
betwecn the Atlantic and Pacific. Meanwhile, and
in anticipation of the completion and importance
of this transit way, a number of adventurers had
taken possession of the old Spanish port at mouth
of the river San Juan, in open defiance of the State :
or States of Central Ametiea, which upon their be
coming independent, had rightfully succeeded to the
local sovereignty and jurisdiction of Spain. These
adventurers undertook to change the name of the
p'ace from San Juan del Norte to Greytown, and.
though at first pretending to act as the subjects of
the fictitious sovereign of the Mosquito Indians,
| they subsequently repudiated the control of any
1 power whatever, assumed to adopt a distinct politi
cal organization. and declared them-elves an inde
pendent sovereign State. If, at sometime, a faint
hope was entertained that they might become a
stable and respectable community, that hope soon
vanished. They proceeded to assert unfounded
claims to civil jurisdiction over Punta Arenas, a
position on the opposite side of river San Juan ;
which was in possession, under a tide wholly inde
pendent of them, of citizens of the United States,
interested in the Nicaragua Transit Company, and
which was indispensably necessary to the pros
perous operation of that route across the Isthmus.
| The Company resisted their groundless claims;
where upon they proceeded to destroy some of its
buildings, and attempted violently to dispossess it.
At a later period they organized a strong force
for the purpose of demolishing the establishment of
Punta Arenas, but this mischievous design was de
feated by the interposition of one of our ships of
war, at that time in the harbor of San Juan. Sub
sequently to this, in May last, a body of men from
Greytown crossed over to Punta Arenas, arroga'mg
authority to arrest, on charge of murder, a captain
of one of the steamboats of the Transit Company.—
Being well aware that the claim to exercise juris
diction there would be resisted them, as it had been
on previoas occasions, they went prepared to assert
it by force of arm':. Our Minister to Central Ameri
ca happened to be present on that occasion. Believ
ing that, the captain of the steamboat was innocent,
for he witnessed the transaction on which the
charge was founded, and believing also, that the in
truding party, having no jurisdiction over the place
where they proposed to make the arrest, would en
counter desperate resistance il they persisted in
their purpose, he interposed eflectuaily to prevent
vir.lence and bloodshed The American Minister
alterwarJs visited Greytown, and while he was
there, a mob, including certain of the so called pub
lic functionaries of the place, surrounded the house
in which he was, avowing that they had come to
arrest him, by order of some persons exercising the
chief authority. While parleying with them, he
was wounded by a missile from the crowd. A boat
dispatched from the American s eamer Northern
Light, to release him from the perilous situation in
which he was understood to be. was fired into by
the town guard, and compelled to return. These
incidents, together with the known character of the
, population r-f Greytown, and their excited state, in
duced just apprehensions that the lives and prop
erty of our ci'izeris at Punta Arenas would be in
imminent danger alter thedepartore ofthe steamer,
with her passengers, for New-York, unless a guard
was left for their protection. For this purpose, and
in otder to insure the safety of passengers and
t property passing over the route, a temporary force
ivas organized, at considerable expense to the Unit
ed States, for which provision was made at the last
ses-ion n| Congress.
This pretended community, a heterogenous a
semblage gathered from various countries, ami
composed, for the most part, of blacks and persons
of mixed blood, had previously given o her indi
cations oi mischievous and dangerous propensities
Early in the same month, property was clandesti
nely abstrae'ed from the depot of the Transit Com
pany. and taken to Greytown. The plunderers ob
tained she! er there, and their pursuers were driven
bick by its people, who not only protected the
wrongdoeis and share I the plunder, bat treatej
with rudeness and violence those who sought (ore
cover their property.
Such, in subs ance, are the facts-Biibmi'.led lomy
consideration, and proved by trust worthy evidence.
I could not doubt that the case demanded the in
terposition of this Government. Justice required
that reparation shou'd be made for so many and
such gross wrongs, and that a course of insolence
and plunder, tending directly to the insecurity of
the lives of numerous travelers, and of the rich
treasure belonging to our citizens, passing over this
tr.in-it way, should be peremptorily arrered
V ha'ever it might be in other respects, the com
muity in question, in power to do mischief was not
despicable. It was well provided with ordnance,
small arms, and ammunition, and might easily
seize on the unarmed boats, freighted with millions
ol properly, which passed almost daily within i s
reach li did not profess to belong to any regular
Government, and had, in fact, no recognized de
pendence on, or connection with, any one to which
the United States or their injured citizens might
apply tor redress, or which could be held responsi
ble, or any way, for the outrages committed. Not
standing before the world in the attitude of an or
ganized political society, being neither competent
to exercise the rights nor to discharge the obliga
tions ola Government, it was, in fact, a marauding
establishment, too dangerous to be disregatded, and
too guilty to pa*s unpunished, and yet, incapable
of being treated in any other way than as a piratical
resort ol outlaws, or a camp of savages, depredating
on emigrant trains or caravans and the frontier set
tlements of civilized States.
Seasonable notice was given to the people of
Greytown that this Government required them to
tepair the injuries they had done to our citizens,
and to make suitable apology for their insult of our
Minister, and that a ship of war would bedispa'ch
ed thither to enforce compliance with these de
mands. But the notice passed unheeded. There
upon, a Commander ol the Navy, in charge ol the
sloop.ol w,ir Cyane, was ordered to repeat , the de
mands, and to insist upon a compliance therewith.
Finding that neither the populace, nor those assu
ming to have authority over them,, manifested any
disposi ion to make the required reparation, or even
to offer excuses fur their conduct, he warned them,
by a public proclamation, that il they did not give
satisfactions within a time specified, he would bom
bard the town. By this procedure he afforded them
opportunity 'o provide for their personal safety
To these also who desire to avoid loss of pioperty,
in the punishment about to be inflicted on the of
fending town, he furnished the means of removing
their effects, by the boa s of his own ship, and ofa
steamer which he procured and tendered to them
lor that pupose. At leng'h, perceiving no disposi
tion on the patt of the town to comply with his re
quisition, he appealed to the commander of Her
Biitannic Majesty's schooner Bermuda , who was
seen to have intercourse, and apparently much in
fiuence with (he leaders among il.em, —to interpose
and persuade ihem to take some course calculated
to save the necessity ol resorting to the extreme
measure indicated in his proclamation ; but that
oft cer, instead of acceding to the request, did
nothing more than to protest against the contemplat
ed bombardment. No steps ol any sort were iaken
by the people, to give the satisfaction required
No individuals, if any there were, who regarded
themselves as not ie-pofi-itle for Ihe mi-conduct
of tire community, adopted any mean* to appaiate
•hemselres from the fa'e of heguiry. The several
charges, on which he demands for redre.-s w ere
founded, had been publicly known t > ail lor some
rime, and were ag.nn announced to them They
did not deny any of these charges; they offered nc
| explanation, nothing to ex enualion of ih'ir con
duct; bu cotumaciou-ly relu-e.l to hold any inter
course with the com mander <4 lie Cyme. By their
obstina'e silence they seemed rather desirous 10
provoke ciuisiiserr; r'nl tin in to escape it. llieie is
; ample reason to believe h i their conduct of wanton
defiance, n/i (heir part is irrtpu'ab > chiefly to the
delusive idea thai the AmertcanGovemment would
be deterred Irotn punishing them, thtotigh fear ol
: displeasing a formidable foreign pow.-r, which,
•hey presumed to think looked wi'h complacency
upon tfieii aggressive and insulting deportment
towards the Uni'ed S'a'es The Cyme at length
fired upon the (own. Bafore much injury had been
I done, the fire was twice suspended, in order to
! afford opportunity for an arrangement ; but this
; w.is tleclin'd. Most of ihe buildings of the place,
of if le value generally were, in the sequel, ties
[ troyed; bui, owing to ihe considerate precautions
| aken by our naval Commander, there was nodes
j traction of life
When the Cyme was ordered to Cen'ral Ameri
| ca. h was confidenly hoped an I expected that no
ioi ca-iori would arise for "a resort to violence and
i destruction of property and loss ol life." Instrue
j tions to 'ha' effect were given to her commander,
j no ex lerrie act would have been requisite had no;
j the people themselves, fcv their extraordinary con
| duct in the affair, frustrated all the possible mild
measures for obtaining satisfaction Awi inlrawal
| from the place, the object of his visit en'irely t!e
---j tea'ed, would, under eiicums'ances in which the
i commander oi the Cyane found himself, have been
absolute abandonment of all claims of our citizens
i for indemnification,and:*ubmissive acquiescence in
national indignity. It would have encouraged in
i these lawless men a spirit of insolence and rapine
! most dangerous to the lives and property of our ci
j at I'unta Arenas, arid probably embolJened
j diem to grasp at the treasures and valuable mer
chandise continually passing over the Nicaragua
| route, [t certainly would have been most sa islac
mry to me if the objects of the Cyane s mission
j cou'd have been con.-umated i hoot any act of
; public force; but 'ne arrogant contumacy of the
| offenders rendered it impossible to avoid me alter
na ive, either to break up their establishment, or
to leave them impressed wi'h the i lea that they
might persevere with impunity in a careet of inso
lence ami plunder.
This tran-ac ion has been the subject of complain'
| on the part of some foreign powers, arid nas been
characterized with mo e of harshness than of jis
! tice If comparisons were to be insii'uted, it would
not be difficult to present repeated instance? in the
j history of S a'es. standing in the very front of
j modem civjliza'ion, where communiti. s. far less
j offending and more defenceless than Grey town,
1 have been chastised wi'h much grea'er severity,
and where not cities only have been laid in ruins.
• but human life has been recklessly sacrificed, and
j the blood of the innocent made profusely to mm -
j gle wrh thai of ihe guilty.
TIIE FINANCES
Passing from foreign to domestic affairs, your at
j tention is naturally directed to the financial condi
| lion of die country, always a sut ject cf general in
i teiest For complete and exact information te
: garding the finances, and din various branches of
j tfie pubhc seivice connected therewith, I refer you
I to the report of the Secretary ol the Tieaury ; from
j which it will appear that the amount of rerenne
during die last fi-cal year, fiom all sources, was
■ 873 541),7u5; and that the public expenditures fur
j the same period, exclusive of die payments on ihe
| public debt, amoumed to Sol 018 241). Duri<z th"
same period, the payments made in redemption of
i (lie public debt, t eluding intere-t and premium,
j amoun e>! to 524.336.380 To the sum total of ihe
receipts of that year is to be added a balance re
j maining in tfie Treasury at the commencement
I thereof,- amounting to S2l 942 892; and at the close
j of the same year a corresponding balance amount
ing to SQO, 137,967 of receipts above expenditure*,
also remained in the Tieasury Although, in the
opin on n| i|,p Secretary of the Treasury, the re
ceipt of the current fiscal year are not likely to
equal in amount those of laat year, yet they will
undoubtedly exceed the amount of expenditures
by a' leas; fifteen mtili >nof dollars. I shall, there
fore. continue to dnect that the surplus revenue bd
' applied, so tar a* it can be judiciously a.id econo.
i mically done, to the reduction of the public deb',
1 the amount of which at the commencement o! ihe
!a*t fi-cal year, was 276 000 328. c.f which there
had been pti.l on the 20:h day ol November. 1351,
the sum of €22 365,172; leaving a balance ol out
standing public debt o! only Sl4 075 45G. redeem
able at different periods within fourteen years
ih*re are also remnants of o'her government
stocks, most of which are already due. and on
which lite in crest has ceased, bu 1 which have no;
yet been presented for piymen', amounting to
8233 179 This sta'emcnt exhibits the fact that he
annual income of the Government greatly exceeds
; the amount of r public, debt, which latter rem sins
! unpaid only because the time of its payment has
i not yet matured, and it canno; be discharged at
once, except at the option of public creditor*, who
preler to retain the securities of the United Sates;
and the o'her fact, not less s'riking. that the annual
revenue from all sources exceeds, by many mil
lions of dollars, the amount needed for a prudent
and economical administration of the government.
ESTIMATES.
The est'maies presented to Congress from the
different Executive Departments, at the lastsesion
amoun'ed to 833 40G 581; and the appropriations
made, to the sum of 85S 11G 958 Of this excess
ot appropriations over estimates, however, more
than twenty million- was applicable to extraordi
nary objects, hiving no reference to the u.-tial an
nual expenditures. Among these objects was em
braced ten millions to meet the third article of the
treaty between the United States and Mexico; so
that, in fact, lor objects of ordinary expenditure,
the appropriations were limned to considerably
less than forty millions of dollars. ! 'herefore re
new my recommendation for a reduction of the do
ties on imports. The report of the Secretary of the
Trea-ury, presen's a series of tables, showing the
operation of the revenue system for several suc
cessive years, and as the general principle of
reduction of duties with a view to revenue ant' not
protection, may now be regarded as the settled po
licy of the country, 1 trust that little difficulty will
bo encountered in settling tho Jo ails of a meas
ure to that effect.
PECULATIONS.
In connection with this subject, I recommend a
change in the laws, which recent experience has
shown to be essential to die protection ol the Gov
eminent. There is no express provision of law,
reqniring'the records and papers ola public charac-'
ter, of the several officers for the use of their sue
cessors, nor any provisions declaring it lelonv on
their part to make false entries in the books, or re
turn lal-e accounts. In the absence of Mich express
provisions by law, the outgoing officers, in many
instances, have claimed and exercised the right to
take into their own possession, important books
v d papers, on the ground that these were their
private property; and have placed them beyond
the reach ot the Government. Conduct of this cha
racter, brought in several instances to the notice of
the present Secretary of Ihe Treasury, naturally
awakened his suspicion, and resulted in the dis
closure that at four ports, namely Oswego, Toledo.
Sandii*ky, and Milwaukee, tha Treasury had, by
false entries been defrauded, wiffiin the four years
next proceed.ng March, 18fe3, of the sum of one
hundred and ninety-eight thousand dollars The
great difficulty with which the detection of these
frauds has been attended, in consequence of the
abstraction of books and papers by the retiring
officers, and the facility with which similar frauds
iri the public service may be perpetrated, render
the necessity of new legal enactments in the re.
spec's above referred to, quite obvious For other
material modifications ot the Revenue laws winch
seer.; to me desirable, 1 refer you to the report of
the Secretary ot the Treasury That report, and th e
tables which accompany it, furnirh ample proofs of
the solid foundation on which the financial securiw
ot the country rests, and of the salutary influence
of ihe Independent 'Treasury system upon com
merce arid all monetary operations.
ARM-Y INCREASE.
The experience of the lat year fnrni-hes addi.
tjonal reasons, I regret to say, of a painful charac
ter, lor the recommendation heretofote made, to
provide lor increasing the military foice in the ter
ritory .inhabited by the Indians The settlers on the
fioniiers have suffered much from the incursions of
predatory bands, and large parties of emigrants to
out Pacific possessions have been massacred wuh
impuni'y. The recurrence of such scenes can only
be prevented by teaching these wild, tribes the
power of. and their responsibility to ihe United
S ate* From the garrisons ol our frontier posts j;
is only possible to detach troops in Email bodies
ar,d ■ hough these have on all occasions displayed
a gatlau'ry and a stern devotion to du>y, winch on
a larget held would have commanded universal ad
miration, they have usually suffered severely in
these conflicts with superior numbers and hav#
sometimes been entirely sacrificed. All the dipo
sable lorce ol Ihe army is employed on this service,
and is known to be wholly inadequate to the pro.
tec ion wiixh should be afforded. The public rniml
of the country has been recently shocked by ?av.
age a'rocities committed upon defencele.-a ernt
g:an'? and border settlements, and hardly less by
the unnecessary destruction of valuable lives, where
inadtfi uate detachments of troop* have undertaken
to turoi-ii the needed aid. Without increase of tha
military force,the scenes will be repeated, it is 'o be
feared, on a larger scale, and wuh mors disastrous
conteqneiices. Congress, lam sure, will perceive
tha! the plainer-! duties and responsibilities ol Gov
ern Tien' are involved in tin* ques ien, and 1 doubt
not that prompt action may be coofidentally aniici
pa'ed when delay must be attended by such fearful
hazards.
l ite bill of ihe last session, providing for an in
inerea-e ol the pay of the rank and fiie of the army
has had beneficial results, not only in facilila'ing
enlis'ments but obvious improvement in iheclam
of mei. who en'et the service. I regret that c>r
responding consideration was not bestowed ori the
officers, who iri view o! their character and services
and the expenses they are necessarily
-nbject, receive at present what, is my judgment,
inadequate compensation
The valuable services constantly rendered by the
Army, and its inestimable the nu
cleus around which the volunteer force® of the na
tion can promptly gather in the hour of danger,
sufficiently attest the wi-Join of maintaining a mili
tary peace establishment; but the theory of our
system and the wise practice under it. rrquire that
any proposed augmen'a ion, in lima ol peace, Le
only commensurate wuh our extended limits ami
f oil ier relations. While scrupulon*!y adhering to.
this principle. 1 find, in existing circamt'ances, s
necessity for increase of our military force, and it
is b-ff eve.l that four new regiments, two ofinlantry
and two ol mounted men wilt be sufficent to meet
the present exigency If it were necessary care
lolly to weigh the cost in a ease of such urgency,
i: would be shown that the additional expenses
would be comparatively light.
ARMY REFORM
Wi-Ii the increase of the numerical force of the
army should, I think, be combined certain meas
ures o! reform in its organic arrangement and ad
ministration. The pre-ent organiza'ion is the re
sult of par ial legislation often directed to special
objects and merest ; and the laws resulatina -auk
and command, having been adopted many years
ago from the British code, aro not always ap
I plicable to our service. It is not surprising, there
! fore, that the ay-tern should be deficient in the
j symmetry ar.d simplicity essential to Tie harrnotn
! on- working of its several parts, and requue a care
fa! revision.
• 1.0 present organiza'ion, by maintaining large
staff corps r.r departments, separates many officers
| Irom that close connection with troop-, and those
ae ive duties in the field, which aie deemed re
i quisite to qualify them for the varied respousibi.i
ties o! high command Were the duties of the army
j s aff mainly discharged by officers detached from
j their regimen's, it is believed that the special ser
vice would be equally well perlormed, and tiis
! discipline and instiuction of the army be improved,
i While due regard to the secntiiy of the rights of of
ficers, and to the nice sense of honor which should
s be cul tvated among them, would seem toex.c;
j compliance wi h the established rule ot promotion
i in oi dinar y cases, still it can h.ndij be doubted hat
the ramie of promotion by selection, which is now
; practically confined to ihe grade of general officers
miuht be somewhat extended with benefit to the
pubiiG service. Observance of lite rule of seniorcy
sometimes leads, especially in time of peace,
11 the promotion of officers who, afier men
i toriou- and even dis'ingui.-hed service, may have
been rendered by age or infirmity incapable o!
perlormmg active du y, and whose advancement,
therefore, would tend io impair the efficiency of
die army. Suitable provi-ions for this class ol ol
fleer*, by the creation of a re ired list, ivoulj reme
dy the evil, without wounding the just pride of men
who, by past services, have es'abiished a claim M
high consideration. In again commending his
measure to the lav uable considers'ion of Congrrw
1 would susrgesl thai the power of placing officers
on retired list be limited to one year. The practi
cal operation ot the measure would thus be te.-ted,
and it, afer the lapse of years, there shoulJ bo oc
casion to renew the provision, it can be reproduc
ed with any improvement which experience rrt iy
indicate. The piesent orgutizafion ol the artillery
into regimen's is liable to obvious objections. The
service of artillery is that of batteries, and an or
gan zation of batteries into a corps of aritlleiy wou!!
tie mote consistent with the na'ure of their duhei-
A large pat! of the troops now called artillery are,
and have been, on dicy as infantry ; the distinction
be.ween the two a-ms being neatly nominal Ihi
nominal artillery in our service is entirely di-pro
por'ionate to the whole lorce, and grea'er than he
wants of (he country demand. I therefore com
mend (he discontinuance of a distinction which ha*
j no foundation in ei her the arms used or the char
•ii .1 r of tfie sen ice expected to be performed.
In connection will the proposition for tho in
crease ol the army, 1 have presented these sugges
(ions with regard to certain mpasujes of reform as
(lie completing of a sy- em. which would produce
the happiest results from a given expenditure, and
which I hope may attract the early attention, and
be deemed worthy of the approval of Congress.
NAVAL AFFAIR*.
he recommarulaiio!! of ihe Secie'arvof ihe
yy, having reference in the more ample provisions
lor he dicipline and general improvement in the
character of seamen, and far the reorganiz ion and
gradual increase of the navy, I deem eminently
worthy ofx our favorable consideration. The prin
ciples, which have controlled our policy in rela
tion to the permanent military force, by sea and
■ and, are sound, consistent wuh the theory ol our
s\ em, and should by no meaas be disregarded
Bit- limiting the lorce to the objects pait.culaiiy set
"th in tne preceding part of this message, we
s u!d not overlook the prespnt magnitude and
pro-pec ive extension of our commercial marine,
nor Gil to sive due we,ghl to the fact that, besi Irs
. te two thousand mdes of Atlantic seaboard, we
hare now a Pacific! coast '(fetching fiom Mexico
Tie 'iii*h possessions in the north, teeming wuh
I weal h and enterprise, and demanding the cons'ant
presence of the shipa-of.war. The augmentation
of the navy has not kept pace with the duties pro
perly and profitably assigned to it in time ot peace,
and it is inadequate lor the large field of i s opera
tions, not merely in the present but still mote in
'lie progressively increasing exigencies of the
wealth and commerce of the United States. I cor
t Muy approve of the proposed apprentice system
lor nur national vessels, recommended by the Se
cretary of the navy.
DISASTERS AT SKA—NEW LAW RECOMMENDED
Tho occurrence, during the last few inoß'hs, of