OTF DOLLAR PER ANNUM INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
TOWANDA :
Itjirsbao morning, December 17, 1857,
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
ftiiov Citizens of the Senate
and House of Representatives :
In obedience to the command of the Consti-
lias now become my duty " to give to
Congress infotraation of the State of the Union,
sod recommend to their consideration such
erasures" as I judge to be " necessary and ex
pedient-"
But first above all, onr thanks are due to
Almighty God for the numerous benefits which
He has bestowed upon this people ; and our
united prayers ought to ascend to Him that He
would continue to bless our great Republic in
time to come as he has blessed it in time past.
Since the adjounimeut, our constituents have
enjoyed an unusual degree of health. The
earth has yielded her fruits abundantly, and
has bountifully rewarded the toil of the hus
bandman. Our great staples have demanded
high prices, aud, up till within a brief period,
our manufacturing, mineral, and mechanical oc
cupations have largely partaken of the general
prosperity We have possessed all the ele
ments ot material wealth in rich abundance,
and yet, notwithstanding all these advanta
ges, our country in its monetary interests, is
a: the present uiomeut iu a deplorable condi
tion lu the midst of unsurpassed plenty in
all the productions of agriculture and in ail
the elements of national wealth, we find our
manufactures suspended, our public works re
tarded, our private enterprises of different
kinds abandoned, and thousands of useful la
borers throwu out of employment and redueed
to want The revenue of the Government,
which is chiefly derived from duties on imports
from abroad, has been greatly reduced, whilst
the appropriations made by Congress at its hist
session for the current fiscal year are very
large in amount.
Under these circumstances a loan may be
required before the close of your present ses
s.ou ; but this, although deeply to lie regret
ted, would prove to be only a slight misfor
tune when compared with the suffering and
d stress prevailing among the people, With
tiiis the Govercmeiit cannot tail deeply to
jvmpathize, though it may be without the
power to extend relief.
It is our duty to iuqnire what has produced
Mch unfortunate results, and whether their re
currence can be prevented ? Iu all former re
vuisioaa the blame might have fairly attribu
ted to a variety of cooperating causes ; but
sot so upon the present occasion. It is appa
rent that our existing misfortunes have pro
ceeded solely from our extravagant and vicious
•vs'ern of papier currency arid bank credits, ex
citing the people to wild speculations and
gambling in stocks. These revulsions must
c:ntuue to recur at successive intervals so long
£ j the amount of the p>aper currency and the
bank loans and discounts of the country shall
be left to the discretion of fourteen hundred
•.rrespior.-ible liankiug institutions, which from
the very law of their nature will consult tne
interest of their stockholders rather than the
Dublic welfare.
Tne frarners of the Constitution, when they
stive to Congress the power "to coin money
ar.-i to regulate the value thereof," and pro
hibited the States from coining money, einiting
b s of credit, or making anything but gold
and silver coiu a tender in payments of debts,
♦apposed they had protected the people against
the evils of au excessive and irredeemable pa
per currency. They are not responsible for
the existing anomaly that a Government en
dewed with the -orereign attribute of coining
•nonev and regulating the value thereof should
have no power to preveut others from driving
t* s coin out of the country and filling up the
c.j-.nei- of circulation with paper which d<x\s
tot represent gold and silver.
It is one of the highest and most responsi
ble duties of Government to insure to the peo
ple a sound circulation medium, the amount of
h:ch ought to be adapted with the utmost
possible wisdom and skill to the wants of in
teros! trade and foreign exchanges. If this
be either greatly above or greatly below the
proper standard, the marketable valneof every
property is increased or diminished in
same proportion. and injustice to indlvid-
W s AS well as incalculable evils to the com-
Cusify are the consequence.
I nfortunately under the the construction cf
federal Constitntioo, which has now pre-
T i i too long to be changed, this important
s -i delicate duty has been dissevered from
bte coining power and virtually transferred to
fourteen hundred State banks,
icg independently of each other, and regu
lating their paper issues almost exclusively by
* regard to the present interest of their stock
-"•lers. Exercising the sovereign power of
rrov; j;ng a paper currency, instead of coin, for
'•be country, tbe 6rst duty which these banks
CT e to the public is to keep in their vaults a
5 -*-ier.t amount of gold and silver to insure
'•:* convertibility of their notes into coin at ail
'• ars and under all circumstances No bunk
* :,*h: ever to be chartered witliout such rv-tric
'• ■ on its busiuess as to secure this resell
other restrictions are comparatively raio.
' I the only true touchstone,!he only efficient
t"-*n ator of a paper currency—the oniy one
*-:ch *an guard the public against over-issue
bank *us pensions. As a collateral and
"t'taal security it is doubtless wise, and in
| tases ought to be required, that banks shall
*j d an amount of United States or State se
•ht es equal to their notes in circulation and
for their redemption. This, however,
•'taishes no adequate security against over
***. On the contrary, it may be pervert, d
to nSate the currency, lndeed.it is possible
-? diis means to convert mil the debts of the
- ted States and State Government into
k Wca, without reference to tbe specie re
,0 redeem them However valuable
may be te themselvw, trey
THE BRADFORD REPORTER.
i moment of pressure, as our experience teaches
j in sufficient time to prevent bank suspen
sions and the depreciation of bank notes In
England, which is to a considerable extent a
paper-money country, though vastly behind
our own in this respect, it was deemed advisa
ble, anterior to the act of Parliament of 1844,
which wisely separated the issue of notes from
the banking department, for the Bunk of Eng
land always to keep on hand gold and silver
equal to one-third of its combined circulation
and deposits. If this proportion was no more
than sufficient to secure the convertibility of its
notes, with the whole of Great Britain, and
to some extent the continent of Europe as a
Geld for its circulation, rendering it almost im
possible that a sudden and immediate run to a
dangerous amount should be made upon it, the
same proportion wonld certainly be insufficient
under our banking system. Each of our four
teen hundred Banks has but a limited circum
ference lor its circulation, and in the course of
a very few days the depositors and note-hold
ers might demand froin such a bank sufficient
amount in specie to compel it to suspend, even
although it had coin in its vault equal to one
third of its immediate liabilities. And yet I
am not aware, with the exception of the banks
of Louisaiua, that any State bank throughout
the Union has lieen required by its charter to
keep this or any other proportion of gold and
silver compared with the amount of its com
bined circulation and deposits. What has
beeu the consequence? In a recent report
made by the Treasury Department on the con
dition of the Banks throughout the different
States, according to returns dated nearest to
January, 1857, the aggregate amount of ac
tual specie in their vaults is $55,34!),838 ; of
their circulation. $214,778,822 ; and of their
deposits, $230,351,352. Thus it appears that
these banks in the aggregate have considera
bly less than one dollar in seven of gold and
silver compared witu their circulation and de
posits. It was palpable, therefore, that the
very first pressure must drive them to suspen
sion, and deprive the people ot a convertible
currency with ail its disastrous consequences.
It is truly wonderful that they should have so
long continued to preserve their credit, when
a demand for the payment of one-seventh of
their immediate liabilities would have driven
them into insolvency. And this is the con
dition of the banks, notwithstanding that four
hundred millions of gold from California have
flowed in upon us witiiiu the last eight years,
and the tide still contiuues to flow. Indeed,
such lias been the extravagance of bank cred
its that the banks now lioid a considerably less
amount of specie, cither in proportion to their
capita! or to the circulation and dopos ts com
bined. than they did before the discovery of
gold in California. Whilst in the year of
their specie iu proportion to their capital
was more than equal to one dollar for every
six dollars and thirty three cents of their capi
tal. In the year IMB the specie was equal
within a very small fraction to one doiiar in
five of their circulation and depositee ; in 1857
it is not equal to one doiiar iu seven and a half
of their circulation an I deposit-.
From this statement it is easy to account for
oar financial history tor the last forty years.
It has been a history of extravagant expan
sions in the business of the country, followed
by ruinous contractions. At successive inter
va.s the best and most enterprising men have
been tempted to their ruin by excessive bank
loans of mere (taper credit, exciting them to
extravagant importations of foreign goods,
wild speculations, and ruinous a:id demoraliz
ing stock gambling. Wuen the crisis arrives,
as arrive it must, the banks can extend 110 re
lief to the people. In a vain struggle to re
deem tiieir liabilities in sjecie they ccnqielled
to contract their loans and tiieir issues ; and
at last in the hour of distress, when their as
si-tance is most needed, they and their debtors
together sii.k into insolvency.
it is this paper system of extravagant ex
pansion. raising the nominal price of every
articie far beyond its real value, when: com
pared with the co-t of s,ni.!ar articles in coun
tries whose circulation is wisely regulated,
which has prevented us from comjieting in onr
own markets with foreign manufacturers. has
produced extravagant imjiortations, and ha
co.interacted the effect of the large incidental
protection afforded to our domestic manufac
tures by the preseut revenue tariff. Bat for
this the branches of our manufactures compos
ed of raw materials the production of our own
country—>uob as cotton, ircu au.l w 'lien fa
brics —would not uniy have acquired almost
exclusive po-se>-ion of jt: e home market, but
would have created for themselves a foreign
market throughout the world.
Deplorable, however, as may cur present
financial condition, we may yet iudulge iu
bright hopes for the future. No other nation
has ever existed which cos.d haw endured
such violent expansions and contractions of
paper credits without lasting injury ; yet tiie
buoyancy of youth, the energ.es of our (>oja
latioD, and the spirit which uever quads before
difficulties, wilt enable os scon to recover from
our present financial embarrassment, and u;..y
even occasion us to speedily to torget tae les
son which they have taught.
In tiie ra autime it is the duty of the Gov
ernment. by all prosier means within its power,
to aid-in alleviating the sufferings of the pco
pie occasioned by the suspension of the banks,
ami to provide against a recurrence of the
same calamity. Unfortunately, a; either as
pect of the case, it cau do but little. Thanks
to the independent Treasury, the Government
has not suspended payment, as it was compell
ed to do by the failure of the banks in 1e37.
It will continue to discharge its iiab.lilies to
the people in gold av.d silver. Its disburse
ments in coin will pass into circulation, and
materially assist iu restoring a sound currency
From its high credit should we be cotripebtd
to make a temporary loaa. it can be effected
on advantageous teruvs. Tuis however, sha.!,
if possible, be avoided ; bat, if not. *llOO the
amount shall be limited to the lowest prac
I tieabic sum
I fTave, therefore, determined that whi.st nc
' useful Government Tchs already ia prqpre
*'•11 be re* wort?. t** tT*dy
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA GOODRICH.
" REXARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANT QUARTER."
commenced, will be postponed, if this can be
done without injury to the country. Those
necessary for its defence shall proceed us
though there had beeu no ciisis in our mone
tary affairs.
But the federal government cannot do much
to provide against a recurrence of existing
evils. Even if insurmountable constitutional
objections did not exist against the creation of
a National Bank, this would furnish no ade
quate preventive security. The history of the
last Bunk of the United States abundantly
proves the truth of this assertion. Such a
bank could not, if it would, regulate the issues
and credits of fourteen hundred State banks
in such a manner as to prevent the ruinous ex
pansions and contractions iu our currency
which afflicted the country throughout the ex
istence of the late batik, or secure us against
future suspensions. In 1825 an effort was
made by tlie Bunk of England to curtail the
issues of the country banks under the most fa
vorable circumstances. Tiie paper currency
had been expanded to a ruinous extent, and
tlie Bank put forth ail its power to contract
it in order to reduce prices and restore the
equilibrium of the foreign exchanges. It ac
cordingly commenced a system of curtailment
of its loans and issues, in the vain hope that
the joint stock and private banks of the king
dom would be compelled to follow its exam
ple. It found, however, that as it contracted
they expanded, and at the end cf the process,
to employ the language of a very high official
authority, " whatever reduction of the paper
circulation was effected by the Bank of Eng
land (in 1525) was more than made up by the
issues of the country bank-."
Baca Bank of the United States would
not, if it could, restrain the issue and loans of
the State Banks, because its duty as a regu
lator of the currency must often be in direct
conflict with the immediate interest of its stock
holders. If we expect one agent to restrain
or control another their interests must, at least
in some degree, be antagonistic. But the di
rectors of a Bank of the United States would
fee! the same interest and the same inclination
with the directors of the State Banks to ex
pand the currency, to accommodate tfieir fa
vorites and friends with loans, and to declare
large dividends. Such has been our experi
ence iu regard to the la-t Bank.
After all, we must mainly rely upon the pa
triotism and wisdom of the States for the pre
vention and redress of the evil. If they will
afford us a real spiecie Imsis for our circulation,
bv increasing the denomination of hank-notes,
fi:-t to twenty, and afterwards to fifty dollars;
if they will require that the banks shall at all
times keep on hand at least one dollar of gold
and silver for every three dollars of their cir
culation an i clejHi-its ; and if they will provide,
by a self-executing enactment, which nothing
can arrest, that the moment they suspend they
shall go into liquidation, I believe that such
provisions, with a weekly publication by each
buik of a statement of it- condition, wouid go
far to secure u- against future suspiensious of
specie {lavmeuts.
Congress, in inr opinion. possess the power
to pass a uniform bankrupt iaw applicable to
a'.i banking institutions throughout tiie United
States, a;ni I strongly recommend its exercise
This would make it the irreversible organic
law of each hauk's existence, that a suspen>ioti
of specie payments shad produce its civil death.
The instinct of M. It-preservation would then
compel it io perform its duties in such a man
ner as to escape the penaltv and deserve its
life.
The existence of banks and the circulation
of bank paper are so identified with tiie habits
c; our people, that they cannot at this day be
-11 Ideidy alio'.isiied without mocli immediate
injury to th- country. If we could co..tine
theiu to their appropriate sphere, and prevent
them from a be. ui-teri sg to the spirit of wi.d
and rtrUrss speculation by extraragaul loons
and issues, they might be continued with aI-
ru. itage to tiie public*.
I>ut this I say, after Ion? ar.l much reflec
tion : if experience shall prove it to be imjios
siblc to enjoy the facilities which well regain
ed banks m gut afford, without at the same
t me suffering the calamities which tiie execs
e- of the banks have hitherto indicted upon
the country, it would then be far tiie se><er
ivii tc deprive them altogether of the power to
issue a paper currency and confine them to the
fum tions of !aiiks of deposit and ui-crmnt.
Our relations with foreign governments are.
upon the whole, in a satisfactory condition.
Tite diplomatic difficulties which existed be
twe 11 the Oorciumc.it of the U lited States
and that of Great ltritaiu at the adjournment
of the last Congres? have been happily termi
nated the apj ointment of a British minister
to this country, who has bceu cordially receiv
ed.
Whilst it is greatly to the interest, as I a*R
convinced it is the sincere desire, of tue Go
vernment? end | eople of the two countries to
be on terms of intimate friendship with each
otin r, it has been our misfurtnne alm ert al
ways to have had some irritating, if not d i i
geronsi ouUtauciug question with Great Dri
uln.
Since the origin of the Government har®
been employed in negotiating treaties wi'h
that power, and afterwards in di*ming thrir
tme intent and meaning In triis respect, the
Convention of April 19.1SoOjcom mou!y called
the Ciaytoa and IJuiwcr treaty, has Leen the
most uufortunite of all ; because the two Gov
ernments place directly opj*?s.te and contra
dictory const net ions open its tirsi and roost
important article. WLiist iu the United
States, we believed that this treaty would
place both powers upon the exact equality by
the stipulat on that neither wiii ever " occupy
or fortify, or colonize, or at noe or eserci*
any dominion" over any part of Centra! Amer
ica, it is contended by the British Gnverment
that the txne construction of this language
has left them in the njrhtfo! possession of all
;hat portion of Central America which was in .
their occupancy at the date of the treaty ; in
act, that the treat? is a Tirtoal recognition on
he part of the United States of the right of
Great Britun, either as owner or protector, to
'*>• coast of Arr-'-a,
sweeping around from the Rio Hondo to the
port and harbor of San Juan de Nicaragua,
together with the adjacent Bay Islands, ex
cept the comparatively small portion of this
between the Sui ston and Capie Honduras. Ac
cording to their construction, the treaty does
no more than simply prohibit them from ex
tending their possessions in Central America
beyond the present limits. It is not too much
to assert, that, in the United States the trea
ty had been considered susceptible of sucli a
construction, it would never have been nego
tiated under authority of the President, nor
would it have received the approbation of the
Senate. The universal conviction in the Uni
ted States was, that when our Government
consented to violate its tradition and lime
honored policy, ami to stipnlate with a foreign
Gorerinent never to occupiy or acquire territo
ry in the Centra! American porlion of our
own Continent, the consideration for this sac
rifice was that Great Britain should, in this
respect at least, be placed in the same position
with ourselves. Whilst we have no right to
doubt the sincerity of the British Government
iu their construction of the treaty, it is at the
same time my deliberate conviction that this
construction is in opposition both to its letter
and its spirit.
Under the late Administrations negotiations
were instituted between the two Governments
lor the purpose, if possible, ol removing these
difficulties ; and a treaty having this laudable
object in view was signed at London on the
17th of October, 1850, and was submitted by
the President to the Senate, on the following
10th of Deember. Whether tiiis treaty either
in its original or amended form, would hare
i accomplished the object intended without giv
ing birth to new and embarrassing comp lica
! tions between the two Governments, may pier
haps be well questioned. Certain it is, howev
' er, it was rendered much less objectionable by
| the different amendments made to it. by the
; Senate. Tiie treaty, as amended, was ratified
I by me on the 12th of March, 1857, aud was
j transmitted to London for ratification by the
j British Government. That Government ex
presses its willingness to concur in all the
; amendments made ly the Senate with the sin
j gle exception of the clause relating to Rnatan
; and the other islands in the Bay of Honduras,
J The article in the original treaty, as submitted
[ to the Senate, after reciting that these islands
I and their inhabitants " having been by a Con
: veiition bearing date the 27th of August. 1856
, between her Brituuie Majesty and the R--pm!>-
' lie of Honduras, constituted and declared a
! free territory under the sovereignty of the said
Republic of Honduras," stipulated that " the
j two contracting parlies do hereby mutually
; engage to recognize and re-pc t in ail future
: time tne independence and rights of tiie said
' free territory as a part of the Republic of Ilon
j duras.*'
Upon an examination of this convention be
tween Great Britian and Honduras of the 27th
( of August, 1x56,l x 56, it was found that, whilst ue-
I daring ti:? Bay Islands to l>e " a free t rrito
i ry mui r the sovereignty of tiie IF public of
Honduras." it deprived the Ilepuhlie of rights
w.tiiout wiiich its sovereignty over them could
<eaiceiy be said to
from the remainder of Honduras, and gave to
their inhabitants a separate government of
their own. legislative, executive and judicial
officers, elected by themselves. It deprived
the Government of Honduras of the taxing
power in every fonu. and txempted the people
of the islands from tic perforata nee cf ni'iti.ry
duty, except for their own exclusive defence.
It also pioiiibited that Republic from erecting
fortifications u|.>u them for their protection—
thus ieaving the n open to invasion from any
pi trier : and, finally, it prorive-I, *' that Shi
very s'nail not at any time hereafter be jier
inittcd to exist tlicrein *'
Had Honduras ratified this Convention, he
won id have ratified tne establishment of a
Sta'e substantia.iy iadepeadeat within her owu
limits, and a State at aii times subject to Brit
ish influence and control. Moreover, had the
United Stales ratified the treaty with Great
Britlan iu its original form, we should have
been bound " to recognize and reijieet in aii fu
ture time * these stipulations to the prejudice
of Honduras. Being in direct opposition to
the spirit and meaning of the Clayton ar.! B .!-
wer treaty as understood in tiie United Stats.
tiie Senate rejected the entire clause, and sul>
rutted in its stead a simple recognition of tiie
sovereign ngnt or lion-turns to luese is! .mis
in the following language ; The two co i
tracting parties do hereby rantnaFfy engage to
recognize and re-p-ct the islands of Ru.itari.
B>>naco, Utiia. 13 ir' irvtta. Helena a i Mo
rat, situate irr tine liar of Honduras, an i rff
the coa>t of the llcpu hie of Hon. a "us, as un
der the sovereignty and as part of tiie said Re
public of Handnras."
Great Dntaii rejected to this amendment,
assigning as its only rer.sou, that the rat fi--a
tions of the Convettioa of the 27;h of August,
ISofi lietween in r and Honduras. had not been
" exchanged, owing to 'lie hesitation of that
Oovermnenv" Had this been done. i is it.i
ted " II.-r Majesty's Government wcniid have
had little d'fficoliT in agreeing to the m*>i fii-
cation proposed by the Senate, fh!c'i then
woo d hare had in effect the same siguifitjation
as the original wording." Whether th : s would
hare been the effect ; whether t?;e mere e r
canisiance of the exchange of the ratification*
ot the British Convent on with ilondt:nt< pri
or in point of t;e?e to the ratification of oir
treatr w.tii Great Br tian wooid "in eff c:,"
hare had "the same signification as the origr'n
si wording," and the* tiare have nullified tie
amendment of the Senate, may we.i i>e doa-t
--ed. It is, )ierhaps, r'ortaaate that tbequestiosi
has never arisen.
The British Government. immediately 3fter
rejecting the treaty as amended, proposed to
enter into a new treaty with the United States
similar in a!! respects to the treaty which they
had jost refused !o ratify, if the United States
woaid consent to add to the Senate's ciear and
nneqtiaf recognition of the sovereignty of Ilcti
daras aver the Bay Is'ards, (be fo'iowing con
ditional ssipaiattoo : Whenever acd so sooc
as the Republic of Hoatterai shall a&vo coq
"irded t A rsCfed tres*y G-*at B**t
ian by which Great Briilan shall have ceded
and the republic of Honduras shall have ac
cepted, the said Islands, subject to the pirovi
sions and conditions contained in such treaty.' -
This proposition was, of course, rejected.
After the Senate had refuesd to recognize the
British Convention with Honduras of the 27 th
of August, 1856, with full knowledge of it.
contents, it was impossible for me, uecessarily
ignorant ol " the provisions and conditions,"
which might lie contained in a future conven
tion between the same parties, to sanctio
them in advance.
The fact is that when two nations like Great
Britian ami the United States, mutually desi
rous, as they are, and, I trust may be, of main
taining the most friendly relations with each
other, have unfortunately concluded a treaty
which they understand in sense directly oppo
site, the wisest course is to abrogate such a
treaty by mutual consent, and to commence
anew. Had this been done promptly, all d fa
culties in Central America would most proba
bly ere this have been adjusted to the satisfac
tion of loth piarties. The time spent in dis
cussing the meaning of the Clayton and Bul
wer treaty would have betn devoted to this
praiseworthy purpose, and the task would have
been the more easily accomplished because the
interest of the two countries in Central Amer
ica is identical, being confined to securing safe
transits over all the routes across the Isthmcs.
Whilst entertaining these sentiments, I shall
nevertheless not refuse to contribute to any
reasonable adjustment of the Central Ameri
can questions which is not practically inconsis
tent with the American interpretation of the
treaty. Overtures for this purpose have been
recently made by the British Government in a
friendly spirit, which I cordially reciprocate ;
bnt whether this renewed effort will result in
success I am not yet prepared to express an
opiinioii. A brief period will determine.
With France our ancient relations of friend
ship still continue to exist. The French Gov
ernment have, in several recent instances,
which need not be enumerated, evinced a spur
it of good w ill and kindness toward- our coun
try which I heartily reciprocate. It is, not
withstanding, much to be regretted that two
nations, whose productions are of such a char
acter as to invite tlie most extensive exchanges
and freest commercial intercourse, should con
tinue to enforce ancient and abso'.ete restric
tions of trade against each other. Uur coin
imrcial treaty with Frai.ce is in this respect
an exceptiou from our treatiis with ail other
commercial nations It jealously levies ds
criminating duties both on tonnge and on arti
ticies, the growth, produce, or manufacture cf
the one country, when arriving in vessels be
longing to the other.
More tisan forty years *go, on the 3d of
March, 1317. Congress passed an act offering
to all nations to admit their vessels laden with
their national producrioas into the ports of
the United ri'atcs upon the same terms with
our own vessels provided they would recipro
cate to us similar advantages. Tii s act couGn
ed the i ciprocity to the prouo. tio:.s of the res
pective foreign nations who might enter iato
tlie proposed arrangement with the United
states. Tne act of May 24, ls2s, ren.ov.a
tins restriction, and off re J a similar reciproci
ty to ail such vessels without reference to
the orig'n of their cargoes. Ujkmi these prin
c p'es, oir commercia! treaties and arrang-.*-
m-nts have been founded, except with France :
and let Us hope that tn.s exception may cot
long ixi-t
Our relations with Russia remain, a? lliey
have ever been, o;i the most friendly footing.
The present Emperor, as wed as his predeces
sors. have never tailed, when the occasion of
fered, to manifest their good wiil to our coun
try ; and their friendship has always ben
highly aporeciated by the Government and
the people of the Unite 1 States
With all other European Governments, ex
cept that of Spain, our relations are ap-. i..e
fal as we could desire. I n-gret to ay t:. t
no progress whatever has been ma 1", stuce the
adjournment of Congress, towards tie eettk
ment of any of the numerous cla ms of our citi
zens against the Spanish Gov.ri.incut. B—
sides, the outrage Committed ou ur fig by the
Spanish war-fr gate r.x on t.e luga s.as
off Cuba, iu M irch. 1355. by firing into the
mail !estner El Dradc, and detaining a> i
searching her, remains una. k lowiedged nr. i
unreureesed. Tie general tone and vniper of
the Span;a Government tow- gjj that of the
United States :.re much to be regretted
Our present Envoy ex 5 r >rl:nary an i niiri -:-r
pien"{otentiary to Madrid has a-ked to be re
eu i-a ; and it is now my purpose to send out
a r.w Minister to Spain. with special instruc
tions on ail yutiaw pending between the two
Gover ments, and with a determination to
have them speedily and amicably adjusted, if
th -be bie. Iu the re mrim?. wh'devsr
our Minister urge? the jus: claims of cur citi
zens oa the notice of the Spnu:>li Govern nent
he i siet with the objection that Congr- s- hav..
never rue. !c the appropriation reconimende . bv
President P- uc in h\ ann ul message of Pr
ceinber. 134 7. " to be paid to the rijc.
Government for the purpose of d str.buti< n
among the claimants iu the AmV.al case. r
A similar r comtnen Iwt'oi v> r de by my
immediate predecessor jn his Message or I> •
cemVr. 1353 ; and entirely concoring w h
both in the opinion that tii s indemnity js :-!
ly due under tire treaty w.th Spain of o:'o
iw r 27. 1795, I earnestly reecra ;er i such tu
appropriation to t*e favorable consideration of
Congress.
A treaty of fnendsliip and coomer-'e was
conci'ided at Con*tatHiaopfe on the lUt'i o*
, lbo6. be; wee . the Unt:d i:a;-:s
| and Persia, the rati Boat : <r< of which wo ex
changed at Const an! iuople on tbe I3h of
Jw, 155T, and the treaty was pmclvmed y
{the President oa the IBth of Aagn?:.
Tit s *ree*y, it is bettered. w;,| prove ieae6cii
to Atner.can commence. The S h vn i:nx aia:.i
festcd an earnest d sposi'.iou tocaJtivaie friend
!y relat oos with onr eouefj, and has express
ed a strong wih that we shooM be rerre<ent
ed at Teheran by a Minister Plenipotentiary ;
, acd I recoocmend that tJB ap|"oprVfOn Le
! f-• ♦ V r jj pp
VOL,. XVIII. —XO. 28.
Recent occurrences in China hove been un
fivorable to a revision of the treaty with that
Empire of the July 3J, 1844. with a view to
the seenritv nnd extension of our commerce.
Tiie 241b article of this treaty stipulated jpf
a revision of it, incase experience should prove
this to "t>? requisite ; " In which these'the
two Governments will at the expiration of
twelve years from the date of the said Con
vention, treat an i. aby concerning the tamo
hy means of suitable persons appoiuted fo
conduct such i egotiations." These twelve
years expired on July 3, 180G, but long'refore
that period it was ascertained that important
changes in the treaty were necessary ; aid
several fruitless attempts were made bv the
Commissioners of the United States to effect
| those changes. Another effort was about to
! be made for the same purpose by nnr Corrmis
-1 sioner ; in conjunction with the Ministers of
! England and France, but this was suspended
| by the occurrence of hostilities iu the Canton
, River between Great Britian and the Chinese
Empire. These hostilities have necessarily in
terrupted the trade of all nations with Can
ton, which is now in a si. te of blockade, nr.d
have occasioned a serious loss of life ami pro
perty. Meanwhile the insurrection within the
empire against the existing imperial dynasty
stiil continues, and it is difficult to anticipate
the result.
Under these circumstances, I have deemed
it advisable to appoint a distinguished citizen
,of Pennsylvania Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary to proceed to China,
i and to avail himself of any opportunities which
may offer to effect changes in the existing trea
ty favorable to American commerce. He left
the United States for the place of bis destina
tion in July last in the war steamer Mivnestta.
Special Ministers have nKo l*en appointed by
the Government of Great Britain and Ernee.
I Whiist our Minister has been instructed to
occupy a neutral in reference to the
existing hostil.iies at Canton, he will cordially
cooperate with the British and French Minis
ters in ail peaceful measures to secure bv trea
ty stipulations, tho-e concessions to commerce
which the nations of the worid have a right to
expect, arid which China cannot long be per
, niittc-<i to withold. From &.v-uratice received,
I eutrrtain no coubt that the three Ministers
will act in harmonious concert to obtain simi
lar comm-rcinl treaties for e3ch of the powers
they represent.
We cannot fail to feel a deep interest in all
that concerns the welfare of the independent
republics on our own ccatiueiit, as well as the
empire of Brazil.
Our difficulties with. New Grenada, which
a short time since bore so threatening an as
pect, are, it is to b; hoped, iu a fair train of
•ettlecaeut in a manner just and honorable to
both p irt'c*.
1 The I-tbrans of Centra! A merle*, including
that of Panama, i-> the great high way between
the Atlantic and Pacific, over which a large
port.on of the commerce of the world is ues
; lined to pa The United States nre core
deeply interested than any other nation in p-e
--servinz the freed"na and security of all the
communications acros tiiis Isthmus It is our
duty therefore, to take care that they shall not
be interrupted either by invasions from oar
own county or by wars between the indepen
dent States of Centra! America Under otir
treaty with New Grenada of the 12th Decem
ber, I>4<), we are bound to guarrauiee the
neutrality of the isthmus of Panama, through
which tic Panama railroad passes, "as well
as the rights •f sovereignty and property which
New Grenada Ins and poises**; over the said
. Territory.Tnis obligation is founded upon
equivalents graaU-d by the treaty to the
governmc it at.d people cf the United States.
Under tiiesc circumstances, I recoiritr.cnd to
Congress the {rasscje of an act authoring the
Preside: t i: cav of necessity, to emph-y the
land and naval forces cf the United d'.ates to
carry into effect tL s guarrautee of neutrality
ari pro'e.-tion. I jsi-o recommend similar
legislation for the security of aoj other rente
across the Isthmus in whichnay acquire
an iutercst by treaty.
W.th the iude)<e:>dent Republics on this
C):.fiuent It Is !w?ta our duty a..i uur interest
;to cultivate the most friendly relation;.—
4V* can never fee! ind.ffrent to their fite, a-d
must ilwarv rejoice in their prosperity. Ur
: fjr-utii'cy for iltem and frus.onrexample and
ar>.ct :—v ■ i j*t of ibe.r iiiiutiicv in coo
s ~u-:nee of the iaw less expeditions which Lav;
I. -vn fitted cut aga :,st SJOI:- of them within
the limits of our < our,try. Nothing is bctt-r
! calculated to retari our character as a nation,
,th .n the toleration of such enterprises in vio
; i ti ... of the* la v of n .lion*.
it is one of the fir-t and h _hest duties cf
' an/ !nd-pt-:.de:it State, fa its relation; witio
the members of th? urea! fa*ni*v of nation*. to
\ restrain it.- from acts of hostile azrrc--
-ioa ag.iiii-t tlsrir ctizria or sljeets. Th *
( uio-t eu.ii.ent wr : -.r on p*..b.iu law do act
hoitate ?.• -ie un ice such Lcntiiv acts cs rob
'f-y *. 1 murder.
W. ak a:. l t "e stat?. like \h~t? of C*r
| tral Am re v. may no? fee! t:CEjs**o- able t
| assert and ..te their rights. T.ne ca-■
. won i be f - afferent if exp:-*i.tio:.a ware st
• on foot within our own territories to m-A*
' priv-.'e war agu"r.-t a powerful tntion. If
-uch exped.t were fitted on? frxn nbroa 1
*ga'r.? n. ~ '■ cf mt own c iintrv, to
• turn dow • '? cite* n irder *nl Vn- 4er :i
--j ].<C-OT !E. aad u-orp oir g TERITOCTT. WE SHIA i
c.4.. - y OA EA'IHTO THE-TRIC^SIXXFCBTT
: ft " ■. * ; *cvec *"g '-f'i eftoru'-'es.
E.-.r cince the .l<t!Di" ,r 'ra'. on cf G?~. — 1
: WAV:?VI"TS of C<r gre;; harp liee-* ; n
:f. rve to ;rm *S eTrt'v the er :, a? of toffiftg
ioa f -ot a rr. i ;ary expedition w>H : n 'he hert;
•'* 1 el Stat 4 * *0 r>rc*eeii f:ou t'icu<"o
! agn:n* a p. t-ou o r State wth w iO*e we s~->
| at T ie prrseot act of Arr :
' 2ISIS. ;; but i.ttic mors ther, a cc.ie.Ui
pr.ex : *t.' - Hw;. U.. i-r this act. *1
Pros lent is esn*wtr**l to e cpior ;z
--. ar.d na'a* fcr*:e a A tine " for t'.e p->
pose of nrgv?*:* z the curry ng on of ar.v q v -j
J emed! unn r f* "n '* •
•~d !trI r r*Jon of the UaS-ed
I ru rorara ?i-sf