- i r -----.:1 1- RlPraltt - - 11 wary --- t I" . 11 'r frs - o - - nentra
: nations are endangered., This considera.
----- P
1021-SIDINnt, linSiti l• - r • " = ' '' .
• .
apitlemen oir the. Seurtt - , tiou-iled,,in the progess - of the our of our '
oltd - Houve of Representatives .. j iudepentlence,to the formation of the ca.
• The past bas been an eventful year ; and ebrated confederacy of armed neutrality,
A vid ho hereafter refei red to as a marked a prinviry, object, of which was to assert
,epoch in thejiistory of the world. White' the doctrine, that
- free. ships- - wake free
we have beeii - happily preserved from tiie goads, except in the easemf articles con-;
mband of war ; a doctrine w hich,, from
.salawitiesnlowatz, our df ones6c, prosperity
has . not Levu entircly unlierrupted. The the very corumerwement of our national be
.crops, in portions of the cemitry, have ing, has been a cherished idea of the states
been neaiiy cut off. Disease has prevailed men of this country.
t,o a greater extent than usual, and the S:IC- ' At one period or_another, every mari
f:fice of human life, through casualties by ;tine power has, --- by - s - otte soletnirtrenty
,seaand hind, is - withouta parallel. But the . stipulation,. recognized t:f.at principle ;
petilenee ; Las swqit by, and restorel sa,_ and it might havo been biped that it
lubrityitivite's the absent to`theirhOincs; ; woald cr ' rl ' e to be universally received
acid the return of huffiness to its oidifiary- 1 and respected as a rule of intenla
, ti 011 anAw,____l3.4.4.t_the r; .fif -al of one power
prevented thif, And in the' next great war
vt7hich ensued, that of the French Revolu
tion, it failed to he respected among the
belligerent states-of Europe. Notwiths.tatt- I
ding this, the piiw•ipal is generally, acltirit-_,
ted Lo be a souud and salutary. ones so
,e anne s. - _ t c ('art i las rewarc e tto
jtabor of her. busbandinan less bountifully
than in preceding seasons, it-has left him
with Asbuni:tance for domestic wants, and a
large surplus for exportation. In the
itreseut, Clterefore, min the past, we find
tn - the God of ?trace and Providence, for I
-with uses 4 people.
Although our attention has been arrest
ed by painful interest in passing evenrs,
yet our country feels 'no niore than the
slight Vibrations of the convulsions, which.
'have -shaken F o urope. As individuals we
.cannot repress sympathy with . human suf
4'erine nor regret for the causes which
produce it. .As a nation, we are reminded
that. Whatever interrupts the "peace, or
eheeks the prosperity, of any part of C.hris
tendom. tends, more or less, to involve our
own: .The condition of States is not un
like that - of individuals. They- are matt
:ally dependent, upon each other. 'Amin:
ble relations between' thew, and reciprocal
rood will. are essential for the promotion
of whatever is desirable
. i . a t heir .moral,
:Cie' and political condition. - Hencelt has
been 'my earnest endeavor to ntaintain
peace and friendlyintercourse with ail na
-tions, • .
- .,,Thew - Titillieory of this Government, so
early steadily pursued, of a
-veld hitherto
+exempted it from many complications, in 1
— 7 -- .01 - cfrit - Wriird otherwise have become 'in- .
-volved. Notwithstanding this .our clearly
. defined and well-sustained course of action,'
and our glographical position so remote
from Europe, increasing: disposition has
been manifested, by some of its govern
ments, to - supervise, and, in certain re
spects, to direct our foreign policy. In
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 _
. hat, from time to time, undertaken to en
force arbitrary regulations, contrary in
many respects to the established principles
of international law. That law, the UPl
te- d States have, in their foreign intereours2,
Uniformly. respected and observed; and
they cannot recognize "any such interpola.
tions therein, as the temporary interests of.
others may suggest. They do not admit
that the sovereigns of one continent, or
,of
a; particular community of States, can le
gislate for all others.
Leaving the trans-atlantic nations to ad
just their political system in the way they
may think beet for their common welfare,
the independent powers. of this continent
• may well assert the right to be exempt
from all am/eying interference on their
-part. Systematic abstinence from intimate
political connection with distant foreign
tultions, - does riot conflict with giving the
widest, range to our foreign commerce,—
This distinction, so clearly marked in his
tory, seems to nve been overlooked, or
.disregarded, by - some leading foreign States.
Our refusal to be brought within, and sub
jected to, their peculiar system, has, I fear,
erns p I a je9l4las iiiqtritczt of mu. ennulilet
awl induced, on their part, occasional arts
.of disturbing effect upon our foreign relu-
Ont—present—att-itud.l---arld------pv4
tourse' - gire assurances; which sboutd not
be questioned, that our purposes are not
aggressive, nor threatening to the safety
and welfare of other nations. Our milita
ry establishment, in time of peace, is adapt
ed to maintain exterior defences, and to
preserve order among the aboriginal tribes
within the limits of the Union. Our na
val force is intended only for the protec
tion of our citizens abroad, and of our com
merce, diffused, as it is, .over all the - seas
of the globe. The government of the U
nited States, being essentially pacific in
policy, stands prepared to repel invasion
by the voluntary - service of a patriotic peo
ple, and provides no permanent means of
foreign aggression. These considerations
should allay all apprehensior, that we are
disposed to encroach on the rights, or en
danger' the security, of other States,
Kittle European powers have regarded,
with disquieting concern '
the territorial
f!xpansion of the United States. This
rapid growth has resulted from the logiti
mate exercise of sovereign rights, -belong
ing alike to all nations, and by many liber
ally exercised. Under such -cireumstan•
ze. , , it could hardly have been exp.-cted
that those among them, which have, with
in a comparatively recent period, subdued
and absorbed ancient kingdoms, planted
their standards upon every continent, and
now possess, or claim the control .d'.
i,lands of every ocean as their are;
at domain, would look with un
sentiments upon the acquisition- of this
•country, in every instance Iton,rably ob
tained, or would feel themselves justified
in 'imputing our adVanceineot to a spirit
,of aggression or to a passion for political
,predominance.
Our foreign commere, has reached
I nflocitilde and eitent nearly eq - nal to that
.of the first maritime power of the
-and exceeding that of any other. Over
this great interest, in which not only
merchants, but all classes of citizens at
le, sri tiTlitectly — yure - enricerne'd;it.4 -- tli - e7il ,T
-ty of the executive and legislative branc;i
es of the government to exercise fl
supervision, and adtipt proper t , ::lsures
fur its protection. The polies which I
are tad in view, in regard to his inter.
embrices its future - as well vs its p,ms
,e-nt security.
Long experience baB hilown riot, fn n
-4; 414 wbuu the principal
,poil.as ull-Atrupe
.13)1/C SO, ILL ,
'the, ,e 7; istin ' war
and France aunounce(
servo it for the present ; not, however, as a
' recognized - international right, but A mere
concession for the time being. •
The co-operation,, however, of the,se two
pnwerfnl maratine nations in the 'interest
of neutral rights, appeared to me to afford
an occasion, inviting and justifying, on
the part of the United Mates, a renewed
effort to mate the doctrine in question a
principal of international, by means of
special conventions tetween the several
powers of Europe and America. Accord
ingly, a proposition, embracing not only
the rule that free ships make free goods,
except contraband articles, but also • the
less contested one, that neutral property,
other
_than eon traband, : thotigh on board
enemy's ships, shall_bn exempt from enn- -
fiseafien, has beetr'sithbitted to this gm..
ernment to theseof Europe and Awl ice.
Ittissia acted promptly in this matter ;
awl a convention was concluded between
that conntry and the Coifed States; provi'
ding for 'the obser_vance_of_t e_prittei ples_
announced, not only as, between Ahem.
Fietv-eft, but atm wthntween them . •
other tiAtionii, whieb. shall enter into like
stipulations. None of the other powers
have as yet taken final action on the sub
jeet. lam not aware, however,l,liat any
objection to the proposed stipulation has
been Made ; but on the contrary, they
are acknowledged to be essential to the
security of neutral commerce ; rind the
only apparent obstacle ,to their general a.
doption , is in the possibility that it may
be encumbered by
.nacni_ss..Le conditions,
The King of the two Skilies has ex
pressed -to our minister at Naples his reatli•
ness to concur is our proposition relative
to neutral rights, and to cuter into a con
vention on that subject,
The King of Prussia entirely approves
of the project of a treaty to.the same effect,
submitted to him, bat proposes an addl.
tioual article providing for the renunciation
of privateerinueh auarticle-r-for-niost—
obvious rea ons, is much desired by na
tions having naval establishments, large
in proportion to their foreign Coin
If it were adopted as en internat 'nal rule,
the enamor& of a natiou haviPg compar
atively a small naval foicee would he very
much at the mercy of its enemy, in ease of
war with a power of decided naval superi-
The hare statement of the condition in
in which the United states would be
ced, after having surrendered the right to
resort to privateers, in the event of war
with a belligerent aif naval supremacy, wEI
show, that this government could never
listen to sueh a propositi , n. The navy of
the first maritine power in Europe is at
least ten. times as large as that of the lTz:i
ted States. The fweign e‘mittiorce 4 tho
tsvo CO1111111( 4 1.3 IS near y con a ,
equally exposed to hostile depredations
twee n .........!-T.
nited States, without resort on our part
to our mereatoik .marine. the means of
our enemy to inflict injttry upon our com
merce would lie tenfold greater than on r 9
to retaliate . . We could not extricate our
country from this unequal condition, with
sucll an enemy, unless we
ed from , i ,ll.L l! reent_peaceltil
heroine a great naval power. Nor AV 01111,1
this country he better situated in tvar with
one of the o'run Lary naval powers
Though thu naval disparity would be less,
the greater extent And more exposed con
dition °four xvide Irfireati commerce would
give any of them a like advantage over us.
The propogition to enter into•emtage
mews to I,,rego resort to privateers in
case thiN eolllltrV flintild he forced hitt)
whr with a greal naval power, li nit (.116.
lit'd It) entire lavorahle consideration titan
would he a propos . tion to naree not to ac
cept the services of yohoiteers for opera•
tinny on land. When the honor or the
- rights of our conntry require it to astinine
a hostile attitude, it contitlcntiv relies up
on the patri , ot•in tf its 110 Z •04. 11(4 ordi
narily devoted to the military profession.
to augment the army antl 'lie navy so ac to
make theoi Icily ad' qoate to the emergen
cy w fuel, calls them into action.
The proposal to surrender the r;ght to
employ privateers is profe , sed;‘,- founded
upon the principle that private prop,riv
of tinollendirn! Ili it rotnha tants, tholigh
ettetniec. should he exempt t`i•om th e rat ,
nges of war ; but th.. propose.' surrender
goes hat little vvay earrvina out that
principle, whirit equal:y requ'res Ihai
r-111•11 private property sittrild not he seiz•
ed or rnole"sted hr national ships of war.
sh ou ld th e leading, pirtv,erg of P,lirlpe con
cur in pcopesina, its, a - rule of internaliottal
law. to exempt 7,-icte 110 , 0 Ihe
414'e',10, from ‘eir ore hv 1 - 101o10* 11'01,c'd - ern i.
se...rs, wc:l as its - I,llv.ateis, tilt ET‘tiletl
States rraddv Inca thrill upon that
broad ground.
---- Siiii' F - Tiri l : — : .- T!rf I r r I 11:11 - 01 . 1T - tif - e - owrIrP - zrc7 - 11i - i ,----- TiT, - ;747 - ‘
rii;,r,cl'l,i' mils i ifi - t.r" -- S" II .if - ;% - : 7 lThe
ratill.'n:iitll:- 01 ch :reaty 1 , ..1 v:( en Ili , ' r•::• c:, ii,l 1711 lii" Ve . ...:(•: , 111 thf • 1. 1. 1111 Cd 51.11 S .
I.Pd 1 4 1.7l11?! .. : and C . ; t . 1.:,1 iiriniii„ relmite to i m,l nwir r,ir,=o_ s v, llcli I),,ss Ina Ili ! 1 , 1j:.,r11
eimsl flAlerieQ, :, ipi 14) ffr ipnll'ill trA4lc• iyi:l4' the :..: mild high er ,1„,,,, 1 1, ,„ i 1„,,,.. ~t o w
the Bridsli -iNortii American In'oviizo-t - :•_ , ,, most 1,1 ii ---- refl (rtiiiies 'l'lll. I l res• I e rei2in. '-
h ave h eel) eN ,.i iint y. e d an(! ,zeitne eet i:s an.. -. :fad 1 • ate . l imp - lied ii , er..e.m elit tc) , :i
lieipaied adVallibti;eB are, already enjoyed _ tons diirine tile eotitt:,iiam.e vil
by (IS,
„311.11011gr.L1 its kill ,reh:oelition was and, emu:, queilv, Inpv caih.. - irr...
'to abide eeriain acts of legislation hot yrt seriiiiit of nor ruler to lie released tbeie-
Air.y perforuiel "So covu au at XV iiti raj,-
_liuw, There ait et6L- uthet 1 4 )ruvisiou6 iu
in Europe,- Great Britain
A) 1 r purphse to o
.............
LIAM
'tierce the free navig,ati .n of the river'St.
Lawrence, and to our fishermen unn-Ftlest
vl access to the shores and b !vs, from
whirl; tltey had keen- pefivittusly excluded.
o n the coasts of ,the'-.lVorth - American
provinces ; in return for which, She asked .
for xlie huirothictiotc, free of duty, in to.the
ports of the United States., of the 6.411
vAiig ht, fin the same coast by Brit It'Ltislier-
Welk This_beilig - tfic - compensation, slip
ulateirio the treaty, for priviielles of the
/ t iff/test importance and value to - the United
States, w_h_i_e_h_wete thus voluntarily - yield
en before it became elre_ctive, - the reqiiest
seemed to rue to be a reasonable one ; hut
it could tint be accectled to. from want of
authority to suspend our laws imposing
Antics It witt ail foreign fish. lii the mean-
titne, the-trea , ury department issued! a rlg.
elation for ascertaining the duties paid or
secured by bonds on fish caught on the
coasts of the British provinces, and brought
to our markets by British suhifcts, %her
the. fishing : grounds .had been made fully
, •
•repeus.able m the eitii
States. I,recommetul to your favorable
nsideration a proposition, which
submitted to ymi, for authority to refund
the duties and cancel the bonds thus re
ceived. The provinces of Canada and
New Brunswick have also anticipated, the
full operation of the treaty, by legislative
arrangements respectively, to adinil, free
of duty, the products of the United States
mentioned in the free list of the treaty ;
and an arrangement, similar to that re
gard‘ng- British fish, has been made for
duties now chargeable on the products of
those, provinces enumerated in the same
flee list, and introduced therefrom into the
United States : a proposition for refund
ins whictt.will, in my judgment,' he in
like manner entitled to your favorable
consideration. '
There is:difference of dpiition between
the United States .a.nd (,h e at Britain, as .
to the hondary line of tl n 'Territory of
%Vashingtint adjoining the British posses;
-luny nn the Pavitiv, whir.h hart already
lead to difficulties on the part or the citi
zens and lotal anthorities - of th - e.two truv-
erliment,p. I reeommeml that provisimi he
made for a comm'ssm t to he
one on the part` oflierAlritanic Majesty,
for the purpose of running and e5t:11)11,4604
the line`in controversy. Certain siipola.
410119 Of 4116 third and fourth articles of the
treaty - concluded by the United States am!
Great. Britain. in 1843. regarding po , ises..
sory rights of the Hudson's Hay Company
and property of the Puget's Sound Agri
cultural Company, imvii given rise to se.
does disputes. and it. is .important to all
concerned, that summary means of settling
them „amicably should he devised. I have
reason to believe, that an arrangement can
he marle on just terms, for the-ekiiiiscuts'll
- of the rights in question, embracing,
alt.°, :he right of the Hudson's Bay Coin.
.party to the navigation of the river Colom
bia ; and. I therefore suggest in your
consideration, the expediency Of making a
a contingent apprtipriation for that pur
ose.
France wtts the early and efficient
of the United States in their struggle for
independence. ['polo that lime to the
present, with beta-ion:II slight interrup
tions, cordial rehoioes td friendship have
existed between the grovurnments and peo
ple of the two countries. The kindly
sentitutmts, cherkhed alike by both na
tions, have led to extensive social and emit—
mercial intercourse, w 16,11,1 trust, will not
be interrupted or checked by any casual
event of aniipparently unsatisfactory char
acter
The French,consul at San Fran
cisco W‘a9, not long, since, brought into the
United Mates district court at that place,'-
by compulsory process, as a witness ,in
favor of another foreign consul; in, viol4l
- as the French - cow rninent conceives,
of his privileges tinder one coreollar eon
.• :,t. I •
about
lug in the transmuion which (multi-1011 - 1y
disrespect to Franre or its consul, such
n d I I oTh e i
be Hati4ac tory. Subsequently; misunder
standing, arose on the subject of the French
government having, as it appeared, abrupt
ly excluded the American minister to
Spain from, passing through Franee, on his
w a y from London to .Madrid. , But ,that
government has unequivocally disavowed
-ally I sign to deny the right of tratt , it to:
the minister of the United States ; and af
ter explanation to this effert, he has re
sumed his journey, and actually returned
through Prance to Spilt. I Its lay
before Congress the correspontlenf'o on
this subject between Our envoy at Paris,
and the minis'sr of foreign relations to the
French government.
The It iS
..e position of Our - affairs Wit pain
remams.as :it the close of your last ses
rtf:nation, assuming very
nearly thJi;Ti - nraeter of political revolution,
has recently convulsed tint country. The
late ministers were violently expelled from
power, and men, of very - different views
to relation to it , internal :alas, have suc
ceeded. Since this change there has been
no propitious opportoniv to resume, and
prey; on, negotiations for the adjustment
lift he pending ihdieuhies. There is reason
to believe that our minister will find the
pre,ent uovernment more favorably inchn
'ed than the preceding to comply with our
jest demands, and to trr,ke suitable ar
r,letz,ments for testormg harmony, and
preserving peace, between the two coun
tries.
Nevotintions are pending with Denmark,
di.ivontintie the practice of l. 2 vying tills
on our vessels and their cargoes p.issing
through the Soiind. Ido not down MA
we_ T ray claim exemption therefront,
as a.m.itter of right. I; is admitted on alb
It.ln lam. that this ex tetinn is sanctioned. not
bv the i.ettetal primorles of the law of na
tions. :Int only by f•pe.ili eonVe
1110-1 or the rommereial tritHos
Hvo e•nerell into 1/own:irk. The
eor ire ;iv or 1h'.).6. tt ith
--- t re - treaty - w 14. romEht to he mot ie. 7 t s ~. . :-. ,„ :., •, , .
was t' remain in form for ten years, and design was defeated by t he-intErposit ion of one
;
of our ships of war. at that time in the harbor
until one year -alter either party should
of San Juan. ' Subsequently to this, in 3la v
give notice to the other-of intention to ter- , last. a body of - men from . Gri.ytown, crossed
minste it. I deem it expedient that the over to Punta Arenas, arrogating authority, to
, contemplated notice Atot.C,d he given to the , arrest. on the .elearg.e of murder. a captain of
oovrmtnent of Denmark.' one of the steamboats of the Transit Company.
~ -
The. naval expedition, deapatrhed about
Beilig .
well aware that the claim to exercise
two years since, for die purpose of - esta
, - .Jurisdictionthere would he resisted then, as it
u,
had been on previous occa=ions, they went pre-
J 4.1 i ing relation.; with the empire - of Japan, pared-to assert it by force of arms. Our tnin
: has 'beet) ably and 1..1:J11E1111y contlinati Co ister to Central Alnerica happened to he pre
a sueeessfal termination by the officer jsent on that occasion. B.lieving that the ear)-
:to whom it was' entrusted.- -A treaty,' taro of the steamboat was innocent, for he
opening certain of the ports of that rp.i.i. witnessed the transaction on which the °harem
lons country, has !wen nevitiated ; and in
was founded, and-believing, also, that the in
'
truding party, having no
. iuri , -iiction over the
• Ort'er to give full effe,q thereto, it only re
place where they proposed to make the arrest,
' mains to exchange ratificaiions, . and adopt would encounter desperate resistance if they
requisite com In errial ragttlations. persisted in their purpose, he interposed.
! _' • e _t_r_e.nt y 1 Tte I,- cot. -i.tinletilli-etwe,_en-the .c &an a 1 ly, to-pre'vt,o-t—violence-an-d—h-loods-hed.
United -States 'and : Mexico s;ettled some of
our m'►st emharrassin,g difficulties with
that country, hut numerous' claims upon
it for wrongs and injuries to our citizens
remained unadjusted, and many new eases
have liken recently added to the former
161, o grleVallCeB, t las eon
earnest in its endeavors to obtain froin the
Mexican government, a favorable consid.
cretin,' of these violins, but hitherto with
out success. This failure is, probably, in
some measure, to be:ascribed to the dis
turbed condition of that country, It has
been my anxious desire to maintain friend.
•ly relations with the Mexican republic,
and canse its 11: , ,lists =ml territories to be
respected, not only by our citizens, but by
foreigners, who have resorted to the Uni
ted states fo r the purpose of organizing
hostile expeditions againit tome of the
States of that Republic.. The defenseless
condition in which its frontiers have been
Icft, hilt; stimulated lawless adventurers to
embark in these •enterprises, and greatly
itirrea4ed the difficulty of enforcing our
o blioanons of neutrality.. Regarding it as
tpy.soleninAluty. to fulfill efficie ntly, these
obtiations - , not only towards Mexico, but
to other foreign nations, I have exerted all
the powers with which I am invusted t,
iefeat such criminal proceedings, nod bring
to ptmislotteet those who,' by taking a part
44e_rei [l,--v 1441 Wd---o Ur la WS. -The 'energy
and-activity of our civil Auld__ ositifary 'at-
thirrittia fruhliated - : -- tre — rterrorn - s --- ;,,
iltoSe who ofe4idated expeditions of (his
character except in two instances. One
of these, co t toposed of foreigners, was at
first countenanced and aided bY the Nlexi•
can government itqlf, it hiring been de
ceived as to their real object. The other,
sown in monher, eluded the vigilance of
the) maffistrales at Sao Franeisco, and .F11(!-
CPedl'd in reaching the Mexienn territories;
bt t the effeetive mensures taken by this
oovernincnt compelled the abandonutent of
the titA;rl;ihing.
The commission ro estab!kli the new
lutebet:veen the - United States and Mexico,
areording to the provisions of the treaty
of the 30th of December last, has been or
,
irg . llllZll, and the work is already com
menced.
Our treaties with the Argentine confedera
tion, and with the Republics of Uruguay *and
Paraguay, secures to us the free navigation of
the river La Plata, and some of its larger tri
bntariei but the same success has not attend
ed our endeavors to open the Amazon. The
reasons in ftvor of the free use of that river, f
had occasion to present fully in a former MeS
,sage : and considering the cordial relations
which have long existed between this govern
ment and lkazil, it mav he expected that pend
no4 negotiations will. eventually reach a favor
able result.
convenient means of transit, between the
several parts of a country. are not only desira
ble for the objects of commercial and personal
cominunioation, but essential- to its existence- -
t ind e r one government. Separated as are the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States
by'the whole breadth of the continent, still
the inhabitants of each are closely to
gether by community of might and institutions,
and by strong attachment to the Union. Hence
the constant and increasing intercourse. and
• 2'. ' •duction •
•
between these retnitte divisions offhe Republic.
At the present time, the most practicable and
only conmodions 'routes for con tnn nic.alion
LC:tween tli - e . m. are by way of the Isthmus
of Central Atn - erica. It is the duty of the
government to secure these avenues against all
danger of interruption - .
In relation to -Central America, perplexing
questions existed between the United states
and treat Britain at the time of the cession of
California. These, as well as questions which
subsequently arose concerning inter•of came
coin wank:a tion across the Isthmus, were, as
it was supposed. adjusted by the treaty of
April 19. 1.50 : but, unfortunately. they have
been re-opened by serious misunderstanding
as to the import of some of its provisions, a
re-adjustment of which is now under considera
tion. Our minister at London has made stren
uous ellints to - accomplish this desirable object,
but has not yet found it possible to bring the
negotiations to a termination.
As incidental to these questions. I deem it
proper to notice an occurrence which happot
ed in Central America, near the close. of the
last session of Congress. So soon as the ne
cessity was perceived of establishing inter
oceanic communicatitin across- the Isthmus, a
company was organized, under authority of the
State of Nicaragua, but composed. for the most
part, of citizens of the United States, for the
purpose of opening a transit way, by the river
San Juan and Lake Nicaragua, which soon be-
came an eligible and much used route in the
transportation of our citizens and their proper
ty between the Atlantic and Pacific. Alean
while, 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 the mouth of the the river San
Juan. in open defiance of the Status of Central
America. which, upon their becoming indepen
dent. had rightly succeeded to the local sove
teignty and jurisdiction of Spain. These ad
venturers undertook to change the name of the
place from San Juan del Norte to 6reytown,
and, though at first pretending to act as the
sn hiects tef the tictitions'sovereign of the Mos
quito Indians. they subsequently repudiated
the control 01 any power whatever-. as:mined
.to adopt a distinct political organization, and
der-laved themsel% es an Independent sovereign
Slate. If. at some time. a faint hope was en
tertained that they might become a stable and
respectahle ownwilnky, that hope soon van
islied. They proceeded to assert unfounded
claims to civil jurisiliNion oifer Ponta :Mena;.
.a_poz.saison on_t_biLlappos.ite--...47.i-uf the river
.1,.; \vas in possession. unti,.r a title
w v independent of them. or or the
mud Sates. interest, d tr. the Ni,tatto-tra
Ttans,t Company. and which was indi.peni,a
blv tivocs 4 4try to the pros!iertms npelatio:: of
that too te a.•ros , ; the I.4tintois. The compn , W
reis.ittl their groundless claims : whelk:lt:ton
they proceeded to destroy some of its build
and attempted violently_ to d.i.sposse.is it.
At a later period they organized a-, strong
ft../ e. for the iturpo.'At of demolishing thi; tt.)141.)-
MEI
a ty,
rave t ern - impressed with the Fr - fee - that -- they
might persevere u ith impunity in a career of
insolence and plunder. -
This transaction has been the subject of
complaint on the part of some foreign powers,
and has been characterized with more of harsh
ness than of justice. If comparisons were to
he i riAlil te d e er tewould-not-be-dlffieultdo-pree—
sent repeated instances in the history of States,
standing in the very front of umdern ei - viliza- -
don, where communities, far less offendiresle
and more defeneelesti'lhan Greytown, ha l.' l
been chastised with much greater severitrf", e ,
and where not cities only have been h.id i're7
ruins, but human lifelinc been recklessly sa
crificed, and the blood of the innocent made -
, profusely to mingle with that of the guilty.
Passing from foreign to domestic affairs, your
attention is naturally directed to the financial
condition of the country, always a subject of •
general interest. For complete and exact in
formation regarding the finances, and the vari
ous branches of the public. service connected
therewith. I refer you to the report of the Sec
retary of the Treasury, from which it yvill.ap
pear that the amount of revenue during the last
fiscal rear, from all sources, was seventy-three,
million five hundred and forty nine thousand
seven hundred and five dollars: and that the
public expenditures for the same period, exclu-•
sire of payments on account of the public debt, ,
amounted to fifty-one milieu eighteen thousand
two hundred and forty-nine dollars. During
the same period, the payments made in radempe
tion of the public debt. including interest and
premium, a mounted to twenty-fonr million three
hundred and thirty-six thousand three hundred
-and- ei gh ty-dol I a es;-:-Teatheasninaotaleofaheere
ceipts of that year is to be added a, balance re
--maining--i-ra-the--1 re u -4-1 - m---sotratesence-e - -
eel vet ter property. - . -
ment thereof. amounting to twenty-one-million
Such, in substance, 'are the facts submitted n
nine hundred and forty-two thousandeight him
-to my •considetation, and proved by.trustwor- deed and ninetv•two dollars; and-at, t'he.clOse
thy evidence,
.I- could not &At that .case i •
of the same year., a corresponding balance
dertinuded the interposition of this government.
amounting to twenty million one hundred and
Justice required that reparation should he •
thirty-seven thousand nine hundred and sixty
made for so many and such gross wrongs, and i
, seven dollars of receipts above expenditures,
that a course of insolence and plunder, tending
e
c' also remained in the. Treasury. Although, in
directly to the insecurity of the lives of nuttier
the opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury, the
ous travellers. and of the rich treasure below , -
n receiets of the current fiscal year are not
ing to our citizens, passing over this transit • t
likely to equal in artment those of the last, yet
way, should b© peremptorily arrested. '
they w ill undotaltedly exceed the amount of
Whatever it might be in other respects. the
expenditures by at least fifteen millions of dol
community hequestion,in power-to do mischief,
1 lime I shall, therefore, continue to direct that
was not despicable. It was well provided with
the surplus revenue be applied, so far as it can
ordnance, small arms, and anamnnition, and
be judiciously and economically done, to the re-
i might easily seize on the unarmed boats, duction of the public debt, the amount of which,
i freighted with millions of property, which ,
at the commencement of the last fiscal year,
; passed alnmet fail y within its reach. It did ' w .
a 3.
sixty-seven million three hundred and
not profess to belong to_ any regular govern- forty thousand six hundred and twenty-eight
ment, and had,in facteno recognized dependence j
dollars-' of which there had been paid on the
on, or connection with, any one to which-- the j
twentieth day of November, 1854, the sum of -
United States or their injured citizens might
twenty-twotnillion three hundred and sixty-five
apply for redress, or which could be held re thousand one hundred and seventy-two dollars;
' sponsible, in any - way. for the outrages com
i leaving a balance of outstanding public debt of
'flitted. Not standing before the world in the
only forty-fear million nine hundred and seven
attit ude of an organized °political-society, " beine
' , ty-five thousand four hundred and fifty-six dol-
I
neitner competent to exercise the rights nor to lays redeemable at different periods within discharge the obligations of a government, it '
fourteen years. They are also remnants of
was, in faCt, a marauding establiehment, too
other government stocks, most of which are
I dangerous to be disregarded, and too guilty to ahead y doe, and on which the interest has ceas- '
pass unpunished, and yet incapable of being
ed, but which have not yet been presented for
; treated in any other way than .as 'a piratical
paymenteamounting to twohundred and thirty
! resort of outlaws. or a camp of savages, delve-
three thousand one hundred and seventy-time
dating on emigrant trains or caravans and the
dollars. This statement exhibits the fact, that
frontier settlements of civilized State s.
the annual income of the government greatly
Seasoneble notice was given to the people of '
excceds the amount ()fits public debt, which lat-
Greytewn that this government required them ter remains unpaid, only because the time of
-to repair the injuries they had done to our , r , anent hasa not yet matured, and it cannot bo
6-Hens, and to make suitable apology fur • '. 3
discharged at once, except at the option of
their insult of our minister,' and that a ship-of.
puidic creditors, who prefer to retain the se- -
war would be despatched thither to enforce ' cau.iiies. of the United States; and the other
compliance with these demands. But the no- I fact, not less striking, that the annual -revenue
tiro passed unheeded. Thereupon, a coin- I from all sources exceeds, by many millions of'
mender of the navy, in charge of the sloop- i
11
io ars, the amount needed for a prudent and
0
of-war "Cyane," was ordered to repeat the Lam • ,• • •
c - mmeeti administration of the government..
ants, and to insist-trpern-a- compliance
'therewith.' Finding that neither the populace, i The estimates presented to Congress from
`northose different Executive Departments, at the
or those assuming to have authority over
.. ,
last session, amounted to thirty-eight million
theme, manifested any disposition to make the
fourni - infid red unit six thousand five hundred
required reparetion, or even to oiler exeuse for
their eondect, he warned them, by a public I and eighty-one dollars ; and the appropriations
i . made, to the sum of fifty-eight million one
proclamation, that if they did not give sails
hundred and sixteen thousand nine hundred
fivoion within a time specified, he would bum
i • fifty-ee a rlit dollars. Of this, xcess of ape
bard the town. By this procedure he afford- • , am! ,
estimates 'lti'mwever - more
per- propriations over ~ ,
ed them opportunity to provide for their
titan twenty millfons was applicable to extra
smell s ifety. Tut those' also who desired to
ordinary objects, having no felerence to the
avoid loss of property. in the punishment
usual tunnel expenditures. Among these oh-
Mena to be inflicted on the offending town, he
je'''t,, was emhraced ten millions to meet time
fnrnished the means of removing - their effects,
third article of time treaty between the United'
by the boats of his own ship. and of a steam-
States and Mexico ; so that, it. fact, fur objects
er which he ptocured and tendered to theta for
that purpose. At leneth, perceiving no dis- of ordinary expenditure, the appropriations
were limited to considerably less than forty
position on the part of time the town to comply
millions of dollars. I therefore, renew my
with' his requisitiens, he appealed to the com •
" reeemmenion or a duction ot te uties
m ßerm ende ruda," of . h wh o was s er' Botaic Majesty's schooner
on imports dat . The f report re
of the Secreta h ry d of the
n een to have intercourse,
and apparently much influence with the leaders i Treasury presents a series of ambles, showing
among them—to interpose, and persuade them the operation of time revenue system for several
to take some course calculated to save the ne- successive years, and as the general principle
6t reduction of duties with a view to revenue
cesssity of resorting-, to time extreme measure
indicated in his proclamation; but that officer, and not protection may now be regaerled e •as
instead of acceding to the reeuest, did with- the settled noliey of the country, I trust that
ing more titan to protest against the contem- little difficulty will be encountered in settling
plated bombardment. No 'steps of any sort the details of a measure to that effect.
were taken, by the people, to give the satis• i In connection with this subject, I recoin
factinn required. No individuals, if any there ' rnend a change in the laws, which recent ex
were,-who regarded themselves as not respon- perience has shown to be- essential to the pro
sible for the misconduct of the community, tertian of the government. 'There is no e.e.-
adopted any means to separate themselves j press provision of law, requiring the recort4
from the fate of the guilty. The
_several i and papers of a public character, of the several.-
charges, on whfeh the demands for redress officers - ot the government. to be left in their
were toll muted, had been publicly known to j offices for time use -of their sue -essors, nor any
all for some time, and were strain annnuneed provision declaring it felony on their part to
to them. They did not deny any of these t make false entries in the books, or return false
charges; they offered no explanations. nothing accounts. In time absence of such express pre
in extenuation of their conduct; but conth ma- vision by law, the outgoing officers, in 'natty
cionsly refused lo hold any intercourse with instances, have chime.. and exercised the right
the commander of the "Cyane." 'By their oh- to take into their own 'possession, important
stimite silence they seemed rather desirous to „books and papers, on the ground Ch it these
provoke chastisement than to escape it. There were their private property ; and have placed
is ample reason to believe that this condnet , them beyond the reach of the government.
of wanton defiance, on their part. is imputable Conduct of this character, brought in several
chiefly to the delusive idea thet -the ina.e . cen instances to the, notice of the present Secretary
government would he deterred from punishing of the Treasury, naturally awakened his sus
them, through fear of displeasine a ° lonnida hie pieion, and resulted in time disclosure that at
foreign power, which, they presumed - CO - think. ! four ports, namely, Oaweiro, Toledo, Sand us
looked with complacency upon their aegres- ky, and Milwaukie, the treasury, had, by false
sive and insulting deport men t_toer_aria-the-earerie s e,beerealefre tr it e devithinet he-fou te-yea rs
United States. The "Cvene" at length tired next preceding March, 1'4:53, of the sinn of one
memo the town. Before much injury had hen hundred and lIIIIOV PHIL thousand dollars.
done, the fire was tw ire - sn epe n dad, i n er,irr The great ditTioulty with which the detection
to n anrd op onremity for an err-Inger:wet ; but o!' these Frauds his been attended, in conse
tide was (feebl-el. Most of th e heildines of (pence of the abstraction of honks and papers
the pl ace , of nin e value generally, were, in Iry ilmp r eo r i e e efeeere, and the faeility with
the seqiiel, deetroved ; hut. o•ving to the can- \Odell eniii'ar frauds in the public service arty
siderate preeautiens meen by
,our nivel cam- . he perpetreted, render the necessity of new le
ma oder. there wes ne diestrectinn of life. eel en !entwine, in the respects shove referred
When the "rya ne" was ordered to Contr.]] t e quite* oh' ions. For other material neeliti-
America. it was en n fide e elv helmet end expert. cetioneceit the revenue lea's which seem '0 we
ed that no oreiteion w n u n! a r i s e fo r - 1 resort - ' t'eeirable, I n for you to the report of the Sec
o, violence and nestrneti n of preeertv and retery of the Treasury. That report, and the
loss of life." heelru'etions to that effect were tehlee which aernmeeny it, furnish ample
given to her commander. And no extreme act proofs of, the solid foondetion on which the
would hate hen rerplieirr• had-not the. people - tinineial speu theritv of eountry rests, and of
lheuleeleus : by' their extraordinary conduct in the ealutsty intlueaee of the iudependeat
The American minister afterwards v isi tetKirey
town, and whilst he was there, a mob, includ
ing certain of the go called public functionaries
of the place, surrounded the -lionse in which
he was, avowing that they had cometo arrest
him, by order of some person exercising the
chief authority. bile parleying with them
le from thr
ae was woutitteL ov a missile from the crown
~A boat, despatched from the American steamer
"Northern Light" to release him from the
perilous situation in which lie 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 of
Greytown. and their excited state, induced
just apprehensions that the lives and property
of our citizens at Punta Arenas would be in
imminent danger after the departure of the
steamer, with her passengers, for New York,
unless a guard was left for their protection.
For this purpose, and in order to ensure the
safety of passengers and property passing over
the route, a temporary force was organized, at
considerable expense to the United States, for
which provision was made at the last session of
Congress. • -
This pretended community, a„heterogenous
assemblage gathered froth various countries.
and-composed, for the most part, of blacks and
persons of mixed blood, had previously given .
otherLiralications of mischievous and datir,erous
propensities. Early in the same month, pro
perty was, clandestinely abstracted from the
depot of the Transit Company, and taken to
Greytown.. The plunderers obtained -shelter
there, and their pursuers were driven back by
its people, who not only protected the wrong
andAfifFeil the pluraer, but treatedith
! rudeness and violence those who sought to re
t eat air, rustrated all the possible mild mea.
fin rt' , 4 for obtaining.sattefeletion. A withdraw
al from - the place, the object of his visiten
tire/5• rlcfeated.would, tinder the circumstances
in w-hieh the commander of the Cyaiter found
himselt, hare been absolute abandonment of
all claitn of our citizens for indemnification,
and submissive acquiescence in national in
dignity. It would have enenuratied to these
lawless men a spirit uf insolence and rapine
most rkirlirerials to the :lives arid property of
our citizens at Punta Arenas, and probably em
boldened them to grasp at the treasures and
valuable merchandise continually passing. over
the Nicarauga route. It certainly would have
been most satjsfiietory to inc if the objects of
the ..Cysne'sl' mission could have been con
sominated.without any act 01 public force:hut
the arrwrant contumacy of the offenders ren
dered it impossible to avoid the alternative,
either to bre:di u thFir estahlislimont or to