Br HENRY J. STABLE.
38" YEAR.
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PRESIDrENT'S MESSAGE.
l'ellow citizens of Me Senate and rf the House
qf Representatives:
The constitution of the United States pro
vides that Congress 51 assemble' annually
-on the first Monday cember, and it has
been usual for the President to make no com
munication of a public character to the . Senate
and House of Representatives until advised of
their readiness to receive it. have deferred
to this usage until the close of the-first month
of the session, but my convictions of duty will
we longer to postpone the discharge
of the obligation enjoined by the constitution
Upon the President:go give to the Congress
information of the state of the Union, and re
commend to their consideration such measures
as he shall judge necessary and expedient."
It is matter of congratulation that the Re
public is tranquilly advancing' in a career of
prosperity and peace.
FOR I(NE RELATIONS-CENTRAL AMERICA.
Whilst relations of amity continue to exist
'between the United States and all foreign
powers, with some of them grave questions are
depending which may require the consideration
of Congress.
Of such questions, the most important is
that which has arisen out of the negotiations
with Great Britain in reference to Central
America.
By the convention concluded between" the
two Governments on the 19th of April, 1850,
both parties covenanted that "neither will ever
occupy,, or fortify or colonize, or assume or ex
ercise any dominion over Nicaragua, Costa
Rica, the Mosquito coast or any part of Central
A merica."
It was the undoubted understanding of the
United States, in making this treaty, that all
the present States of the former republic of
Central America, and the entire territory of
each, would thenceforth enjoy complete_inde
pendence; and that both contracting parties
engaged equally, and to the same extent, for
the present and for the future ; that if either
then had any claim of right in Central Atneri
ea, each claim, and all occupation or authority
under it, were unreservedly relinquished by
the stipulations of the convention ; and that
no dominion was thereafter to be exercis.d or
assumed — in any part of Central America, by
Great, Britain or the United States.
This government consented to restrictions
in` regard to a region of country wherein we
had specific and peculiar interests, only upon
the conviction that the like restrictions were
in the sane sense obligatory on Great Britain.
But for this understanding of the force and
effect of the convention it would never have
Wen concluded by us.-
So clear was this understanding on the part
of the United States: that, in correspondence
contemporaneous with the ratification of the
convention, it was distinctly expressed that
the mutual covenants of non-occupation were
intended to apply to the British establishment
at the Balize. This qualification is to he as
cribed to the fact that, in virtue of successive
treaties with previous sovereigns of the coun
try, Great Britain had obtained a concession of
the right to cut mahogany, or dye-woods at
• the Balize, but with positive exclusimi of all
domain or sovereignty ; and thus it confirms
the natural construction and understood import
of the treaty as to all the rest of. the region to .
avhich the stipulations applied.
It, however, became apparent, at an early
day after entering,mpon the discharge of my
present functions that Great Britain still con
tinued in the exercise or assertion of large au
thority in all that part of Central America
commonly called the Mosquito coast, and cov
ering the entire length of the State of - Nicaragua
and a part of Costa Rica ; that she regarded
the Balize as her absolute domain, and was
gradually extending. its limits at the expense
of the State of Honduras ; and that she had
formally colonized a considerable insular group
known as - the Bay Islands, and belonging, of
right to that State.
All these acts or pretensions of Great Bri
tain. being
contrary to the rights of the States
of Central America, and to the manifest tenor
of her stipulations with the United States, as
understood by this government, have been
made the subject of negotiation through the
American Minister in London. I transmit
herewith the instructions to him on the sub
ject,.and the corre , pondence between him and
the British Secretary of Foreign Afnirs, by
which you will perceive that the two govern
ments differ wint ly and irreconcileably as to
the construction of the convention, and its ef
fect on their respective relations to Central
America.
Great Britain so construes the convention as
to maintain unchanged all her previous ;pre
tensions over the Mosquito coast, and in ditrer
cut Jatts of l'entrai America. These preten-
sious, a.: to L C ompilt) CoaSL, ate
the assuutption of political relation between
Great Niitain and the remnant of a tribe of In
dians on unit coast, entered into at a time when
the whole country was a colonial possession o f
Spain. It cannot be successfully contravened
that, by the public law of Elrope and America.
no possible act of such Indians or their prede
cessors conld confer on Great Britain any po
litical rights.
Great Britain does not allege the assent of
Spain as the origin of her claims on the Mos
quito coast. Ste has, ou the contra.y, by re
peaLed an d succ e ssive treaties, renounced and
reliminished all pretensions of her own. and
recognized the full and sovereign rights of Spain
in the most unequivocal terms'. Yt.st these
pretensions. so 'without solid foundatiiii in the
beginning - , and thus repeatedly ahjuted. were,
at a recent period, revived 'by GI eat Britain
against the Central American States. the legiti
mate sutieessors to m
• ll the ancient jurisdicti o n
o p f: d Spain in that reg . They were first ap= '
1. ) ,
_co_oiliy a. io_ t e Med—part. —Ol--the--coast--0-1-
.1\ icaragna, iiitel"%% al (LI to the w hole of its A t.-- '
I.tlittc cJasa, awl
_lastly to a part of Costa
Ht_., ; anl the: - ate ar.),v rc-azscriel lii C.'ii.:, ci.-
3 lanillg 3ictuspapr----Druntit to 3griruiturr, litrnaturr, fArtg mat Varkrts, 6rurral rumrEtir nub ,farrign Jutrtligrurr, Maertising, lintsmurnt, kr.
OM
lent, notwithstanding engagements to the U
States.
On the pastern coast of Nicaragua and Costa
Rica. the interference of Great Britain. though
exerted at one Lime in the form of military oc
cupation of the port of San. Juan del Norte.
then in the peaceful possession of the appro
priate atithoritie3 of the Central American
States, is now presented by tier as the rightful
exercise of a protectorship over the Mosquito
tribe of Indians.
But the establishment at the Balize. now
reaching far beyond the treaty limits into the
State of Honduras. and that. of the Bay Islands,
appertaining of right to the same State, are
distinctly colonial governments as those of
Jamaica or Canada, and therefore contrary to
the very letter as well as the spirit of the con
vention with the United Suites, as it was at
the time of ratification, and now is, understood
by this goverment.
The.interpretation , which the British govern
ment, thus in assertion and act, persists in as
cribing to the convention, entirely changes its
character. While it holds its to all our obliga
dons, it in a great measure releases Great
Britain from those which constituted the con
sideration of this government for entering into
the convention. It is impossible, in my judg
ment, for the United States to acquiesce in such
a construction of the respective relations of the
two governments of Central America.
To a renewed call by this government- upon
Great Britain, to abide by, and carry into ef
fect, the stipulations of the convection accord
ing to its obvious import, by withdrawing torn
the possession or colonization of portions of the
Central American States of Honduras, Nicaia:
gua, and Costa Rica, the British government
has at length replied, affirming that the opera
tion of the treaty is prospective only, and did
not require Great Britain to abandon or con
tract any possessions held by her in Central
America at.the date of its conclusion.
This reply substitutes a 'partial issue in the
place of the general one presented by the United
States.- The British government passes over
the question of the rights of Great Britaiti, real
or supposed, in Central America, and assumes
that she had such rights at the date of the
treaty, and that those rights comprehended the
protectorship of the- Mosquito lndians, , the ex
tended jurisdiction and • limits of the Bahze,
and the colony of the Bay islands, and there
upon proceeds by implication to infer that, if
the stipulations of the treaty be merely future
in effect, Great Britain may still continue to
hold the contested portions of Central Amer
The United States cannot admit either the in
ference or the premises: We steadily deny
that, at the date of the treaty, (treat Britain
had any possessions there, other than the lim
ited and peculiar establishment at the Balize,
and maintain that, if she had any, they were
surrendered by the convention.
This Government, recognizing the obligations
of the treaty, has, of course, desired to see it
executed in good faith by both parties, and in
the disbussion.therefore,bas nut looked to rights
which we might assert independently of the
treaty, in consideration of our geographical po
sition and of other circumstances, which create
for us relations to the Central American States
different front those of any government of
Europe.
The British Government, in its last commu
nication, although well knowing the views of
the U. States, still declares that it sees no
reason why a conciliatory spirit may not ena
ble the two governments to overcome all ob
stacles to a satisfactory adjustment of the sub
ject.
Assured of the correctness of the construc
tion of the treaty constantly adhered to by this i
government, and resolved to insist on the
tights of the United States, yet Reunited also
by the same desire which is air!),wed by the
British government, to remove all causes of
serious misunderstanding between two nations
associated by so many ties of interest and kin
dred, it has appeared to inc proper not to con
sider an amicable solution of the controversy
hopeless.
There is, however, reason to apprehend that,
with Great Britain in the actual occupation of
the disputed territories, and the treaty there
fore practically mill, so far as regards our
rights, this international difficulty Cammt long
remain undetermined, with int involving in se
rious dan'er the frienoly relations winch it is
the interest as well as duty of both countries
to cherish and pregerve. It. will afibrd me
sincere gratification if future efforts shall re
sult in the success anticipated heretofore with
more confidence than the aspect 0f,,,atc„.c,a.*.1
permits me now to entertain.
RECULUITM EN T
One other subject of discussion between the
United States awl Great Britain has grown out
of the attempt, which the exigencies of the war
in which she is engaged with Russia induced
her to make, to draw recruits flow the United
States:-
It is the traditional and settled policy of the
lilted States to maintain impartial neutrality
luring the wars which from time to time oc
ur among the great powers of the woi Id. l'er
mining all the duties of neutrality towards
le respective belligerent States, we may rea
onably expect them not to interfere with our
awful enjoyment of its benefits.
Notwithstanding the existence of such hos
ili ties, our citizens retain the individual right
to continue all their accustomed pursuits, '
ind or by sea, at home or abroad, subject only
to such restriction:, in this 'elation as the laws
of war, the usage of nations, or special treaties.
may impose ; and it is our sovereign right that
or '.LiLlfil_iiiiiSiliction_shalLnut hr in.
vaded by either of the belligerent parties, for
the transit of their armies, the operations of
their fleets, the levy of troops fur their services,
the lilting out of cruise's by or against either,
or any other act or incident of war. And these
undeniable rights of neutraii._e, individual and
national. the United States will under no cir
cumstances surrender.
la porsuance this policy, the laws of the
Lait.ed States do nut forbid their cameos to
sell to either of the belligcrent poivers articles
conirihand of war, ur to take munitions of war
or soldiers on hoard the a pu crate ships for
Ira:lNi - sal:Won : and although, in so dot ig. the
iudi phial citi4en exposes hi-, pzuperty or per
:Non to stpine Of the Inizirds of war, his acts
do not iilSulye any breach of national neu
trality, tan of themselves implicate the govern
ment. 'fulls, duria . .; the pro B ress of the pit:S
eat. VV,Ir to Eulope f our ciLlL:uts have, without,
national responsibility thetelor, sold gunpow
der and arms LU all - oti_vej-,, regazdiess of the
destination of those' articles. )(ll' tuet csant
-men -have-d.wen.--a nd-sttil-con tinue to lie, -large
ly empluyed oy (ileac Ericson and France. In
.transpoi Ling. Li °op,
,pioyi-,1011z., and munitions
0: tti pz.:l:•;p.o....:_iLi or .:rialLary
GETTYSBURG, PA.: MONDAY, JAN. 7, 1.856.
Lions, .and in bringing home their sick and
wounded soldiers ; hut such use of our mercan•
tile marine is not interdicted either iiy'the in•
ternational:or by our municipal law, and there
fore does not cotnprotnit our neutral relations
with Russia.
But our municipal law, in
. accordance with
the law of nations. peremptorily forbids, not
only foreigners. but our own citizens, to fit
out, within- the limits of the United States.--a
vessel to commit hostilities against any state
with which the United states are at peace,'or
to increase the force of any foreign armed ves
sel intended for such hostilities against, a friend
ly state.
Whatever concern may have been felt by
either of the belligerent powers lest .private
armed cruisers, or other vessels; in the service
.of one, might be fitted out in the pOrts of this
country to depredate on the property of the
other, all such fears have proved to, be utter
ly groundless. Our citizens have been with
held front any such act or purpose by good
faith, and by respect for the law.
hile the laws of the Union are thus per
emptory in their prohibition-of theequipment
or armament of belligerent cruisers in our
ports, they provide not less absolutely that no
person shall, within the territory or jurisdic
tion of the United States,,enlist or ertier.him
self, or hire or retain another person to enlist
or enter hirnself, or to . go beyond the limits or
jurisdiction of the United States with intent to
be enlisted or entered, in the service of any
foreign Rtate, either as a soldier, or as a ma
rine or seaman on board of any vesser'of war,
letter of tnarque or privateer. And these en
actments are also in strict conformity with the
law of nations, which declares that no state has
the tight to raise troops for land or sea service
in another state without its consent, and that,
whether forbidden by the municipal law or not,
the very attempt to do it, without such con
sent, is an attack on the naiorial sovereignty.
Such being the public rights and the munic
ipal, law of the United States, no solicitude on
the subject was entertained by this govern
ment, when, a year since, the British Parlia
ment passed an act to provide -for the 'enlist
ment of foreigners in the military service of
Great Britain. Nailing on the face of the act,
or in its public history, indicated that the
British governinent proposed to. attempt , re
cruitment in the. United-States ; nor did it ever
give intimation of such intention to this gov
ernment. It was matter of surprise, therefore,
to find, subsequently, that the engagement of
persons within the United States to proceed to
Halifax in the British ptovince of Nova Scotia,
and there enlist in the service of Great Britain,
was going on extensively, with little or no dis
guise. Ordinary legal steps were immediately
taken to arrest and punish pat ties concerned,
and so put an end to acts infringing the' mu
nicipal law and derogatory to our sovereignty.
Meanwhile suitable representations on the sub
ject were addressed to the British government.
Thereupon it. became known, by the
'slim of the British government itself, that the
attempt to draw recruits from this country
originated with it, or at least had its approval
and satiation ; but it also appeared that the
public' agents engaged in it had "stringent in
structioes" not to violate the tutluicipal law of
the United States.
It is difficult to understand how it should
have been supposed that troops could be raised
here by Great Britain without a violation of
the municipal law. The unmistakable object
of the law was to prevent every such act,
which, if performed, must be either in viola
tion of the law or in studied evasion of it ; and.
in either alternative, the act done would be
alike injurious to the sovereignty (lithe United
States.
In the meantime, the matter acquired addi
tional importance by the recruitments in the
United States not being discontinued, and the
disclosure of the fact that they were prosecuted
upon a systematic plan devised I ) . y official au
thority; that recruiting 'l'endezvons had been
opened in our principal cities, and depots for
the reception of reci tilts es‘alplished on our fron•
tier ; and the whole ,business conducted under
the supervision and by the regular co-operation
of Brinsh officers, civil and military, sonse in
the North4,,erican provinces, and some in
the '''taves. The complicity of those
officers in an undertaking which could only
be accomplished by &lying-our- laws, throw
ing suz,picnon over our attitude of neutrality,
and di:•regarding our territorial rights, is cull
clusivelyr-proved by the evidence elicited on
the trial or such of their agents as hive been
eapprentmletlaird COFIV4CIed. Some of the offi
cers thus implicated are rot high official posi
tion, and many of them beyond our jurisdic
tion, so that legal proceedings could riot reach
the source of the mischief.
These considerations, and the fact that the
cause of complaint was not a mere casual occur
rence, but a deliberate design, entered upon
with full knowledge of our laws and national
policy, and conducted by responsible public
Mut:tummies, impelled me to present the case
to the British government, in order to secure,
not only a cessation of the wrung, but its rep
aration. The suiject is still under dis'eussion,
the result of wlncii will be communicated to
you in due tune.
EltlTl,ll ItRIATIONS—CMItitI tied
reiwit fate recominend.aloll SUbmitted to
Coligre.;S proVislon ht; trride for
tin: appointment of t cOolliltiSmiolt , .T. in connec
tion with t:reit Britain, to sufvey and estab•
li , h the boundary line which divides th- ter
ritory of 11 ashingion from the coniiguuns
iosses,ions. By tel if of lIIP extoALt
and of the country in dispute,
there has been viiininent dai:ger of collision
between the suhjeots of Grout Britain and the
citizens of Me United States, including their
respective authorities in that <panel . . 'rite
prospect of a speedy arrangement has contri
buted hitherto to induce on both sides forbear
ance to ,issert by force what each claims as a
right. Continuance of delay on the par: of the
t,% u governments to act in the matter will in
creise the clangers and difficulties of the con
trovtrsy.
Misunderstanding exists as to the extent,char
aeter and value pos‘,essory rights u 1 the
iimISOICS Bay Company and the property of
t h e p i rret's Sound Agricultural Company, re•
served In our treaty wt tit Great 130 t iin relative
to the Territory of rt•„ M. I have reasott to
helieve that a ce.sion of the ri.ghts of both
companies to the Uoite.l State:, whielt would
he ihe readif•:-,t means of terminating - all Tres
lions, can h. ()roamed on reasonable terms ;
_aad, vita a view to this eiti, I present the,
sul,,ect to the attention ol*Corr_rress.
Tne colony of Newfoundland, havinzenae
iod the laws rerilipd by the treaty of l';r: sth
01 . ,faire, 1 931, to 1/0 placed pit tie saute:Tit-
"TRUTH IS BIIGIITY, AND WILL PREVAIL."
This government, on a former occasion not
unlike the 'present, signalized its determination
to maintain the freedom of the seas, and of the
great. natural channels of navigation. The
Barbary States had, for a
taut; time. coerced
the payment of tribute •from all nations whote
ships frepiented the -i\leditterranean. To the
last demand of such payment made by them,
the United States, although sit sith eri rig less by
their depredations than malty other nations,re
turned the explicit answer that we preferred
war to
,tribute, and tints opened the way to the
relief of the commerce of the world from an
ignominious t,ix. so long submitted to by the
mote pnwetful nations of Europe.
If the manner of payment of the Sound dues
differ (rout that' f the ti Mote formerly conced
ed to the Barha%States, still their exaction
by Denmark has no-hetter foundation in light.
K mit was, in its ori,rin, nothing ttx. oft
a common natural right, e‘tf!red by those
whn were at dint:time able to obstruct the free
and secnre enjoyment of it, but who no long
er inissess that power.
Denmark, while resisting cur assertion of
the freedom of the Baltic Sound and Belts. ha_.
indic,ced a readiness to make some new ar
rangement oil the sni(jt.ct, and has Invited the
(governments interested, including the United
Slates, to he represented in a convention to
assemble for t h e purpose of receiving and
considering prepositions, whielt she intends
to submit, for the capital iz :rf he S o und
does, and the distribution onto- snin to he p kid
as commutation atu.mg the governments, ac
cordintr to there9ective proportions of their
maritime conimeree to and from the Baltic. I
have declined in behallot the United States
to accept this .invitalion, for the most cogent
rebikuns• 0 fie ie. that Donniark does not offer
to submit to the convention the question of her
right to levy tin Sound does. A second .k,
that if the convention were allowed to take
cognizance of that partmular question, still it
would not he competent to deal with the great
international principle involved which affects
the right in other cases of - na vigatioo and cont•
mercml fieed.ont, as well as that of iteCessi to
the Baltic. Above ail, by the express terms
of the proposition it is contemplated that "the
consideration of the Sound dues shall he com
mingled with and made subordinate to it mat
ter whotly,f,"Xtr4lrous,. , the,balioce of power
among the governments of Europe.
however, rejecting this propoSi
tin n, and insisting 'on the rig* of free tran
sit. into and from the 11 tltie. I have ex
pressed to Denmark a willingnez4.:, oft the part
or the United states, to share liberally with
other- -- pOwers in comperniating her for any
advantages which vontmeree shall hereafter
derive from expenditures made by her t'er the
the improvement and safety of the navigation
of the Sound of Belts.
announre with much. gratifienti , m that,
since the adjournment a tityta.t. Cotign•ss,
i 4O-tw4.i.l) this— •
eminent and that of Franco, reverting the
Ft-Pitelt consul at Situ Francisco, has been
,atisrartorilv deterinint , (l. an I that the relit,
tions of the two governments continue to he of
the itto,,t friendly natur..
inz, in respect to commercial interconne with
the- United States, as the other British North
American provinces.
The commission, which that treaty contem
plated, for dett mining the rights offvthery In
the rivers arid' mouths of rivers on the coasts
of the United States and the British North
American provinceq, has been organized lrol
has commenced its labors; to complete which
there is needed further appropriations fur the
service of another season.
SGUND DUES.
In pursuance of the authority conferred by a
resolution of the Senate of the United States,
passed' on the 3d of March last, notice was
given to Deninarkon the Mit day of April, of
the intention of this government,to avail !tself
of the stipulation of the subsisting convention
of friendship, commerce and navigation be
tween that Kingdom and the United States,
whereby either party might, after ten years,
terminate -the same at the expiration of cite
year from the date of notice for that purpose.
The considerations which led me to call the
attention of Congress to that convention, and
induced the Senate to adopt the-resolution re
ferred to, still continue in full force. The
convention contains an article,whieh, although
it. does not directly engage the -United States
to submit to the imposition of tolls on the ves
sels and cargoes of Americans paSsing into or
front the 'Baltic sea, during the continuance of
the treaty, yet may. by possibility, be constru
ed as implying suet! submission. The exac
tion or those tolls not being justified by any
principle of international law, it became the
right and the duty of the United'States to re
lieve thenist ea ves from the implication of en
gagement olythe stibject, so as to be perfectly
free to act the premises in such way as their
public interests and honor shall demand.
I remain of the opinion that the United
States ought not In submit_ to the payment of
the Sound dues, not so much because, of their
amount, which is a secondary matter, but be
cause it is in effect the recognition of the right
of Denmark to treat (me of the great. maritime
highways of Ilatio4lA as a close sea, and the
navigation of it as a privilege for which tri
bute may .he imposed upon - those whl'ltave
occasion to use it. • •
I lay before you, herewith, Foinfiry docu
ments on the stfujeet. in which ins' views are
mor e f u lly diselo,i e d. Should no SatiitheiOrV
arrarlgellielli be .'On eOrlehldigi, 1 n hall again
call your attention to the sithjeet„ with meow
iht.tion of such tneasure , 4 a 4 may appear to he
required in order to and s , .eure the
right-r of the United St atoi, it) far they arc
aißteted by the preton,i(nii Demm.ric.
iius:cr
G~CF:l:~'f
A garstion, al,a. which lias been pending
fors veral rears betwecii the l'aited States
awl the lio,cloin of (lreec , .. gruwinr.; out Of
thr , hy puhlie authorities of that
count ri of prop..rty belonging to I.lii! p.'t!Setit,
A•rierivali con,lll at,then, awl whiel l - had
11--cin the suhject of very earnest
heretof we. has been recently , :ettliol to the sat
is'action of the party ititertt:•l awl of both
.rovetli went 1.
STIIN
Wit ‘;p-in Tvmoeful r‘.l.itions are still main
a-ift Irovrr• 11:LA 'won atallr 111
t-11.• rf-Irriirtf Ni - ronff.3 (:o:nplaiticlit 1)1
Siutin i ll s nut w ily di,:t
-v,rx,cl 11,11 , 1 rli, ipprovr , il tho contl.tfq ut tit , .; or
tioori who -wizo.t . l and (I , :taisic. , l tits
It,irri - n liavana, out
riaimPri a, ind•tra , i.tr for
eatzva. t.) . Cie
U it.52.d - - - 1
In couseQuence of a destructive hurricane,
which visited Cubs in 1844. the • supreme au
thority of that - island issued a decree permit
ting the importation, fur the period of six
months, of certain building materials and pro
visions, free of duty, butrevoked it when about
half the period only - had - elapsedoo - the - infur
of citizens of the United States, who had pro•
seeded to act on the faith of that decree. The
Spanish Uovernment refttmd indemnification
to - the parties aggrieved until recently, - when
it was assented' to, payment beim , promissed
to be mule so soon as the amount r 'due can be
ascertained.
Satisfaction claimed for the arrest and
searel► of the steamer El DoradO has not 3et
beef► accorded, but there is reasor► to helteve
that it will be, and that case, with others, con
tinues to be urged on the attention of the
Spanish Government.. . ldo not abandon the
hope of concluding with Spain some general
arrangement, which, if it do not wholly prevent
the Cet,'lltrent't` of difficulties in Cuba, will ren
der then► less frequent, and whenever they
shall occur tacilitate their more speedy settle
ment.
The interpOsition of this government has
been invoked by many or its citizens, on ac
count of injuries
. done to their per, ms and
property, for winch the Mexican mint is is
rep•J►►siLle.. The unhappy situation of sat
country, fin• sonic time past, has not allowed s
govern 'tient to give due consi aeration to clai
of private reparation, and has appeared to ca
for and justify smile forbearance in such mat
ters on the part of this government. But, if
the revolutionary movements, which havelato
ly occurred in that republic, -end in the organi
zation ofa stable government, urgent appeals
to its justice will then be made, and, it may be
hoped, with success, fur the redress - of all com
plaints of our eitizen.s.
CENTILI AI‘fERIOA.
In regard to the American republics, which,
from their proximity and other considerations,
have. pelitliar relations to this goyernment,
while it has been my constant aim strictly to
observe all the obligations of political friend
ship and .01 good neighborhood, obstacles to
this have arisen in -sonic or them, from their
own insufficient, power to cheeklawleas irrup
tions which, in effect, throws most of the task
on the raked States. Thus it is that the dis
tracted-internal condition of the State of Nica
ragua has made it incumbent on me to appeal
to the good faith of our citiiens*toabstain from
unlawfid intervention in its affairs, and to a
dopt preventive measures to the same end,
which, on a similar occasion, had the best re
sults in reassuring the peace of the Mexican
States of Sonora and 'Lower California.
TREATIES
Since the last session of Congress a treaty
of a mity, commerce, and navigation, and fix'
the surrender of fugitive crimmals, with the
-kingdom of the two Sicilies; a treaty of friend
ship, commerce, and navigation with Nicara
gua; I.tnl a es.mvention of commercial recipro-
City witlLLlto kingdom, have been ne
gotiated. The latter kingdom and the State
of Nicaragua have alto acceded to a declara
tion, recognizing as itacrnational rights the
principles contained in the convention between
In L'ttited States and Russ'. 'the 22d of Ju
ly 1851. These treatie and convention will
e l.tid liefor o the Seat to fur
.1•1
The statements made by the last annual
inessa4re, respectinft the auli , ipated receipts
and cx,penditures of the Treasury have been
uh-aantially verified.
It al,pears from the report Of the Secretary
of the 'I re:lsory that the receipts during the last
fiscal year ending Anne :10, 18. - )5, from all sour
yes, were sixty live million three thousand nine
hundred and thirty Bollard ; and that the pub
lic expenditures for the same period, exclusive
of pay nionts on account of the public (kht, u
nmated to firtv-six million three hundred and
sixtv , lie thousand t hree hundro and ninety
thr o v dollars. lYttrino. the same period, the
paVini•nts made in re r dentption of the public
dt ht 'in,luding interest and premium, amount
ed to nine million eight hundred and fort v-four
thousand five buitared and twenty-eiglit
The Indance in the Treasury at the begin
ning only. present fiscal year, July 1, 155.1,
wa4, 170 . 1111011 nine hundred and thirty.-
inie thousand nine hundred and seventy-six
dollars ; lire reeeipts tier the first quarter, - and
the estimated reeeipts for the rematning three-.
quartet-4, amount, to ether, to sixty-s,even mill
ion, nine hundred and eighteen thowiand SM,Sp
him& e and th r y-lour dollars ; thus affording
in all, as the itvailable - resources of the current
ti-a-al year, the sum of eighty-six million eight
hundred and fifty-six .thousand seven hundred
and' ten dollars.
II to the actual expenditures of the first quar
ter of the current fiscal year be added the pro•
bate expenditures for theremaining three-quar
tcrs, as estimated by the Seeretiiry of the
Trea : •ury, the sum total wilt be seventy-one
million Iwo hundred and twenty-six thousand
eight hundrA and forty-six dollars, thereby
leaving an estimated balatre in the treasury
ou July 1, I Kiti, of fifteen million six hundred
and twenty-three thousand eight hundred and
sixty-three dollars amid forts-one cents.
In the above estimated expenditures of the
present ft-cal year are included three million
dollari to meet the last enstallment of the ten
millions provided for in the late treaty with
Mexico, and seven million seven hundred and
fifty thousand dollars appropriated on account
(tithe debt due to Texas, which two sums make
t-n7reg,ate amount of ten million seven hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars, and reduei , the
expenditures, actual or estimate:', fbrordifiary
objects of the year, to the sum of :sixty million
four hundred anti seventy-six thousand dollars.
Tin! amount of the puldie debt, at the coin
inoncoment ofthe present fiscal year, was forty
million five hundred and eighty-three thousand
six hnadred and thirty-oue dollars, and, de
duction being made o f subsequent payments,
the whole public debt of the le , leral govern
ment-remaining at this time is less thall.forly,
million dollars.
The remnant of certain other government
stocks, amounting to two hundred. and tOrty
three thousand dollars, referred to in my last
message as outstanding, has since been paid.-
] ant fully persuaded that it would he diffi
cult to deyis.-.: n, I . ystein superior to that by
the fiseal bilsiness.of the governm eat is
now coioliter , -d. Nouvithstanding the great
nuinlwr Ur public ;19re
ur,.. , • I t, it is lolieved that the cheeks and
urycirls provided. including the reiolirement of
monthly returns. render it scarcely - rdssible fir
aiV (-o:l;irlerable frlitd oil the part: of those
cr no , .4lect inyolsing - hazurd of srrinn,
less ; to eacazte dut - 2,etiou. L reueiv,
111 EX WO.
111
TWO DOLLARS A-YEAR.:
however, the recommendation, hertofore made
by me, of the enactment of a law declaring it
felony on the part of public officers to insert
false entries in their books of record or account,
or to make false returns, and also requiring
them on the termination of their service to de-
; Z -• a .oo a, recur s,,an.
other objects of a public nature in their custo
dy.
Derived as our public. revenue is, in chief
part, from duties on imports, its magnitude af
tbrils gratifying evidence of the prosperity, not,
'only of our commerce, but of the other great
-interests upon which that depends.
The principle that all moneys not required
for the current expenses of the, government'
should remain for active employment in the -
hands of the people, and the conspicuous fact
that the - a 9 mull venue—from—al 1 sources ex—
ceeds, by many millions of dollars, the atnount
needed for a prudent and economical admin
istration of biiplic affairs, cannot fail to suggest
the propriety ()fall early recision and reduction
of the tariff of duties on, tmports. It is now se
generally conceded that the purpose of -reve. - - ,
nue alone can, justify the imposition of duties
on imports, that, in re-adjusting the import ta
bles and schedules, which unquestionably re
quire essential modification,'a departure front
the principles of the present tariff is not an
ticipated.
-
ARMY.
The army, during the priyear, has been
actively engaged in defend ng tke L.dian fron
tier, the state of. the service , permitting , but
few and small garrisons in our permanent for
tifications. The additional regiments authori
zed at the last session of Congress. have been
recruited and organized, and a laige portion ,
of the troops have already been sent ,to • the
field. All the duties, which devolve on the
military establishment, have been ,satisfacto-.
rily performed, and thedangers
. and privations. ,
incident to the character of theiserme requi
red of our troops have furnished additional
evidence of their courage. zeal," and capacity .
to meet any , requisition which their country,'
may make upon them. For the -details, of the
military operations, the distribution .of the- . ,
troops and additional. provisions required - for
the military service, trefer to the report of the
Secretary of War and ,the accompanying docu
ments.. •
Experience, gathered from- events - hicl*
have transpired since iiiy last annual message,
has but served, tationfirm the opinion then ex
pressed of the propriety of maltienirovision,
by a retired - list, for -disabled officers, and- for
increased compensation to the officers retained'
on the list for active duty. All the 'reasons
which existed when these measures were recount
mended On former occasions continue' without
modification, except so far as eirennistances
have given to some of them - additional force::
The recommendations heretofore inade'for
partial reorganization - of the army are also` re
newed. The thorough elementary education
given to those officers who commence their' ser-' -
vice with the grade of cadetaindifies theth to.a
considerable extent -to perform the duties' of -
every arm of the service ; but to give the high
est elliciency 'to artillery requires, the practice.,,
and special study of many years; and if -is not :
jherefore, believed to he adviseble.to maintain,
in time of Peace, a larger force of that arm
than Can be usually employed in, the duties ap
pertaining to the service of field and siege ar
tillery. The duties, of the staff in all its Yank !.
oes - branches belong to the movements oftroops
and the efficiency of an army in the field. wonld,:
materinfly depend upon the ability with which
those duties are discharged.
It is not, as in the ease of the artillery, a _
speciality, hut requires also, an intimate
edge of the duties of an officer of the line, and
it is not doubted that, to complete the educa
tion of an officer for either the line or the 'gen
eral staff, it is desirable that:he should have
served in both. With this. view it was recent
mended on former occasions that the duties of
the stiff should be. mainly performed by details
froui the line ; and, with conviction of'the ad-,
vantages 'which would result from such a,
change, it is again presented for the Consider.; -
alien of Congress.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy,
herewith submitted, exhibits'iu full naval op
erations, of the past year, together with the
present condition-of the service, and it makes
suggestions of further legislation, to which your
attention is invited.
The construction of the six steam frigates for
which apprc priations were made by the last.
Congress, _has_proceeded in the most satisfac
tory manner, and with such expedition as to
warrant the belief that they will be ready fur
service early the coming spring. Important as
this addition to our naval force is, it still re
uitsins to the contingent exigencies
of the protection of the extensive sea coast and
vast commercial interests of the United, States.
In view of this fact and of the acknowledged
window of the policy of a gradual and systema
tic increase of the navy, an appropriation is re
commended for the construction of 6 steam
sloops of war.
In regard to the steps talten - in execution of
the act of Congress to promote the efficiency of
the navy, it is unnecessary for me to say more
than to express entire concurrence in the oh
-nervations on that subject presented by the See
yetary in his report.
It will be perceived, by the report of the
P o st mister General, that the gross expenditure--
of :lepartment for the last Oscal year was
nine ,ni lion nine hundred and sixty-eight thou
sand three hundred and forty-two dollars, and
the gross receipts seven million three hundred -
and forty-two thonsand one hundred and thirty
six dollars, making an excess of expenditure
over receipts of two million six hundred and
twenty-six thousand two hundred and six dol
lars ; and that the cost of mail transportation
during that year was six hundred and seventy.
tour thousand nine hundred and fifty-two dol
lars greater than the previous year.
Much of the heavy expenditures, to which
the -Tr, ;ts ry is-thus-subjected, - is- to -be -ascri—
bed to the large quantity of printed matter con
veyed by the mails, either franked, or liable to
no postage by law, or to very low rates of pos- '
tage compared with that-charged -on letters;
awl to the great cost of mail service 'oW rail- -
roads and by ocean steamers. The sugges •
tions of the Postmaster General on the subject
deicrye the consideration of Congress. •
ie report nitli,cretary a — i.he- Interior
will engage your attention, AS well for 'the use- .
_Sul_suggestions_it_contains, tts_for the
and importance of thi n subjects to which
rksfor. _
Tbe agzre2;zite amount of public land sold
NO. 15.
NAVY.
POST-OFFICE-
INTERIOR.