The Republican compiler. (Gettysburg [Pa.]) 1818-1857, January 07, 1856, Image 1
Br HENRY J. STABLE. 38" YEAR. TERMS OF TEE COMPILER. [l : 7 The Republican lampfler is published every Monlay morning, by HENRY J. STAIILE, at $t,75 per annum if paid in advance-2.00 "per annum, if not paid. in advance. No sub scription discontinued. unless at the option of the publisher, until all arrearages are paid. ADVEKTISEM - EYrS.. inserted at the usual rates. JO3 WORK: done, neatly, cheaply, and with dispatch. . ,r Office on South Baltimore street, direct _ opposite Wanipler's Tinning Establishment, one and a half squares trout the Court House. 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.