-it .111 J f
vartoukitr 0..
ot . - ,411:L41
~tapiblier;_timititteetatOxibeen - numerous,
iiriatiiinerit mid plunder of
. - .Que;citizentyb i iii y_differeittpartics debiting and
..:.:14ZerCiaingttlecalinritalietion.Tbut the Con
- tml - Gove;rament, although .repeatedly ; urged
thereto; have:triade no effort,eithe.r.tqunish
. the authore,'Of these 'outrages • or.:to -- Iprevent
No American .citizen can,
' now . ~ bitsinels_ivithout
intedietitAting,er tithie pertion ind\propertY: -
There is no adequate protection to either;
and in this respect our treaty with that Re-.
public is almost a dead letter.
Thiiistate of affairs was brought to a crisis
in May last by the promulgation Ora decree
levyino *contribution pro rot upon - all, the
•capital in the - Republic, between certain spec
illed 'inwards; whether. held by -Mexicans of
focei tiers. Mr.,Fora3rth, regarding' this
ereea - the light:era" forced loan," formally
-protested against - its application to his
trymen, and :advised them not to pay the
. ..eontribution,.bnt to -suffer it to be forcibly
exacted:Z.:Actin , * upon th is advice„ an - Airier
jean citizen refu sed to pay, the .contribution,
and-his property was seized by 'armed men
to satisfy the amount. Not content , with this ;
the Government proceeded still further, and
- iistted a decree banishing him from the cOun
trv;.Our Minister immediately notified them
thltt it this decree should be carried into exe
-: -eution he vrould.feel it to be his duty to a
dopt " themost decided measures that bebmg
,to the potvers and obligations of the
.repre
. 'tentative office?' . Notwithstanding this warn
ing,
the < banishment wis enforced, -and Mr.
~ - Forsyth promptly announced , to the Gevern
ment the,suspension'of the political relations
- : Of his legation with them, until' the,:pleaaure
'of his own Government should be ascertained. I
This Government did not regard the eon
. tribution imposed by the decree of the 15th
of May last, to be in strictness,: a " forced i
loan, and_as such prohibited by the tenth
tirgele of the! tr'ea'ty of 1826, between Great
Britain and Mexico, to the benefits of which
AmeriCan citizens are entitled by treaty ;,yet
the inaposition of the contribution upon for
. 'diners was eonsideied an unjust and oppres
.. sive measure. Besides, internal factions in
7 other, :4 part6f th e Republic were at the 'Same
time levying similar exactions upon the pro
:. perty 'of our Citizens and interrupting their
• cOmmerce. There had-been an-entire
-ton-tonthe part of our Minister. to secure redre4s
. for the wrongs which our citizens had. ender;
. • ed, notwithstanding his persevering efforts;
and; . from the temper manifested by the Alex
:. lean Government - , he had repeatedly assured
us that no favorable change could be expect
ed until the United States should "give strik
ing. evidence cf their will and:power to pro
.test their citizens," and - that " severe chasten
' log is the only earthly_ remedy for our grist
- nudes." From this statement of facts,- it
would have been worse than idle to direct
Mr, Forsyth to retrace tis-steps and -resume
diplomatic relations with that Government;
and it was, therefore deetned proper to sanc
tion his withdrawal of the legation from the
•
City of Mexico.: •
Abundant cause now unaoubtedly exists
fora _resort to hostilities against-the GoVerw :
nient'still holding possession , of the Cap:,tof.
. Should they succeed in subduing the coniti:
, tutional &trees, all reasonable: hope will then
' have expired of a peaceful settlement of our
::. difficulties; . •'• j. - .
On the-other hand, slmiuld the corenitution.
al party - prevail; Emil
,their authority :be es
tablished over. the Republic, - there is. reason
to. hope that.they will be 'animattxl by a less
.utifriendly gpirit, and may grant that redress
to:Atneriean citizens whiCh justice requires;
•_ so far.as they may possess the means. But
fur :.this .expectatron, 'f should at on_ ce have
• - recommended to Congress to grant necessa
ry power- to the President to Cake possession
of a sufficient portion of the remote and un-
settled territory "of Mexico to Le-held ill
pledge until our injuries shall -be redressed
and. out. just demands be 'satisfi,o_ W have t
• ;arena
ca - se t its remedy
of reprisals is recognized by the laws of na.
tions, not only as jest in itself, but as a means
of preventing actual war.
..
But there is another view of our relations
_
with Mesico, arising from the unhappy , condi.
tion of affairs along our south-wes:ern iron-
tier, which demands immediate action. In
that remote region where there are but few
white inhabitants, large bands of hostile - and
predatory- Indians, roam promiscuously over
the McKie= states of Chihuahua and Sonora,
and our-adjoining territories. -The local Gzw-,
ernrnenta of these states are perfectly help :
Fess, and are kept in a state of Constant alarm
by - the Iridium They have not the poWee, if
thew possesathe will, even to restrain-lawless
Mexicans front passing . the border and com
mitting depredations on our' remote 'settlers.
•A. state of anarchy- and violence prevails
throughout that distant fiontier. •'The laws
are a dead letter, and life and property ; are
wholly insecure. For this reason the settle
ment of Arizona is arrested, while it is of
great importance that a chain of inhabitants
shouldtend all along its southern border,
s
'salficien for their own protection_tutd that of
the Um States Mail passing to and from,
i
• California. • Well founded apprehensions are
now:entertained i that the Indians, and wan
dering.Mixieans, equally lawless, may break
up the-important stage and postal commnni
cation recently established between ourA,,-
lantic and_Pacific possessions. This passes
very near to the Mexican boundary, throug.h
ont the whole length et Arizona. I can 'im
aOne-no possible remedy for these evils, and
no mode of restoring law - and order on- that
remote and unsettled , frontier, bilt for the
GoVernmint of the United States to assume
a temporary protectorate over the northern
portiOns of Chihuhua and Sonora, and -to es.
tablislrmilita-ry posts. within ' the same ; and
this is earnestly recommended to. Congress.
This protection may be, withdrawn as soon
as /mar Governments stall: be established in
these Mexican States capahle of- performing 1
their tiuties to the United States, restraining
'she lawless and preserving - peace along the
border. - - - - - _
.1 do not doubt that- this measure will be
viwed in a friendly manner by the Govern
menti and people of Gnihulnia and Sonora, as
it: ilt prove.equally effectautl for thi_protec
tion of their citizemt on ithe remote and law
leis frontier as for citizensof the4United
... I
. And. in this connection permit me to recall
your attention to. the condition lafArizt, ma.—
The poputatiou of that territory,-numbering,
as lastAleged, mere thou 10,000 souls, are
practically,. withoet a govennnent, , withoat
laws, and without and regular administration
of justi* Murder and other crimes are (our.
reittad withimpunity. This state of things
calls for redress, and I, _therefore, repeat my
-
recommendation for the establishment or a
Territorial Government over Arizona.
. -
Tha.politieal condition of the narrow isth.
mita at - Central America . through which !ran
. sit mato:ems between the. Atlantic and Pre:
. eificOriansjpresents a subjett of deep inter
eat' to r all commercial -nations, Is is - ever
. thesis transits that a large proportion of the
trade and inivel "between the European and
Ariattic Datatinints 13,4 ft-tined to pass. To
- the linited-Staten game mutes are of itrealeu
lable.iorportanctkai a means of -communica
tion_hetween their Mimic and Pacific poss.
estafrnit — ~-. Theletter, atow..extend throUghout
ssveeteno admit . o!',fatltirde- on. the Pacific I
MaStt egibl ar th e IMPOrtatlt stale orcaii:
fonlia/034_ ishing,territorligiorWadv
1 , - - - .. 1 1 ;L'4'...fi .c.-.. "- •. • i •- ,4' ! •-, ---' - '
- ---_ ..„-!...4,..-q.-r_.,i, 4:
'.' , A. 1.175:2'..1i1f.-*Str7..`"
lie, its frequent changes of Govetument, • and
its constant internal dissensions, this had be
come-a mast impoi;ant - stipulation, and one
essentially :necessary not only for te securi
ty of the‘rouie, but for the security of Amer
ican_.citizens *sing andl-repassing to and
from our Pacific possessmni. Were such a
stipulation embraced itial treaty between the
United States° and Nicaragday the knowledge
of this fact would of itself, most probably,
preVent, hostile parties from committing ng
aressiotis on ,the route, and render our actual
interferenee 'tor its protection.nnneeessary.
The Executive Government-of this country,
in its intercourse with foreign nations, is lim
ited to the employment of: diplomacy alone.
Whcil this fails, it can proceed no tarlher 4 - 7 -
It cannot legitimately resort to force without
the direct authority of UongreSs, except in re
sisting and repelling hostile attacks. It wo'd
have no authority to enter the territories Of
Nicaragita, even .to prevent the destruction of
•the transit, and:protect-the lives-and proper
ty of our own citizens en their : passage. It
•is . truethai on a sudden emergency •of this
character the President would direct any-arm
ed force in 'the vicinity to march to-their re
lief, butitt doing this.he would act Upon his
own resposibility. •
Under these circumstances, I earnestly re•
commend fo Congress the passage of an act
authOrizing the eresident,lmder such restric
tions as they - may - deetn, proper, to employ
the land- and naval forces of the Unite()
States in-preventing the transit from' being
obstructed or dead by lawless violence,
and in protecting the lives and property of
American citizens traveling thereupon, re
quiring at the same, time that these forces
shall be :withdrawn the moment (h&
.danger
shall have ..passed away. Without such . ' a
provision, our citizens will = be eckistantiy ex
posed to interruption in their progress and to
lawless violence.
Kiimilar necessity exists for the• ptlasage
of such an act for the protection of, the 'Pan
ama and Tehuantepec routes.
In reference to the Panama route, the Uni
ted-States by their existing treaty;-with New
Granada, expressly guarantee the neutrality
of the Isthmus, " with the view that the free
transit from the one to the other sea may not
be interrupted or einbarrassed in any-future
time while this treaty exists." , •
In.regird to the Tehuantepec mute, which
has been reeentliopened under the most fa
vorable 'auspices, our treaty with Mexico of
the 30th Dezeinlier:lBs3, secures to 'the cit
izen§of the United States a right- of transit
vier it for their persons and tnerdhandise,.
and stipulates that neither Government shall
" interpose any obstacle thereto." It also
concedes to the United States the "right to
transport across the Isthmus, in closed - bags,
the mails'of the United States not intended
for distribetioe along the line of the conimu r
niCation ; also. the effects of the United States
Government and its citizens which may, be
intended for transit, and nokfor 'distribution
on the Isthmus, free of custom-house - or oth
er charges by the Mexican Government:
These treaty stipulations with-New•Grana
da and Mexico, in additiqn - to the consider& •
lions applicable to the Nicaragni route, seem
to require legislation for the purpose of car
rying them into effect. s*-
• Tne injuries which have been inflicted up.
on , our citizens in Costa ltica and Nicaragua
during the last two or three years have re
4:teived the prompt attention of this Govern
ment. Soto° of these injures: were of the
most aggravated character. . the transactiou
it Elty; itrAfirik;lBls6, whets txar
MEIN
NEE
.
Mgt*"
.: therefore,
kii**di* - itori - diooki , bo; that theAt
crunmuuteatione:4lol -
. be 'rendered secure
.froWt interruption . if an:arm - of-the :sea con
necting with the two oceans, penetrated thro'.
'Nicaragua and Costa Rim, it. could nut be
'Pretended that tile4e States had.thc right to
arrest. Orietitrdlits utiVigktion; to .the injury,
of other 'nations.. The.:transit by land over
this narrow isthmus orieupies nearly the same
position.: It is a highway in Whieh they
:themselves have little interest Whentiontpar
ed With thevaSt interest; of the' rest. Of the
world. While their rights- of sovereignty
ought to be respected, it is..the duty of other
nations to require that this important passage
shall Jtot be itaterruyted , by the civil wars and
revolutionary Outbreaks, which have so fre
quently occurred in that regiTin.
..The stake
is too iinpoiiimt to be left at the mercy of ri
val -companies, claiming to hold conflicting
'contracts *Rif Nicaragua.. The cornmerCe
.of other nations is not to stand Still and await
the adjustmenfof such petty controversies.—
The Government of the United States expect
no more than this, and they wily not he sat
isfied With less.- They would not, if. they
could, derive any bene fi t front the Nicaragu a
transit, not conunon. to the,rest of the world.
Ifs neutrality kid. protection, • for the coin
tnon ttie of all l ,'untions, is their only object.
They have no obleetion that Nicaragua shall
deinand and receive a fair compensation from.
the Gompaniq and individuals who may trav
erse the route ; but they insist that it shall
never htltafter be elOsed by an. arbitrary 'de
alt() of that G.iverinnent. If disputes arise.
between, itand 'those with whom they may
have eirtered into contracts. those must be
adjusted.by seine fair.tribunal provided for
the purpose, and the route must not be clos
ed • - peeding the cbntroversy. .This . ,is our
whole policy, and it cannot fail to b e accept
able to other nations.
All these difficultiestnight be avoided if.
consistently with the good faith of Nicaragua
the use of`this transit could be thrown open
to general competition ; providing at the same
time for the payment of a reasonable rate to
the Nicaraguan Government on . passengers
and freight. . •
In-August, 1852, the' Aecessory. Tran - sit
Colvpany Made its first iliteroceanic trip ov
er the Nicaraguan route, and continued in
in.suceessfuloperation, wittrgreat advantage
to the public, until the' 18th of February,
- 1850, when it was closed, and the grant to
this. Company, as will as its charter, were
summarily and arbitrarily revoked by. the
Government of President Rivas... Previous
to this date; however, in 1854, serious dis
puteSoncerning the settlemeht of their ac
counts had arisen between the, Company rind
the Government, threatening the interruption
'of the routeat any moment. These the Uni,-
ted States in vain endeavored to compose;—
It woeid be useless to narrate the various
proceedings which took place 'between the
parties, up till the time when the transit was
diScontinued.. Sallee it to say, that . since
February, 1856, it has remained' closed,
grotty to the prejudice of citizens
.the
'United States. Since that time the eompeti
tioWhascea.senetween the rival routes c't
Pat :tin:n& Nicaragua, and in consequence
thereof,' 'an unjust and ' unreasonable amount
fns been,exacted. from per citizens for their
passage to and from California.
A treaty was - signed on the 16th,
of
of
• November, .856, by the Seeretary of State,
and Minister of Nicaragua, under the stipula
tions of width the•use-and protection of the
Transit route would have been secured, not
only to the-United States, but equally to all
other nations. How and on what. pretexts
this treaty has failed to receive the ratifies=
tion of the Nicaraguan Government, will ap
pear by the papers herewith communicated
from the State Department. The. principal
objection appears to have been 'to the provis
sion-anthorizing the _United 'States to employ
force tokeep the route-open, in case Nicara
nes should fitil to erform her 'alit in this
pony_ of uottimed Atnerieams.srhow*
'way connected Witlfany . :beligerant conduet
or party, were fired upon hy . the - troops •of
Costa Rica, and numbers of thern killad and
wounded, was brought tO the knowledge of
Congress by 'mY : predeetissor soon after its
ocurrence, and was. alSo,;', presented to the
Goverpinent of Costa Rica, for that-immedi
ate investigation and redms which the na
ture of thirease:,darliantled: . Asimilarcourse
was pursued in reference to other outrages
in these countries, some of which were hard
ly less aggravated in their character than the
transaction at Virgin Bay. At the time bow...
ever, when our presentlfinister to Nitaragua
was appointed in December, 1857, no redress
had been obtained for any of these wrongs,
anti,no reply even had been. made, by this
Government on that of Costa-Rica more than
a year bepre. Our Minister was instructed,.
therefore, to lose no time in expressing to
those GovernMents the deep. regret with
which the Presideht had witnessed this inat
tention. to the just clairfis of the United States,
and in demanding their prompt - and: satisfae.
trey adjustment. Unless this demand shall
lie complied wfilLat an early day, it will on=
ly _remain for this Government to adopt such
other measures as may be necessary, in or.
'der - to - obtain for itself that justice which it
hash vain attempted to secure by peaceful.
mean's from the Governments of Nicaragua
and Costa Rica. While it has shown and
will continue to show the most sincere regard
f.Wthe rights and honor of these Republics,
is cannot permit this regard to be met by an
utter neglect on their part, of what is due'
to the Government and citizens of United
States,
—Against New Granada we have long•stand•
ing causes of complaint, arising ont of the
unsatisfied claims of our. citizens upon that
republic • and to these have been more re.
cently added the outrages committed- upon
our citizens at. Panama in April, 1856. A
treaty for the adjustment, of these. difficulties
was concluded by the Secretary of Stato.nnd
the Minister of New Granada; in September,.
1357, which contained just and acceptable
provisions for that purpose. This treaty was•
transmitted to Bogota, and was ratified by
the government of New Granada, but with
certain amendMenls. It Vas not, however,
returned to this city until after the close of
the last •session of the Senate. It will he
immediately transmitted to that body for
their advice and consent; and should this be
obtained, it will remove all our existing cans:
es of complaint) against New Granada on the
subject of claims.
question's have arisen between the two
governments, as to the right of New Grana
da to levy a tonnage dutf updti the 'Vessels
of the United States in its ports of the Isth
mus, a nd to levy a passenger tax upon 'our
citizens arriving in that country, whether
with a design to remain there or to pass
from ocean to ocean by the transit route ;
and also a tax upon the mail - of the. rnited
States transported over the Panama railroad.
The government of New Granada has been
informed, that the United States would con
sider the collection of either of those ,taxes,
as an act in violation of- the treaty between
the two countries, and as such would - be re
sisted by the United States. At the same
time, we are prepared to discuss-these ques
tions in a spirit of amity and justice, and
with a sincere desire to adjust Awn in a ,sat
isfactory manner.. A negotiation for that
purpose has already been commenced. No
efliirt has recently'been made to collect these
taxe , :, nor is any :anticipated uhder present
circumstances.
With the" empire- of Brazil our relations
are of the_ most -friendly character. The
productions of the two countries, and espe
cially -those of an agricultural nature, are
such as to invite extensive mutual exchanges.
A largelipantity of AmeriCan flour is con
sullied in Brazil; whilst more than. treble
the amount in value of Brazillian coffee is
en --
consumed In toe luitect -
until very recently, upon the importation of
American flour into Brazil. I am gratified,
however, to be able to inform you that ,iu
September last this has been reduced from
0.32 to about 4p cents per barrel, and, the
duties on other attieles of our production
have bien diminished in nearly the same
proportion.
- I regret to state that the government of
Brazil still continues to levy an export duty
of about 11 per cent. un coffee, notwithstand.
in , * this article is admitted free front duty in
the United States. Thisis a heavy charge
uport.the consumers of coffee in our country,
as we purchase half of the entire surplus
Cron of that article raised in -Brazil, Our
minister, under instructions, will reiterate•
his efforts to have this export duty removed;
and it is hoped that the enlightened govern.
ment of the emperor Will adopt this wise,
just, and equal policy. In that event, there
is good reason to believe that the elmitneree
between the two countries- will greatly hi
crease,. much to the advantage of both.
The.elaims of our citizens against the gov
ernment of Brazil are not, in the aggregate,
'of very large amount; but some .of these
rest upon plain principles of justice, and their
settlement:oughtmot to be longer delayed.
A renewed and e6ne4t, and I trust a suc
cessful effort, will be made by our minister
to. procure their final adjustment.
On the 2d of June last, Congress passed a
joint resolutton authorizing the President " to
adopt sfich measures and use. such force as,
in his judgment, maybe necessary and' ad
visable," "for the purpose of adjustin g the
differences between - the United States and the
republic of Paraguay. in connection with the
atmek on the Unifed States steamer s Water
-Witch, and with other measures referred to"
in his annual message, And on the 12th
July following,- they made-an appropriation
to defray the expenses and compensation of
a commissioner to that republic, should the
President deem it proper to make such an
appointment. ..
In compliance with these- enactments, I'
have appointed a commissioner, who has pro
ceeded to Paraguay, with full poWers and
instructions to settle these differences in, an
amicable and peaceful . manner, if this be prue
ticable. Ills experience and discretion. justi
fy.tbe hope, that he may prove successful in
convinein the Paraguayan government, that'
it is due both to honor and justice, that they
should voluntarily and promptly make atone
ment for the wrongs which they have corn=
mitted against the Cnited States, and indem
nify, our injured citizens whom they have
forcibly despoiled of their property. , .
Should oar commissioner prove unsuccess
ful, after a sincere and earnest effort; to sie
coiriplish the of of his mission, then no
alternative will remain, but the employment
of force to obtain " just satisfaction" from
Paraguary. In view of this contingency, the
Secretary of the Navy, udder my direction,
has fitted 'out ano 'dispatched a naval force,
to rendezvous near Buenos Ayres, which, it
is helieved, - will prove sufficient forthe occa
sion. 'lt is my earnest desire, however, that
it may not be found accessary to - resort to
this last alternative...
When Congress met in December lost, the
business of the country had just been crush
ed, by one of those periodical revulsion;
"whicli are the inevitable consequences of our
unsound and extravagant system of bank
credits and inflated currency. , With all the
elements, of national, wealth in abundance,
our manufactures( were suspended, our useful
Onto euterprises we f,
._4l79sted4
and thousands oflaborare airere'deprilfeC of
..
employment and reduced to scant. Univers
al distresa.previtilidatittmg the commercial,
. manufacturing;. and litechanial classes.
Thiirevidsion Xitti felt 'the-more severely
in thaUnited States, hecaans4 similar , causes
had=: produced. the like diplorahle effect
throughrint the - coratnereial nations of Europe.
MI `were experiencing sail reverses at the
same. moment. -• Our
. litanufsetuters every
where Suffered severely; not lbecause of the
'recent reduction in'thei tariff of duties on im
ports,. bit bemuse there was no demand at
any price for their productions. The eople
wore obliged to restrict theMselves in 'their
purchases, to - articles of- pririm necessity:—
In the general, prostration . of business ,
iron
manufacturers, in di ffe rent States, .probably
Suffered more than any.otherelass, and touch
destitution-was the inevitable mnsequence,
- among the great number of workmen who
had been employed in this t=enth bitinch of
Our -industry., There
,could be no supply
where there was no demand.: To present an
example, there could bend demand for rail
road iron, after our magnificent system - of
-railroads, extending its benefitslo every por
tion of the Union, had been :lirtiught_. t
dead, pause. The same consequenem have :
resulted from similar causes te many other
branches of useful manufactures. It is self
'evident that when there is nobility to pur
chase menu facturedartfcles, these cannot be
sold, and consequently must Cease to be pro
duced..
No government, and 'esPecielly a govern
ment of such limited power! us Ihat of the
United States, could have prcvcneed the late
revulsion. The whole commercial world .
seemed fur years to have been rushing to-this
catastrophe. The stuns ruinous consequen
ces would have followed in the United States
whether the duties upon foreign-imports had
remained as they were under the tariff of
184 Q, or hail been raised to a much higher
standard. The tariff of 1857 had no -agency
in the result. The general causes existing
throughout the world, could not have been
contrulhtd by the legislation of any particu
lar
country.
The periodical revulsions which have, ex
ia.ed in our past history, must continuo to
return at intervals, so long as Our present un
bounded system of bank credits Audi pre
vail. They will, however, probably be the
less severe in future t- because it is not to
be expected, at least, for many 3 ears to
come, that the commercial nations of Eulope'„
with whose interests our.own are so materi
ally involved, will, expose themselves to
similar calamities. But this subject Was
treated so much at It in , •my last, annual
message that I shall not'pursue it further.—
Still, I-respectfully renew the recommenda
tion, in favor of the passage- of a uniform
bankrupt law, applicable to banking institu
tions. This is all the power over the subject
which, I believe r the federal government pos
sesses. Sucher law would mitigate, though ,
it might not prevent the evil. The instinct
of - self preservation mlght produce' a whole
some restraint upon their banking business,
if they knew in advance, that-a suspension of
specie payments would inevitably produce
their civil death. •
But.the effects of the revulsion are now
slowly but surely passing away. The ener
gy and enterprise of our citizens, with our
unbounded resourees;will, within the period
of another year, restore a state- of whole
some industry and trade. Capital has again
accumulated in our large cities. The rate of
interest is there very low. Confidence is
gradually reviving, and so soon as it is •dis,
-covered that this capital can be profitably
employed in commercial and manufacturing
enterprises, and
. in the - construction of rail
roads and other works of - public and private
- improvement, prosperity will :Tian smile
throughout the , land. It. is vain,- however,
to disguise the fact front ourselves, that a
speculative in flationArnusmappy migtput
;:h7;;Tnanufactures come into competition
with our own, must ever produce disastrous
results to our domestic manufactures. No
tariff short of absolute prohibiticiu, can pre
vent these evil consequences.
In connexion with this subject, it is proper
to refer to our financial condition. Ths same
causes which have pioduced pecuniary dis
tress throughout the -country, have so reduced
the amount of imports from foreign coun
tries, that the revenue has proved inadeqyate
to meet thi: necessary expenses of the gov
ernment. To supply the deficiency,- Con
gress, by the act of- the 23d of Decenther,
1857, authorized the issue-of $20,40,000 of
treasury notes; and this proving inadequate,
they authorized, by the • act of June 14th,
1858. a - loan of $20,000,000, "to be `applied
to the payment of appropriations made by
law."
Wkla;
No statesman would advise, that we sherd
go on increasing the national debt to meet.
the ordinary expenses of the government.=
ThiS would be a most . iuinous policy. In
case of war, our credit must be our, chief re
source, at least for the first- year, and. this
would be greatly impaired by having con
tracted a large debt in time of peace. It is
our trite _policy to increase our revenue so as
equal our expenditures. Itwould be tuinpus
to continue to borrow. Besides. it may be
proper to observe, that the incidental protec
tion thus afforded by a revenue tariff, would
at the present n%ment to some extent, in-'
crease the confidence of the manufacturing
interests, and give a fresh itn,putse to our re
viving business. To this, surely,,no person
will object.
In regard to the mode of assessing and col
lecting,-duties under a strictly revenue tariff,
I have long entertained and often expressed
the opinion that sound policy hqnires this
should be done by specific duties, in cases to
which these can be properly applied. They
are well adapted to commodities which are
usually sold by weight or measure, and which
froth their nature, are of equal or nearly
equal value. Such fur example are the adj.
des of iron of different classes, raw sugar,
.and foreign wines and spirits. •
In my_deliberate.judgment, specific duties
are the best, if not the only means of secur
ing the revenue against false and fridn
lent invokes, and such has been the practice
adopted for this purpose by other cotnmer
cis! nations. Besides, specific duties would
afford to the American manufacturer the le.
cidental advantages to which he is fairly en
titled-.under a revenue, tariff: The present
system is a sliding scale to his dissavantage.-
Under it, when prices aro high and business
prosperous; the duties rise in amount when
he least requires their aid. On the contrary
*hen prices fall, and be is .struggling with
adversity, the duties are diminished in the
same proportion, greatly to his injury.
Neither would there be danger that a high
er rete_ofdoty than that intended by Congres
could be levied in the form ofspeeific duties.
It would be easy to ascertain the , average
value of tiny imported article for a series of
years. and instead of subjecting it to an ad
valorem duty at a certain rate per contort', to
subititute in, its an equivalent specific
duty.
By such an arrangement the consumer
would not be injured. It is true he might
have to pay
. 41 little more duty on a given ar
ticle in one year; but if so, he would psi*
little less in another;
and M a series of years
these would counterbalance each other, and
amount• to the seine thing as far 89 his 'inter•
ebt is concerned. This inconvenience would
be frith% wbee contraitul with the Addition'
the revenue, in which el/cry consumer is di
rectly interested.
have thrown'bet these seggestions as the
fruit of my own observatior to labial; pim,
4 0 8,, in their better judgment Will , give
such weight es they May justly deserve..'
The report of thee - Secretary of the Treatin
rywill explain ih detail the,operuttons, for
that department of the government. The'-rek
ceipis Into the treasury from all sources due
ing the liscal_year'ending- June 30th; 1858,
including the treasury notes authorized by
the act-of December 2 . 3 d, 1857, were seven
ty million two hundred and . seventy-three'
thousand, eight hundred and silty-nine dot :
Mrs and fitly-nine - tents, ($70,203,889.59,)
which amount with the balsa of seventeen .
million seven hundied and, ten 'thousand one
hundred and frairteen dollars and twenty-sev
en cents, 017,718,11427yremaining : in the
treasury at the commencement of the year,
made an aggregate fur the service of the year
of eighty-seven million nine hundred And
eighty-three thousand, nine hundred and eigh
ty-three dollars and eighty-six' cents, 087,-
983,983.80. ,
The public expenditures during the fiscal
year ending June 30th, 1858, amounted -to
eighty-one .milljon fire - hundred and sixty-see.
cn dollars and seventy six cents, ($81,585,-
667.70,) of which nine million six' hundred
and eighty-four thousand five hundred and
thirty-seven dollars and ninety-nine cents;
($9,084,537.99,) were applied to the payment
of the public debt and the redemption of
treasury .notes with the interest thereon, leav
ing in the treasury.on
_July 1, 1858, being
the commencement of the.present fiscal year,
six million three hundred and ninety-eight
thousand three hundred and sixteen dollars
and ten cents. 06,3 4 .38,316.18.
-The receipts into the treasury, during the
first quarter of the present fiscal year, com
mencing the Ist July, 1858, including one
half of tile loan-of twenty millions of dollars,
m:ritli the premium upon it authorized by the
act of 14th June, 1858, were twenty-five
hundred and thirty thousand
eight hundred and s - eventy-nine dollars and.
forty-six cents, ($25,230,879.40) -and the es:
timated receipts for the remaining three
qnarters to the 30th June, 1859, from ordin
ary sources, are thirty-eight million fire hun
dred thousand dollars, ($28,500,000) making
with the balance before stated, an aggregate
of seventy millionlkne hundred and twenty
nine thousand, one hundred and ninety-five
dollars and fifty-six cents, (670,129,195.-
50.)
The expenditures during the first, quarter
of the Tresent fiscal year, were twenty-one
million seven hundred and eight thousand
one hundred and ninety-eight dollars and fif
ty-one cents, ($21,708,198.51,) of which one
milion and ten thousand one hundred and for
ty-two dollars and thirty-seven cents ($1,010,-
142,37) were applied to the payment of the
public debt and the redemption of treasury
notes and the interest thereon. • The estimat
ed expenditures for the remaining three
quarters to the 30th June, 1859, are fifty-two
million three hundred and fifty-seven thous
and six hundred and ninety-eight dollars - 111nd ,
forty-eight cents, 062,357,098.484 making
an avregate of seventy-four millions sixty=
five thousand eight hundred and ninety-six
dollars and ninety-nine cents, ($7065,886,-
99,) being an excess of - expenditure, beyond
the estimated receipts into the treitsury from
ordinary sources, during The fiscal year to
June 30th, 1859, - of three Million nine' hun
dred and' thirty-six thousand seven hundred
and one dollars and -forty-three cents, ($3,-
036.701.33.)
Extraordinary means are placed by law
within the command of the Secretary of the
Treasui'y, by the re•issue.of treasury notes
redeemed, and by negotiating the balance of
the loan authorized by the act of 14th June,
1858,i0 the extent of eleven millions of dol
lars which,. if-realized during the present cis
-
on the first day of July. 1859, of • seven mil
lion sixty-three shousand two hundred and
ninety-eight dollars and fifty-seven cents, ($7
063,298.577)
The estimated:receipts - during the next fis
cal year ending.3oth June,
.184, are sixty
two millions of dollars ($62,000,000,) shish,
with the above estimated balance of seven
million sixty-three thousand two hundred
and ninety-eight dollars and fifty-seveweents,
($7,063,298.57) makann aggregate for the
.service of the next fiscal year, of sixty-nina
million sixty-three thousand two hundred and
ninety-eight dollars and litty-seven cents,
.069,063,298.574 The estimated expendit.
tires (luring the next fiscal yearending 30th
June, 1860, are seventy-three million one
hundred and thirty-nine thousand one hun
dred and forty-seven dollars and forty-six
cerit5,i(593,149.147 46,) which leavitt defic
it Of estimated means, compared with the es
timated.expendit ures for that year, commenc
ing on the Ist of July, 1859, of four million
and seventy-five thousand-eight _hundred and
forty-eight dollars and eighty-nine cents, ($4,.
095,848,89.)
In addition to this sum, the - Postmaster
General will require from the treasury, for
the service of the Post Offim Department,
three million eight hundred and thirty-eight
thousand seven hundred and •twenty-eight
dollars. ($3,838,726) as explained in_the re
port of the Secretary of, thcTreasury, which
mill increase the estimated deficit or. the 30,
jutie, 1860, to seven millions nine hundred
and fourteen thousand five hundred and sav
ent2y-six dollars and eighty-nine cents, ($7,-
914,576.89.)
To provide for the payment of this estimat
ed deficiency, which will ho increased by
such appropriations as may be Made by Con.-
gress; not estimated for in the report of the
Treasury Department, as well as to , procide
for the gradual redemption, from year to
year of the, outstanding treasury notes,' the
Secretary of the Treasury recommends such
a revision of the , present. tariff as will raise
the k required amount. After what I have al
ready said, I need scarcely add that I. concur
in the opinion expressed in his' report-,-that
the public debt should hot be increased by
an tulditianal loan, and would therefor e strong—
ly urge upon Congress the duty of making;
at their present sessions the necessary prow-,
sion for meeting these liabilities.
The public debt on the Ist of July, 1858,
the commencement of the present fiscal year,
was $25,155,977 66. •
During the -first quarter of the present (iv
cal year, the sum of $r0,000,000 has been
negotiated of the loan authorized by the act
of 14tit'ofJune; 1858—making the present
outstanding public debt, exclusive of treaNu
ry notes; $35.155;777 60. There was on the
Ist July, 1858, of treasury notes issued by
authority of the act of December 3 , 1857,
unredeemed, the sum of 019,754,800—mak
ing the, amount of actual indebtedness, at
that date, $54,910,877 66. To this will be
added $10,000,000 during the present fiscal
year--;-this being the remaining half of the.
loan of $20,000,000 not yet negotiated.
The.rapid increase of the public debt, and
the necessity which exists for. a modification
of the tariff; to meet even the ordinary ex
penqes of the government, ought - to admon
ish us all, in our respective spheres of duty,
to the practice of rigid. econtinay. The üb.
jests, of expenditure should be. limited hi
number, as far as ibis may be practicable,
and the - appropriations necessary to carry
them into effect, ought to be disbursecrunder
the strictest accountability.: Enlightened
newel does Aot consist u the ritual to
=ME
... • .
es, essential-. tor the - defence,- progress and .
protterity..of the ripbblie, but in taking care
that mine,orthis:MistreyAiir*. wasted - by
.miinisTACeoe4; application -to
Opendi
fora at-,ihe:Oirrielitne...-anikihst, it,. was ten
or twenty yenta ttgo;ttre
The rapid increase of our country iii 'ettent
and population; renders a corresponding in..
creaseof expenditure,-to some extent, una
voidable. This is constantly creating .new
.objects of expenditure, and augmenting 'the.
amount required fur the old.. The true clues.
thins, then, are, hare these objects been en:
necessarily multiplied Y or; has the amount
expended• upon any orall of them, been larg
er than comports with due economy I In ac
cordance with : these principles, the, heads: of
the different executive departmenti of the .
governments have been instructed to. reduce
their estimates for the next fiscal year to the
lowest
. standardssannistent with the e ffi cienCy
-of the service,,,and thisi duty ,theY have -per.
formed in a spirit of just economy. •
The estimates of the Treasury, War, Na.
vy "and Ifiterior Departments, have each been
in some degree -reduced ; and unless a stul ,
den and unforeseen emergency should arise,
it is not, anticipated that a deficiency.svill ex
ist-in either within the present or the next
fiscal year. The Post-Office Department is
placed in a peculiar' position, different from
the other departments, ,and to 4EO3J 'shall
hereafter refer: F-
I invite Congress to institute a rigid stru
tiny to ascertain whether the expenses in all
the departments cannot be still further re
duced; and I promis'e them all the aid in my
power in pursuing the investigation.
I transmit herewith the reports made to
toe by the Secretaries of War, of the Navy,
of the Interior, and of the Postmaster Gener
al. They etch contain valuable inforMation
and important -recommendittions,.to which I
invite the attention of Congress.
In my last annual ,niessage,l took occasion
_to recommend the immediate construction of
- ten sntall steamers, of light 'draught, fir the
purpose of increasing the efficiency of the na•
vy. Congress responded to the recommend
ation, by authorizing the construction of eight
of theni. • The progress which has been made
in executing this authority, is stated in the
report of the Secretary of the Navy. I con
cur-with him in the opinion, that a greater
number of this class of vessels is necessary,
for the purpose offrotectingin a more efli
nient manner the, persons and property of
Xmeriiern citizens-on the high seas, and in
foreign countries, as well as guarding' More
effectually our own coast. I accordingly rec.
ommend - the passage of an act fur this pur.
pose.
The suggestions Contained in the report of
the Secretary cf the Interior,eapecially those
in regard to the - disposition of the public do
,main;the pension and bounty land system,
the policy' towards the 'lndians, and the
amendment of our patent laws are worthy'
of the:serious consideration of - esingress. , -
The Post-office Department occupies a po
sition very -diffitrent from that of the other
departments., For i .many years •jt was the
policy-of the govirnment to' render thii a•
self-sustaining department ;Tend if this cannot
now be accomplished, in the present condi
tion of the country, we ought to make as
near an approach to it as may be practicable.
The Postmaster General is. placed in a
most' embarrassing position by the existing
laws.. He is obliged 'to- carry these. into ef
fect., lle has no other alternative. He, finds",
however, that this, cannot he. done without
heavy emands on the treasury, over and
above what he raised for postage; and:these
have been progressively increasing from year
to year until they amounted for the last -fi , s
cal year 'ending on-the 30th., Of June,
.1858,
to-more than four *lions Mid a half of dol
lars : whilst it' is estimated that for the pres-
4.3,00 . 4 4
000. The sums are exelisive,of the annual
,appropriation of *700,000 for " compensa
tion for the mail service, peiformed for the
two . houses of Congress and the other depart
ments and officers of the Govenunent in the
transportation of free matter." •
The cause of these large deficits is mainly
attributable to the increased expense of trans
porting the mails. In 1852 the sum paid fur .
this service was :but a fraction above four
millions and a quarter. • Since that year it
has annually increased until in 1858 it has'
reached more-than eight millions and a quar
ter, and,tor the service of 1850, - it is
ten that it w il l amount to more than ten Mil
lions of dollars..
'The receipts of' the Post-ogee Depart
ment can be made to approach or to equal
its -expend iturec ly by means of the legisla
tion of Congress. In,applying any remedy,
care should be taken that the people' shall
not be deprired of the advantages, which
they are 'entitled to enjoy from the
Post•offico Department. The principal -rem-.
edies.recommended to the consideration of
Congress by the Postmaster General, are to
restore the fbrmer rate orpostage upon
_sin
gle letters to five cents.;, to - substitute for the .
frankin. p privilege the deliveri,to those . now
entitled to_ enjoy it, of post 'ollice stamps - for
their correspondefice, - and to direct the de
pertinent, in making contractssfor the 'trans
portation of the mail, tnconfine itself to the
.payment of the sum necessary fur the single
purpose, without requiring it to.be transport
ed in post coaches or carriages of any pantie:,
War description. - "Wee the present system,
the expense to the government is greatly . , in.
creased, by .requiring that the mail shall - be
carried in such .vehieles'ai will accommodate
passengers. •Thiswill be done without
,pay
from the department. over. all roads where ,
the travel will tiemunerate the contractors.
These recommendations deserve the grave
consideration of Congress..."
1 . would again call your attention to the
construction of a Pacific railroad. Time and
reflection have but served to confirm inc in
the truth and, justice oldie observations . which
made on this subject, in my last annual
Message, to which 1. beg most respectfully to
refer. : • •
It is freely admitted that it would be inex
pedient for this government to, exercise the
power of constructing the Pacific railroad by.
its own immediate agebts. Such 'a policy
would increase the patronage of the execu•
tWe to a,dangerotis extent,' and introduce a
system of jobbing and corruption which. no .
vigilance .on the part of federal oficiali, could
either prevent . or stleteet. " This can only be
done by the keen eye, and - the active and
careful supervision of individual and private
interest..
The construction of the road ought, there
fore, to be committed to companies incorpor ,
ated by the States, or other agencies whose
pecuniary interests would be direetly involv
ed. Congress might then lyMist-thern in the
work`by grants of hand or of money, or of
both, under such conditions and restrictions
as would secure the transportation of troops
and munitions of war free from any charge,
and that of the United States snail ak a fair
and reasonable price.
• The progress of events since the com alance
meat of your last session, has shown bow
soon difficulties disappear befiare a firm and
determined resolution. At that time, such a
road was deemed by
. wise and patriotic men,
to be a• visionary project. The great,Oistnuee
to be overconie, and the , interyuntpg mount'
aims and deficits in the * . way,' were ; obstacles
Witieit optgioi ofu tN could AA -b.
ithriritannt ; , 00.,40Wei'the la*. Of lag• a
e been die.
critr,ered,tire kn . :formidable. than the y
were supposed to be ; mail'stages,.wi r h
pa.wo gitursTh now poi and, repass regularly,
tWlter.Atti.Oach week,.hr a-:common yaw n)
readlietWeen•San 'Francisco and St. Lou;,
and Memphis, in less than twenty-five day s ,
Tie service has been as regularly. performed
as it - was,' in former yeah, between New
York find this city.
Whilst disclaiming all authority to app s
prime money for the construction of-this road , ',,
except that - derived,. from the war.maht m ,
power A. the constitution, there,' tir e import' •
ant collateral considerations ;ur ging es to 00 .
dertuke the work:as speedily as possible.
The first and-Mast - moinentous•of theie
that such a road would be ti powerful bond
iif union between the States east Mid. we,t_ o f
the Rocky motifitainii. is so
dent as ; to require no .illustration.* . •
But, again, it a cornmerelal point of view,
I consider this the great question of the day.
With the eastern front of our republic stretch.
ins along the Atlantic, and its 4 weitern front"
along the Pacific, if all the !parts . shoidd b e
united by a safe, easy, . and; rapid :Intercom. -
rouniention, we must necessarily conimand
very large' proportion .6f.the trade both of
Europe and Asia. •
Our resent treaties:with China and :lapin
will open these rich and populous empires to
our commerce; and the history of the world
proves that the nation that bee gained •
sion of the trade'with Eastern Asia, has at•
ways become wealthy and powerful; Th e _
peculiar` geographical position of Californi a
and our Pacific posseisionsinVites .American
capital and enterprise into this fruitful field.
Tu icap the rich harvest, hpwever,, it is' nu
indispensable p re-requ isi te,- that .we shallTrst
have a railroad to canecy and circulate its
products throughout every portion of the tie.
ion. Resides, such a railroad through our
temperatelatitudewhich would riot be irn
peeled by the frosts and stiowa of - Winter, nor
by the. tropical heats of summer, 'Would at
tract to itself much , of the travel
,and trade of
all nations passing hetween Europe and Asia,
On the 21st of August last, Lieut. J. N,
Matra, \ of the United "States • brig Dolphin,.
captu-red the slaver. t., 4 Echo," (formerly the
.Putnam of New Orleans) near 'Key VerdC,
on the coast of Cuba, with more than three
hundred African •negroes on 'board. The
prize, under the lionimand . Of Lieut. Bradford•
of the United States navy, arrived at Charles
ten on the 37th' of August; when the lie.
;;roes, three hundred and six ittnuml;er, were
delivered into, the" 'custody: of the United
States marshal for the district . of South Ciro.'
ling. They were placed in Castle Pinckney,
and afterwards in Fort Sumpter, for safe-
keeping, and were. detained there until the
19th September, wirer), tLe siirvivors, is
hundred 'and smenty.pne in- number, were
delivered on board the United States•steamer
Niagara; to be transported to the coast ref
,Africa under the chiirg& the agent of the
United States, pursuant to the provisions of
the act of the 3d, 'March, 1819, =• illy addition
-to the acts prohibiting the slave trade."
Under the 2d section . this act, the Presi.
dent is "authorized to make such regulations
and arraiigemeots as he 'May deem expedient
for the safekeeping, support and removal be
yond the limit of the United States, of all
such negroes, mulattoes or persons of color"
captured by vessels of the United Stittes, as
may. be delivered to the marshal of the die.
triet into which they are brought, " and tuar
point a,proper person or persons' residing up.
on the coast of Africa, asiagent or agents fir
receiving the negroes, mulattoes or persons
of color, delivered from on beard vessels
seized in the prosecution of the slave trade
by commanders of the United States armed
vessels." . ~, • ---,
A doubt immediately arose as to the_ true
construction of-this, act:: It is quite clear
from its term= that thts, President was author.
tt t .- cha cafert:Aprking support
and remover of these ne n trroes up till the
time of flick delivery to the -agent on the
coast of Africa ; but no express :provieion A
was made fir their: protection and support
after they had reached the place of their des
tination. Still, an agent was to be appointed
to receive them in Africa; .and it could not
have been supposed that 'Congress intended
he shtjrld desert them at the moment they'•
were eceived„and turn them loose on that
inhospitable coast to perishior want of food,
or to beeoroe again the victims of the. slab
trade. Had this been the intention- of iron.
gress, the emphiyment of an agent to receive
them, who is required to reside on the coast,
Was unnecessary, and they might
.have been
landed. by bur .vessels anywhere in
. Afritia,
and left exposed to the sufferings and the fate
which would certainly await them.
• Mr. Monroe, in his special message of 17th.
of December, 1819, at 'the first.session after
the act was passed, announced to Congress
what; in his opinion; was its true Construe.
tion. He believed it to be his duty under
it, to follow these .unfurtunates . into Africa,
and . make provision for_ them - there, they
'should be able - to provide for themselves, -la
cornmuniosting• this interpretatien of the act
of he stated That sonic doubt had
been- entertained - as t - ) its true t•
question
and
meaning, and he submitted
.the to
them,-so that they might, .‘should it he
deemed advisabld; amend the . seine before
farther proceedin g s are had under
ni
Nothin was done• -by Congress to explain
the set, ac e d Mr. Monroe proceeded to carry
it into execution according to his own inter
pretation. This;.theri, bmame . the practical
construction.' - 'When - the Africans 'from en
board the gehO;Were delivered to: the mar
shal at Charleston, it became my duty-to con
sider whatslisposttion'ought to be made of
them under the law. For many
.reasens, it
was expedientto remove them from that lo
cality 7as speedily - as possible. ..Alttiongh the
conduct of , the authorities. and citizens of
Charleston, in giving coantenance'te tho_e4e
eution of the law, was just what,. might have
.been expected from. their. high character, yet
-a prolonged - continuance of three hundred Al
ricans in the immediate vicinity of that city,
m
could not have failed te.becoe S. source
. of
inconvenience and anxiety to its inhabitants.
- .Where to send them,,.' was..the , question:—
There was to portion of the coast of Africa
to which they rernoved..with any
regard to 'h On a Ili ty;'except_to_Lihetia..
- Under. theie 'circunistanees, artjtgreement
was entered into with the. Colonization Socie•
ty on:the 7th of September list, ej . copy of
which is herewith transtnitted, jinder which"
the Society engaged for : the:consideration of
forty-five thousand dallars, t 3 ..receive-. these
Africans
,in Liberia - from. the -agent of the
United States, and furnish . them "-during. the.
period of mmyear:thereafter, - )th . conducts
ble.shelterelothing, prcivisiorKiiiid medical
attendauee, causing the children to receive
schooling; `and= nil, .whether children
_or •
adults,=to„be instructed in thearts of civilized
life, suitable to . their conditiOn„ - - -
This aggregate'of forty-five thousand dol
lars Was based - upon 40110 - want* of one hun
dred and- fifty. dollars for each individual, and -
as there haktiesn..,considerable - mortality, a-
Itismg - thetu, and ennty .be More before they
reach Ailiea„the'society haVe.agreed in an
equitable epirtt, ;. each to' make .tich•.'es-:d'eduction
fruits the,antount,.att under . , the cirtnimstatices
May . appear lait-:and,reasnuable.::;This can
nut be fixed until . we shall .-asce,rlaiit....the xa
teal, number- Which - Mai baceineittil-charge to
1,110 society:
.It,iing.“llpiillloittetly 02,1tikuiiiimder an