,
G RRITS N , 191JBLI.HE,R.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAE.
eitizge of Oa Sfacite aid , gouse : of
Repiesenatim
Our ti••en•an 1 ltd4rtrilt, gratitude 4a s to
that Af ,,,; z i or P twar which Ilisatowed
up:m us s , tch and numerous . _ bleisiuga
throug , totit: the plat Velr. Tim" a gen e ral
beillth of ,the . :country .11:as b ran a eellent ;
our harvnits haviiiheen unnstiallv plon i(ul,and
• p re spetity smile•g tiirotighout the laird. /13-
dee 1, notwithatan ling Mir.demerits, be: have
'-much r e ason : to believe' from the' pait-events
in our hiatoriv„ that ire haio enjdved the
-st).) pro , e•A;lin of D;irittl•Privileits* ever
since our pizin as a urt.i tn Vl l ,l hitia* been
explm 1 . t) :many t.Creamning and terming
difGatiltios in our pri)gres4,;, but on e stre
ce‘sive occasion . the impending cloud gas bean
tiia4ipared at the moment it appeared ready
to hurst onr ; held, and the'dahger to
our inatitutiotiajhas passed away. Mey we
ever he undor the divine guidatme and pro
ten'ion! -• . '
__ • _
Whilst it is Vie duty of the Flre4 lent
frn-n tali. to tint., to gken t.r (Ilazrest in
farm ition of t'le mate of the [Jai 41" I shell
not refer inde•eil to the reeint and and bloody
°cent:mire.: at Unmet's Ferry. Still, it k prap.i
e• to tih=etve that these, events, hl)siever bad
- -
snd cruel in tbernstilves,; derive their lief
inunirtnnee frorni the apore,iten.tiroa that they
are hnt 4vmpisrili l or an innuritile 'clisea , te. is
the public • mind, whieh may break out' in
m Ire dange,orts outrae3s and tortitinata
at last in art ()nen •tver by the, N4rth 40 ibor,
• i-1 tno Sruth. -Whilat, for myself..
ren.ertainn.) au th appreh?nsion, titav ought
to afttrd a solemn warning to us all to be
ware of the npproach of dangl. Oar Union
*tike or such inestimable value as to de-
mend our consttint , and Watchful Yielanee
for its nrverviti)n. In this rWar let me
itu
tdore my.countryine , , Nor.b , and 'S to
cultivate the • inciam, feelings - of mutual for
belrfuute and good 'will towa'r.l each other,
and strive to allay the dent 3i/ )soirit 'of sec
tional hatred awl Wife now alive in the
land. This adOca p4ceads . -from the hesr.
of an_ fonCtionery wh 'se a stVtes3 com
moticed in the lasi. generatton; among the
wise and evervativa stit,esman of that day,
now near v all passed-away, and whim tirst
an.l ,iyarest earthly wi4ll is t;) less his_ cou&,
try tranquil, pro.perous; united and power
ful.
'`.ire fo reflect - i thtit in this'age, and
einerilille in -thli counry, theca li . 3a ince:.
sant flux ?n , l p'ilth...o Opinion. Q tee
ti-ms in' their day as.utnea a Most
thritntpninz aspect.
,have now nearly gOne
from lhe memory of m3n. .They are ":volea
noe , burnt net ; an , l,on thelavi and ashes
an;tsral,i.l ',lrina of ohl,eruptions gru‘ir the.
P^a , ertiCotiv ,. , the &leering vine, and Cie Ali
ta.r.,:ni corn. t . • In my opini tn, w.ll
prc,ve to 'fate of the prei:•eat , sk IVm3l
ex ,,,; terwrit , .who wisely:seek trt
apply On. alWave to.tfonAnle,
thwir ivithin Oki) de of Constitu
non, if this c .uvie po a ted,-the ext Sting
rceitstion on Vie sohject• of dome.sie. slaverf,
l , ke evarctitio r h,ttn in, will h.L. , 6.1t4 duy . LE O
ziv, blocs in 111113 F :in I 1 , 314 thriutenin; con
troversi.i. P :Folio o.);nlo lin this-Coletry is
__ A i i. p .we,fill, Ifni/when it'r yachts . s s dengurous
exruts tiPon env qn t-tion, the gold sai . 4l3 of
the p-,);)le wilt fit -nisii t.h I c tireietire en I
loiqg it Ii MA. ,wit.tiu safe limit.. - Stlll, 'tit
his en thii •an‘pi.ti in; re'salt; at the present
cri-is, we ou _Tilt t ) rem onher Vitt ashy ri
- tionll ore tture • most bo, pre •time 1 to i;itmif ,
the tt u?al co ns-)quences of hi./ osr dteschiegs -
Those , wl;o announce alistract doctrine; sub
var:ive of OH Constitution sod the qniort,s
most not be surprised Mould their ha't'e I par
lir toe /1 ivanit4 one step forther, en rattempe
by rnlenc) to c irry those doctrioes.ieto
r;rai•tical erfo;t:- lu this view of the subj.-it-4,A
criobt never 4.0 be forg.otten this; bow ?ver
a • eg t wt.:. hiiie heat? thi ‘potiti,tal advents
g‘.4 r.qiiiiinm froitithe Uni wile ev -ry plriipo
of our common country. these would all prate
to be es nothing should the area ev e r , ar
rive when they cannot be eit i joye 1 Without
terin•pi rbnzer to the persoirtlitafettt of tbe
people of 6 lien members of the Confa forme?.
If the peas i) of' the Jo , e-ti i'fireslde thriligh
ji
out these Stites shot' everha invalid—if
the mothers of familia within this extensive - ,
rezioe should not he able to retire to rest at
Bight wi;hout - suffering dritdful. apprehlen
A nn; of what n e tv hi thiir'Osin fele and that
ofiheir children before the m wrfng=it woulid,
he vein to rawest, to •. soch a people the po
lificmi b en .fit: whieh reselt to Oen" trona the
Unirin. Self-nrAirvation is the fiat instinc.
of nature; An I thei.eforo any state of "spoietv
in whi th the errord is all the - time ea:penile!
over the heads of the paopie mask it la-t be -
,comeintcle;able. Bit I iridelgte- in 60:4 , /e)
gt o ;,Tnv fo ebolings. On the crintrary. I firm
ly believe that - the events at Harper's Pierre.
'by eosin; the people t o: pee a kui reflect
- up - 1n the poteiltle peril to their eherislyed in
eq.° ions ; will ; be the mein ~ 'i o n;ler Provi
denne, of ellaying the exi- t ins ezeitement
end litey•nting future outbreaks .of a &ender
cheracter. - Titer will resolve that the Con
tiiution *Ad - The Union shall not be en Inn
gsred by rnsh efiensels, knvivries,r d i et, A 4li ld
"the silver, churl be lou4d or, thd. golden
bowl ibe 'broken * * -at the lotintain,"
human mower 0.011.1 never reunite. the alatter
ed and hos ile fragments.
I- enr .iii.ol# ,congrertilata von union the
final settlement be the Sep.erne. Court of the
,United Stet,es•of the question of slavery in
the j'ereitorie‘.. which h'i'l PTe'le'sti en as
pect en truly formirleble at the' cri,sti . *Jenne
men? of my alministrat;on. '. The right has
been estahlished of every _citizen tot,,ake his
property of any kind,-in'Alnlinz sl yes. into
the common Territories
,belonging;eqoallv to
All the States of the Confederacy, and to have.
it protected there nn ler thaFtedOial Crinatita
tion. lather Congress' . nor e Territimial .
Legislatire nor any 'll'omep . newer hea any
authority to annul or ilinair 64;1,44'44 right.
Th. ;entrain.) ).1-liti tl tribonsl 'of -the !conotrv.
phi el) i.s.a tto.orilinate branah Of thei - Oovern•
meet, has soueionerl .an 1 affirmed thAse orin -,
viipie s of n ;testi ta' i Inel laii, ifiq TnimlfiatiT jrilit
in thorn wives. toil an w4Ol estlivA'ilit t't 14' 1-
m e s pelee arvi hermonv - a4lor t g ths Stye's.
It i's a writing proof of the sense rff jediee
echo :h is inherent...in (ter neeple, !hoot. the
pr m.trtv - in sl . ores ha; 1:1,4CW 1)•3111 ii.tetirhei.
to my knolVitActi. in any •Of ', the Territririee.
Even,througleilitt the lets) it talita4 in XV);II/P,
there his not been ant mit'eeetet„,'lts I !lel craft.
ibly informei, t, interfet.' e. in a siereleinstariee.
with the right if the !plater. -ITed any stleh
attempt been made. the • jeliniarit would
doubt leas h aye 'tiff eel ied lan a4e4ettte. remedy.
g_hould they fait to do I. l ;ie bere , feet•ft . will
-
. ,
•
" OlMMlTkillli ) .I\lll.7tr tolliti Ea? torrisnam Ilia LIM EtED &31%2,11'0 EWA OT it FilUVE.fr
1• • .
then. bei time ' , enough. to strengthen 'their
*ids .by flatten legislation. had it_ been
decided that either Cengreet or the Territorial
Le/platers possess the power to annul or im
pair the Sright, to Property in slaves, the 'evil
- would be intolerable. Ie the latter' event,
There wduld be a struggle , for a majOrity,-of
the members or the LegiSlattins at ettob sums
.sive.election, and the sewed right's of proper
ty held-tinder the.FederalConititution would
depend !tor the. time, being on the mutt.
The agithtion would thus be rendered inces-.
sans whilst . thsTerritorial condition remained,
and its hisneful influence would; keepsiihste -a
dangeroos exatainect'amung the people of
the ',eyelet States: ' s'k -
Thus has ttio states of it Terkitory; 'dating
the interinediite period fione its first settle
ment until it Shall become a Slt% been ir
revocably fixed by the final de' ision of the
Supreme:Wiwi. Flit:turista h'as this been for
the prosperity ,of thsTerritories u is welias the
tranquility. ',tithe States. Now; ernigrantsi
from thelNorth and the Smith, the ,East and
the West, will meet tn the Teriatolies on ...11
cothinon plalfdrni: having brought with them
that species of property best adapted, in their
own opinion, to promote their wellfare. Froth
na - ural 08,1148i' the slavery question' will in
each CaSI ao3n-virt , iit ly settle itself; 'and-be
fore the T r erritory is prepared for admission
as a Slate into the Vision, this decision, one
Way or the other, willlhaie been a foregone
uonclusion. gennielille thssettlernent of the
new Territory Win praneed witboat serious in
teTruption, atid .. itelpriogress and prosperity
atilt not be pudanghed or retarded by violent
political straggles. 1 . .
• When in the , progress of events the inhabi
tants of any Territory shall have reached the
.number required to form a State, they. will
1 then proceed, rift, a . regolar meaner, and in.
fla exiie&so of the ights of popular sove
i
eienty, to ("yin a mrtitution preparat9ry
i.
truemission itito - th, Union. Ater this has
Wertl
'done, •tci employ the language ,of,the
kit,ta and Nitbraska ant. they " shall be le
ceived into the Uuion with or without slay's
ry, Is
their- Const itution t may prescribe at the
Vane of their.aihrussion." This sound piinci
cple has happily been retpiz Id, in some form
or Other,. by 'an almost unanimous vote of
b0t,14 houses dfl the hest Coneess. - • ---,I
All lawful mewls 'at my command have
beed-eni i iloyed, and shell continue to- be ern._
ploys!, to exegete ithe laws against the At
risme slave-trade. - After, a mosttareful and
rigokoes ersig . mstidti of oir coasts and a
thoegh invelog,stion of the subjeor, we have
not been able to dise a iver toast any slates have
beeti imported !into Vie UniterS•ates except
the r toarwo by .he Wanderer, numbering be- -
~
tureen three sand four handred. Those, en
gagd in, this 'unlervf l ut °lit loriss . have been -
rf . ;", uo,IY pro7ece 1; but nat. with as
tuol
tr
nu oa soccese •as . their crimes dererved.. A I
tter of them are-still ender nrosecution.
Oln history
.pr fires that tae Fathers of the
Itep.liblie, in ativande of other unions, con
demned the AO icen slaye•t I ada. It was, riot
wi h'standinedeetne I expedient by the fram
era o'f the Consti , titian to deprive Congress of
the power to pr dliblt. "the migration or lin
portktion -of suCh persons as any of the - Slat...A
now ex•stin; 'shill think Proper to admit."..
• prior to the: year one thous tad eight lien
dr, i ld and eight,", , ,
It will he seen that this restriction - on the
power of Congross was cionfinedtii filch Statas.
oelYl as arght"Olink pioper to admit the im
portation of•alaves. It slid nit eveed to"
0:64 S Fes or to , the trade carried on abroad
Aeon-d01.:1y, , we ''fi ad ' that so early as the
221 f Sleriih, 1791, Congress passed an act
militia:az, severe penalties and pun'shments
Apeci , xidtms and residents of the Unite I
Sosti.s who shoUldgage in this trade be
tween fo 'sign nadons. , The praVisiocs of thie
act. were eaten led and enforced by the act of
10_11 1 ,11 . sy, 18J0. „ i
Agsin : Toe States themselves had a clear
right to, waive the constitutional privilege in
iateied fui- tl6tr,benedt. and to prohibit, by•
alai ri own laws, this trade al any tie:3'6es'
thought pi - eper Previonsto 1808 - . ISeireral of
them exerei-ei this- right before that period.
eodAmong their' some containing the greatest
neitr of slaves. This give to tlingress
the i mediate power :to • act io regard to all
-,uchl States, beeitem they themselves had
removed the coistitutionalloarrier. . 1 Congress
accordingly pasised an act on the. 23th . Feb.,
18A " to prevent the importation of certain
persons into certain States When, by the Igws
thereof,. tneir admission is prohibited," I . ln
this banner the.',importation'of African slairee
into the United States web, to a' great extent,
prohibited souie4eara in advance of 1808
the year 'lBOB approm'oe l l, ("mires&
deteinsined not to satieri this Wide to exist
evenifer a single chrafLer they had the-fMw
er abolish tt. the . ,2(l of Niarchi r 1807.
theyipts.e I so Stet to take effect "froth e .
itf , errythe Isedai oflatllltri, 1808," prohibi t
in; the impor ition of - African slaves into
the United Stites. This was followed. by
subseqaent, ante of a 'sin:tiler ishosrater, to
which Imeed not speeially refer. Stich ware
the Principles and snub the priustice of out
atfue4orcrpore,than fifty years ago in regard
to the Afticen'slave trade.
•
Itidid not +scour tie the-revered patrie..s
whoibid been Delegates to the Coaventi',
sail 'afterwards became:meinherstof Congrau,
that in Itassin , g , i these laws they h violated
the :C:institution which they had .framed
with' so mach dare add deliberation. They
sup t iosed that to prohib it , Congress, in express
terma, from exerci,ing.A specified. power be-.
fore I an appointed day„ necessarily ineolvpd
the rig tt to exercise this power after that - Z.6y
had arrive'd,.. *
•
Ifithoo was not the ea,* the - framers of the
Cmititittiort expended much labor: in
vain; they *imsetted that Oonglemi
•stuuld roues, no power to prohibit the trade
eitheir befOre or after 1808 , they - would not
have taken so tatieh care to protect thaStateho
*pi kst the eiri'fiiia of this power before - that
psriOd. Nay, more, they would not: hive
attaribed suet" Vast imuirtance to this pro
visieti- as to have excluded it from the . poi
bility of future; repeal or amendment, 'to
which' other" phrttons of the Cmoi lotion
werej exPoiedt It 'would, then, have been
wh Fly unnice•sary tidgrift on the fifth °str...
ticleof the CMstitistien, prescribing the
alty• of its own - future amendment '
the pro
". that n which may ; be
made' prior to4lits__ por °°e thousand eight
antlien Fred, 'el j thi.strOl ju any nsanner at.
teetn :
,tbe prgifitlo3' iq the C , )latitUtiOtt seettr
hog - 'right toa !mit the Impor.
tit ti - On of Africanlttlavelpillyious . to that period.
.Ano3rtlitig CU * c ad TOM OaintratiOn, the
clause itself, on ;which so - mnob care and ilia
cutition had been' emPloyed by the members
of the Convention`, jwas.sti absolute ability
from the beginning; and all that has 'since
been done'under it a Awe usurpation.
: It was Well and- wise th . confer this ;power
upon'Oungress; - because, bad it been left to
theState*, its efiloWnt exercfaiwonld have
been finpossible._ In thitt event .any one State
could have effectuallyy, earldoms(' the, trade
:not only for Itself but for all the other slave
States, though never - so ;inictutgainst thesis
will: And why t Etecanse ,African slaves,
when once brouibt within 'the ,limits . ot spy
one State; in accordance with its law; cannot
_praetically, he excluded from any other State
where-slavery exists. Aad even if all the
States had separately palsied laws pr,ohibii: -
jag the importation , of slaves, these laws
would hate failed- *effect fay want of a ne
•yal force to captare thesslaters and to guard
ths coast.' Such a force no State can employ
in time of peace Without the consent of Con=
grey. -
These acts of CongresOt is *believed, have,
with very rare and - insignificant exceptions,
accomplished theV purpose. For a period .of
, more than half . a century there has been no
perceptible addition 14 the ntlinber of our
domestic staves. Poring. this period their
advancement is civilization has far surpassed,
that of any other portion of the African_race.
The light and blessings of Chvistianity have
been extended -to them, and both their moral
and phyt.ical condition. has been greatly im
proved. lEte-open the trade, and it would be
difficiilt to determine whether the* effect
Would be more deleterious on the •intitesls of
the master. or on tho-e of the ua ive-born.
slates. Of,the evils to the master, • the \one
most to be' dreaded would be the introduc
tion of wild, heathen, and ignore?' barbarian&
among the sober, orderly, and riot slave,
attio•te ancestors have - been on the Soil fur
several . generations. This might toad to bar.
bariza, demoialize, and exasperate the whole
mass,, and produce- mast deplorable conse
quences.
The effect upon the exiting blave woUld, if
po4dble, be still more deplorable. -- At pres
etit he is treated .with kititine , s and hernani :
ty . . lie. is well fed, well clothed, and not
overworked. His condition is•iocomparahly .
hoLter.than thnt of the coolies 4,34 modern
natirms of -high civilzation have employed
1 4 4 a sab4 i•ute fur African-dives. - . Both the
pliiianth•ophy and the . self-intere s t •of the
mister have t•omlined to 'produce this hu
mane raiult. 1.34 t let this trade be re-opened,
and wlt'it•will be the effect R The gams, to a
coneiderahle extent, as' on a neighburing is
land—the only Spat on earth where the Af
rican shyer trade; is openly tolerated;"and
thi4 in defiance of solemn treaties wi it a pow,
*O. abundantlyiaLle at any moment to enforce
their.execution. There the master intent
on pre-ent gain; extorts from the blare as
much labor at diti4 phy deal powers are capa
ble of enduring—knowing that, when death
comes to his relief ; . his place can be supplied
at a price reduced to thu lowest point by the
ournpet - tion of rival African slave-trader..
Should this ever Le-the case in oar country
—which I do not deem posbible—the pies
,ent•useful. character of the dome4tic institu
tion, - where those to old and' too young to
wojk . are provided for With care and human
' ity,od thatre-capable of labor are not over
rt4lted, would undergo an unfortunate change.
Tne feeling of reciprocal dependeuce and at
aehineut which now exists between :mister
and slave would "be converted into mutual
-cii,trust and hos - iiitv. -
.
But we are obliged as a Christian and mor
al nation tei consider what 'Woulid be the ef
ft:t upon' unhappy Mika itself if we should
te-upen the slave-tr.:tide. trnis would give the
trade an impulse - and extension which it has
never had even in its palmiest days.' The
numerous sidtirns ievired .to supply •it
would convert the whole slave coast into .a
perfect Pandemonium, fur Which this cowl
; would be, held responsible in the eves
both of atd man.. Its petty vibes would
then be constantly engaged in predatory 'war'
against each other for thepurpose of seizing
slaves to sup Ply the Arnerinan t ,maiket. Ail
haFe4 of Multi civilization would thus be
enite 1. • .
On. the othei hand, when a market for Af:
ricap slaves shall no longer be furnished in
C.iba,and :thus all therwoild be closed againt,
tfiia trade, we may then indulge a .reasona•
ble hope for the gradual. ;improvement of Af
rica. The Chief 'naive of war among .the
.tribes will cease-whenever there is no longer
'any demand for slaves. The resources of that
fey-tile but miserable country might then be
developed by thiltaud of industry and afford
.subjects. for legitimate foreign and detr.est+o
commeree. Is this manner Ctoistianity and
-civilitaiion may gradually penettats, the ex
isting gloom. „
mite iiistium of 'the course pursued by this
Governmunt toward' China has been tindit
cared by the event.` Whilst we •sustajned • a t
neutral pot ii .n lbe war waged by Great.
Britain and France againit the Chinese em
pire, our late minister in. obedience to his to
structions, judicioaely co-operated with the
ministers of , these "powers in all peaceful
measures to secure by trait/ the just ounces
'dons demanded 'by the 'ieterests of fo'relgri
-corn tierce
.The result is that _satisfactory
treat4a have- tieeo ounelnded.with Chitin by
the respective Ministers - of tbe UniteciStates,
Great Britian, France, and Russia. Our
treaty or general convention of peace, ainity
and commerce," with that ernpire,• was con
cluded at Tientsin on the 18th of-Juite,lB.sB,
ant was ratified by the President, by and
with the _advice and consent of the Senate,
• .
on the 214 December ,
On the lath Drriber,_lBsB,Jilibn E. Ward;
a distinguished' oitizAn of. Georgia, was duly
ofiminksioued as Eov.oy Extraordinary and
Minister .Plenipotentiary to Chine.' Ile left.
1114 United &Isles hi the - plane of hi. desti
ne inn on the sth 'of February, 1858, -bearing
, iri!h; hitn-the ratified copy of this treety, and
arrived •at Shanghai, on the . 28tli. of May.
Pidui thence he proceeded to Peking on the
18 , 1 - tifJune. bUt did not arrive in that lily
-until ilia . 27th of July. ' According to the
tette* f the treaty the ratifications were: ex
',hailed on or,before the 18h of Jurie„.lBs9.
This was rendered itzpoe.ibie by reasons end
events beyond •hlll contra, not - necessary to
detail; 'but , still it is .due to the Chinese au- -
tboritiee 'at Shanghai to sate ilint.they al
ways assured hint advantage - should- be
taken of the delay ; ; and thikpledge has been
faithfully redeemed...
On the arrival of Mr. Wird at Peking he
reluested an audience of the Emperor to pre
sent b letter of on3denee. .110.3 he did not
100147R9,0 - ,_,p_A.-:-;-:4AN - u.A-RB%.', 6,* 1860.
obtain, in- consequence of his very proper re-,
feted to submit to the humiliating ceremonies
required by .the etiquette of this tOrange
ple iu . approaching their sovereign. Never
theless the interviews oti s tbis question were
ctinducted in the most friendly spirit, and
with all due regard to bis personal feelings and
the,bonoi of hie country.- When presenta
tion to his Majesty was found to be imPosii
ble, the letter of credebce from. the Pre-ident
Was received-with peculiar Initiate by Kweil
tang, " the Eroperei a prime Minister'and the
second men in the empire to the Emperor
himself." The ratiScationsof the'treaty. were
afterwards,
on thi lath of August, exchanged
in proper form at Pei-tsang. AA the exchange
did not take place uutil• after the daY pre
scribed by 'the treaty, it is deemed proper,
before--its publication, again to ,submit it to
the Senate.
It is but simple justice to the 'Chinese
authorities to observe, that, throughout the
whole tratitaCtion, they appear to have 'acted
in good faith and in a friendly aririt towards
the United States. It is true this has been
done after their own peculial fashion; but we
ought. to regard with a lenient: eye the an
cleat customs of an empire dating back for
thousands of year, so far as this may be con '
aistent with our own, national honor. The
conduct. of our minister on the occasion has
-received my entire approbation. -
• In order to carry out -the spirit of this trea
ty, And to give it full effect, it becomes .ne
ce:siry ' ! to conclude two'supplethental con
ventions—the ,one for the adjustment, and
ea '•faction claims of 'our citizan's, and
the other to fix the tariff on imports and.ex
ports, and to regulate the transit dillies and
trade of otir merchants with 'China. This
duty was Satisfactorily .perfor'meci by our late,
Alinicer. These conventioni bear date at•
Slutnghai on the Bth Novemher,lBsB. Hav
ing been considered" in the light. pf binding
agreements subsidiary, to the principal treaty,
and to - be cUrriediato execution - without de
lay, they do not,provide for any formal rati
fication or exchange of ratifications by the
contracting parties. This was .not deemed,
necessary by the Chinese, with aro already
prbeeeding in good t-dth to satisfy the claims
of our citizas, and, it : is hoped, to carry oirt
the otter provisions of the, conventions. Still
I thought it was proper to subrMt them to
the Senate. by which they were ratified on'
the-3d of March, 1851 The ratified copies,
however, did not reach Shanghai until after
the departtire of our minister to Peking, and
Oese conventions could Hof, therafure, be es
changed at the same time with the principal
treaty. -No doubt is enteitsined that they'
will be ratified and exchanged by the Chinese
Government, should this be thought advitabla;
but, under the cireum-trnces presented, I
consider them binding engagements
opon,bath'psrties,and cause them to be pal)
li.hel as such informatiou and guid
ance of our 'ooerehants trading tvi th.theChinese
empire. " .
It affords ine rnuch satisfaction to inform
you that all our difficulties with the . R.public
of Paraguay have beep satisfactorily adjastol.
It Happily did not become net:usury to em
ploy the force for this purpose which Con
essbad, placed at my command:under their
joint - resolution of 311:June, 1858..: On the
contrari; the President of that Republic, in
friendly spirit, acceded promptly to t6e just
and reasonable demand of the Government of
the United' States. Our_ Commi, siorier
ed at A-somption, the capital of Air Ropublio,
on the 25th of Jannary - , 1859, and left it on
the 17th of February, having tri three weeks
ably and successfully. accomplished all the
objects of His mission. The treaties which he.
has 'ls included will be immediately eubtnitted
to the Senate.
•In the view that the employment of other
than peaceful means migliitectonto necessary
to . obtain "just satisfaction"-from Paraguay,
'a strong naval fume was concentrated in, the
waters, of the La Plata to.await contingencies,
whilst our conitnistioner ascended the river
to Assumption. The Navy Department is en
titled to great credit for the promptness, offl
ciency, nod economy with which this expedi
tion was fitted out and conducted., It con
sisted of nineteen armed ve-sels, great and
small, carrying .200 gun 4 and 2,500 men, all
,under, the command of the veteran and ,gal
lantesltubrieit. Tue ;entire expanses ; of the,
expedition have , been defrayed out of the or
dinary appropiiations fur :be. naval service,
except the sum of $240.000 applied to the
purchase of Riven of kho sieauters, boostituting
a part of it, under the authority of the naval
appropriation nut of the March Idet. It
is believed that, these steamers are wroth
more than their cost, abd they are all now
usefully and actively employed in the naval
aert•ice. •
The appearance a sojarge a force., fitted
out in snob a prompt rittiner,in the . far-dis
tant waters of the La Plata, and :the
ble l conduct of the .officeri and men employ
ed in it, have had a happy effect - in favor of
our couthry throughou s t all that mime por
tion of the world. • • -
• Our relations .with l the great empires of
France and Russia, as well as with air other
goiertanedis on the continent of Europe, üb
.l.ess we may epept that of Spain; happily
chntiithe to bawl the most friendly character.
• In my last, 'annual Message - I . presente.l a
statement of the . IA nwitig,ut.ny 6oadi Li Olki of
our relations with Spain; rind I regret-to. say
that this has not materially improved. WWI
- speeial reference to , other claims', even
the 4 Cubatielaima," the payment of which
hasher') ably urged'by.our Ministers, indict,
which more than a Lundred of -our eitizen4
are directly inierested, remain unsatWied,
notwitimandmg.b - oth their justice. and their
amount (tL28,635,54) had been recognized
and'ascettained by. the Spanish Government
itself• - •
Lagain recommend that 'an- appropriation
be made "to be paid to the .Spitn:-.41 Govern-.
.meat for the pArpose of. diottribution among
the claimants la the Amistad nese." In cern
mon with two of my predecessorti, I entertain
no doubt that,this is required be our Traity
Rh Spain of the 27-di October. 1795. .The
failure to dicharge ibis obligation has been
emplOyed by the Cabinet of Madrid as A rtot
lon against the settlement ofl our clainii,
. I new:root repeat the:arguitients which I
urged /la my last anualAlessage lu favor."of
the acquisition of Cube by N r pornbas e .—
My opinions on :that 'measure remain .uD
changed. I,- therefore, again invite 'the seri-•
CMS AttetniUl3 .of Congresst tO this insportant
subject.. WithiretA recognition of Ibis poli 7
43y An their part, it willbe almost, impossible
to institute negotiatious u !jib - a reasonable.
pzospect of anacw&A.
Until a recent period there Was good reason
to believe that Taboold be able to announce
to you on the present occasion tbatsour diffi
culties with Great. Britain, arising out of - the
Clayton and Bulrecrtreatv, • had been finally
'adjusted in a manner alike honorable and
satisfactory to both parties; From causes,
hOwever, ',blob the British Goverisment bad
not anticipated:they have not yet completed
treaty arrangements with the . 'republics of
Honduras and Nicaragua, in pursuance of
the understanding between the two ()everts
menus It is; nevertheless, confidently expo&
ted that this good , werk.yrill ere let be ac
eomplished, • • . •
Whilst-indulging the hope that - no other
subject remained Which i coald disturb. the•
good understanding between thiC two coun
tries, the question •ariaing out of the adverse
"claims-of the parties to the s hiland of San Jo
an, under the Oregon treaty-on the" 15th of ,
June, 1849, soddenly assumed a threatening
prominence, In order to prevent unfortunate
collisions on that remote frontier, the late
Secretary. of State, on the 17th. July, • 1855,
addressed e note to Mrs i Cramptori, then Brit
tish Minister at Washington, communicating
'to him a Copy of the instruCtions which he,
(Mr. Marcy) had given s cuf the 14th July - , to
Guy. Stevens, of Washington - Territory, hay
kg a special referesce to an vapprehended
conflict between our citizens and the ..British
subjects on the Island of Sal Jean." To pre
vent this, the Governor was instructed "that.
the: officer of, the Territory . should abstain
from all acts on the disputed grounds which*
are Calculated. to provoke any conflictessio far
as it can be done without implying . -the con
cession to the - authorities of Great. Britain of
an exclusive right. over the premises. The 11-•
tle ought to' be settled 'before• either party
should attempt to s exclude the other by force;
or.exereise corriplete add exclue:ve. sovereign
rights withhitheftirly-disputed
Id acknowledging the receipt on the next
day of Mr. Marcy'kpote, the British Minister
expressed his entire concurrence "in* the pro
priety of tW course recommended 'to the Gov
erne/ of Washington be'your [Mr. Marcy's]
instructions to . that offuiee," and stating that
he-had "loit no time in• transmitting a copy
of that docurisent to the Governor-Gene.al of
13:stiels North America," ° and had "earnestly
recommended to his Excelleni3y• to take such
measures' asto him-may appear best Calcula
ted to secure, on.she part of the British local
authorities and A t ha inhabitants of•the neigh
br;rhood of the line in luestion, the exercise
of the same spirit of ;rbearance whiCh is in
culcated by you [Mr. Marcy . ] on the authori
ties and citizens of the United States.".
hit
s niatters.reniained upon the faith .of
this. arrangement uritillthe 9:h of July
when Gee. Harney paid et visit to , the
lie found upon it twenty- fireeMeriean resi
dents trills theirfsinilins, and als3 an.estabs
lishment of the Hudson's B:;y COmpluy fur
tho purpose of raising-sheep. A 'short time
bake his arrival-one of these residents had
shot an 'animal belonging to the " company,
w hilst trespassing upon his premises, for which
however, he off-red to' pay twice its value ;
but that was refused. • Soon_rifter . "the chief
factor of the enmpany,at Victorie,Mr. Dallas,
son-in-law of - Governor Douglas, eame to the
Island io tile. British sloop•of war s'atelite,
nod threatensd to take "this -American (Mr.
Cutler) by force to Victoria, to answer-fur the
trespass he had committed. The American
seized his 'rifle end told' Ur. Dallas if -any
such attempt was made - he woulti s kill hirrion
the spot. The, affair thee ended." r_
Under theie'cireumstances, the. American
settlers presented a petition to the 'General,
"through the United States Inspector of Cus
tdiris, Mr. Held's, 63 place a force upon die
ishied to protect them froth' the:. Indians as
weibas the oppres.ive interfereece of the au
! 'thorities of the - HudSon Bay Company at
! Victoria with their rights as Americae ciii ,
acne. " the'Orneral immediately; •risponded
to thisiietition, and ordered Captain George
E. - Pickett, 9th Infantry, to establish his corn
pansson Bellevue or San Juan Island, on
,ozne suita ble'posttiou near the Harbor at the
southeastern extremity," ' This order was
promptly' obeyed, and a military post was es•
tat:Oil - red attire place designated.: The force
was afterwards. increased, so that by the last
return tha whole number of troops then 'on
theisland ansoun . ted in tiggregete to-091 men.
Whilst Ido not deem it proper On-the pres
ent occasion to go farther into the subject,
:'and discuss the weight 'Which ought to be at
tached to the Statements of the B. itish.Colo.
nisi- authorities, contesting the accertcy- of
the inform Woo on which - the gallant General
acted, it was due to him that I • should thus
Present' his owl reasons for issuing the order
to Captain Pickett. From these it was quite
clear• hits object was to preventthe British au
thorities on Vancouver's Island from exerci
sing jurisdiction ?vets American residents on
-the Ishind.of San Juan, as Well as to protect
them againPt the incursions of the', Indians. -
Much. est:he:nem, prevailed. lutssion.ie time
throughout th — at region, and. seritina slenger
of collision between the parties was ripprahen ,
ded. .The British had 'a large naval force in.
the vicinity, and it ie but an sot; of 'simple
jastiod to.l he admiral'oo that station to state
that he.wisely and discreetly forbOre to com
mit-any hostile act, but determined to refer the
whole affair to his government and*wait their
instructions.
.
This aspect of
.the matter, in my -opinion,
demanded serious attention. It
.would have
been a'great calamity for both nations bad
they been precipitated into nets: of hoiiility,
,not on the ilue-tion of title to thoialautl, but
inerely concerning what should . be its. condi
tion during the intervening p.eriod whilst the
two governments might be employed in - set
tling the triadion towhich oi them it helangs.
For thiis reason; Lieutenant General Boost was
dovetailed on the ilth of SepteMber test to
Washington territory to take immediate corn-,
mind of the UniterfStates forties 011: the Pa
cific °Mist should he deam:tbis oteceetery.--
the main object of hisinission' w i ts
out the spirit of the precautionary arrange
ment;
the
the late Sanctum? . of..Stata
and the Bliish Minister, and thus to preserve
the Venue and prevent oollisiOn. betWeett . the:
British and - 4meritutoanthotities peadiog the
cogolintiong between the two governments.-,,.
Entertainiril no_docht of the validity- of. our .
title,. I need scarcely add that, is say event . ,,
*tearicen.citisetts were tebe.pineinforta foot
ing at least ai fatirirable that. of
.British
subjects, it , being :noderatood that Cap tain
company. should .veMein elk ._ th e i,,.
laid, It is proper. to Abstplititratotintidering
the distatme from the aeatte. of action, and in
ignoraneaof whit migbt, have transpired on
Abespot_before the 4 . 3.eneral's arrival; ..;t was
necessary leave much to his discretion, end
tam happy . to state the event•bas proven that
this discretion engird not hare been entru.ted
tomore:ccinipetent hands. General Sou has
recently, returned from his, tnisiion; haring
successfully accbmpli.ped it 3 bljects,'-nn d .1 lie re
is do longer any good reas . to appy4tiend
collision between tho'formv,of the tiVO
tries; dtiring the tendency of •the
existiugbe
gotiationa
I regret to.inform you that , there has been
no improvement in the affsirs;:.:of Mexi s doSinee
my last annual. message, and am again oh-
Jigeri to ask the earnest auehtion of CO ngtesi
to the lunhappy condition- of--tbat` Repub
lie..
The constituent .Cotigreas of Mezic'o,'whieh .
adjourned on.the 17th of February; 1857, ad=
opted,a constitution and provided - for a popu !
lar election. This took-place in thefollowing
July, [1857.] and General Comontort, was
chosen President; almost without opposition,-
At the a 'me eked in a new Congresa war dho
sen, whose first sas=itin commenced on the'l at Ir.
of September. [1857] • By- the constitution
of lBs7lthe Piesiden ial term was to begin oti
on the let of• December, [1857.] and continue.
for four years. Ori that day General Cocoon-•
fort appeared• before the assembled . Congrei
in the city of Mexico, took alio oath to support
the new, Constitution, and wairdnly inaugural.'
a d sts,Patisident. 1 Within a month afterwards
he had.been driven from thif
. oapitai, and a
military rebellion had assigned the supreme
power of the republics to General &lov—
a.
The Constitution provided that in the absence
his offitie•shoUld devolve upon the Chief
Jus
tice of th'e Supremo Cutitt, and General C<;ln
onfoit having left the country, this fituctiena
ry,General Juarez; proceekd to form, at Go
enajuato a constitutional government. Before
this Was offiebilly,known, however ; at the cap
ital, the giivernment of Zu'oaga had: been re
cognizdd by 'the entire di plomatto corps,
&Llia?, the Minister oftbe United State=, as
the de facto government of,Slex:6l. Tbejnon
stitutionitl President,! neveithelt.ss, maintain
ed his pos;t4in with firmness, sand was anon
established with his cabiuet at Vera Cruz.—
Meanwhile the government of Zuloaga was
earnestly •resited,l, in many parts of the Repitb
lie, and even in the capital, a portion of the
army having pronounced against kite func
tions wire declared terminated, and an imam
bly" of cit izebs were invited for the choice of
mew President. This assembly elected Gelder
al Mitainon, but • that Officer ppoiliatek the
plan under which he .waselected, - and Zaluaga,
was thus restored to his previous position. Ba
assumed it however, only to withdraw • from
it, and INfirathon,.havick become by.' his ap
pointment, "President Substitute:. continues .
with that title, at the head of the insurgent
party. . - , . _
In my last annual twsoige I'coibtnuninat
ed the circumstances under whiob the late
Minfster of the United Suites. suspended his
official rebitiona with the'Centr sl'Governrurt
'and withdrew- from the courvry: It - was im
possible to maintain friendly intercourse with
a G.overnment like that at the capital, under
whose usurped authority wrong , ' were con
stantly committed, out never redre•sNed.: , llad
this bden an established government, with
us pealrer extending by the conaent of the
wbule of Mexico, a resort to hostilities against
it would have been quire justifiable and in
deed necessary. But the country was a prey
to civil war; and it .was-hoped That the suo•
cess of the constitutional President might
lead to' a condition of things less injarious to
the United S.a;es.
, Thissocces s beoame- so probable, that in
January last I employed a reliable agent—to
OA Mexico, to report to me the actual con.
ditioti and prospects of the - conteoding 'par
ties. In consequence of his report, and fropo
information that reached me from other sour
ces, favorable to - the prospects of the const:
Lionel cause, I felt jos , iiiable in anpoin,ting
new Minister to Mexico; woo might embrace
the earliest suitable opportunity of restoring
our diplomatic relations with, that Republic ;
For'this purpose a distinguished citizen of'
Maryland was selected, who proceeded on hie
mission on the fish of Much last, with disore
tionary authority to recognize the govern.
went of President Juarez, lfod his arrival} in
Mexico he shOuld Sod it entitled. to such' re=
cognition, according to the established [frac
tice of the United States.
On the 17th of April, following, -Mr. Mc
letne presented his 'credentials - to ?resident
Juarez, having no hesitation " in Pronouncing
the government of Juarez to be the only ex
isting government in the Republic..", Ile was
cordially received by the authorities at Vega
Cruz, and they tave ever since msnifeated
the moat friendly disposition, ti?warde the
United States. • Unhappily, however, the con
stitutional government has not b4en able
establiih its power over the whole Republic.
It is supported by Fl large intiority , of the peo
ple and , the State:, but there are impottint
pada of the .country Where it. can enforce nii
obedience. General Mirsmon maintains hints
self at the capital, and in many'of "the distat.t
provincec there tireTtnilitary give/cert, who
paplittle , respect to the dectsces of either gov-
Jarnment.
In the meantime the exceiset that way%
attend, upon civil war, especi sllY in - Mexico,
are cone:tautly' recurring: Outrages of the
wore . ; description are committed both upon
persons and property. ...There it scarcely any
form of injery that - has no; been suffered by
our,citizens-in Mexico, during the last few
years.' We have been nominally at peace
with that. republic, brit, "so far as the inlet•
e-ts of:oer commerce or of our citizens who
have sisited the countryas merchants, ship.
=start, or in other-copal:lo7s are concerned,
we might as well have bec,pat. war?! Ltfe
,has been insecure, property unproteeted, and
trade impossible except at .the_ri-lt hiss
,which prudent two cannot. he expected to
•inctor.,
Important contracts involving large espsn
ditures enterered into by the central . govern:
merit, have be set at defiance by the locial .
'governments. Peaceful "Anserican residents,
opcupying their lawful.' possessiong, have been
suddenly expelled' the country; in.defi-ince of•
treaties, And, by the mere force of Arbitrary
power. Even the course of justice tins, CMC
been tutfe from control, and a recent decree
of Miramon permiia the intervention - of :goy
rnment in all snits where either party is. -a
Feigner. YePeletortite,United States bsve
eon seized .without law, and a (Mj IM'S'? offi
cer who protested against Such .. soisoce. has
been fined and imprisoned for' difreopeot i to
- the atithoritiea. Ildt!itary contributicms have
Iteee,levied in vioiatiiin of eyery principle of
right, And the . Atiserican who: resisted the .
lawless domed has bad his property forcibly
VOLpIVIE X 'NUMBER 1,
haken away and has bee n f l invelf" toreished,
I From a 'conflict of authority in difierent parts
of the - counfry, tariff duties which hare been
I paid in _one place- have been exacted- titer
; again in
.antrther Plate._ Largo rrumbers of
our citizens,have beim arrested and in:ll26Bot -
; ed widrout,any from of examination
,or any
; -
I oppo; tunity fora hearing, and even when ref
. leassd hers ouiy obtained their liberty after:
ranch Outiuring and injury and without any .
lope of redress:.. The Wholesale massacre o f
Crabby and his as'uociates without trial in So
- flora,: as well as the seizure and - murder of
four sick Americans who, hrfil taken _shelter
, io the house ufarr Ainerican, upon the sotl.
o f th e Unit e d
_States, was communicated to
Congress at itst session: Murders of: ii
still more alum' tischarar.;terhave been cam:
Witted io . the very heart of Mexico, under the
trust
authimily of Miratuan's government, during
the Present yelsr. Some of these were only•
worthy bf a barbarous age, nadir they 'bed
nut been clearly proven, would seem impoit-i
-ble in a enuntry which claims to be civilized
Of this description.was the - brutal massacre
in April jars, by order of General Marquez, of
three American physicians, who, were seized
in4lie IM-Pitat at Taeubara whilq, attending
upon the'wek abd the dying of both 'parties i - -
and.ssithout trial, 84 eithuut crime, were hur
ried away to speedy execution. Little less
sliuCkitig was the receutfate of Oi mond Chase,
,whr.r*was shot in Tepic on this 7iftof August ;
by order of the traffic Mnxican genet-al,. but or
'Without a trial, but without any -conjecture ,
by his friends .of the Cause of his arrest. ,Ile N ,
is represented as a'young - norn of good - char- \
meter and. intelligence, who had made bugler-
OUS friends in Tepie by the courage arid be
inanity 'which he had • displayed on seferai
•tryin,g oUcasiobs, ana his death was-as apex •
pectedis it was shockibg to the whole cons.
munlty. "Other outrages might be-enumerit- -
ed, but themi are auffi z iept to i!lustrate the,
' wretched state of the outifil - fry and the unprb- .
tecied conditioti of the , pursonsiand _property
-tif our citizeuSin MeSico...,-
, In all Oche ONUS our - ininisters have been
constant and faithful in their deinands for rd
.diessi but both they and. this gtivertimenl s
which they ••have succes-ively represdnted,
here been wholly pow s elass to make their_tie•
mends etrective.: Their testimony in this re
spect, aid in reference. to the . only -remedy
ithlieiijudginents-, would meet the ex
igency, hay been both ilitifortu and emphatic.
"Nothing but- a Manifestatiim of the power of
-the Gev.eturneal \tf the Unitdd Slates, {wrote
our latqq minister in' 1656,) and of its purpose
to puni,Sh, these wilongs 'will avail: I n:.-are.
you that t - htt universal belief )tarn is that-there
uothing to be apprehended (Rim the Gor:
eminent of the United 'States, and that local
- Mtixican officials.can commit 'these outrages
;upon Citizens of the United States with atoso
lute impunity." . ' I hope -the Prdsid Int."
(wrote our present mit:listerire
• l r ' oS:.;!is:,)
will feel.authorized to ask - from .Congress
the-power to etitsi Mexico with. She miititsry
frees of Catted States, at the oaf' of the
constitutional aufhoritiesja order 10 protect
the citizens an balreaty igh:s of the Unit
el States. - Un!ess soh prow,r is cooferrei
upon - hitu, netth . tor the oue or the other tisiil bs
recpacted in the exis:tog state of anarchy and
disorder, and :the outrages already pertistra,t
ed.will never-he chastised; and, as I tissuield.
you in my tIA, all theseevils must increase.
until every : vestige of order and g!verotnont
AisapPears from the country." I have been.
relentautly, led to the - same Opinion, and - iq
justice to.tny countrytudn who have suirdied
wrangfri:ln Mexie6, and may still suffer thew,
I feel bound to announce this couclusioo 'to
Corigress. . •
_ • •
TIM - case pteen..el, boviever,i. nOt meely
a .C . 71313 of individusr °Latins, lthouglt - burial(
against,X,xico haie.reudhad • a very
large :madam. "Nur i. it merely the casis
protection to tho lives and prop Iv of the
few Americens who ray's DI remain in Me*,
although the lif e a u., property of tivcry
AnxeriCan tiiize ought - to be. sacredly ie..),
tented in every q tarter of the world. .4 - 4, it
is a question tbut relates. 'to the Nutt?
as taint) present ad. the past, and which in• •
voices, indirectly. t less', the whole subj ect
,
of • our duty to Mexico its . a neighbdring
State. The exercise of the power of the Uni
ted Statesindhat couti,try . redra.stlte wrongs
+lnd protect the rights Of our cam Cit7z.ins,_ is
none the less to be desired because etUcient
nd necessary aid rnay thus be • reedered• at
he same time to reltord peace and. order.
Mexico itself. •
. . .
- In the accomplishment of this merit ; the
. people of the Uuitell&ates Inuit neeesni lily •
reel a, deep ahri I earner-t int?.r.est: Nfexico -.
ought to .t.i.e . a . f.ch and prosperous and power= '
fuL republic: :She posseszes an exiensive ter-
lit.iiry, a fertile'soil, and na incalculable store _-
3f minersl wealth. 'She occupiesan .. .import
ant position between the Gulf and the O. eau '
foi_transit routes end for ...imp rnerce. kit - ilio•i
elide that such. a country 15 thi. can be given
up bi - :anarchy and. roils , without au e ff ort
1 .
from any qusrter fir i'.,5 1109U0 4nti its snfetyi
Will the comirercial na3i'tens of, the - ,weild,
which lisve Sir Many inter,l•sts connected with
it, rennin sehullyintliffiretit to such.ir rusult l
Should the United Suites; especially, which •
'ought to share most largel y y in its commercial
intercourse, allow -their inionedinto neighbor •
thus to destroy itself and injure them I Yet,
without!suftpoit frnn some quarter, it is irn-
PoslibliPto perceive bow Mexico can femme
her position among tilition., and upon - a Ctt•
reef. which promlies any
,good resuhs. The
aid which she req•i' - rAs, and will tiro foier
esis of all conimercial countries Noire that
she shriulit have, it belongs to thi governintrot .
to render. 'not only ,by virtue of our ' neighbor.
hood to Mexico, - slung ivho-e territory we ,
have A cot tinuMis frontier or nearly t thous
and miles, but by virtne also ,of Our eatablish - .
ed pulley, whiob is inconsistent with •th e i n , •
• terventionof any For roper' power in - toy dos!.
roestic concerns of that ropublio. . „.
The !fangs vildoh we have suffered frtini
Mexico are before the world; add must deeply.
imPress'every American citizen. A govern :
m'ent which is tither unwilling or unable to
'redress such wronr,a, is deieliettoits, highest .
dirties. The diftli;ultt: con , ista in selecting
and enforcing the reinedy. We may in' visits
.apply to the - Constitutional Government. at -
Vera Cm*, although his Well•dispoaed to do
as justice, for adequate redress. Whilst its''
authority is - aeltriowledged in ail the import- '
age portS, and throughout the , S 3 a - cOositt of •
the reptiblic, its authority does not extend-lo
the City of.Mexioo and the States in . its vi
oialty,•Where nearly all_ thd retreat mange.:
have heencemraitted on American citizens.
Ws. waret•penetrate Into the intetinr before