LCT JAMES BUCHANAN, !r ::m "F iiH". 1 xm.i' st.ii: nil. I.NAII. AM' Ilnl SK I . i . i.hnKt tin' v, n . tin' o'lltltn li: ItCIl I'l :.'l iS lu ll' I isll il;ti I- 1 ,-t In. .til:: I-''-: ' " . I .Ml I.. .1. ). t I ...!! ul II III .. l i . ! Hi : n-ti v. II.:!-. lu ,ltli i,..- lo II I.I, j li :il i:ll i.lllt, iltl'i !.lit j l.ili I . I Mil i .illiliH II - i ,v- ! i ti i nli 1 uilli :... 1 l,r j i. 1. 1-1 ts.tr n.,.l ! 1. It !.- 1. :li !i ill ll.. j nt"! :, -,..!.., Ir .1 j J i I 1 1 t n ill w 1. I, e 1 ! 1" I ;i,.ht J' j .1 d'.-c !it lit I.--IV P CX- d the I iii -li . t the Mat -, j ol all tin hi "in-s. ic i 1 . i :! !i l! I li.in ;i ' :y .1.1 . U l- It I -,-:i. ii I v...v.( ,. Il, Ili. n. ll ': :, .1 ,. I wilh il'-liiltti 1 ..e l-.i- cite t 1: ti, , i l lilt- a;;- ! it- it.t- I In li e ! ;!, i a ; .. I- wilt' tin- : -In li o -d iv : .;.!!. iu M tt La- at l : tii I to. Hi .'- ; .1 is c.l, . t.. 1 I.- .-.l. I ciii i i li. I - t t j ! - - I , .. -t. al- UoW "HI l( .eallir-t CO i I ,( II' I , ! . Ill,, t:l;i has ill! W - I. ; o MUiil Ulead. .1 by j ( ., ! .1 !. I I I, IS I 11 lit . V, It In ll ll-'-'iii' IT' - I . '.i ai J -isties Lav le-ll l.Ii;.l. I htr j ; : j i i - t-ii ui.il ujtt ii i.'i. w mi- tl my 'iitit vy- i: ! tli-: Hi W iiupclidtln: dalil:-!. I Lis !, k i t L iy lit.tn th- Linn n 1 1 put '. : .iiur- nr the t 1 1 it.1 i d I- 'i latin t.. , , -. i : -ia . . i v tiom the J v-i i it 1 1' n -r tiom th.; ! 1 it- ( I tllU. tetit SiahS to (Ut. it the u :i ol th.- Ptuitivc M ivc law. All ft any j t... -c evil-might lave teen . f.-Iiiicl ly'tli.-j sit ii wiibout d ill-" l to t :,c 1.' .:"tt. ( is either- : i. iv- Uvn.i in the tli:it 1:pm-,(M.! r -fleet i n j a: i- li .1 - i ni'lcll ti 111 tin-- i.l"C!iH tto.n j tiii' 1 1. ! ill it tli- im.--.tiit uii'l ii'l' iit a ,itn-! 1 -li n I II.'- 1 iv. iy (ifluil tM'.iil.Dtlt liic yiili ii'i !: j'jir(. r :i (i ntuiy. Ijns at I i,;t(j I'ln ir.col i:s w il-iiii ii.lJ j. in iijwiii tilt - lit--, ai.'t in J tli-iii w. tii Vinc lritii.i 'if ii nc a t-.n-c t-i s.cinitv ti4i ' , i ! aii ui i ti.e t.iiuiiy aitir. Tiii- . t f.:r ' .i lj- in-- h triv. ll v t t !i-i.nis ft f.nil-- i i i s ii 1 1 t'tiii. Mai.y ft i , -i tt.i.-i:jli..ut l.v S -ii lm n tlr s at tiiulit . I: . ! i v ;. it iniiv I- : l.l Ik i - It ui l tl I '-.i I' J-r t:ic u i nit 1. Mi.uil.l tulh ap , , 1 1.: ! 'ii.-ijc .1 im..t, whct:i r real rr . ii y, 1 an ! iiitciirify it-. It unlit it . I i.l. tii.- ma-,- s(. ti.- Njiitli: in ii-4.i,!e. 1 --.i.i--ti Hill I" ; -mil' nit vit tii) ..It-prL- i r, i- t!,c i.i-t law t ti it ii ic. iitmI Ijis i :.i I in th.- I;, ut ot ti.an I y tiis ,,-at.r ---t pu: ii.t : a:,. I no p- liticat uni n. i r i .i,t wiilj l.-.-itis -iruJ lent htt. in .ii r : . ' 1:1 1 " 't'tii.iu. il tin lie- "" - - t. 1, ti l. r iIm- ii-iiN4 an.l 1 1 i;! I. i': ti,.- pun. - to i. Iial-itu ! i, 1. - Iy -... n .. ,Urt or later ' rii ha I '11:0:1 iuut it - H-v.-rcl. c-t.i .ti -a llt.t tlii.-il.ital l.a. I .uiiii i ; an i my pr.ncr to iui ia tint I p tv the Ci.ii-lilutimi an. I the ii : .;li"ut uil p'l.-i atioiis. ! '. i.- tiii. - 'i.-arniiij; in tiiiK-, ai.'i muhvc 'l-.ii-'-r. It ciiiiiiit h.- iKnifl that, ! tW:-Mv y-ar. the a-jtation at thu i ' rt ivcy in the S.mtli, has lni n L: ' hi 1-I"' pi t han-Ii ili.-, :uil in i:";.v (ioiihitt-J -tonivc -;. "it th.- Jj. 1:1th. if a r!miu t.-r to i v- pi-i-.n i.f tii- flxv, ; an I, in the l.u l !(n i.il Ji.;k'-n, -l.i f-titaiilato them ! t!'.;i, ami pr.;(! icc fltt. h.jrroiis -f ,l " '1 hi aiialion h.t- cv-i fcii.cc mm. :--! hy th- ptil.lic p..-, .y the pro - f Mat. an.l (Min.ty -,iiv. nli, ii.-, ami ut " tmoi.s an- h a.nvs. 'J he time 1-1- f h i-h-mi mviipic.I iini..,!..nt pxt.-h-t: - ii.-v.-r .-Ti.iii.L'Mihj t ; apv ilr iu 1- t in. ! other l inn-, en i, ir distiti I :i'it.-. h-t'ii H-nt Juilh (."will this II ! 1 :. pi.-a.i I ma Ica-t over th- I" 'i-V V'.' :t. tin: ' d it r nieriran p-n- i U M.iicr ipifftion toiever, and h i- -t i. .:.t:v. , . .t .j ii .ii iu i ii is m-ir.uTeii iill, al.. d ih All th .t U ; ni.i .oi.ipni ti.,..,hi ct, and all f,.r .i I. if m.iu- States hive ever contclulcd, is 'tHlone, and p amitud to m mage their - "own-, 1,1 ,r ,awj w Aj i,:T'"'tli,T- 'l-.v ah,,,.., a.ere- .-.'.. ... kmc aii.l th iv rlj f,-r th. t ' ...-iiir. Mil H I i ; i... N'h me i.-.t more r, sponsible, ,,;:,l;,i;''''''i'.iifl,ti:.niti, 'M.t.itnnMrt l;uu itT m J:iazii. ir f, t... , ii -it iii. tii- i..,i liie. I ndi uieiilv nli- u in, .,,t .'- h yondthe i-.-werofauy Presi- j fitter what nuv te hisou.i ..iii;...i ' to lc-tore 1" : ; ami h uii.ony '! JiiuiU -I and it - i " ' 1 "- l- his lower . m.der out LltiStitU- i iWr, 1; at, f r--loi ;.t 'ne can nnomplmh but lit Ml, i ll SU' ll a momentous ; ti.is b.in mo t,M b-rve that the clc- - ii.- oi our leiiuw-ritiz ns to tin- i f ( i MOfSUot Of it-:, ft ;,ti.d t I . ... .iwtig me ( m , I'liii i.s in.ii. ' i.iv iri,. n I tie ti.n b ,H H.vtl j , i : 1, 1 . ... i pall " It 11 . ' 'X''rr'' . -v11l '""vtitutK.li. of powcts licit Ihe late itr-si- h:iS been bel 1 in . eon . then ii express provi.vions. 1-tr .v tl ' J'istifya levolutloo .......... , 'j'-u,IJ riIi ' ""t a m ijoiity, of th.. ; injure I States, aller having I-:;,,, f( ' V nna tia'iMnit atid atiii ctinslitiitionai means to obtain -.! ,.',y,il, i'1'1 probably never jnstifi-d in revolutionary re : . .'e-i !.!JI l. i T,i' r l" j'liiy a resort io the Government of th L nioii. i.i.-. i . .. ' 1 mricv. the Federal Govern- I have purposed r confine! nn u .luiuvi.iu-. I iill OR. I n-iuiii jirl'u, a reanl ftir tlio Cuimtilution, all tv iii're thnt we t-li.ill wait for p nie overt un) lani:iioui icL mi H e put 1 1" tli, I'n Hi. lent th rt lrtort! resorting to Mich a n iii4--y It id mid, how vt r, that tin: ahtcniJcnts ! the l'K.--uki.t i I ii ivu Lieu biillicioLl to jus tity thu tcairi ot Ihc Seith that he Kill attempt to invade theii coustjtutiotial lights. Hut are lKh ttpi'rchtiious ot ' font indent danger in the tutuieMifticifut to jui-tily thu immiiltate deb truclion f the noMot tyst in of government ever devistd by mortals:' Fioin the very na ture (t his c thee, audit.- huh r spoiisibiiitics, he must ntccssarly Ik conservative. J he stern duty ot adminihl. iin th.' v.ist and eoinplirated (ouecniM of thin (i.veininent alloidn in itself a iiatantcc that he will not attempt any viola tion 01 a cU-ar eoliti,ltiotal ruhl. A tier all, he In n,.iu th in ii..- rhicl x. rii i v i ( tliivr ofl:e (i. cn.iutnl. Hi. protimc is not to in ike, i.iit to x tuti. the laws ; and it is a re imuk ihY la. t in tun histoid, ilia, nntivith htandin the repeat, d 1 11". 1 1 - oi the ami hvery patty.mo siiiRle act has .-r jussd oni;n ss, unless w. may ps:Hy ecpt the Sli.s niri t'onipoiuise.impiiiit ir in the li-litest desire, the rights of the N.nth to their property in hlaves. And it may also Iu ohsetvtd, ju tuinc; tioin puseiit indii alioiirt, that no o.il.i!ily it oi the 1 asae;,' tit hh li an a t, hy a ma j .tiu id h. th IIoum s, cither in the pi.sent or II. e li-At t ohle:s Sut-lv, Under tluwiir- miiM llieis, we oiuht to le rehtiailit d troin pn rent a- ii ti hy :h pi.ccpt of Him who spake as never mm k oke, that ' Biitti. i nt unto the .lay is the evil tln rtof." The d iy of evil may never rout., uid. s we shall rashly hiini; it njHiu i-ur-ei v s. It is alieuedas onecm-in for inline liaht t .s-i.ui tint the S nitiicrn States are denied c pi il lights wilh the other States in the rom nioii l.iiitoii.it lt I y what atithority are thei-e il.nitd' Not hy Congress, which has m ver pai-seil, and I UIn ve never will ;i-s, any a. t to exettidr I.ivt iy fiom lhcte 'ieriitoiic: an 1 t tail it v 11.it hy the Supreme i'oiiit, which h is soh innly dr. ided th it f luvcs are projH-ity, and. like all other piopetty, their owners have a tiht to t iLe- tli -iii into the common leiri t-'iics, hii t I14-I 1 tliein theio und r the piotec tii'li ot the t'oitit uiion. Solar, tin 11, us Coiiuitss is conci tried, the ot.jri (ion is ii"t to !tnthiiii; they have alieady d , hut to what th. v may do h. realtcr. It w 'I ciu-li t e a-imiit. d that ti.is apprehension .1 iiti!t.-..Li ,-ei is no mo.l leas n (oi an iiuiue diate dirvoliitioii of tin I iji-Mi. It is tiue that ti e t.-iiit'.rial !e::i-l iture of Kan-a-, on the l! ; I t rehni-iiy. 1 , pii-f.-d in irre it h a te an act. i.verthe vi-i ii the tov. rrior. deelarini; th it d ii- i "is and fhal! !, lor.-vi r prohihited in tl.i I 1 litori " Such an ai t. It m -v.-r. pltinly i-d it inir the lights ol piopelty secilli-d hi the n-,tiir,ii, n, wilt t-uiely U' de hired void I-v i th- ii.dirian wiieicvei it thai 1 he presented in ' a h - il t.nni 1 ! t,ty time dav-i after 11. v inaiuural ioti the ' Siif r. tn (' ant ot the I nit.-l S'attri Kolemiily a fpiil-.d that this h.w- i did not t t in a t-i-' I lih-iial h-Ki-hituie. V. t mm h has hi cii the 1 ! ',i( t i. -'i - t m pi 1 1 1 tli t im s that tin- coi rc t- j ot thi- d. -i-i.-n ha; h.-. 11 t xt iimv ly im ' pu-Mii d het'ou- tin people, and the 1 j lit stion has iv. ii iw to aiiirty p. .lit n il roi.il:. ts thn.Ui:h ut the tom.tiy. ihis who have apji.at.'d I -Ul thir. judullH'll ot our huhe-t cM)Stittl- n.i.al tiihunal to itopular a' inhHes would. jit tl.cy luiild, invt a ieiiitoii.il hri-l dure I - ih "W r t ann ui tin-M int MhU of rroji- ertv. l'hi- p ucr ( oni:r. f-s is cxpres-Iy (or ;h:.lhn hy tin- Fecial 'oii.-itiliithni to vx n -:-e. Kv.-ty Stale le-i-1 d ut t; in the : I nion i- t'.rt i-ll. n hy its own toiiMituti n f to .x.Tiie ir. It 'ai.tn-t h.- cxettised in j any State except 1 y the? people in tht ir hL'h ; c.-t sovereign eapauty when tiainimj or amend I in; their Slate -mstitutit.n. In likem mn.T, jit 4 an finiy tic i x rti-ed Iy the p.. pic ot a'Ir litoiy represented in a coiiveiitioii of delecattt) , t. r tlie put pose ot tiamiiu a Cotiytitutioti pre ! arat.ry toadmii.-n as a State intothe I'nioii. Then, and not until th-n, aie tiny invest-d with power t d-tide tho question wli.-thir -l ively shall or idi ill not exist within th ir limits. This isanat of s..v..i4 ii;n anthoiity, and ii t ol sntoidit.ate teititotid h ialation. Wcro it otherwise, t"un indeil would the cjuality of the St.ite- in t lie Ten iloii. s 1 de-ti-ved, atid tins lights of prop. rtv in !aves w.'nl 1 .!. . nd, not upon the eaiar.uih-i s ot the n-iitution, hut uj-on liir shmii ir luajoiiti ot" an iiiesj.n-ih.'e t. intoriat Ic-ifcl.iture. Sueh a di etiitie, fiom its intiiusic iinoniidness, an i! t lon inll'.n nee any -insi-Iciahle p;rtion o our j p!e. nun h less eui it attord a yM.i u a s'.n f-r a dissoluti.-n ol the I'uiou. 'J'he incst julpahlc violations ot constitution al duty win h hive yet heeii commitied coni-t iu the a tsof diifermt Stiit legislatures to d f.at lh execution ot tin ftmitive flavp lav It oimht tu lijf reUicmlH-re!, hi.wvvcr, that fr th-e a ts, neither O.r.irn ss imr any President can ju l! y I h-Id r. sp-.nsihle. llavint; lieen piA-ed in violation ol the r-cdcr.il ( 'oiistitutioii. they an theief re null and void. All thu rnuits, Uitli State and National, l-forc u hnm th.f rpiistiuii has ans.n, have ficni th. oci;innin Me 1 irei iiu' iiimve slave law to h.; r-.nistitntioiiil 1 h-' single cxct tioii is inai oi a Mate court in isconstu and thij Lis not only leii reversed hv the per app ilit'i tiihunal, hut Una met with tu h universal r pi.hiti"n that then; cm h no dinner lioni it MM'neri .lent. T he validi ty id this law h it. 1-i-tu ?t.ihlishd ov-r and over auain hy the Supicme oiirt of the Liuted St it.-s with pettect unauiinitv. It is fotindrd upon an exprcs-i provision of the Constitution rupiinn;? that fugitive slav. s who si ipe from serviie in one Statu to hiiftther f-hall Ik "d li eid up ' to their m:L-t. is. Without this i r. visi n it isa well known hit nieal fact that the C nstiiutioii it.-ctt could never have U- nadopt ed i y the Convention. hi one form or other under the ats of 17:.! ami IS.'iO, both heing ptili-tHntiiliy the Kiine, the fugitive slave law hns 1h-. ii the law of the ind hum the daH id U .uhiuton until the nr s. iit inoia nt. Here then, a clear tase U preseiited, iu which it wii the duty of the next President, oh it has - . n my own. to a t with viiror in t-xet iitiiiL' mis sunn tne law af.iiiifct tlie c(r.ii-. t inr tw-uU vt State IcuMidatnres. Should he fail in the peiformunceol thishih duty, lit-will then iiave liiauitefiteil a ilisicat! ol the oii-titu ti'Ui and laws, to the meat injury of the juropte oi marly oue-Iialt ot the States of the I nion L'ut are wo to presume in advance that he will thus violate his duty ? 'This would he at war Willi cv( ry pinmpie ul justice aud of hrtun ch anty. t n-i wait h.r the overt net. 'Jhe fuu'iliv lave law has heeen cariicd into execu tion ill c cry Coiiti-sted case hiiice thecolnuieme tnent i f the present administration ; though tteii, it is trt Im reretlc.1, with jrreat "'"I ""'"nveiiicmo to tlie master, anl with ronsid- crablo cxjiense to the government. It its tru?t that the State l.-gisl atures will repeal their uuc institutional ami ol noxious cnat tmctiLs. Cnb-ssthis shall be done without uuiicecssarv deiay. it is impossible for any htimau jiower to Kl e ine i ii ion. 1 he S.ittliem State?, standing' on the bads of the Constitution, have a right to demand this at of justice tn in tho Stabs ot the North. Should it Im refused, then the Constitution, to which all the Statts ate parties, will have been willhtlly violated by oik; ih.rtion of th-ni in a iT'i i.-ioU essential to the domestic scuritv ard ippiness of the remainder. Iu that event the first used all peace- IctUees, sisUmce Y remark j to iioiiAiv reMstaiK-e. becau.-u it I as lietn claimed within the list two yrars that any Statu, whenever this sliall be its soven-ign will and pleasure, may seivde from ttie Union, in a. cor,kmce with Ihe Constitution, and without nny vi.datioii of tho constitutional rights of the other rutiul- rs of tho Confederacy, That as ciich U'came partii-s to the Union hy the vote of its own people assembled in Conven tion, no any one i I them m.iy retire from the Union in a ?irai!at manner by the vote ot such a n invention. In oulei to juttiiy S' ceioii ts a otiSlitutiott al iiiiily. ii iiJiht on the piinciple that the 1. d'ral tioveitimeiit is a mere voluntary asto liati ji of StaUii, to Lie diaolvelat pleasuie by any one ot the coulractimj; puilitK. If thU he so, the Coufedetuiy itt a rope of sand, to be penetrated and dirslved by the fust adverse wave of public opinion iu any of the States. In this manueruur thirty-three States may re fotve themselves into us many ietty, jarrini;, anl hostile r. publics, each one retirin; from the l iiioii, without rcsKn-ii ililyt win nev r any sudden cxclteuunt minlit iuiH-l them to such a course Hy this proiog a ( rd'-n miht bd entirely broken inio tram-nts in a few weiks, which cot our h,ref;ithciti main cait. of toil, privation, and blood lo estab'i-h. Sut h a printiple is wholly incoiiH-t. nt with the history a well aft the character of tin- I Vd era! Constitution. After it wad fiauied, with the greatest deliheiation and care, it wan sub niitted to coiivi-iitiong of the people of the several States lor ratification. Its provi.-iuii were discuts. I at length in thesis bodied, com -p tied of the tirt im u of the country. Itrt op pi D 'titi cuiteridd that it conteiied owerrf up4in the Keler.il tiovi nunetit dam:, rnus t the liihtsot the States, whiht itsadvoat. main tamed that under a fair ronstru tiuu of the iiihtiumeiit theie was no touudatioti for such i appieheusioiiH. In that mighty strulc be-' twecn the first intellects of this or any olht r country, it never occur iel to any individual, either anions its opponents or advocate, to aswit, or even to intimate, that their etlorU wrc all vain lal or, U cause tho inomeut that any Male it u luitelt avncve-l t-lia miuht s'icile irum llie i nmn. V hat a crusbin ar gument wimld this have proved against tlios lic dicadcd tliat the liglibi ot the States would U iiidangered hy the Constitution. '1 he t:u(h is, that it was not until many yiais aftr Hit; origin of the Federal Ciovciuuit nt that hiKh a propositi' ti was tirst lulvauce!. It was t licit met ami refuted by ttie conclusive argu ments of (iene al Ja kson, who in his meiv.ige of h'.th January, ,, tiniisu.ittiiig the nulli f) ing oitlinance ot Smtti Carolina to Congress, employs the following Ungual; : 1 tie light ot the people ot a single State to absolve them selves at will, mid without the consent ot the other Stat s, from their most solemn obliga tions, and haz ird the lilierty nnd happiuct-s of ll:.- millions composing this t'nion, cannot be acknowledged. Such authority is believed to be utteily i4-jiti-naiit l-otti to ttie principles! upon win h the lieneral i tovernmctit is coiiati tuttd and ti the object which it was exprn-sly formed to attain." It is uot pretended that any cl uise in in tin th' Constitution gives tounteii nice to sin h a theory. It is altogether founded upon infer ence, not from any language contain d in the iu-trumetit itself, but from tin; sovereign char acter ot the several Stibs by which it wap rat hi d. Hut is it bciid the p jvi r of a State, like an indivi.lval, to ield a portion ot its so r igu liiht to secure the remainder ? In th-' I u.guai'e of Mr. Mad iron, who has leen called tin hither of the Constituti at : "ll was formed by the Statis that is, by the people in eai h of the States, acting in their h'ghest sov er. ign capacity; and f'imel const tjuentlv by ttie t-amc aulhoiily whit h fornud ttie State constitution." " Nor is the (lovernnient of the I'nitid Slat.-t, created by ttie Constitution, less a Gov ernment in the Makt a use of the term, within the sphere of ilsjowcrs, than the governments created by the constitutions of the StU.s are, within their several spheres. It is, like them, oriatiized into legislative, executive, and ju dbiary depai tmetits. It operates, like them, dirctly on pcTMns aud things ; ami, like them it has at command a pi ysnal tone for execu ting thu jioivi rs committed to it. It w;ia int. tided to bo perpetuated, and not to in; annulled at the pleasuie of any one of ttie contracting parties. The old artichs of con feb ration were entitled "Articles of ont h r a' ion and Perpetual I'nioii Iictween the States;" and by tiie lain article it is ex plenty declared that "the articles of this ConicdTntion shall ' ii mviohil.lv oiiservcl hy every state, and ttie Union t-hall lie perp- tual." The prennble to ) tiie Constitutieii ot the Unit.-! StuU s, having ! express reference to llie nrti les of ( onfctera tion, recites that it was established "in order to hum a more picibct I nion. Aud y.-t it is Contended that this "more Kifect Luiiii" do-s iiot include the essential ntttibtite f p r-, petuity. Put that the I nion w:is designed to be per- M-tual app ais conclusively from the nature aud cxieiii oi me pi were conu-rroi ny me ionsiitu-1 th in on the Pe l rat Government. '1 uese pow- j ets emtirace tne very niguot atti unites ot i.a- tional sovereignty. 'I hey dace both the swonl and the pitise umlcr its control. Congrtss has powvr to make war, and to make peace; to raise and snpLort atmies and navhs, aud to conclude treaties with foreign governments. It is in- vet-ted with the tower to com money, aim to ( regulate the value there. f, and to regulate I commerce with foreign nations, and among the t s-veral Slates. It is not necepsary to enniner- I ate the other high powers which have been con- J ferret1 ujwin the Federal Government. In order to tarry the enumerated towers into cllect, Con- j to be collected, as here tofore, at the custom gress possesses the exclusive right to lay and - house iu Charleston; aud .-hotild the collector collect duties on imports, and in common wilh the States to lay and collect all other taxes. Put the Constitution litis not only conferred these high powers upon Congress, but it has adopted effectual means to restrain the States fr in interfering with their exercise. For that puriKise it has, in strong prohibitory language, expressly declared that "no State shall enter into any treaty, all in nee or cou federation; grant lette rs of mariue and reprisal ; coin money ; emit bills of credit ; make anything but gold ami silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder ez fust facto law, or law impairing the ot ligation of contracts." Moreover, "without the consent of Congress, no State shad lay any imjosts or duties on any imjKirtsor exports, except what may be abso lutely necessary for executing its inspection laws;" and, il they exceed this amoant, the ex tens shull lie long to the United States. And "no State shall, without the consent of Omgnss, lay any duty of tonnage; keep troojis, or fclnps ot war, in time ot peace ; enter into any agreement or compact with another, State, or with a foreign power; or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in Midi imni ueut danger as will not admit of delay." In order still further to secure the uninter rupted exercise of these high powers against State iutetK'.si(in, it is provided "that this Constitution and Die laws of tho United Slates which shall lie made in pursuance thereof ; and all treaties made, or which shall he maue, nn ier the authority of the United States, shall bo the supreme law of the land ; and the judges iu every State shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of nny State to tho contrary notwithstanding the solemn sanction of religion his been superadded to the obligations ot cliicial duty. ami oil senators and representatives of the Liuted states, all members ot State legislatures. ami all executive and judicial officers, "both cf tho United Stabs and ol the n-veral States, shall Im; bound by oath or btlirmation to sup tort this Constitution." J ii order t carry into eti-ct these powvrs. the Constitution has established a perfect Gov ernment in all its forms. Legislative, Execu tive, and Judicial ; anel this Government, tu the extent of its powers, acts directly upon the individual citizens of every State;, ami exe cutes its own decrees by the agency of its own officers. In this reflect it dilleis entirely from the Government under the old Confederation, wnicli wan confined to making rcijuisitions on the States in their sovereign character. Tide lett it iu the discretion i f ea h whetht r bxdiey or to r. fufe, and they often declined to comply wsth ruch requinitin-. It thus became tucib sary, for the puiioH.' of removing this barrier, and 'in oiiler to form a more perfect Cni-.n," toestai hrli a tiovrtiiiu. nt which could at di rectly uiou the people, and execute its ou Uws without the intei mediate agency ot the Stated. rlnis has b en ae iiiplilnd by the Constitution of the Cuite t States. In uhort, the tJovernment inat d by the Constitution, and d. riving its aiithoiity Iroin the Fovereii,'ii people ot inch of tin; s'Vetal Statert, ban r. cis Iy theyauie ri'ht t i xetcii-e its jiowi r over the people f all tln-i-e Stat, s, iu the enumerate ! r ises, thit cacti i ne of thcin ptssis-es ov.-r sul j-tts hot d, h 4ted to the Luited Staled but "ie.-crvd to the Slates, ren pectivcly, or to the people.' To the extent ot I he d hvah d powers the Ci iititiition t the I nit. . I M .i-r, ir- us miiih a p:irt ol the cotistiltiti -n ot a. u ,s;,iic, and is i.s binding u;nti its peiph-, as tt.oujli it had i-ceu textually insi rii 1 tin i. in. 'J his (ioveiiilnclit, lie i. I..; , -t. a ieal and jKiwerhil tiovcinmcnt. invet.d v. tin all the at iiihntes o s ivereiiniy ovr the special sub bets to uliit h iU authority t tin!s. Its tia iticts nt . i inlcinl d to iiuplatit in its Uis.in i he s. N ot its own ) struct ton, nor were they at it- u- .tioii l- tiilty ol I he absut iity of piovid in f.r i;.- own di-..-. littion. li ta.s not intciid. d by iU tunc is lo be . c his"hvs t-ilnit'of a virion, w tit-ii. a' the loin ti of the em h inter, would vani.-h i; to thin aii, leil a Milet intial and mighty uhii , capable of lesintin the slow I dtiay ot tune and oi d. i in the toImol ic't tj. jludctd, w. It may ihe j ah a-i pitiiots of that I day have iuduUI lat ihit a Keieinui(Ut of i sucti high jewels uiijj,t i .!aie itn rs ivcd i rights ot llie Stat s, ai d wi -!y ihd th. v a b pt the rule t a stitci c-.mti u- n . i i i th.f-e u- eis to preictit the danger ! P. . I tl.. v t:i I not fear, nor had they any rc.ts,.u to ii.ia. inc. that the Constitution would ever be It.t. i f d as to enable any State, by he( c.u.ni anl without the coi.i.-tit ot her i-iMei .t .t. (.. .1- -charge lo r pv.iplc houi all or an ol Im ii I . d eial obligations. It may Ik- a-Led, then, :ti- the- p.t.pl.- . f the Stibs without ri-dicss agaiu.-t the tv ratty and opjiresrioti (.f llie Feli rat ihivt-iiitnt-nt !y n unans. I hi i ight ot n si tanee on the pait i t the governi! ag.iin.st ihe oppi-ii.u of tlo-ii governments caiinct be detii.-1. t .-i(s imle peutb ntly of ad constitutions, and lias been cxer. it-id ut iill iteriods of lb; w..t!d's histoiy L'uder it old govetntn- nt.- h ive been detmycd, and ti w oiks have taken their lice, it ) emlHitlied in sttong nml i xptt s language in our own Jicelaiatioii of hid. peiiden.-e. P.ut the distinction must ever be ob.-ci v d, lint this is revolution ngiinst an ir-tabli-h: i Govcrn-nn-nt, and not a voluntary sci-.smoii from it by virtue ot uu iuheii nt i onlittttion;.l riuht. Iu ht'It, let us I.Hik the d iiil.'. r fiiily in llie face. Sect-gfinii is m iih r more n r h ss than ii-v.'lutiti It m.iy or il m y imt b ju-titii ble r'Voluti.n, but .-lill il i- i.-v.luti n. W h it, in ttie mean cine-, is the r. pon-iiiditi and true p.-Miinn tf the I'xecutive' lb is ItMit.d Iy fob-inn o..th U tore lod and th- (onutiy "to take tare thattiie 1 ,ws lie faithlully exe tit.-il," and fn in (his oblim tioti he caniittt te :il ovl hy atiy human power. P it what if lb- p n ai:.a:.i ' of ihis duly, iu wlnile or in p a i, Ji I. . u r. n 1. rel impiacticahb hvev-n oi.-j ul i-;, h-- cou d have exercieil no c -t.t i.: ' i tti. pies- ene moment, is tiu ta-e U.io iii ut lie- State id Soiitlt Ciiolina, so far a-? lit- liusif ttie I'ntted Slabs to sciutcthe a. liuiirst : a ' L u of jitice bymein-.t th-Ftd-ial J i.di. i u v i.re comcrne-J. All lb- 1. d-r d t.in .-is wit i i it limits, tliroiigh wlios- hj. n. y al.-m th.e laws cm be carried into -xe uti.'ii, have ult.';"!y re bigni.l. We no long, r have a di.-tiixt ju.L'e, a difjtriet attorney, or a m.it-h.d, in S a:lli aio liua. In fact, the whole m him iy ol th'- 1'. d ei ul (iovernmt tit, nee s-aty f-r the di.-trihu'iou ot remedial justii e nm ng ihe jh pi-, has b. n demolished ; an 1 tt wood b ditu-"ilt, i! fit lUlpotSflhle, to replace it. 'Ihe only nits of C.nr-. -i-t on ti,.: fiatuti lux k. Is aiin up ui this i-nt it, .-,re those the Hth l-'.-biuary, WS, n-: ! M.ndi, lsu; lhtse nulhotie the Pr -t-i h nr, after he sh M have nsccttaiiicl that the in ti.-hal with hisiv cvmua.U! is iin..OH to execute i iil i r luminal pnn-. ss in any p u tii itl.tr -, to c df forth tli unliti.i and employ tne atit.y and n ivy to aid Imu m p- rhTming this service, bavin - limt I v Pioclam itioti c. mm.tndcd ihe ituigents "n Ji-perse ami retire pe,ealilv to then r. speeliv iilM.les, within a hunted time" This dutv ninnot by p is.-ibilily be p rforined in a State whete no judicial authoiity exists to bsue pri- "'., nd where thete is m marshal to execute ! it, and when, cvci if thete were m l, ,,n cer, uie enme jiopui.iiion wiuni c.-nstitute nne Solid combination to re-it him. ! l tiu iare eriumeiaiton of tlu -e nro t-iniis prove bow inadequate th. y a re without fut th r , legislation to overcome a united op;iition iu a t-iugle State, not to speak of other Sta'.-s w li may place themselves in a similar attitude. - Congress alone has (tower to deride w hello r the pnscnt laws mn or cannot b ; amended as to carry out m ire c ih-cttially the objects of the Constitution The same iiiMiperable obstacles do not ll the way of executing the laws lor the cod vt ion of the customs. 'Ihe revenue still continues .unfortunately lesion, a su cessor may be up i m! 1 1 ted to iterlorm this duty 'Then in regard to the projierty of tho United Slates in South Carolina, ihis has been pur chased for a fair equivalent, "by the consent of the legislature of the State," "lor the erection of forts, magazines, arsi nals, c and over these the authority "to exerci-e cxvliif-ive legis iatiou" has I teen expressly giantcd by the Con stitution to tougress. It is not In lievid that nny attettpt will te made to expel the I nited States from this proieity by force; but if iu this 1 should prove to be mistaken, the ('Hirer in command of the forts has ncvivt d orders to art strictly on the defensive. Iu such a contin gency, the responsibility for consequences would rightfully rest upon the hi a Is of tho As sail ants. Apart from the execution of the 1 iws, so far as this may be practicable, tin Executive has no authority t decidawhat thall be the rela tion betwiTry the Federal Government and Semtu (Jfcjlifav. 1I bus been invested with no surTi rWcTetTctn. If e jMsseBFes no power to change tho rt lationfe hcietoforecxUting between them, much less to acknowledge the independ ence of that Stab1. This would be to invest a oieie Executive officer with the sower of r co nisi ii g the dissolution of the Confederacy among our thirtv-threi soveieign Stab s. It bears no resemblance to the recognition of a foreign dt facto government, involving no su h rrs(omtihility. Any attempt to do this would, on his part, be a nnktd act of usurpation. It ii, tin it-fore, my duty to submit to Cougress t lie whole question iu all its liearim's. ihe cimrse of events is bo rapidly hastening for waid, that the emergency may won arit-e, when you may bccilb-d upon to decide the, momen tous question whether you po?pcss tho power, by force of arms, to cc in pel a State to remain iu the Uni'-n. I should feel mytelf recreant to my duty were I not to express aii opinion on this important subject. The question fairly state d is: Has the Consti tution deh'gatcd toColigressthe power tocoerce a State into euhmif-shm which is attempting to withdraw or has actuary withdrawn tiom the C nfedeta; y ? If answered in the aliirmative, it must be on tho principle that the power has bien coiitt rretl upon (Nmgr4ss to declare ami to make war against a Stale. After much serious reflection I have arrived at the conclusion that no such power has been dele gated to Cogress or to any other department of the Federal Govern , rucnt. It is manifest, upon an inspection of the Constitution, that this is Dot among the specific and eiiumc-iated powers granted to Congress; ami it is equally apparent that its exercise is nut Hetoaary and proper for carrying into ex e ution" any one of lhee powers So far from this tower having been d. -legate! to Congress, it was exprewdy refiiM.fl by the Convention which fiamed the Countitution. It uppt-ui, fiom iheproceHiiiiigsof that body, that on the liUt of May, 177 tho clause "au thorizing an ex. rtion of the force of the whole agaiiiet a delinquent Slate" came up for con ?i fetation. Mr. Madistn op (used it iu brief but Hiwerful speech, from which 1 shall extract but a siiiude sentence, lie observed : "The use of force Hgainst a State would look more like a do t imtion of war than an infliction of punish ment ; and wciild pridubly be considered by the party atta-k-d us a dissolution of all pre vioiis com; acts by which It might te bound. I pou his moti iii ttie clause was unanimounly p.lp. lo!, a id w;is never again I believe pre seiitid Son altcrwarJs, ou the Hth June, 177, when inridrulajly adverting to the sub ject, he said: "Any Government for thet United Stat-s, tonticd i n the supposed pnicticability of it-ing b-nv auaiit the unconstitution d pro leediiigs e f the Slabs, would prove asvisioi.a iy an I fallae ioiis as the (joverntnent of Con gtes," evitbntly meaning the then existing I'ongovs etf thic old Confederation. Without descending to particulars, it may be; saf. Iy as?. -itc 1, that the power t make war luaiusl a Stab is at vat ii nee with the whole pi i it and ihlctitof the Constitution. Supjtcnie if h a war rdiotild result in the conquest of a Stat, how an we to govern it alterwards? Mi ill war hold it as a province, and govern it by despotic p iwer Iu the natuicv of things we could I.ot, by physical force, conttol the wi lof the tcople ami couiinl them to elect senat rs and reprtwntatives to Congret-s, and to (.eifortii all ihe other duties depending upon tti ir own volition, ami required from the tree citizens of a tree Slab ns a constituent member cd ttie Coiifeelera y. Put, it possessed of this tower, would it be wise to ex. r ise it under existing circumstati c.s . 'ihe otjeet would doubtless be to pre s t v - the Union. War would not only present Ihe tno-t elt.-etiial means of destroying it; but w. u!d hani-ti all h.H; of its peaceable recon htiii ta u. P'fidts, in the fraternal contlict a v .s-t aiiK-ur.t cf 1 lKtl and tie-asure would be e, in d-d. rendering futur.t n-cotKiliation be ttie, (. Cm: stiites iaiH'S.-ibIe. Iii the mean tint -, who . in (oietell what would be the suf f. ti:.L aial privuti n of the p?ol during its xi-ti nt.e ' Tiie fa. h, that our Utdoa rests upon public oj iii t n nnd can never lie cemented by the bl-.od . f its citiz-tis s!nd ia civil war. If it can te t live in die ath ctions of the people, it muct oin- elav ei i-h. Coi.gr ss possrskes in .iiy means of pr.M-iving it b conciliation ; but the RWrd was not placed iu theti hands to preserve it by lorce. Put may 1 be t-ennilLd s Ktnnly to invoke my count it men to j.iuse arid detiUrate, lie hue tin y tletermine to destroy this, the gtand-e-t temple which has ever bet-n dedicated to human herd. 'in since tht world lieiran It has U- ii tonsil i 4;r 1 by the blood of our fathers, by the irloiies of the past, and by the hopes ot the lutuie. 'Ihe Union hus already made us the mo t procjicrous. and, ero long, w.H, li pr. s i v d, r. nder us ttm most power! id nation on th- f le e t f the tatth. In every foreign re gion of the g'ohe the title of Aiuciicau citiz.n is h Id in th.- highest respect, ami when tiro ixtun.ed in a fr.inru land it cans. s tho huirt ot our countrymen to potdl wilh hntst pride. Surely when we reach the brink of the vawn- it.g abyss, we shall recoil with horrr from the ia-t fatal plum:-. Py such a elread cataS ro ptic the hopes of the friends of freedom thioughoiiL the woil would b-i destn'ye!, and a loin: tii-lit - f tl.sjsotUiu would enshroud the nations, our example f. r more thau eighty le.irswoull n. t only be lost; but would be .U.t.--t as a com lnsive proof that mvn is unfit t r s U government. It is not every wron nay, it is not every ur.-vn.us wr.ing wlittli can justify a resort t smhafcatful ul'uruativo This ought tti tie the List desperate remedy of a despairing rit ph. alter every C'tbt r constitntioual nuans cd conciliation had been exhausted. We shoubl te.ll ct that uiuhr this free government there is an incessant ebb and fi w iu public opni- n 1 he slaverv question, like everything human. will have its dav. 1 tirmly lietiove that it has alieady rca-lied and passed the culminating P int. Put if, in the mi-1st of tho existing -it-iih nt. the Union shall .eiisli, the evil may tlwii U-coiuo irretiarable. Congresj can con tiibute much to avut it by proposing and re- rotiiiui iKliti.' to the legislatures ot the several Stat s thu rniieily for exteting evils, which the Con.-tititti'.n has its If pruvitbd for it own pre- servatton. I his lias been tried at ilhiercnt cnti cat H-tiotls of cur hif-tory, ami always with eminent success. It is to bo ft.und in the fifth article providing for its own amendment. Uittb r this ailit le amendments have beeu ro p se 1 by two thiols of bath Houses of C. ngrcss ami hive been ' rati lied by the Legislature ot three fourths ol the several Status," and co:.s-qut iitly become parts of the Constitution. To this process the country is indebted for the clause piuhduttng ( oiiifress from passing any law respet ting the establishment of religion, or abridging th lreelom of speech or of the press, or of the rtht of tetiliuu. lo this we ate also indebted lor the Pill of Ilights which scrims the people against any abuse of power by the Federal Government. Such were th apprehensions justly entertained by the friends ot Slates lights at that period as to hive ren dered it t xtreim.lv doubtful whether the Con st it ul ion ci uld have long survived without these amet.iliui nts. Agaiu, the Constitution was aiuenjed by the piiinu piiM-ss after the election ot President Jetbrsou by the Ih.usd of lpresenttt ves, in February, lsoj. This amendtutnt was tender ed necessary to prevent a recurrence of the daiucrs which had seriously threatened the existence ot the Government during the pt n- el.-ncv of that election. The article for its own amendment was iuteudid to secure the amicable adjustment of conflicting constitutional ques- tii'tishke ttie present, which might arise be tween the governments of the States and that of the United States. 'This nppar from con temporaneous bifdoiy. In this coniic'Clioii, I shall merely cull atten tion to a few sentences in Mr. Madison's justly- celebrated report, in 17VJ, to the legislature of , Virginia Iu this he ably and conclusively defended the resolutions of the preceding legislature against the strictures ot several other S'ate legislatures. These were mainly founded upon ttie protect of the irginta legis-1 lature against the "Allen and Sedition Acts," as "pal liable aud alarming infractions of the' Constitution." In pointing out the peaceful and constitutional remedies, and he referred to , none ot lit r, to w hich the Stites were author 1 i z. d to resoit, on such occasions, he concludes by saying, "that the legislatures of the States! might have mule a direct representation to Congress with a view to obtaiu the rescinding of the two olhjmive acts, or they might have rer resented to their respective Senator in Con gress their wish that two-thirds thereof would propose an rxplauutory amendment to tueCon-, stitulion, or two thirds of themselves, if nuch had been thtir option, might, by an applica tion to Congress, have ohlaiued a convention for the Kline object." This is the very course which 1 earnestly re commend in order to obtnin an ''explanatory amendment" t l tho Constitution on the the snl ject slaveiry. This might originate with Con press or the Slab; Legislatures, as may be deem- I meat advisable to attain the object. 'J ho explanatory amendment might bo con- lined to thetinal Rtdtlement of the true con struction of the Constitution on three special points : l. An express recognition or urn iiu property in slaves iu the States where it now exists or may hereafter exiat. Ihe duty of protecting this rmht tti all the common territories thioughoiit their t r ritoiial existence, and until tl. y tdill le at mitteil as States into the l.ni n. wilh i t with out slavery, as their c nntitutioi.s may pie- sctibe. A like recognition of the tiht id the m.ifb-r to haver his slave, who h is heaped from one Stub; to another, restored and "de ivered up to him, and of the va'idity of the t tiL-itive fclave law euu ted ft r this ptirM:-c, to-, thet with a declaration that all stile laws imoutif v or defeating this rigiit an; violatiia.. ol the Countitution, ami aie cotwquentiv null and void. It may lie objected lh.it this lonstiii.ti n nt the Coiistitutiuu hasttln a iv Us-n H-tth d hy tic; Supreme Court of the United Mates, and what inoie oucht to lie required. Ihe au-w-r is. that a very large proportion ot tin- p opb t the I'nitetl Stale's ill c intent the rr-cin s ot tbi, decifiou, aud mrv r will nac to rn utt i tion aud a. tin it its bindiut; ton-.- until I- irly estkhlinbetl by ttie pfco(le o" lie- s-. rd Maies in HiLir sovereign chat a tt r. Sm , an ! m i toiv amendment would, it i b. i' v. d. ton -v. r let ruinate the exietintr ttif.M-n-.ions ani i tote peace atal harmony among the States It ought nut to he d-uht!.l that sm !i an up- p al to ttie ai hitrav ment e-t.it li-ln -d hv ihe C iin-titution itself would le r.-c.-ive I wit a tivor by all the States of the Confed -rarv. In anv ev. nt it ought to Ik: tried in a spirit of c a ii ll ition hetolc any ot tliost; Stab s i-hall aiab; themselves from Ihe Union. When I entered uttt.ii tli- tlutt- - ot th P,e-i detitial otiice, ttie aspect ( neither our for eign nor domes :ic affairs wa- at ad Mat iff t.ry. e weie involve 1 lit danu'ei-His compile it ion with several nations, an 1 two of our l- rutoii. s weie iu a state of levolutiou again it tin- eiverti-m-.-nt. A resbtratiou of thu Atficii d iv- tiad- bad numerous ami powerful alvtrat.s. Uiiliwiul mditary exieditiotis wen- ciuntenan ! hv uiar.y of uur eitiz i.s, and w ir s'lhne 1, in de fiance (d the etlotU of the Government, to i Capr from our shores, for the p-up - "t tn ak iu.' war upon the uuoiletidiu ; teopf i n i h iMinug republics with whom w.; wi-i- at j In addition to these and otto r -hiii i t i exp. rn nc d a revubion in ui' ietnv a ims, soon after my a I vent to power, ot ui, imp!- 1 sev.-nt aud ot ruinous coum q-n n. to a:i th- great interests ot the countrv. h-.i w,- take a retrospec t of what was then our c i.diti n, and contrast this with its mat-ti il pr .fperity at the time of the late Presidetitui ehttioti. m have abundant reison to rtuin om iriat.-tni thanks Ut tliat merciful Providence whu h has n. ver forsaken us as a n.tti. ti in all ui p.-t tiials 01" K FOPLTGX KLiLAlMN c,ir mtiTiiN. Our relations with Gr. at l':it are i f thu most friendly character Since the comm. nce tnetit of my almiiiistiati.u, the tu.i i it.::.-rous qm-stions, ari.-inr frotuthn Iat. n and i Ui i treaty and fr-;iii th iuht ot s at-h li.om -i ly the Pritish guvi irincr.t, lu- h.-eti .-lini.-.i.iv an 1 honorably adjured. 1 in! cliscoidant tolistlil tioii m fii i ;ulo:i and Puwer trealy betwnu the two y .n.ru- Iio nts, whkh ht dill- lelit p'-ri'"!s r the iii- i.s- fih-n, bore a threat, ning as t. have r -ultt d in a tmal settlement entire. sati-t ie: i t i ihis Government. In iuv annual m.-.-.i.e 1 latorm- td CuniC' that the Piit.-!i g v. n.ment wi:ii ttie republics of Honduras and Nhai.u'iu, iu pursuitine ot the unde ir-tanding h tu. u Ihe two governments. It is n v. nhe.c t . t.n !. nt ly expected that this iwhI w.uk w;il ne le a cotupliahed." This conl'ld lit i in :.i!i tl li .s sitsce been tultilb-d. Hci Piitan'n M c-iy on eluded a treaty with llotiduias n '.li - - P h No vember, lSo',, and with Nit.ai;uu i on ihe --th August, liO. re lit.. plaiting the 5b f-uio pn te.i torate. IW-sideS. by the h Tin r. t;.i b.y Iththds aie teMgi.ir d a- a put I tn-- i. pnb c of Hon luia-. It in iy b oi-.-ii- d it. it tin si ipul.it ions f th- to a'i. - t.;. i .n in cv iy im) tot tint paitieu!ar to the am tabu . i.:- . 1- pl ed by the Senate ot tin Umled Sla'e- hi tin treaty c include t at I. -.nd"ii ti t. - l.uiici O. tober, 1S;. le-tWeeil the t w- V -l i; m. u 1-. It will be r.col'e b- I that this ti ly u,l r. j I el by the Pritt-.h g .vertui;.-nt be. ,iust- oi r- oi jectioU to the jurt and iinp.-rt i;.t .i:m n ine nt of the Senate to tin atti-1.- t-l iti: l' t . Pu .t n and the other ilan Is in trie Pivot 11 n l,u w. It must lie a s-ain e ot in ere nt'ai lion to all chisi-cfl id our f.-llow-utiz- ns, nrd s; . . -ally Ui those e-ngig'd in fo:-"un mm. i .- t i. the claim on the put ot Great li.itam, h.ie Uv lo visit and st arch Am r i .iti ok r h mt v. is on the hijh sea iu tini" tf p-a' . Las h.-vn dt in done 1. Ttiis xis l yf:r tlx- iinst ilno rous qu.'stiem to the i- ice I tf.e two oimti i.- whi U has existed sin-v the iar of 11- W htl-t it remained ojvn. tin y iiiirht at any moment have beeu precipitated into a war. 'J his w:is ren!tTed maiiiteft by the ex.i-itrr itc 1 ttat ot public fe-ling throHglmiit our entire country, pioduced by tin foiiible Starth of American merchant vessels by P.iitish ctui. ts tn the enlist ot Cuba, in the spring of 1'. 'Ih. Ame rican people hailed w.tii g ncr.d acc laim lie: orders of the S'crct iry of the Navy to cur nival force in ti c-Gulf of Mexico, "to piotett all vessels of the United statts c iilh - hi-li seas f r m search or b tiiitiou by the vs vls oi war of any other nation.'' These orders mi.dit have pri-dii. . .1 iti imme diate col I Uioii between the naval f. i- oi :he two countries. This was mot foi tun i.-iy pre vented by an appeal to ttie ju-tiee ol Great Britain aud b the lw e-f nations ;is expoiititie I by her own most eminent juri-t-. The only question of any it.itrtatiee which still remains open is the di.-putc 1 title between tho two governments t the island ol S ia Juan, in tho vicinity of Washington Teriitoiy. As this question is still under negotiation, it is not deemed ndvisilde at the pr s- nt mome nt t make any other allusion to ttie subject. Tho recitit vi-it ol the Prim e ot Wait s, in private character, to the people c f ihis country. has trove d to be a most auspn i-.its event. In its consequences, it cam ot tail to iucr. ase t!io kindred ami kindly feelings which 1 tin t may ever actuate the government and p.-op'e of Imth cjuntries in their political and social in tercourse with each other. ikaxce. With France, our ancient and powerful allv. our relations continue to Ik of the most friend ly character. A decision has ree. ntly been made by French judicial tribunal, with th approbation ot the lmtcrial Government. Inch cannot tail to foster the sentiments ol mutual regard that have so long existed be tween the two countries. UnU r the Fret eh law no person can serve in theamii. sol France unless he be a French citizen Ihe law of Franco rece-'niii"iig the natural right of expatriation, it follows as a nee. ssary consequence that a Frenchmnu. by the f act t f having become a citizen oi ihe l nite-i state's, has changed his allegiance and has lo-t his na tive character, lie e"annot, there fore, lie com pelled to serve in the French armies in oie he should return to his na'ive totintiv. dhcsj principles wero annnunce! in ls.vj by ttie French Mmiftrrot war, and in two late cases have been confirmed by the Fn nch ji altciarv. In these, two natives of France have been dis charged from the Frrm h army, U-carse they bad become Amencnn ciuz-ns. lo employ the language of our pre-ent Minister to France. who has rendered gooel ervice t n this etccaioti. I do not think our t rench n ituralir'tl U How citizens will hereafter experience much annoy ance on tins sunj.'cr. i venture to retnt that the time is not for distant when the older continental powers will adttpt th rame wi-e and just policr whkh hit d m s-t mm h hon t to tne enlightened government of the Kmpen r In any event, oar Government it Uoind to r tect tho rights of onr natarilird citixs every t. te vU
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers