TOLUME .94-- , NU4IIBIi i-47::\
"RESIDENT'S M.ES-S-kGE„,
Fenom..Citizens of
,the Renate and of the Rowe' of
Repreeentatiree:'.• . :' • .
The past hai . been an 'event f ull year, and
g ill be, hereafter, referred to •as a: marked
ere b in the history of the world:. While we
preserved from the attain
live been - happilY
iiivs of war, our domestic prosperity. has not
n , itirely uninterrupted; .The
.erops, 'in
T iortion t i
of the country, have beet nearly cut
t iff. D sense, haa•previtiled •to • a i greater ex
tent -t n usual, and the. sactiffee of human
16: ~th ugh casualties by sea . - ' - andland, is
, itithait a parallel: Ittt, the pestilence: has
. ....,,
inept b„ and restored salMrity .. invites the
absent to. their homes, and the return of busi
ries to its ordinary channels.' J. if the 'earth
has resaided the labor: of .the husbandman
less bou Itifolty.than in the preeixling seaslni,
it has l• ft hiM" with abondanaY 1 for .domestie
w i anti, • :nd a large surplus f3rexporption.,--
in the . .resent, therefore, as in the past, .we
.find am le grounds for reverent thankfuhia4 .
to the, od of Gra'ee.and Providenee, for his
, • , . . gs .
protecti g care and merciful dealin with us
a a Pe' °Pie. . - . . • .
Alth'ugh our attention ' has been arrested i
_lv pain ulinterest in passing events, yet our
co feels no in9re 't
an..the slightest Id- I
Illation . of• the conYulsiciefis whiiiii•have shak 1
en Europe. As individuals,- - :Wcam cannot re 74.
:
press sympathy With bunion suffering, tn. ye- 1
gret ford the causes which prodttee it. ' .As a
• nation, we are reminded .that whatever inter-. 1
nip s _the peace 'or elMeksC-the prosperity q i
-and part of Christendom tends,!thore.or less,
•th . 1
involVe our own. Tetecondition of states : ;
) \ ..
it not \ unlike that of
,individUals. They art: 1
•
'MutuallY . dependent upon each other, - They
Cable reflation between them, and reciprocal
I ;
food will,' are essential. for the promotion. of i
whatevhr is desirable in their "moral, social, i
and pOlitical condition.- llctice it,has been
My ear test endeavor to maintain peace and
-friendly intercoune - with•all nations..: • • e•-i
The wise theory of "ibis gOvernment: - i
so 1
,1. . . A
early a opted and steadily purged. of rtyvoid, , -!
ing,all entangling.alliances, liaa,hitherto ~ lA- . _I
e nvied it.fromi_manY r coMplications, in' which.'
~ . ..
a wouk otherwise have been involved. ..Not- 1
14itbstatding this, our clearly'. defined andi
:well sustained course of action, ,and.our geo- r 1
graphied position so remote from Europe, 1
`it ereasing disposition has.been Manifested, by
strie of its govermiteMs,.to supervise, and. i
it certain respects, to direct, our forcit.m pOli
cY. In plans for-adjusting. Ole balance
~of
pOwer among themselves, they have- asstinied"
to take its into account,' and tvould constrain
Us to- conf4m our wild uCt to, ireir. vieWs. - --
bne or another of the powers oflEurope has,
from time to time, undertaken , to - enforce ar
bitratti. regulation's; contrary, in, Many re,
•
spats, io estabthled principle. of ,interna
tienni 1 w. That Inw tin:United States'iive,
in thawir foreign intereOui>e.,_ -uniformly re-
. .
spected and. observed, and they . cannot reef ,(,-
nize an • such interpolations therein, as - til
temper ry interests of. others ii-lity suggest.
They dO, not : - .o.tniti that the:sovereigns of one
contitient , -or of tiffiktik,6l. - ‘ 7•• 04 iii,Tnutitty of,
Stites can legislate for' all other's. ,r .. . • .
.I. e . N l itty, the trans,atlantic nationslcLadjust
their ppliti(•al s,:esterri in the way they . •may
think best 'fix their common; weitlire,. the in-.
dependent powers of this continent May well
assert the'right to be exempt froirkall anzio:,•-
hig inuirference... on . .their part. '; Systematic
abstitier...• from intimateTolitleal Connection
withclitanifortzign nations, dots not conflict
- with i=l , . , .ne , the - widest ranrre . to our ti.)reigu,
„ c
canine 't:e. • This. distinction; so clearly inOrli .
ed in hi",.;tory,•seen - iSto have been oN•erlooked,
o:',di , rezirded, by smile leading fkreign States.
Our refusal to he brought within, and subject
ed to, their peculVal• system, has,
,1 fear;:erea
tedca jt alai's distrust of our Conduct, 'and in-
duccd, on their part,, occasional acts of dis
till-Ling 'effeet upon our foreign- . relations.—
"Our. prt„ , cnt attitude and 'past' course gii-eas-..
su l ianee ~Which should not be questioned;that -,
oi„r purposes are not aggressive, nor threat-
ening t the 'safety and welfare of other na
' ticins. , Our military establishment, in tithe
1 ,
..otpeae is,adapted to niaintaim eiterior de . -
. fences, and to preserve order among the'al)o
-• riginal tribes wiltin the limits of the' Union.
Our na . i:al force is intended Toni y for the pro- -
1 1 our our eitizcqis abroad, and of :our
1 ' ” a . t.—
commerce;diffuse as i is, over all the seas
. the globe..
of the The governinent of the United
States, being essentially,, pacific in Policy,
standsrepared to, repel invasioM - •bY the Vol
anfary erviee of a. patriotic people, -and pro
'vides'n permanent means of foreign aggress
siOn. , - 1 here • -eci,nsideraitions should allay all
~,
apprehension, that we are - disposed .to en,
crunch 10g,1 the rights, or endanger the Si:curl-
Ay of aer - States.. °
1 Sortie European, - powers ."Viive, regarded,
with 'ON: nicting concern, the territorial-ex-
~ pansica of the United :States. This I rapid
.. growth has resulted frOm the legitimate ex
ercise orsovereigi, i rights,.belonging alike.; to
all nations, and by Many liberally exreised.
Under such circumstances,
it. could. hardly
.liaVe ben expectcxl 2 that those among them,
which have, within a conpa •t' • Iy . - e t
'period, Isubdued and .absorb e d ancient • king-
dotns, planted . their, standards On . every con,
tirient, and now_posSes.s, or.claiirothe control
*tithe stands of every ocean as their appro-.
priate - omain, would look. with unfriendly
sentim tits-upon the acquisitions of thiscsitiric,
T, in very instance, honorably obtained, or
would feel themselves - justified in 'imputing.
our advancement to ,a spirit of ag,greSsion..or
Oa passion for political predominance. '
Our foreign Commerce has reached a. Mag.-
ni,ude nd extent nearly .equal to that of the
first . . 0 aritime power 4 the earth:, and ex
•eeedin , that of any other. .oVer. this great
irtteres ,'in . which not., only Our merchants,
but ill classes of citizens, At leastindireetly,
are eo' eerned, it is the duty_ of the executive •
.add le islative bran'elies of the government to .
cereiSe. a careful superVision,.!.and . adopt
prol ineasures.tbr its The Sol
10s NV ich 1 have had in view, in regard to.
. tliis
, interest, embraces its future as Well, as
its pri•-•selit silqii •ty
Loa
,). - . ri • • •.- -
, I% !!I)errene e has shown that, in getter"
al, , W - hen the Principal Towers of *Eiirope are
e'' ed in Avar, the riglits of 'neutral nations
- sire
l e , 4 0 1, a r n e .c7:: f • Ivi ' e l s i co" nsideration. led, in
vt6
the formation
uf rof our indepezidence; .l
the celebrated, Om fetieras • !
~
cy of armed neutralit, , /. , 3 object . of
• Which was, to assert:the that:grit ' ie r :
ships 1...•1te free goods. exeept in articles con-.
traba d of War : a dOe' trine i‘hich from the .
Very •pintneticenient of our . I' ' ' ••
hlas hen a cherished id 1 twnal.
being,-
has
this c , untrv. •At one idea of
ti t e ir s ti ta n t o es th m er en e o v f -
, • , ,
t ; eat y t y a:tiitpluirlitite
i.(pozeer eof il . as . ; liy F . .1 . 111e: solemn
Mil
~ 41,iii
1.
ocrilt
,_
,__ e
~
1 4113 . 1 zed .that principle :.
. ,4 1 'on ie t e t e 11 ".. v . i 'ee„ I ,hered.that .it would
, fill email v•recei wed it'd res eet ,
r l-a! " a ride 4-4 4)4 ' 11 ; 6 010 law. . 13ut P :the '
•
I
• ; • 1, 11
• 1.
. . .. •
•
• 1• • '4 I
•,•G . . .
• - - .
' • •
• S
•
•
. •
•
•
'k
.-. • e
•
i. l . eti • .1
••11111" •
• ~ • : 1.
. ,
. _
• 1 1 t
, refuSal of • one. power prev -
fen e
,
the 11ext great war _whicli - 4mta i
Preiteltrevolittipn, it 'failed - t"'
i aiming the belligerent :State
.NOtwithstanding this, the Prici
ally; admitted to be a sound amid
so Much so, that, • at
. the 'comp
the ekisting war in taropci;.%.,
France announced' their parpfl
for timeyresent not, howeYeri a
international right, but as ,a Me
for the tithe being. Thep
ever, of these . tio powerful Mari
in the intereSt, of neutral rights,
me to4ord..en oceaSion, invitit
ing, Ott the part of the Unit4:l
• nerved eflOrt to make ihedoetri
a prineiple of international
. l:Otv,
i special con vent ions ,between (it I
I, ers Of Eurepeand•Ameriep..
' preposition, embracing not oily
free Alps . Make free goods; e*k.e
articles, but also the less Otiatits
neutral prOperty,.etlitir thin t it
on beard enemy's." ships, shall h'
confiscation, has.been Stli!kllll,r4
erlllllCll . l 10 those of. Europe nil
.. :13ussta acted promptly m tIO.s
eon Vent ion Was concluded;heiW ,
try mind the United States; ProSil
stir vanee. of the principles annin
as . ,between . timermielve:s, bOt :{l` • them and all.other mmationl,.Whit
inte%, like . stipulations. ' Nofi
poWers have as.yet taken Ifina
. 1
sahjeet. I stn nit aware,!howe
objection•to the'prOpesed stipala
made.; - bat,/ on the conerary,
kow !edged, to ibe eSsentiaf.3 to !th
neutral cdtanierce; and the O.
ohstaels: to their • geheral adOpt
possibility:, that it may be en
inadiniso4e conditions. )
' The bring of the iWt...Sieilies
to .o -
r Minister at ,Nalets his
• ' J
1 c ondor in our proposition r relati
,m
rights, anal; to enter into 4 : cony
.
. ..!The..lciitig of Prussla en4re
the.
the project; of a treaty to ilmesa
mitted.to lido, but proposes •a 0
tide proYitling for the rerturieiat
tceriw. Such au "article,; for
treasons, is.much desired hy n 4
nafal. establishments, lar , ie, in
their foreign coninterce. - 41: it
as an international rule, the coo
ofitioli litving . cot-nparatiely: a
fore., w taild be very rgildh . at I
'its em/nly;•lin case of wtirwith
iitied . naval .. Superiority. Ihel . •
of the comsi,ition in . which i the
Would beiklaced,.afterhatingsm
right ttm' rclort to privateers, in .
;car wlhtt! belligerent of par: I
' :kill - sit( w that thiS governrhent
" - fi,te tt to suet a propositiOn. T i
fir .t urariOmne. power* -!Eimrt»
ten timo••s aslarge as that Of the
The. for ~;.;,-, comrocret - ! . °tithe - t% •
nearly c•citia!,and about •Cquall
hostile d - cf.remlationS., hi war:
.power' mil the. United States, A •
. on - ou r. Part, •-to-ommr!...4ix*ilt*
means . o.f OW' • envois Nto infliCt
q
Gr . rciwainerce Woulii b....,telifel I
ours to ]:retaliate: We •,could
Oar colentry freed this unequal i ,
such ini,„co l ent hitless we at •
• -
y
from' our present peueehil polio,
a great..llaval- . lower. NO. Wol
try be better :sit utltcdr in ‘rat• w
see hoary- i MN' a) . p0V(?1%. , .., Thu
disparity would be i'les,) the
and more! exposed , condition-.
spread conimeree, Would)giVe .
liiie sdv - antai4e over us.
. The proposition to: enter Intl
to forego resort tom privateers,
gotintry!'shOuld be forced 'lnto
reat naval power,' is
. mit entitl
• i-orable consideratiOn' then wo
t
sition, to, agree not to accept t
Nolunteers for operations on
the 'honor or the rights of our c
it to assume a hostile attitude,
relies Imp O n. the patriotism_ of i
devoted to thmilit•
`ordinarily .
.
to augment the •erni and' the z
n
False Th....ni,.. fully 'ad m'iquate
.0 t
( which calls thoni•inte action.
.m) surrender:the right to; entpl
IS •p r. iil•ssed ly foundm..A :; upon
hat private property of immioffvm
libatants,, theugh ,eimetnics; shoul
from the . ravieges of war; but'
I 'surrender times but little' Way i
ti • I • •
that princlik, whiCh elually
Ilsuch private property should n
knmideqed, b,
powersy national: ships of,
~t he leadin4 'of Europe
. ,
u
liosi l ig, ash ride -- 01rmiternaon:
Ii
emmmPt private primperty, Upon . tl
I seizure by ;public armed eriiise
! by privateers.; the United Stab,
! - meet 'them upon that , brOad gr
I i Since Abe' adjonrn men tof Co,
I ifieati.ons ot, the treaty betwet
I States and . ; Great Britain, rel
I
~fisheries. ,and' to reciprocal -t
igriiish North ,Ati mericanlprov in
I_eXchanged.;! .imid: some : of its mina
ta,ges . are already enjoyed by
.full execution Was - to abide
legislation not yet, fully perform
'as it way
.ratified, Great/ Exit.
lour coiume_rce-the free. nhvigat
fit.; Lawrence, anti: to autk fisher'
I led aecessto the shores . iii/(1 ba . •
!t.ltey- had been! previOusly ;ex kl
I&osts of her. North Alinkriean
_ a
• i •
jrctura-for which, she asked fo
Ition, free of duty, into the por
ted States, or:the flab • 4alight
co:tst 'by British..fishcftnon4 '
cotiip'eiition:.stipulated . in,,tl
!,privileges of the hight4st iiirtpki
ue !to the United Stat4s,iwhich
uniarik ridded: before. lit b',
,the'reque.st teemed to, trio to .1
one;,,;but it could not`. be ace f
want:of authority to suspend .. i
.-ing 'duties upo i all iiireitriifi. i
. s , .
time, :the Tr miry Departm
elation, 'tor rtaining the m I
.laired4iy bon son fish aught
••Of the Dritiih rmiirinces,rtirid . 1
I
I,lnarkets l'?sys itiSh subjects, a
( ; .grounds had ten ' 'made folly
the citizens .o the 'United sta
1
mend 'to your, fat orable leonsi i f
4ition, which will. he 13 ulTiitt ,
authority \ to refund the, uties
t bondPtlitts rekeli,ed. :,, 'pt.(
ada tiod Ne Brunswick hayse, \
the'luil operation: of „thel treat) ,
arrangements, respeetively i - t i
duty, the. products of th6: . Uni
.thin an the freello - ot the .
arrangetrienti'iskiminito.that r
i‘l. 3 irlE
WILL OF THE; PEOPLE IS-TIrE LEGITIMATE SOURCE; .
this, and in
that of the
be ' respected
4f 4tirope.-
pla is goner-
salutary one;
crieeinent of
t Britain and
toobserve it
a kw/prud
e.r.incestion.
capon, how;
ithne nations
appeared to
g and justify
tates, a re-.
4
e nvquestion
I:6+, means of.
;1 f•
seteral , pow-.
,ccprdingly, a
the rule, that
it Contraband -
Lek one, that
traband, tho'
exempt froM
I by this go , i-
I Anicrica:.
matter, and 'a
i enithat conn
g - for the iii:ll-.
ced, not only
:is between
h Shalt" enter.
of the, other
talon on the,
i •
Fer, that, any
iona has been
th 4. - are ac
gecurity of
-
apparent.
'Om is in die
I ,3
1U ft?uCreu
tai expressed
readiness to'
.e.• ; to . neutral
ntion on that
approves of
le:efr4t c still>; .
additional ar
-4) of p.riva
ioits. t Olhious
ftions having
to
•etl adopted
ntn Tee Of 4
small naval
lie', riact . r4 of
pOwer of de- .
t arestatCrnent
1 ,
lilted States
Irrtindered the
Idle. event of
I `l s'apretnacy,-
-r,
Ottki never
to navy - of the
.e is at . least
lilted States.
- 0 &unifies is
•_ . i posed toy.
between tit:it
itliout Tes-ort
the
injury upon
gryater than
not extricate
ondition, with
departed
v, and bepaine,
Id this min-
th;wie 4. , f the
Lii the naval
eater extent,
of our. wide
nylof them 'a
engagcnients
iva ease this 1
' war with .a
d to more fa
,ld be A prop);
e _services of
land. When'
,uittry require
it Confidently
•
citizens, not
• ,
kvy, so as to
I e emergency
The proposal .
„privateers
the principle,
ing non-corn
ye exempt
-
then proposed.
clrrying . out
requires . that
he seized or,
war. Should
OnOur in pro
ht‘:y, to
e ocean, from
as well -as
lz will _readily
egress, the rat
e,
n the' United,
tive to coast
tide with the
[..e.q have been
Apated ;Avon- ,
s, although its
rtain acts of ;
Pi; , •SQ . soup
hi
,Opened , s to
:Of the river.
iilii ti n rimiest
s.,.`"fretri which
udgd, on the
pro t `vinees; - in
tho
,introdue
-4 or iihe Uni
on ;the same .
'his I heing the
he f ‘ reaty, for
tan" and ial- '
were thus vol. '
me effective,
o a teasonable
ded to, from
ur laws impos-
In the mean
t issued a reg.
ties Paid or se
on !,the masts
rought to . our
I' the fishink
aeceisible to
.8, ; 1 reeotn
erationaprop-
d t 4 you, for
ad 'Once,' ' the
‘Jinees of 'Can ,
I , ibtiefinited
a ;i legislative
. i it, ire . of .
. , : t i .. o ;i nerk .
and an
. -..,-, g 11 1 4-tisb
. ,
111ONTRQS,. TIiISI):AiY;..
fish; has been padc for dtitiesnow chargeable
on the products of these Provinces enumera
ted* the same free list, 'and introduced
therefrom into. the United'State ; a proposi
.tionfor refunding which: Will, in int: judg :
'ment, be in like manner entitled to four fn
iorable consideration: :1. - 1 • -
. There is difference of opinion between, the •
united Stites .and • great. Britain, 'as to the.
boundary - line of the Territory tif Washing; ;
ton adjoining : the .Brit ish : possissions . on the
Pacific; which has already led to difficulties
on the part .of the citizens and loeal authori
ties.ef the governments.. I "recommend
that provision be• made for a commission, to
be joined by. One on the part of her Britannic
Majesty, for the,purpose i of running and es-,
tablishiug the line in controversy. Certain: .
stipulations of the third and fourth articles of
. the treatytoncled4: by. the tniteillStates
and . ,great Britain in 'ISO,' regarding posses
sory rights; t 4 the Hudson's Bay Uoinpnny,
mid i propertxid the Puget's • Sound • Agricul
tural Coin piny, have gi%en rise to serious dis
putes, and it .is important to all concerned,.
that SummarY means of settling therni i entice
blyhould •tat devised.:. I have reason to:be-,
lieve, .that-an ad
arrangeinent can be me on
.
just! terms; fur' the extinguishment of. the 1
rig* in question, embracing, also, the right
of the Hudson Bay Company lo the naviga
tion' of the .riVer Columbia; - and I therefore.
suggest to .yetir,eunsideration, the expedien
, ey of making a contingent appropriation for
• that .purpose.; . '
- France, was the *early: and efficient I taly of
the tinted Stites . in their struggles thr hide-.
.. ,
• pendenee, ' Fruit that• timu..tO the present,.
with occasional: slight' interruptions, 'cordial
relations of, : friendship have existed between
thelgoverniuents and people tit the two coml.
trieS. '• The kindly sentiments; cherished alike
by both-mittens, have led to extensive social
and; commercial intercourse, which,.l . .trust,
will; not be interrupted or checked by any
casnal • - event °flat .unsatisfactory charlieter,
TheYrenckeonsul at San Francisco was, net
lung 'since - -brought into the United States
I '
[district court at that place, bycoMPulsory
.preeesS„ as ,t witness in favor of allot tter;for,
1 eign consul; in violation, as--:the Fremilt govi
eminent conceives ; of his priyii&gesi under
i our'eunsular conventi4.9 with France. IThere
i being nothing; in the transaction which could , imply any disrespect to. France :or its consul ;
such explanation has-been made., as 1 hope .
' wilibe satisilictory: Subsequent miStuider.
Standing arose on the subject of the k'rencli
government having., as it appeared, .alit•uptly
I excluded the American minister to! Spain
11: 0 4 1 p4ssing . through France, on his way .
front Lt.aiduti to Madrid. But that govern
.
vew. ha..-; unequivocally .disavowed any de;
sign to deny t.liiright.-ofiransit to thetninis...
ter of the Limited States; and, after explana
Outs to this 4 ,i. fleet, lie.has resumed his jour
ney, and :tonally returned through France to
Spain? -1 herewith lay 'before Cont reSs the
correspondence oh this subject . between our
envoy at. Paris, and the. ministor • of foreign
relations of the French Government. . '
The poSiti6l of ()lir affairs with Sptin
mains as at theclose of'your last sesSion.— .
- hiternarttgitation,.assufniug very -Heathy the
t!haileter of political revolution, has recently.
ecnvulsed-that country. The lute, ministers
•wery . ViOlently expelled fr•• 111 pOWer.:ll.ldillem,
of very diti:::ent views in relatiotl tufts inter-"
nal affait's,baye suCceeded. Since this change,
there•has b4n no propitious opportunity - , to
resume,. and pressi on, negotiations for the ad
justinent :of Serious questions. of difficulty ha
tween the . SPitnish government and the
ted, States. •Ihere is reason to believe that
our•ministYri will find the present:government
more favorahly winked than the preleeding
.to comply NVitli • our just demands, and, to
mal'te suitable arrangements:lof restoring
harmnny, and prvervnig peace, between the
two countries. •
Negotnition - s, are pending With Del - lin : lrk to.
diieontinne the practice of levying Inns on
our vessels Aud their cargoes passing, through
the Sound. Ido not doubt that we cart claim
exeniption therefrom, as a matter of right.
It is a mitten on all hands, that-this c*action
is san tiom...d, not by the • general principles
of the Jaw of nations, but only by. Special
convet tionS, which must
. of the commercial .
nation - have, entered. into with Denmark.—
.1 -
The titth artlele of our treaty of 1526, with
Dentitirk, provides, that there shall not be
paid,o the Vessels of the United States and
their cargoo when passing through the Sound,
ItioThetJ duties than those of the moat . favored
natt. .
uns. This may be regarded as an iniplied
agreement M submit .to the tolls dtifing the
continuance 'of the treaty, and, eonsopientiv
Inti.y embarrass the assertion of our :riga to
be released, therefrom: There-are alsO other
pro Visions jii.the treaty which ought Ito be
MOditied, ih was-q . remain in force fur ten
years, and inntil t ►
, kcar after either party;
should give 'toil e' to the other of intention to
terminate •1: eems it- expedient that .the
contemplated-notice should be given 'u the
govertnneitt. of Pennrrk. -
The _expedition, •Idespateheillabinit
two years-since Mr the purpose of esti blish;
ing rehitioal with the-empire of Japat , has
been ably 414 skilfully is ridueted to -sue
cesSful tertninatiOin by the oflicvr to whom it
waii entrusted. A:treaty, openitivertain of
iluiports 6 . l•thnt populous country, has' been
neg,utiated and in ;order to give full . 1 effect
thereto, it xinly remains to exchange ratifica
tions, and adopt •reiiuisite commercial rCoula-
I tionS. . : . • .1 °'
•
. ..
.The...treat'y lately concluded :.he teen the
frtinited States and Mexico settled some °four
nioSt •em barraSsing difficulties withAliat i coun
try, but numerous claims upon it for wrongs
and injuries to our citizens r,emuined [unad
justed, and, many..new cases had been nc>cciit,
ly added to the former list of grievances.—
Our legati6l has been earnest in its• endeav
ors to. obtain, from the Isteximi government,
a filVorable.'consideration of these claims, but
hitherto, tt-ithout success'. This failure is,,,
probably,•. hi some measure,
to be ascribed to
the distiirfie°il condition of . that country. I:
has been my anxious:desire to maintain friend TI
ly relations with the Mexiearriepublie, and
to &Lusa its rights and territories to be I'o'.
spkacil, not only by our citizens, but by for
elgtoers, who hive resorted to. the Vnited
Stalin for the purpose, of organizing hostile .
expeditions ;against some of the States 4f that
republic. 'The defetimleis condition, in !which
its frontiers have - been :left., has stimulated
.lawless adventureri embark in theselOnter
prini, and greatly increase the difficity of
enforeing Car obligations of.neutrality. • gli
•garling it as my solemn duty to fulfil L
eIL.
ciehtly, tia4.obligationi, not
.linly to ards
Nixie°, but: other foreign-nations, 1 haVii -ex-
Crted all- - the-powerO'volth which tarn invest
e.d to defettanch criminal prOwedingi, - shd •
kiiii*Ati punishment those who, hy. taking - a
patktfierei*:sitt*ed ode limit, -, 'l"he'liergy•
... - . . .
. .
and actiyityli or. our', eiy . and . . . tlitary.autbort.
ties have frastrated thiffaesigi s of those ; whi:, i
m - editat,e4-oZpeditibnitf ,this; character, ei.
cept in.two ,:instanOg q One ''f . these, • corn- 1
posed of foi:oignerti t - w .at first countenanced
and aided',4 the lien goVernment itself,
it havintz.))6n deeilii .us toi their - real ob. I
it,et.!The Tither, sttud -hi nuthber, eluded the
‘igilanCe:intf:the tutigis wt. 0 San Franeisc4
and sluiet..eded in, g -the Mexican ter9-
tories;';-b,nCthe effecti - ' nieaSurcs taken by
this goiertibletit ennitialled the abanjonmeitt
.of the thad eitaillingik"...- - I , '. - .. ; -'- I - ' i
The cethiniis . anitolistablish the, new line
.betweeii:fhii .TJnited Stites acid Mexico, ab--
cording to the. proitislitis of the treaty \ of the
30th of, Pebeinberl , • i. has. been organize.], 1
and the i'vork is alr ; , eornmenced. • I i
i
Our;treaties with t ''
- Argentine C.onfede;r•
ation,and *ith-thelß l u
e Republics ' , i'l.jrugtitly
,and` :.
li t
Paragil4; - ,,iieeure to u$ the tripe navigation ',f .
the river La
.Platai, arch' - soml of the larger i
tributaries 'i but the *e - -success his not 4,t
-tended':oitrloideavbrs to op the Amay hi.
i
The reasinot in favor of the ree use of that
,
ricer, 1: Inia .. neenaion ;4i,: pres nt - fullY, in 1 6%7e a,
(armee:Me: • itid,'tonsid ring the cordial
rel a tions which, iti!ive long e isted betwebri 1
thisgoverninent attd Brazil, i may be expeS- I
ed that pending rnivtiiticins . rill, eventuallp-,d
reach a fa4rahle - resutt: .-- • ' - - ;1,4,
. ; Conyenint means of tram
se - eral patts._of a eotnit&y, at
sirildtli',:fbr Ahe
.objOts liti.om
s , : 01706innt u nicatli at, htiLe.ss
istnnee - Under (144 . .0A-ern tnt
as trelthe 410;111'61i and Pacil i
Unitc ltates by the *hole 1 1
tontin , fit, hill: the - inhabitant
. _bound together by et i
egin and institutielis, and by
tnent to the Union. ' Hence
increasing ,inteicotirse,'und - Va
ceruntereinl proddetions, bp
mote dints on: of the &pub!
ent tittle, tie mosipracticabl
moditt . i4 rt;tutes for .. commut
them are. by the.WaY of the
tral.Aniterilm. . Ibis the duty
ment to secure these avenues
ger of:interruption,. : ..
,In relati4 to Central Atn ' riea, perplexing_
qtteitiens existed , between -tl . . United- States!.]i
and fi.r . eattritaitint thi:2 thn 'of the cession :I
of Cal These, as -widl as q . ueStiOns'
which!*ubeqUeutly. arose tioncerning 'inter-1,
oceanic communieation acyyls the isthnitts,
were,!as it.,.was stipposed, • adjusted . by , thei:
treaty'. of April 1.9, 1850; bUt,untlirtuttately,i
they have peen rc.4opeited byl serious_ ntisnu.!
derstanding as to Ans . import.- Of Some of;its];
- proviiionst;a:re adjustment 4f which is utidert
consideratlen. • Our ministe r at Lyndon has:i
madettrenuous efforts to a NOmplish this de -1,
sirable objct, but has not y
,t found it 1;1°5-.1
sible to bring the megotiatio s 'to, a termina-1
tion.:"..' i!. . - ~, ., -. ' : ' • 1
. .. . .! :,
• " is:lncide:ttal t.l these gins tiorts, I deera tt;!,
propor •ta;notice au Clecurre 'i a which happen-1
~ .
. _ .. • ~. ,
id i11,, - pt:littal,AntOica, near the close ofithei
last sessioti of Congres. . S ' soon as thetc.4
cessiti - was perceived of . .tablishing inter-!1
oceanic coinmunieations aer is the : Isthtins,9
aconipany : - rrits - orgiuttied, n' der the authoityl
'of the; State Of 'Nicaragua, b ' t comptisol,lfort
the rinist : part. .Of m iti=eu .of the .I:lnitrd` l
.Mater, forMte purpose of op 1 ing such a traw =l
st. wily, 1)1 the river San J - t an and Lake .Niejj,
aragna, wine - It - soon beeam ' an eligible and .
ntuelt used;route , in the trattiportationoCcitni
citizens and their , property- et w eeli the t..,1
latnigand Pacific. Meanwl'ile, and in an!ticW
pation Of,the completion a d iropOrtan4i . of
.. ,
this transit; wav, a number o advciitnrersiltacl •
.
taken posOssion of the. old Spituisit' port at;l' '
the Moutli'it the river San tiati, in. open!di
'fiancti.of the State or States it' Cetttrat,Ainer.l , l
ica, Witich a i,upon their becon ing indegettd'enti ,
had tig..htf-011y sika:ceded tai the lociars4Verif
eiguty andjuriSdietion of Spain.' Tketa.fc;l;
turers undertook ;to chatigel the name of; ho ;i
i.lace:;(r(ani-Sui Juan 'del Norte to Gr±,tytd . wit, i
and, though at first pretendilg to act asithe
subjectS ofthe . fi ctitious sore eign of the . .,.oltis:!
1 .
quitO! Indians, -.l.hq. subsequently repudiated . _
the ciuntrol of any, pOWer whatever, assuined
to adnpt :i n distinct
. politieal arganization,Eand
declared -: themSel.Ves an independent stiveri
eigniSiate..- If nt ioine time, a faint hop6Rtsi
etitertained tha t the y . might become a :5t11)14 . .
and iespectable community, that 'hope Soon
vaniAted. They proceciled. to assert tnitlntuf , 1
eyed 'paint* t44-civil . juristlit Clop .over..Ptint:•o
Arenas, a'position on. the of posite side of the
-riverfi Sint •fuatt,•.witieh was i 4 possessioni uM s,
der a title:wholly ; independent of tli..ln; 4 .
eitizs ()Nile United States interested in the
NicaraguaiTransit CompanY , - and . . whieW waS .
ind4ensably necessary to Vte prosperons 00v,
erattOr. Ofltluit route:across tle Istlmitm, :The]
company kesisted their
_grOundiess . claims !; 1
wbereup4-they . proceeded to destroy some I
oriObuililings,l and attetn%ed tiOlentlY ,tip=.
diSpossesot. .i .. .
i t
'Ai a lath perhid 'they _ :of
fo,''ee'for the pitrpOse of del
tabliShment of Punta Arena
chici!ous d'esign was defeatei
sition of one of ottriships.of
LOW: hartior. of San Juan.
this, in May la.4t, it body of
toivitt crusSed, over; tit Punta !
ting'.nuthOrity to arreSt; • on t
der, it mpiititt of One of the
TtlariSit gOrnpany..ll3eing
this claim. to exercise jurisdi
la.i resisted then, its it had
oceaSions„ithey went to ass(
arms. o.or - minister to
hap4c ed toq be present od, that . . occaskin.4.
Beligv ng Abut the: Captain [of the steamboat
was in iochnt, for he, witnessed the trans*ion
on wh eh the charge was founded, and .bliev..
in" t it , that the intruding party; luiving no
juFisili tion over thelplace where they prbpoa
ed tb Mae the 'arrest, would c-nedunter,:dc
per[ to resfstanee if they . Persisted in iliqr.
ptirpb. '
'he interpoSed etreetually,•to prvent
blbOil - i.4li- l'he Anierican Min ister afterWardti
viSit , Gieytown,• and.whil4 he was , there, ii .
'nut, mehiding certain of the so•called public;
functionaries, of the place snrrounded,, the
hOue in Which he was, avo ing that they hajf
come to a!rest him by.ord 'r o,tsiume- p4rsoii
itexertisinOhe chief. ant ho ty; . While.. par'r
!eying 'with thein he wont tied by _a Missile'
fromthe jerowd. ',, klicalt [despatched . Pt*
the Anieriean steamer 44 . N
.rthorn Light," "lid
release WM from; ~he Per 'lons . situation
i n ;
whioi he *as understood t he, was fired h --'
to 4 the Abwn.gdard, arid !Compelled to r
tuna; . - These indents,
~;;ether • with the
br
knoWil character o the ulation . greet,
1 .
town, analheir exited sta e . , hid need jUat ali
prehensiofis that the lives 1 d property [[four •
citiie, iisat Punta, Arenas, w ld be in itiminent.
danger: after the ..-departu of -the steamei',
with her. tiiiiitienOlia, ' tor" Nit* York, unlihia La
guatd_wati:. left - tor their Or4teition: - - FOr tir
prpose, - Ord in . 60eir to - e*.guie the tafaty of
..,, • .. 0, . i' -. I • . ... 1 ';
.
'NESS OF TIE PEOPLE TIII; TIICJE END OF GOVERNMENT.'
DECEMBER 14, 1854.
posengers- and property 4assing over the
rOnte,'a temporary Three' Was organized, at
considerable expense "to the United States, tbr
which provision was mark; 0. , the list session
of Congress, • • • • •
- • This pretended community, it heterogenous
assemblage gathered from , various countries,
composed.. fur the most pail;- l of blacks
and'persons cif mixed !lad previously
. g.sen other indications k.)f tind
dangerods-properrities. • Early in The same
month, property. was elaudeStiriely abstracted.
frUm the depot of the Traci Sit Company, :and
taken to Greytown. The Plundereni obtain; .
led shelter there, and theirlairsuers:3vere driv
en Itel{ by its people, who !not only protect-.
•
ed the. wrongdoers and , stared the plunder,.
but treated' with rudeness and violence those
Whiilsought M recover, their property.
. .
Such, in stjbstance, arc the facts submitted i
l' to my consideration, and prOved by trustwor
i thy eVidence,` . . I could . not doubt that the ease
,demanded th 4 interpoAtion Of this govcimnent.
Justice requied that repration should be
Made
.for so many and - such' ,, ross wrongs, and .
that a course of insolence and plunder,- : tend- 1
ing directly to the insecurity of the lives (4' 4
1 numerous travellers, and of the rich treasure'
belonging. to our citizens,Thassing over this
Aran Sit way, should be perCilitt ; rily A itested.':
'Whatever itimight be, in 4ther respects,`: the'
community
iin
question,. n , 1
tpower , to do mis
chief, was not. despicable.. It was -well pro
.i-i6d with ordnance, sioal t ,arm , :„ :aida man
niiion, and Might easily seize or. the un med
boats, freighted-with Milllows of p , .perty,
which passed"almost daily i:witltin its-reach.-
It did not profess. to belong; to any re*tilar.
government, and had, -in, fact, no reCognised
dependenee On. or coipitiet ion -,with;:any-pne
to -.which the I United - State 6 or their injured
citizens mig it apply, for redress, Or which
Could he held rcspolisi,bl,eln any way,.fiir the
outrages, cononitted: 1 , Not standing_ befOre
a • .
the World inithe attitudelOl an organized po.;
laical society, being neittiVr competent to eg...
. 1 creise the r i ghts nor to:dis'cliarne the oblira
Lions of -
it _ • • -
liras, in .
a giivernment, it liras,.in filet, - a . , : ma !
muding es - tablishment;loo dangerousto be di's
-regarded, and too guilty ti 'l pass . unpunished,-
and yet. incapable of bein p .ii treated . in any oth
er way than 'as a piratiral 're,:•ort ot:' outlaws,
ora enMP ofluivages. dcrirtidating en emigretit
rains br ear4vansiin'd the} ro t olec, utt i t .,,„.„ Ls
Of civilized- States.
.it, between tli'gl
not only 4‘-,
. ncreial and ppr
ntial. to ,ifi ex=
en.t. - - SeparatO
~
l i e • mums •of the I
'1
1 weadth of . the i
ults of- , each :ire
,1
nreality of O' r- i
4stiLong att4ll-. 1
ple constant -aild •.
.i.stinterchange;of
ween these i.e. •
c. - At the pr6s. 1
and only, mini- 1
?cation betw4ezi
still - nes of- CCn..
ofthe• -.''
gowyn=
a::‘aiest all dim-
• Seasonable, notice AvaS given to th people
.of Grey town,' that 'this i ti".4oVe rn men t required,
them to repair the they had done for
pur:citizens,land tp' make suitable apology tor
their. insult) tf our minister. and that 'a 'ship
of-war would be despatched thither to enforce
'compliance thesedernands. But.the no
tice passed unheeded. Thereupdn. a eopratan
:de of the n4vy, in. charge of the sloop'ofv - vlar
evane," was ordered to repeat the demands
and to insist upon a coinplianee therewith.—
..Finding that neither the populace. nor those
assumingtbihave over th e nt, tn a n i.•
, felted any disposition tx.t . inake the rcqnired
reparation,: or even to otr4r excuse. for their
conduct, he :•vitrited them, ;by t pilblic procla=
:mation, 1114 if they did nit give satisfaction
within .a tine. ape-6110,40_ would. Inn/that - A
•
:the town. -1
4
By this procedure'lle . :atturded them !)ppOr
.
At:pity to prOvide for their personaj safety:—
To those alk).who , desired to. avoid loss of
property, it the punish:ll'oa abOut to 'be in=
flietej on the vire:ldling town, he - forni . slied the
nican, of reMoving their eifects the boats
of his own !lip,' and ofa istearner which he;
procured anti tendered to }heir) for that pur'-
pose: ' At, fltgth, peret - m‘ling dispOsition
. on partf ; of the town tlo comply
i with his
breq: isiti4):ll he ~pealed to the. cot:inlander.
of her Brit:4l:4c 2llaji;sty's!schoonir " Berson- -
da," who.wAs seen tv. hash intercourse; and
aviarentiv Initch inthienc., with. the 'leaders,
.
.• an: mg t terpi persuade
then! to tal4) some courselealculated 'to save
the necessity •Of resorting to the extreme .
measure indicated in, hip i)riielamation: but.
-that ''!.llicer.ins . fead aceediiig, to the request/
I did nothinilmOre than to protest ivgainst. the
contemplutO hotlrdnient. No steps of
l'any.sort y4e taken,) • the -people, to give
j the satisfaciion. required, No indiviiluzds,• ifl.
I. any there were,who regarded. themselves as
•
not reSpOitsiblel4: thehtistamduct of the corn
adlpted any means to separate theth. ,
selves fromi the I:ite of the guilty; .
I ' l• 1
' The several enarges, on which the demands
f.r redresS ~,vere fOunded, had been. publicly
known to all for. some tinie, and were again
. •
announced to them. They did not deny any,
Of these charges; they offered n4c'eXplanation
, nothing in extenuation - of (heir eondnet ; init!
emu/m:16)64y refused to iiiild ;an y' intercourse,
with the coMmander of the "wane."' By
their olistinate lilenee they seemed rather; I
I.desirous tofprovoke chastisement than to es-!,
cape it., There is ample 'reason to believe''
i on
.their'.
this conduct of wanton defiance, otheir
part, is imputable chiefly -to the delusive idea
that, the Atnericaia governinent. Would. be-de- I
tarred front kuuishing. :041 , , through fear of"r
displeasing la forinidailetlireig,o power, which !-
Alley . presutned 'to thief.;-leaked with compla- 1
ceney upon their - aggressiV,e . and insulting de.l
. portment tewards the
: United States.' The, , 1
" Cyane atlength tired "u Pon the town. Ae; 1
-fore Much injurv.ttad rbeen , done, 'the fire was I
twice suspeuded,in Order Ito- atli)rd OPporitt-.1
pity fo'r an larrangenient- but this was declin
ed. - Most lef the building of the' . place, -of
little valuelgenerally, were in the sequel, de- I
L-stroyed ; - but, owing to the considerate ' pre. I
Icautions taken by our Naval' :: t - Annmaialer,
*t.bere was no destruction Of liti3..
1,- When the "Cyane" . was
.ordered to Cen-
'tral Atherica; it was. confidently' hoped and
-expected that.. no oe. nsion,'Nould arise for " a : ,
resort to violence and destruction of Proper- -
tv end loss of 1it..." : Instuctions to that of -
i-
' ti: t' were given to her certnaander: - - And no
extreme act would 'have peen requisites had
/'mit the people themselvesil by their. extrithr
•dinarr' conduct in the allat i r, frustrated all the
possible mild Measures for Obtaining satisfae.
• tion. - - kwithdraWal from the plaCe; the oh
ject of his visit entirely d A'eated, would,: un
der the eireumAanees in %;bichthe-comman,
der of the " Cyane" found himself, linve lreen:
absolute abandonment ()fall claim ofour eiti-•
kens Ter indeinnitication,.and.- - t-übmissive ac
•qUieseeiace in ‘ natiOnal indignityi It woul,4'
have encouraged in theselt4v less mien a spirifof
insolenceond rapine most.. dangetxma z to the
fives and . propertyof ou citizettS at .Pnete
Arenas, and prpbably l enholdetoireta th to
grasp at the treasures end. vatuaVe merchan
dise continually 01.4shig iiy,tipiti Nicaragua
- route:. It :certainly -Wouhr have": been most..
' Satisfactory to mellthe / ete Of the:"Cy. :
. ane's mission could been cons.littiniat6d
Without any actor - Public orec i but the 4fio: .
pant centinnitey' of the iiir nders' rendered' it
impossible to avoid, the: aternatice, either 'l4
•
brrak up:Their establithm 4 ent Or to leavethein
: .
. . ,
-
/- .
ap ized •.a strong
1 / 4 101v:bug kyle e,-
_,
but this .:flus
,
1 by the intk.rpo-.
War, at that iime .
Subsequently tO
men from Orey-
Arena% arCog4-
, e charge of Mu O.:
teamboats oi• tir e ;
well aware ',that.
' tion there would
een on preliqouS
rt it' by •foree qt .
peutrat Ainrico'
impressed *it the idea that they Might per: •
severe with f i nunity* ; in,,a career of insolence:.
and plunder. • '
This. trania tion has -teen ',the tuhjrt Of,
complaint on he part, of
,so,rne s 'fi ireign •pow .
erS,-and has been . eharacterized kith more of
harshness that of justice:. .If comptirisima
*ere to be instituted; it would Mit:be. diffi
cult to present repeated ill:stances iti the • his
tory Of States standing in tlic fa : int of
Modern civilization, *here cornMunities far
less o&nding and more defenceless than:cirey
ts,wn, have been chas . tised with much'greater
severity, and ;where,riot cities only have been
recklesSly sacrificed, and the blood &the: . in
. noeent made profusely to mingle with that •
of the.guilty. • • . • •__
Passing from foreign to domestic •
your. attention . in naturally dirceted• to - the.'
bf the country-, alwayS
st;ilest of. general interest.. Fur eoniplete
and c*uet information regarding the finances,,
.atuLthe ,various- branches of the ..nblic
vied connected therewith,, I refer7Ou to the.
reportof the 'Secretary of th( - 4 1 reasitry ;frotnl .
NOI9I it will appear,: that
,the amount-of rev; ,
eime: during the last fiscal year, from all KOUr-?.
;ces, was seventy-three million fiVeLhuridred
and forty: nine thourin.d .SeVen Hundred and.
•fi - ve dollars; aild that the publie expenditures
for the same' period,' excluSive) of Payment 4
on
.account of the public debt,:amoutited to-
Ditty-one million eighteen thousand two: hunt
ilk 4 Arty-nine
„ dollars, . During . the .same .
period, the .payments in:lde in redediption.r
thepublic.deht, including interest.aud prenn
um, amounted to twenty-four million ,three.
hundred
. and eighty ' dollars. To the
_sum tei.
tat of the receipts of that Year is . tollie added',
a balance remaining in the TreasUry at the_
commencement thereof, amounting to twenty ,
one million nine hundred and forty-two thous
and
eight-himdt•ed . and ninety-two. - dollars!;
and at the !close of the same year, al eorre:+..
ponding-balanee amounting to tWenty-milliuit .
one _hundred and thirty-seyen thousand . nitiU
hundred ad sixty-sevetr dollars of receipt''
above expe iditfires,also rein:dm - Ai n thc; treag !
ury, Alth lugh, in the opinion of the Secre
tary of the reasury, the ri..eei ptsof I,he current '
fiscal year • re nut likely to
.equal in amount
e. a
those the last, yet they uddieubtedly'
, k
exceed the amOunt of expenditures by at leatit
fifteen o.ill;"' c , t, ' a./ 1.01• •: 1 ~ball, 't, he refore,
continue to \dire!ethat -the surplu.4 , resell . *
be applied, ..so fitr as it canoe judicionsly and
economically done, to - the- reduction of •the
public debt, the . lunount of Which, at lite cot*:
meneement of the last fiscal year,was
.sixty
seven Million-three liund red and forty tho - 0-
and six hundred and twent y :eight. dtillars,;. of.
Which there hadbeen paid on - theltwentieth.
day of NoveMber 1854, the sum of twenty
two inillion -three huridred and sixty-five.t hoU-4 . ,
andkme hund4ed and, sixty-five thousand.oue .
hundred and seventy-two dollars • l.a in,,li
bal.:mei: of outstanding public- debt
_of only
l'orty,fOur million nine hundred ail,'seVetity.--
:five thousand fourltundred and fifty-six diil ,
lars•. redeemable at different perioas within
'fourteen years. . I There are also' remnants of
other government stocks, most of
,Nl'' Well- are
lith•eadydue, and -on which .- the interest has
Ceased, . Luf,,whie4-I,la i-9t --yet been --I bresen,
ted for. payment, amounting 'to two hundred
and thirty-three thoukand one hundred and
seVentY-nine dollars. • fliis statetnentrexhib
its the tact, that the annual income of the gOv=
eminent great! v exceeds the amount Of it.spnb•
lie debt which latter remains unpaid, Only be
cause the time.ofpar Meta hasnot vet Matured,
and it cannot be di;char• - red at once, e:xee.ptnt
the option- of public , creSttors, ' who prefer- to
retain the .securities of the Unift'•d Stateii. and
the other fact not less striking, that.the annual
revenue fri;nt all sources exceeds, .1;1.° ' Ina 0 y
millions Of dollars , , the amount needed for' a
prudent and economical administration'of the
•,
•Tovernment. - .• - ' : i . . ,
r.,
_,_
The estimates -presented toCorigres's from
the diili.Tent - Executive Departments',..tt the,
last session, aulotinted to thirty-eight milliOns
timr.hundred and six thousand live htindred
and eighty-one dollars ; and the apprOpriatiOns
mat to the sum of fifty-t;ight One
h-un ) ed and Sixteen thousand nine hOndred
and lifty-eight Of this excess; of 0-
propriations.over estimates,- liovever,.more
than twenty. millionf was applicable to extra
ordinary objects, having no reference to the
usual animal expenditures. Among these Ob.
jests was embraced ten millions to meet the
third article of the: treaty _between theiTnited-
States . and Mexieo ; so that, in'facit, for ,Ob- .
jests of,ordinary evenditu the appropria
tions wei;e !Milted' to eon:, :less; than
forty millions of dollars. ' I - 1 - ...efore • renew
my recommendatiMi for are (!tion 'of the
Antics on imports'.. The report of the Seere
tary of the Treasury ,presents series of, ta
bles,
showing .the operation of the revenue•
aysteiii- for seVeralsueeessive years. and as the
neral principle Of reduction of "ditties with'
a view to- revenue(and not protection triity
.
no*L be regarded as the settled F;01;cy ot i Oe.
eountry, 'trust that little difficulty . will The
• encountered in settling the-details of a ineaS•
•
ure to that effect. , •
- In ,
connection With this :subject; I recOnt
mend a change in the lows, which recent ex
perience-has shown to be eSsentialtO the pro
tection of the government. There is no eX,
press provision of law, requiring, the rue( irds.
and papers of a.public character,.Of the seve:-
'rLd officers of the government, tii„he left !in
their .oflices for the use of their sireees•sor:s,
nor any provision:declaring it felon's-, on their
Part to make false , entries in the looks, or
return false aceofints:,, In the absence of such
express provision by: law,the :Outgoing pitl'i;•
ecrs, in-- many instances, have claimed and ex 7
ereised the right to take in their,:oWn'posSes
• sl ,
•
•on, important •• books and, papers, on the
ground that thesc# were their private proper
ty • and have placed them beyond the 'reach
i •
of the govenment. . conciet'oft - this charge-: :
'ter, broughi in several instances to the notice
''of the: prese t Secretary, of the. Treasury pat- ,
-.orally awakened,lihs suepielon, 'and regailted'i
in the disclosure - 11/at at four ports:,. namely,.
(./sWego, Toledo,.SandultY, and 11Iilwatikie;:
the treaStn: had, by ftlse -, entries!, beet : de - - '
frauded7Within the four. years next preceding
Narchf,?l,ss',3, of the-sum of one. hundred and,
nwty-eight thousand dollars.' rho great dd . -.
~ficulty with,Which the deteetion of these'frands
11a4• been Otended, in consequent pr the - ab:
, straetion (if hooftS and papers bythe -retiringl'
'officers, and the :fheility 'with. which .similar
frauds -hi the public' settie.l3 - iiiay:lic perpetra-,
ted;-iender the necessity.' Of new - letral . enact - 7
. ii, lents,' in • V respects above‘reterrett tomiiite.,
hbvhatii.", - or other nuiterittl . - modifications.
of tha -- reviintie htui: ulna :'seem to 'Me' dis 4 7.
kithle;'l:refer Viii(tOtlfe report Of - i,the_SeC're4'
' tafv'of the Vreitstiry: : That repor t ; lito',i - th . e.
L k bles•wliiell'
,acContpany it, furn . i4t f aninlii . :
priSokof thV *A(4 Totindatfori on - !Aoldi;tilii
financiatietA)rity of the cOlintryji*,' and - Of
`ie Fihit.Firy' inflatitiee of the/ indet,eliaciif
VtrIIOLE NUAIB.ER,L
- treasury system upon conitnereetiall
• r r ,
etany..operationsi.... • - ' .•-• - • - •' I .
';The. experience of
. the•last - year - 1 fii
..isheii
• additional reasiins I regretio say, •-- - pain-,
fel character; for the recommendation reto-
fore made, to proVide...fbi increasing th .tiiii;', l
• itary. force employed in the territory- i babi.;;,
ted by :the Italians. The settlers on 'th ' Alan- :-
tier have suffered • much from.the itieurslons - !
of predlit : ory bands r .and large parti"e dr erni : : -
grant. 4 to our Pacific IjOssessions;;lnive. beep'
massacred' with . impunity._ The fecuitenei;
•• of stichl . scenes can only 'be 'pretteiii,ed ht.
teaching these Wild - tribe'S'the power 4f, iindi
' t their respon'Sibility to, :the, ;United St - qtiik, - .i. - sif
j, From the- garrisous - of-'"Otir frentiet .pfis'te; it
lis only •;poible to detach irdo ps . in smay bod-; ; ;
1 ies ; and'thongh these have on:
.all, l occisions' ; -.
-- I displaYed 'a gallantry - and'ii - stern devcitiaistcil
duty.• which on it . larger fi eld 'wleisid•haYei ;
commanded universal -admiraticin,theY 'ilia:
1. usually suffered seYeiely in tires - _chit lists'
with . siiperior iiitmberS and have aotrietiOieti : '
i 'been entirely sacrificed. T - All the -.-disiosabley.
) force. of -- the army is already ein} lot ed - -,-*
I •t us service ,. and is-kmiwn. to be when -. - intuP
.1 -
• equate' . to the protection which should - - 4..aifor4
ded.• IThe ' public - inirid of . .ilte.cciO •
._ has'
• j her i li . r eentiy- shocked by- - , stivhge ta! oeitiiii
emnin tted - upon ,defenceless". eroi,tra its and.
1- horde;settlements, : and hardly' liiss by they ..l : iinnee -- .s.iry :destruction '- of . valual, -- ,liYeit„,
1 where inadequate detachments of tiii3O s have-
Al - undertaken to furnish the needed aid. .With,: ,
1 out increase:of the force, tli . seem ;
I will be repeated; it 'is to be " feared, - a Itir...
-
I ger scale,
.and • I,iith more -disaitrOu - ilxiiiie:. -
.
. .
j queuces.!. -Cong ress, l'am sure, .Will -
1 . 1 . - •
thgt.- the, plainest 'duties and :resign ,
l'are involved. in this question; and:F I JI
. •,, .
1-• that -Proinpt action, may :. be confidentl;
ipated When delay" must be . attended
1 fearffli hazards.; _,-.
• . '• : - , i - '.• .
• -. The bill .of the last 'session;- proyi int , fat
an in c rea s e of the
pay:of. the rank * :file of
the army has had beneficial rerlts; on. only:
l• in facilitating eillis.tmenis l - b - ut in Obv oils flit.'
provein4rit in the 'class - .Of men whO, e ter the,
service: I regret that ciorespondin7 consid:
(
eration was non bestowed on •the oflicers,who•
in view of thOr chaiacter-and , sery,i?es, mid .
the expenses to which'. they are. nocessari'y.
subject, i r - eceive - at present. whht is, in .my;
judgment; inadequate compensation. ._ • : ••.!.
• - .Tl,e;'. ;.7 1 riluable. services- constantly I rendered -
by the army, and its inestithable hopprtance f ,
as the tincleng •around; Which the • iVolutiteer
. forces of the nationcan , promptly.l ather hr . -
- the 11011 i Of danger, sufficiently at est the
witsdoin Of mairitaitiing_a - military jp - iiee• es: -
fahlislinrent:; but the - theory of - our system
; and the ; wise practice' under it, reqiiire . that - -
:any proposed ingm'entation, in ;time i of Peace
be Only ;commensurate ,with our'' extended --
j limits- and' Eolitier relations. Whil I scrupu-
•lously t dhering'to - this ~principle; find; fir -
1 _existing circumstances, a ; necessity -(Or in,. ,
crease o,'our militaryfoiee, and it is.lbc)iefed . '
I s that flu; new reg,imehts, two of infa try - atid
lv,-6 Of.rtiountui men, - will be . sii cierit,4o .
i
meet' the pres - ent . exigeney: -If it ;; re'nee.;= .
, .
..
_,. ,
essary . citrefully to• weigh the ost., iho case
Of. suchl 'emergency, it. would' ,be shown' _that •
the expense would i beeomparatiyis:
ly liii J; ht.) ,•' . , - :-- ' • ; ',. ' 1
r 5, ; j. .-.:. .-
1. . ' With I the, increase cif the Mimerieal• forc e of .
1 the .artny,, shodlii, I •think, , be• co' m, ;bed .cer, - -
ta n measures of reform in' its • ii - rcianie 'ar , :
-
rangernent.and administration. , ribpresent
organization is:the result:, cit•pal .
rOa l ) legisla s ,
1 1 .tii,n ofieii di'rected-td special objd' n ets 'and iii-_
terest's - ; jiiiiid - the laws regulating hank - and
",, command. haying.. been adopted Many .year ,
l ; . ago frOni 4he Britishoode , areOot. allways Op- • .
; plieablej - o our service. lro ', It is not 1 s 4 rprising,
therefor , that the Systk slimild h i eldeficient
in the 'gvlii - imetry . and. s implicity e34erktial-tsi -!
ithe'llarthnions,,Working of its: seYi4iii : . parts;
- al d rerillre. - i - i. careful revision. `-....-, 1 . '.• - • •-..
The pr , :ssent organization, by 'Maintaining -
lame, staff corps Or:slepartnaentiii separates -•
a' ' -
~many o leers from that plose: connection -with
troops, and; ; •those active:ditties . in l i the field, ,
Which arc deemed i dee requisite toi . ,.illialify, tlieni
fur. the Yaried responsibilities - 4. 011. high corn-.
.;nand. - . Were the duties of thelatmy staff -
_ mainly' disehargeil by debit : citedfrom: - .
their regiinelits, it is believed thatit e - spechtf
service' would be equally well Oki:nutod, and . :
the discipline. and instruction of .the artily be -;
improved ' While dile, regard to l the Seeuri;:• • -
'ty of the ' rights - of. officers 'end tP - the-nice
sense - of' . honor . ' which: should 'be I ebitivateir
-among them, would seem t:4lexttet Fr mphance -
with : the established rule..of prompt on' tin or- -
dinary &ties, still it
. eanbardlY . 'doubted
1 1
that: •• the... : range of promotion - by .. .fselerAtin; ,
which .is now ; practleally 'confined to he grade
of generall o ffi cers, - m:ight' he soMeivi 4.f. eite4-.:
c.
ded with benetit'm the piibilei service. 1 :oh.,;'
servance iif the rttle f .e.nioritjr . -''
b '' IlleilicleS ,
:lead ,4 , * espepialty in time of Peaeo,?.t6- the pro.
i motion of4hflieers who - , - after Merito ions land .
I* even distinguished . Service, ttii.,ll,.vO ''.been
rendere by age 'or', lYnfirsillty, inc., pable , of" .
performing active doty,' and whos 1 advanee-. -
meat, 4114:1 4 efore,- would . tenh 4.6 lithpair. the.;
effteiiiey t the army. . *liitab . let' Provision.:
, for this el;kse of offi4ers,.by - the ek , alioit 'of .; ..
'r`retired list; would:'ternedy the ev I, rw:lthoiit*
woUndinn , he just, pride of men .'w4, by past'
I .
I. serviees,l:ve established a elaim toihigheon..l ,
: I *sideratiOn. ) In- argain , commitidini this rheas-1 -
.t
I lira to the -iiti - orable • ponsidratlon of Con -d
.? .
I gross, I, wa i tild suggftt that the . power 0f;01a . .... :
eing Officer? on the retired-list. lxi liraited:',VO -
• - one year. 1 The • praeti&d.,...Operationclf - :the- . \
measure *paid thui be:- tested, * hull if, niter• t
the lapse . (-I';:yors, there should'hsoi.easien to/ .
..,
renew the revision,! it - can.. be'lreprodu'eed --'7
with-'tiny improvements whie'n lexperiOice„ 7 ,
, may,. .Indic ie... 'rlt.:-. ,present, . erganizatldn ~ fif ~
, i - .)
the artill6iy• into regiments - is . litiblo r ? ; t6 ,iivi..-.
ous itil;jectlions.:- The service'_ of - r ( tipery ih'
thattif.hatteries, and an orgtpiiza titlri / of ..14,
,uali _ 1.4 1 1 -
nAi
teries into -a corps ofartillerst.,trahl more consistclit vith the paturetit;PiPl , luties. A
largo_ part lot' the trO6ps ; now'call d artillery
I t
1 i •
are, an , cl,lhave been, -- en dittY asittfantry; the.
distinetio between the,tWotirrnsib4ing mere
ly notuina . This nominal .artiliery ,in.oar..
service 14 entirekre'di.sproportiona,le .tct ttiO
whole •ibrcie;' and greater than the watitg_ol.
the eoun 1 dealand; I therefor:ly: 'Commend
1
the disco ilnntineu. of a distinetie „. 'whi c h has
no foundation in either We 0,9i1s uked or the
character of the service.;' expecte to .be perz
i.,,
furrned./ ''': / • . t 'l . • : ~ f•
In ‘ eann Won with the
.propotia
army, I" Avo"present44 these s
wjth F . 4 , , i1
_to certain ineasures - .4f1
,the ,clatnpl rneld.:,of a syste.at ; :eXl
prednec tlie happiest re.Aults" frot a
1 penditnie r andi
which I hope may: a
r. early attention, -and he deente4 .. Nioi
approval, joreong,ros.'•l . - '
Vie reeommendatien - of ;the„
the Navy," having reference
.. )
--provitiono for the-d I.o.l . plitie kltifr gi
, .. - - 1 l.s'is - 4 1ilitCP40' '
move
sibilies
pubtnot'
v antic;
'by such
) 11 ' r0r . .1 1 / 6
ggestionn
vibrip,, an
:woutd
ei
i,tri4it :the
:6(tlii;
rettiiier .
diTlb