T - - :: -41 - HI ' i 111:.; (Of-' ilPl 1 r;: A ;. ; ' r.i THE BLESSINGS OF GOVEKJlMEtST, LIKE' TnE DEWS OP HEA VEN, : SnCVULD EE DISTRIBUTED AUKE'TTON TUB niGH ASB THE LOW, THS EICTI ASP TI1K POOS. ebensburg; pa ; Wednesday, December ,15, is-58 VOL. 6 NO. 4. f .A : jEff SERIES to J in PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. Senate and Uousc of r.r,,- citizens of the When compare tho condition of the - at the present day with what it was c"1U .rJ"r 0 ,0 at the meeting of Congress, we 'D reason for gratitude ttfthat Al- course of my long public life I have never performsd any official act which, in the retro spect, has afforded mo more hearfelfc satisfac tion. Its admission could have inflicted no possible iojuryon any human being, whilstit would, within a brief period, have restored peace to Kansas and harmony to the Union. In that event, the slavery question would ere this have been finally, settled, according to 1 I'mViai'llvu """ .. . - " 1 1 1 1 1 Til p r" rt ni'Sni) i;r .t th mnsf rritiMi luu K" epiesseei win 01 a majority oi tue a 1. 1 " - . 1 1 II . for our ,1 Mir li'sMiv. Une year ago mo r'T1 7.1 strife between the North and South k''cUi".r"Ti('crou3 subject of slavery, had 1 -,.m. ro iiiti i.se as to threaten the ...... ..r the couL-doracy. The aoplica- !'eF. :. - r.f Kansas as a State t0r luC aw....-r.. L'ni'-Pt tosii'tea mis ui.uiij.ijy agust- K-ou-'ht the whole subject once Pr-.Tes?. it was me aesire or 'hat such measures of legislation rA cs would remove the er- ,t from the States, and confine it to the where it legitimately Ueiongea. a ' am uappv to say, to- .or.t of t hi- object, du- uon :isu. It tore ...l.-lit le a,ifT' Tirritorj' U.I ii. "V. -lie, '.isb: ' of Congress. voters and have been nor. ith my deep convictions of duty, I co'd have pursued no other course. It i3 true, that, as aa individual, I had 'expressed an opinion, both before and during the sesfcioa of the convention in favor of subimttin" the remaining clauses of the constitution, as well cd in the rejection, by a large majority, of the proposition submitted to the people by Congress. Thig being the case, they are now authorized to form another constitution, pre paratory to admission into the Union, but not until their number, as ascertained by a cen sus, shall equal or exceed the ratio required to elect a member to the House of Represen tatives. It is not probable, "in the present state of the case, that a third constitution can bo law- as that concerning slavery, to the people hut, acting in au official character, neither myself or any human authority had the pow er to rejudge the proceedings of the conven er . 1 11 . 1 1-1 Tie IVrv.t :, ' tl: .ret.. Thi.- t av-u-ly . ; hv.s ;: rty 1: . . ;), v. in'.;! 1 ' now ."lU2.- (V .-I . t of tie Ui-iu d States 1, th;i? ali American 1 itiht 10 ti.kf. intv) tLft or i- hei i .is property un ( f ihe ct -1:1:1s, and to hold , under tin '-uardianship .is the tcr- popular sovereignty would thus viudicated ma constiJution man- fully' framed and presented to Congress by Kansas, betorti its . population shall have reached, the uesignatea number. Nor is it to be p-esttnied that after: theit Sad' experi- i i;uto m 4tsi2tiiy iu lerruoriai laws, viney will attempt to adopt a constitution in express violation of the provisions, of an act of Con gress.' During the session of 1855, much of the time of Congress' was occupied on the question of the admission 'of Kansas under the Topeka constitution. Again, nearly the whole of the last session was devoted to the tion, nnd declare the constitution wbich it question of its admission under the Lecomp had framed to be a nullity To have doue j ton constitution. Surely it is not unreason tbis w ould have been a violation of the Kan- j able to require the people of Kansas to wait ?as and Nebraska act, which left the people i before making a third attempt, until the num cf the Territory ''perfectly free to form and ber of their inhabitants shall amount to nine- l.:.s ts pr. ::; in, so b' rciiir.in. .- tat .i-.:-. t '..IS I I,lZt!, Hi i-r .1 bv 5 c"f Ci--to C'!H .t.- d .-i:ion,and ;i:i were aloue ",1 . j lie prii: . 1;C loiin or 1 I n rlniost I'.naunm u vote n uotii rt99, tlist a letritory lias tue ir-to the Union riiher s a frie Srato, according to tne will oi a f'i-s pe-ple. Th-. just equality of ltcs iliui b:cu vindicated, and of dangerous Giscussion a- i n reuiovcu. ben the beneficial ten- regulate tutir uomesnc insuiuuous in meir own way, subject only to the constitution of the United States." It would equally have violated the great principle of popular sov ereignty, at the foundations of our institu tions, to deprive the people of the power, if they thought proper to exercise it, of confl dinr to d-j legates elected by themselves the a constitution, without re subject their constituents to tfiise anu delay or a seeomi t.ust of framing qmriiu htiuree ;. 1 :, K -ue'i ha i'c'U'v v.'ur 1-g'slative proeoeiling ouiuo . t K-n"- thciA-.itiucncc has no r here been f- Larrv as within that Tt-rritory itself. Lett , , ,,,,,, a.l .vntr.'d "ltd own affahs ia its th- v nthout the pressure ot external oiuiionary lopetta orgam- ..-t.niice to iiie itrruon:ii .j.- i by Congress, have no I. Ad a natural con- t tl : i o 1'errU'iry nr appears to :1 p-u.-p-'ruUS, uuu ii.i:"""o Uoauos t'f iruiuigrauts to make- t 1 !!;nr lisppy iom. t, T' .- r-at UTif'. rfunato cxpener-.co of ivan :ViT..:ec 1 the kss.m so often already .1 . ,l,.,f v.-M-tatlC-.' tO laWlUl uuuumj, cvrn way ii ?.UU:e'"- Lcen una M'fietj'.-e, Lera-:rc t .i r!. t!. t:iom t;j s tue trouole, ex election. It would have been in opposition to many prece lents in our history, 'commen cing in the very best age of the republic, of the- admission of Territories as States into the Union, without a previous vote of the people iipproviog their constitution it is to be lamented that a question so ia- siguitie-aut when viewed ia its practical effects di cidea kindled , sueu a name or excitement inrougnoin ine ; country. This reflection may prove to be a i lesson of wisdom and of warning fer our lu j tuie guidance. Practically considered, the ; question is simply whether the people of that ! Territory should lirst come into the Union j aud then chaoge any provision in their cou ' stitution not agreeable to themselves, or ac- i couipliah the very same object by ut of th tltutiou l 1 J. T " l.l on tue people or ivansas, wti-ftuer one way or the other, shoull have I . Luion ami iraiiiing anotcer con in accordance with their will ? In either case, the result would be precisely the same, The only difference in point of fact is. that the object would have been much sooner attained, aud the pacification oi Kan- ty-thiee thousand four hundred and twenty During this brief period the harmony of the States, as well as the great busiuess inter ests of the country, demand that the people of the Union shall not for a third time be convulsed by another agitation on the Kansas question. Dy waiting for a short time, and actiug in obedience to law, Kansas will glide iuto the Union without the slightest iuipedi- inent. This excellent provision which Congress i have applied to Kansas.ought to be extended and rendered applicable to all Territories which may hereafter seek admission into the Union. ! While Congress 'ossessrs the undoubted ! power of admitting a r.cw State into the Un I ion, however small may be the number of its ! inhabitants, yet this power onght, not, in my j opinion, to be exercised before the population j shall amount to the ratio required by the act 1 for the admission of Kansas. Had this been ; previously the rule, the country would have 1 ( scaped ail the evils and misfortunes to which it has been exposed by the Kansas "question, i Of course, it would be unjust to give this rule a retrospective application, and csclude a Stato which, acting under the pas.t practice of the government, has already formed its constitution, elected its legislature and other officers, and is now prepared to enter the Union. . - , The rule ought to be adopted, whether we consider its bearing on the people of the Ter ritories or upon the people of the existing tates. Manv of the serious discussions which ;,r 'iur lot m o; l . ..... to prove govern nn'iit, cannot tail in j gas more sp-icdi'y effected, hap it been much ; have prevailed in Congress and throughout ibi t l.i- I.v'C to the law: '.i:i,si-i.ua to us autliors. r tl,, 'lerritorv vie Idea one- fc n v a i enacted by their lcgisla- v i w -nli at the present moment nave .rainrtl a large additional population of in ! -;.,us and entci f rising citizens, who have from euterng its comers i.y of civil strife and organized re- b:: iieterre i'.-tcr;c(; v:i! ,i... ho rcMftar.ce o righilul authority . . . f . . ct.O.I. l i isevtru'g aacu.pis w i.-i.-m. luu v gov.-nm.e-nt under the TVpeka , !i eauseu lae pee-jiu ui error ot retustng to convention to trame W :i Irtw not dei.i-.'d to t e This refusal of all the V-l.,1 i u:i :tut;ot.. Will . en:in!i!t the grave 'jy i!.;i-gate-s to the .vit'U.G;). ur.ucr ;.:r its rirovisioiis 1,-f-r, ti.., proiilio source , have followed, la their hostility j torrit oi 'uu roverr.me.nt, they T-riiieii'b--., ul ;ii.:r f our form ot govern -1 1 v et' those who vote may .iii-5 reason, own error, di.iregar- essential to me icut, tnat a ..i vote n-.ii t:ie niajoiuv remain at home, tro:n waaierer ,Jm-i do the result ol an election. i . . 1- -ti r tf rt r.f th. y uVr.nM the autnoniy oi ..u'iou The cmv.niion, not witl-.standing. pro- A to al-'Dt a c iiisMtution uueax-epnoua its general features. i;..- "ubii.issiou ot te v. of the people, lV-v v.vre bound to urrj .Nl-hraska act. i iCi : ia and providing for lavery quest tou to a which, in my opiuion uu der the Kansas j n '! ; u-ie t:i- nli-'-nnor- ta: T.. i 1.1 ion W oie ha i a.oi: :ouv its of ,ed t tie i i . fir : no i : i .v ;rv; an i yet me -pp ' .'."riimcut, per.-ls-.ing in their first error fc-Vuiiu-J from exercising their right to vote, y.l preferred that slavery should continue, :Ur than surrender their revolutionary To I -a organization A wiser aud better spirit seemed to prevail bvf ,r - the first Monday of January last.wuen 32 election was held under the constitution . A majority of the people then voted for a fjvernor and other State oQcers, for a mem-'"-r of (.'undress, and members of the State Lt-aturc. This (lection was warmly con 'eiby the two political partie3 in Kansas, '--I a greater veto wa3 polled than at any r-'l us election. A large majority of the balers of the legislature elect belonged to it party which had previously refused to ""J. The anti-slavery party were thus pla- d in the ascendant, and the political power the Stato was in their hands. Had Con ?rs a-lmittcd Kansas Into the Union under (te I.ecompton constitvtion, the legislature S!'it at its very that session, have eubmit ! ths question to a vote of the people, "oilier they would or would not have a con otiou to amend their constitution either on tae ilavery or any other question, and have opted all necessary means for giving speedy Wcet to the will of "the majority. Thus the k'ia3 question would have been immedi-v-ty aud finally Fettled. Lader there eirpiimitir.cefl. I aubniitted to ' soonsr attained, aud tne pacincation ot ivan- sas more speedily oflected, had it been admit- ted as a State daring the last session of Con ! gross. j My recommendation, however, for the immediate admission of Kansas, failed to I meet the approbation of Congress. They i deemed it wiser to adopt a different measure for the settlement of the question. For my j own part, I thould have been willing to yield 1 my asstut to almost any constitutional meas ure to accomplish the objecr. I, therefore, cordia'ly acquiesced in what has been called the English Compromise, and approved the "Act for the admission of the State of Kan sas into the Ui:ion," upon the terms therciu prescribed. Under the ordinance which accompanied the IjecouiPton Constitution, the people of Kansas had claimed double the quantity of public larTJs for the support of the common schools, which had ever previously granted to any State upon entering into the Union ; and also the alternate sections of land for twelve miles on each side of two railroads nronosed to be constructed from the northern i to iu0 southern boundary, and from the eas- tern to the western boundary of tho S ate. j Congress, deeming these claims unreasonable ! provided, by the Act of May 4, 1858, to j which I have just referred, for the admission of the State on equal footinj with the origi- ' nal States, but '-upon the fundamental con dition precedent, tnat a majority or tae peo- nle thercot, at aa election to ue ueid lor tuat purpose, should, in place of the very la.ge "rants of public lands whieh they had deman ded under the ordinance, accept such grants as had been made to Minnesota, and other new States. Under this act, should a major ity reject the proposition offered them, "it shall be deemed and held that the people of Kansas do not desire admission into the Un ion with said Constitution under the condi tions set forth in said proposition," In that event, the act authorizes the people of the territory to elect delegates to form a consti tution and State government for themselves, "whenever, and not before, it is ascertained by a census, duly aud legally taken, that the popula i -n of said territory equals or exceeds the ratio cf representatives required for a member of the House of llepresentatives of the Congress of the United States." The delegates thus assembled "shall first deter mine by a vote whether it is the wish of the people of the proposed State to bo admitted iuto the Union at that time, and, if so, shall proceed to form a constitution, and take all necessary steps for the establishment of a state government in conformity with the fed eral constitution." After this constitution shall have been formed, Congress, carrying out the principles of popular sovereignty and con-intervention, have left the "mode and manner of its approval or ratification by the circumstances. 3?rtSS thft p.-,r irit ntinn tlm frftrrnd. with oUters ah-eady necessary to put the govcrntaeat into oper&tiou, accompa a stroag recommeudation in favor of ie aiaiiBsion of Kansas as a Stata. In tho i .r i ci. i.i, ,:v.i nOOplC Ol lin: lirujioseei oiuie, iu ue preset iucu by law," aud they "shall then bo admitted into the Union as a State, under such con stitution thus fairly and legally made, with or without slavery, as sail constitution may prescrlbo." An election was held throughout Kansas in rourfcuanee of the provisions of this act, on the second day of August last, and it rcsalt- the country, would have been avoided, had this rule been established at an earlier period of the government. Immediately upon the formation of a new Territory, people from different States and from foreign countries rush into it, for the laudable purpose of improving their condi tion. Their first duty to themselves is to open and cultivate farms, to construct roads, to establish schools, to erect places of relig ious worship, and to devote their energies generally to reclaim the wilderness, and to lay the foundations of a flourishing and pros perous commonwealth. If, in this iucipient condition, with a population of a few thous and, they should prematurely enter the Uu- lon, they are oppressed by the burden of State taxation, and the means necessary for the improvement of the Territory and the ad vancement of their own interests, are thus diverted to very different purposes The federal government has ever been a lib eral parent to the Territories, and a generous contributor to the u-eful enterprise of the ear ly sellers. It has paid the expenses of their governments, and legislative assemblies out of the common treasury, and thu3 relieved them from a heavy charge. Under these circum stances nothing can be better calculated to retard their material progess, than to divert them from their useful employments, by pre maturely exciting angry political contests a mong themselves, for the benefit of aspiring leaders. It is surely no hardship for embryo governors senators and members of Congress, to wait until the number of inhabitants shall equal those of a single congressional district. They surely ought not to be permitted to rush iuto the Union with a population less than one half of several of the large counties in the interior of some of the States. This was the condition of Kansas when it made applic ation to be admitted under the Tepeka Constitution I Besides, it requires forne time to render the mass of a population collected in a new Terri tory, at all homcogenious, and to unite them on an-thiug like a fixed policy. Establish the rule, and all will look forward to it and govern themsalves accordingly, liut justice to the people of the several States, requires that this rule should be es tablished by Congress. Each State is enti tled to two senators and at least one represen tative in Congress, bhould the people ot tue States fail to elect a Vice President, the power devolves upon the Senate to select this officer from the two highest candidates cn the list. In case of the death of the President, the Vice President thus elected by the Senate, becomes President of the United States. On all questions of legislation, the senators from the smallest States of the Union have an equal vote with those from the largest. The same may be said in regafd to the ratification of treaties, and of Executive appointments. All this has worked admirable in practice, whilst it conforms iu principle with the char acter of a government instituted by sovereign States. I presumo no American citixen wo'd the New York in the Senate of the United States? For these reasons, I earnestly recommend the passage of a general act, which f-hail pro vide that upon the application of a territorial legislature, declaring theis belief that the Territory contains a number of iuhabitants which, if in a State, would entitle them to elect a member of Congress, it shall be tho duty of the President to cause a census of the inhabitants to be taken, and if found suffi cient, then by the terms of this act to autbor izie them to proceed "in their own w ay" to frame a State constitution, preparatory to ad nission into the Union. I also recommend tba ttjfc appopriation ,moy be made, to enable thf President to take a census of ihe people of Kansas. . The present condition of the Territory of Utah, when contrasted -vith what it was "one year r.go, is a subject for congratulation. It was then in a state ' of open rebellion, and, cost what it might, the character of the gov ernment required that this rebellion should be suppressed and the Mormons compelled to yield obedience to the constitution and the laws. In order to accomplish this object, as I inforrhedyou in my lsst annaal ai essage, I appointed a new governor instead of llrigham Young, and other federal officers to take the place of those who, consulting their personal safety, had found it neccessary to withdraw from the Territory. To protect these civel officers, and to aid them, as a 2yossc comita tes, in the execution of the laws in case of need, I ordered a detachment of the army to accompany them to Utah. The necessity for adopting these measures is now demonstated. j On the 15th of September, 1857, Governor : Young issued his proclamation, in the style j of an independant sovereign, announcing ' his purpose to resist by force of arms the en- try of the United States troops into our own j Territory of Utah. By this he required nil j the forces in the Territory, to "hold them selves in readiness to march at a moment's no i tice to repel auy and all such invasion" and j estsblished martial law from its date through- out the Territory. These proved to be no ' idle threat. ' Forts Hridger and Supply wero vacated and burned down by the Mormons, j to deprive our troops of a shelter after their ' long ar.d fatiguing march. Urdeis were is- ; sued by Daniel II. Wells, styling himself j "Lieutenant General, Nanvoo Legion, "to ! stamDede the animals of the United States i troops on their march, to set are to taeir trains, to burn the grass and the whole count try before them and on their flanks, to keep them from sleeping by night surprises, to block cade, the road by felling trees, and des- i troying tha fords of rivers, &c, tc. j These orders were promptly and effectually j obeyed. On the 4th o. October, 1S57, the . Mormons captured and burned on Greeu j Iliver three ot our supply trains, consisting of seventy-five wagons loaded with provisions and tents for the army, and caned away sev eral hundred animals. This diminished the supply of provisions so materially that Gen. Johuson was obliged to reduce the ration, and even with this precaution, there was only sufficient left to subsist the troops until the first of June. Our little army behaved admirable ia their to bo rigorously dealt with according to their deserts. The instructions to these agents, as a copy of the proclamation, and their reports, are herewith submitt cd. It will be seen by their report of the 3d of July last, that they have fully confirmed the opinion expressed by General Johnston, in the previous Oetobcr, as to tho necessity of sending reinforcements to Utah. In this they state, that tboy "are firmly impressed with the belie f that the pres ence of the army here, and the large addi tional force that had been ordered to this Ter ritory were the chief inducement? that caused the Mormons to abandon the idea of resisting the authority of the. United - States. -A less decisive policy would probably have resulted ia a long bloody and expensive war." These gentlemen conducted themselves to my entire satisfaction, and rendered useful sorvice in executing the humane intentions of the government It also affords me great satisfaction to state, that Governor Cumming has performed his duty in an able and conciliatory manner, and with the happiest effect. 1 cannot, in this connexion, retrain troni inentioumg tue valu able services of Col Thomas L. Kane; who, from motives of pure benevolence, and with out any official character or pecuniary com pensation, visited Utah during the last in clement winter, for the purpose of comtribu to the pacification of the Territory. I am happy to inform you, that the gover nor and other civil officers of Utah, are now performing their appropriate functions with- out resistance. lac.vauthority of the consti tution and the laws has been fully restored, and peace prevails throughout the Territory. A portion of the troops sent to Utah are now encamped in Coder Valley, fourty-four miles southwest of Salt Lake City; and the remainder Lave been ordered to Oregon to suppress Indian hostilities. The march of the army to Salt Lake City, through the Indian Territory, has had a pow erful tffcet in restraining tho hostile feelings against ihe United States, which existed among the ludians iu that region, and in se curing emigrants to the far West against their depredations, This will also be the means of establishing military poets and pro moting settlements along the route. I recommend that the benefits of our land laws and pre-emn lit n sstem be extended to annoying, as these waters arc traversed by a laege portion of Ihe commerce . and naviga tion of the United States, and their free ana unrestricted use is essential to the isecurity of the coastwise trade between different States of the Union. Such vexatious interruptions could not fail to excite the feelings of tho country, and to require the interposition of the government. .....Remonstrances were -ad dressed to British government against these violations of our rights of sovereignty, and a naval force was at the same time ordered to the Cuban waters, ;with directions "to pro-' tcct all vessels of the United States, on tho high seas, frov search .or detection by tho vessels of war of any other nation!7 These measures received the unqualified and even enthusiastic spprobation . of tho American people. Most fortunately, howev er, no collision took place, and the British government promptly avowed its recognition of the principles of international law upon this subject, as laid down by the government of the United States, ia the note of the Sec-: retary of State to the British Minister at Washington, of April 10, .1858, wbich se cures the vessels of the United States upon" the high seas from visitation or search in time of peace, under any circumstances whatever. The claim has been abandoned in a manner the op lei Oi itabiishment of a the hostilities Britain and France a va, however, at the lll'Jll in encampment at Fort Bridger, under these t cr the moun- the mid: trying privation. In tains, iu a dreary, uusettlcd, and inhospit able region, more than a thousand miles lVom . i.i i- i i. nome. tucv passeu tne severe an i inciemcu winter without a murmur ward with confidence for relief from their country iu due season, and in this they were not disappointel. Tho Secretary of War employed all his energies to forward them the necessary sup plies, and to muster and send such a military forces to Utah as would render resistance on ) the part of the Mormons hopeless, aud thus j terminate the war without the eifusion of , blood. In his efforts he was efficiently sas- j tuincd by Congress. They granted appro- , filiations sufficient to cover the deueioncy . thus necessary created, a:ul also provided for raising two regiments of volunteers, "for the , purpose of quelling disturbances in the Ter- j ritory of Utah, for the protection of supply j and emigrant trains, and the suppression of ; of indian hostilities on the frontiers." Happily, j there was no occasion to call theso regiments i into ?crvtce. If there had benn, I should j have felt serious embarrassment, in selecting i them, so great was the number of our brave and patriotic citizens anxious to serve their country iu this distant and apparently dan- i gerous expedition. Thus it has ever been, i aud thus may it ever be. The wisdom and economy of sending suSic ieut reinforcements to Utah are established I not only by tha event, but in the opinion of j those who, from their position and oppoituu:-i ties, are the most capable of forming a cor- J rect judgement. General Johnson, the com-i mander or the forces, in addressing the sec retary of War from Fort Bridger, under date of October 18, 1857, expresses the opinions that "unless a large force is sent here, from the nature of the country, a protracted war on their the Mormons part is inevitable. LiJii, by the e laui efiiee in that xc-r ritory. 1 have occasion, also, to congratulate you on the ret alt of our negotiation with China. You were informed by my last annual message, that our miaister.had been instructed - , . i i ..'.: . to occupy a central po conducted by Grer.t gainst Canton. He same time, directed to cooperat6 cordially with the British and French ministers, iu all ' peaceful measures to secure by treaty those just concessions to toreign commerce, waicn tho nations of the world had a right to de mand. It was impossible for me to proceed further thau this, on my own authority, with out usurping the war-making power, which, under the constitution, belongs exclusively to Congress. Besides, after a careful examination of the nature and extent of our grievances, I do not belie ve ihey were of such a pressing and aggravated character, as would have justified Congress i:i declaring war against the Chinese emr.irc. without firs!, makiag another earnest They looked for- attempt to adjust thciu by peaceful negotk r,.lUf fmm ih. W tioa. I was the mere inc'uacd to tuis opit OplU- , . . , 1 . 1 1 I. ! ion, because or t'ie severe caasusemeut wuicu ! had then but recently been inflicted upon I the Chiuese by our squadron, iu the capture ! and destruction of the Barrier Forts, to a- vengo an alleged iusult to our flag The event has proved the wisdom of our neutrality. Oar minister has executed his instructions with eminent skill and abi:i:y. In conjunction with the Russian plenipo tentiary, he has peacefully, but effectually, eo-opeiatj with the English and French plen ipotentiaries; and each of the four powers has concluded a now treaty with China, of a highly satisfactory character The treaty concluded br cur owu pleniputentary wiil immediately be submitted totheSeuate, I am haipy to aunouce that, through the energetic vet conciliatory affords of our con sul general in Japan, a new treat3' has been coiu-luded with that empire, which may be expected materially to augment our trade and intercourse in that quarter, and remove from our countrymen the disabilities, which have heretofore bceu imposed upon the exercise of their religion. Tue treaty shall be submitted to tho Senate for approval without delay It is my earnest desire that every misun derstanding with the Government of Great Britiau, should be amicably and speedily ad justed. It has been the misfortune of both countries, almost ever since the period of the revolution, have been annoyed by a succes sion of irritating and dangerous questious, threatening their friendly relations. This has partially prevented the full developement of those leeiings or mutual friendship netween reflecting honor on the British government and evincing a just regard for he law of Bas tions, and cannot fail to strengthen the ami cable lelatious between the two countries. The Biitish government, at the same time, proposed to the United States that some mode should be adopted,, by mutual arrangement between the two countries, cf a character which may be found tflcctive without being offensive, for verifying the nationality of vessels suspected on good grounds of carry ing false colors. Thay have also invited the United States to take the initiative, and pro- pose measures for this purpose. Whilst de clining to assume to grave a responsibility, the Secretary of Slate has iaforined the Brit ish government that wa are ready to receive' auy proposals that they may feel disposed to offer, having this object ia view, and to con sider them in an amicable spirit. A strong opinion is, however, expressed, that tho oc casional abuse of the flag of any nation is an evil far less to be deprecated, than would bo the establishment of any regulations which might be incompatible with the freedom of the seas. This government has yet received no communication specifying the manner in which the British government would propose to carry out their suggestion; and I am in clined to believe that uo plan which can be devised will be free from grave emb&rass mcnts. Sail, I shall form no decided opin ion on the subject, until I shall have care fully and in the best spirit examined any proposals which they may think prep i to make. I am truly sorry I cannot also inform you that the complications between Great Britain and the United States, arising out of the Clayton and Bui wer treaty of April, 1850, have been finally adjusted. A the ceajmrn cement of your last session, I had reason to hope that, emancipating themselves from further unavailing discus sions, the two governments wou'd proceed to settle the Central American questions in a practical manner, alike honorable and satis factory to both ; and this hope I have not yet abandoned. In my last annual message I stated that overtures had been made by tha British government for this purro.-e iu a friendly spirit, which I cordially reciprocated. Their proposal was, to withdraw these ques tions from direct negotiation between the two governments ; but to accomplish the same object by a negotiation between the British government and each of the central American republics whose territorial interests are imme diately involved. The settlement was to be made in accordance with the general tenor of the interpretation placed upon the Claytou and Bulwcr treaty by the United t tates, with certain modifications As negotiations are still pending upon this basis, it would not bo proper for me now to communicate their prc seut condition. A final settlement of these questions is greatly to hi desired, as this would wipe out the last remaining object of dispute between the two countries. Our relations with the great empires of France and Russia, as well as with ail other governments on the continent of Europe, ex cept that of Spain, continue to be of the most friendly character. With Spain our relations remain in an un satisfactory condition Iu my message of December last, I informed you that our envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Madrid had asked for Lis recall; and it was my purpose so send out a new minister to that court, with special instructions on all ! questions pending between the two govern -j ments, and with a determination to have theiu ' speedily and amicably adjusted, if possible. ' This purpose has been hitherto defeated by ' causes which I need not enumerate, i The mission to Spain has been entruste I to a distinguished citizen of Kentucky, who without delay, aud .1 IT . ft C x i l II: K tr atlUkiiwi - w ... commerce between the united states nui."-. .mnBn, Great Britian would be equally mjunous to jusuen , . , , t ;.-. !r w Snauish omciais, unuer me uircct control .i r .f .i. . .1. i i I r( ili pr.nt.ain-?eneral of Cub both. the people of the two countries so natural iu i j i - , - - . i - . . l - T fi a UlSLlUiiUiaUUM VU14CII v This he considered necessary; to terminate themselves and so conducive to their common ; a tQ Mairiil wit the war "speedily and more economically interest. serious imerrupuou ... , k ' thcr and a final att . u : a: onmniPT-pn h.-twoon the United fctates and i ua . man u attempieu uy luaueueieuL weana In the mean time, it was my anxiou3 de sire that the Mormons should yield obedience to the constitution and the laws .without ren dering it necessary to resort to military force. To aid in accomplishing this object, I deemed it advisable, iu 'April last, to dispatch two distinguished citizens of the Uuited States, Merssers Powell and McCulioch, to Utah. They bore with them a proclamation address ed by myself to the inhabitants of Utah, dated on the 6ixth day of that month, warning them nf their true condition, and how hopeless it desire the slightest chauge in the arrange- mint: Still is it not unitist and unonual to should submit to the laws a " . j i - . ... lue Ci.iaiiiJ uiaica iu micuu gums iui ijr ui fifty thousand people eollected ia a TerritoEy with the attributes of sovereignty, and place them 03 an equal footing with Virginia and was on their part to persist in rebeliou agaiust the United States, and offering all those who full pardon for tlioir nast seditions and treasons. At the same time, I assured those who chould per sist in rebellion against the United States, that they umst expect no further lenity, but look istcd on the face of the etrth. which eould do of the captain-generai oi uoa. naving msui each other so much good or so much harm. ted our natonal flag, and. ia rcpeatod instan Entertaiuing these sentiments, I am grat- ; ces, have from time to time infihcted injuries ified to inform you that the long-pending ', on the persons and properties of our citizehs. controversy between the two governments, in ! These have given birth to numerous claims, relation to the question of visitation and ! against tha Spanish government, the merits search, has been amicably adjusted. The of which have been ably drol for ;a senea claim on the part of Great Britain, forcibly to of years, by our successive diplomatic repre visit American vessels on the high seas, in senatives. Notwithstanding tin. wo have time of peace could not be sustained under , not arrived at a practicel result m any siugie the law of nations, and it had been overruled ; instance, unless we may except the case a, by her owu most eminent jurists. This ques- J the Black arrior under the latj administra tion was recently brought to an issue by tho j tlon; and that presented an outrage of such a repeated acts of British cruisers, in boarding ; character as would have justified an , immo.li aud searching our merchant vessels in tho , ate resort to war. All our attempts to ob--...if.t m: j.i,...i;.Mntc. : trm rpdress have been baffled and defeated- i 11 1 i iii .ill" v ii.il. anu l ii c i ii u These acts were the mora injurious aud , The frequent aud oft-recurring changes ; ! i o 3 O
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers