enuntry was a colonial posgession of Spain. h cannot be sucemsfully controverted, that, by the public law of Europe and America, no poosible act of such Indians or their predeees sem could confer on Great Britain any polities! rights Great Britain 'does not allege the assent of Spain as the origin of her claims on the Mosqui to coast She has, on the contrary, by repeated and suoeessive treaties, renounced and relinquish ed all pretensions of her own, and recognised ' the full a nd sovereign rights of Spain in the most uneqn vocal terms. Yet these pretensions, so 'ratio*, solid foundation in the beginning, and thus repeatedly abjured, were, at a recent period, revived by Great Britain against the Central American States, the legitimate sump sore to ali the ancient jurisdiotion of Spain in that region. They were first applied only to a defined part of the coast of Nicaragua, afterwards to the whole of its Atlantic coast, and lastly to a part of the coast of Costs Rica; and they are now re asserted to this extent, notwithstanding engagements to the United States. Oct the eastern coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the interference of Great Britain; though exerted at one time in the form of military oc cupation of the port of San Juan del Norte, then in the peaceful possession of the appropri ate authorities of ins Central American States, is now presented by her as the rightful exercise of a protectorship over the Mosquito tribe of In diana. But the establishment at the Belize, now reaching far bu , ,ri 1 its treaty limits into the State of Honduras, and that of the Bay islands, appertainiug of right to the fame State, are as distuactly coioaisl governments as those of Ja maica or Canada, and therefore contrary to tue very letter as well as the spiritof the conventaou with the United States, as it was at the time of ratification, and uow is, uuderstami by this guv. erument. Tue interpretation which the British govern men', thus in asse•tian and act, persists in as cribing to the con.vention, entirely changes its character While it h,iols Ll 3 to all our oblige ti,ins, it in a great measure releases Civet Brit ain frwri those, which constituted the cuosidera. tion of this governw, ut fir entering into the convention It is itnpdsaible, in my judgment, for the United States to acquiesce in such a con struction of the respective relations of the two governments to Central America. To a renewed call by this government upin (treat Britain, to abide by, and carry into effect, the stipulations of toe convention according to its obvious imp , irt by withdrawing from the pos. session or coionizsti.in of portions of the Central American States of 11.iniuras, ioaragu • i, and Costa Rica. the British government has at length affirming that the opLratiou of the treaty is prospective Ldy, and did nit require Great, Britain to abandon or contract any possesaiJos held by her in Central America at the date of its conc;asim. This reply substitutes a partial issue, in the place of a generai one presented by the United States Toe firiti..l2 government passes over the question of the rigute of Great Britain, real or suppo4ed, In Central America, sad assumes that she had kuch rights at the date of the treaty, and that iho3e rights compretv.uded the protec. torship of the Mosquito Indians, the extend , . , l jurisdiction and limits of the Bailee, and the col: ony of 'he Bay Wands, and thereupon proceeds by implication to infer, that, if the stipulations of the treaty be merely future in eff et, Great Britain may stil: continue to hold the contestod purtfuns of Central America The United States cannot admit either the inference or the pre mises. We steadily deny, that, at the date of the treaty, Great Britain had any posses.,ions there, other than the limited and peculiar es tabilshment at the Balls. and maintain that, if she had any, they were aurreudered by the euta vent 1,./11 This government, recognizing the obligations of the treaty, has of course desired to see it exe cuted in 14)01 faith by hot, parties, and in the discussion, therefore, Las not looked to rights, which we might assert, independently of the treaty, to e io-idt ratiou of our geographical posi tion and of other ciremustances, which create for us ri2litions to the Central American States, dif ferent from those of any government of Europe The British goverorneur, in its iast communi cats ill, aitt,ouga w 11 knowing the views of the- LT nited States, still dtciares that it sees no reason why a conciliatory pit it may nor enaole the two givernments to o%eicume ai. obstacles to a sins factory adjustment of ilk subject Assured of the c irr cult...is of the crmstruction of the treaty constantly adlar red to by this gov ernment, and resolved to insist on thetights of the United States, ret actuated also by the same de sire, which is d wowed by the British government, to remove all causes of serious misunderstanding between the two tract ins associated by so many ties of interest an I kindred, it has appeared to me proper not to consider an amicable solution of the controversy hopeless. There is, however, reason to al.prehend, that, with Great Britain in the actual occupation of the disputed territories, and the treaty therefore practically null, se far as regsrds our rights, this' intt mations! eanuot long remain unde• t mined, without iniolving in serious danger the friendly reiarions, which it is the interest as weil as the iluty it tuth countries to cherish and preserve It will afford me sincere gratification, if future efforts shalt result in the success, anti clpsted heretot- re with more confidence than the aspect of the case permits me now to entertain RkCaI:ITMENT One other su ije•t .1 ‘l , ,us, to bets, n the United States ant Great B - itaie, has grown out of the attempt. which the exi4eficies nt cue war in witch site engaged with ltds.l4 induc-ii her to maze, to draw re rutty from toe Unitod States. It is the tradittona , and settled policy of the United States to maintain iwparttal neutrality dui log the wars, which from time to time accnr among the great powers the world Perfor ming all the duties of neutrality towards the res. p-t:tive beligerent states, we may reasonably ers pect them not to interfere with our lawful enjoy went of its benefits Notwithstanding the exis tence of such hostimies, our citizens retain their individual right to coottnny all their accustomed purseits, by land or by sea, at home or abroad, subject only to such restrictions In this relation, as the laws of war, the usage of nations, or spe cial treaties, may impose; and it is our sovereign right that our territory and jurisdiction shall nut be invaded by either of the belligerent parties, for the transit of their armies, the operations r f their Beets, the levy of troops for their servio the fitting out of cruises by or against either, or any other act or incident of war, And the se undeniable right; of neutrality, individual and national, the United States will undernocircrim stances surrender In pursuance of this policy, the laws of the United States do not forbid their citizens to sell to either of the belligerent powers articles, coa traband of war, or to take munitions of w ar or soldiers on board their private ships for trans portation; and altuough, in so doing, the indi vidual citizen exposes his property or pet son to route of the hazards of war, his sots do not in volve any breech of national neutrality, ntr o f themselves 'implicate the goveromeet. Thus, during the progress of the present war in Eu rope, our citizens have, without national rospoo smillty therefor, sod gunpowder and arms to all buyers, regardless of the destination of three arti cles. Our merchantmen have been, and still continue to be, largely employed by Great Brit ain sod by France, in transporting troops, pro visioos, and munitions of war to the principal mat of military operations, and in bringll ig home their wok and wounded soldiers; but sec Is nee of our mercantile marine is not interdicted. either by the international, or by oar manioicul law, and therefore does not eonapromit oar soutnal relations with Russia. But our muMeipal law, is sesordanee with the law of nations, peremptorily forbids not only for eigners, bat oar own °Weems, to fit out, within the limits of the United States, a vessel to oont nit hostilities spinal any state with ebica the United States are at pease, or to increase the woe of any foreign armed vessel intended for sash hostilities against a friendly state. Whatever concern may have been felt by either of the beligerent powers lest privets armed endears, or other vessels, in the 'eyries of one, might be fitted out in the poets of this eonatty to depredate on the property of the other, all seek fears have proved to, be utterly groundless. Our citiseas have been withheld from aor sash set or purpose by good faith, sad by respect for the I►w. While the laws of the Union are thus pores,- tory in their prohibition of the equipment or ar mament of belligerent cruisers in our porta, they provide not less absolutely that no pinon shall, within the territory or jurisdiction 4f the United States, enlist or enter himself, or hire or retain another person to enlist or enter himself, or to go beyond the limits orjurisdiction of the (Totted States with intent of be enlisted or en tered, in the service of any foreign state, either as a soldier, or as a marine or seaman on board of any vessel of war, letter of marque ' or priva teer. And these enactments are also in strict conformity with the law of nations, which de clare that no state has the right to raise troops for land or sea service in another state without its consent, and that whether forbidden by the municipal law or not, the very attempt to do it, without such consent, is an attack on the nation al soveriegaty. Such being the public rights and municipal law of the United States ' no solicitude on the subject was entertained by this government, when, a year since, the British Parliament pas sed an act to provide for the enlistment of for , eigners in the military service of Great Britain. Nothing on the face of the act, or in its public '-history indicated that theßritish government pro posed to attempt recruitment In the United States; nor did it ever give intimation of such intention to th;, , government. It was matter of surprise, therefore, to find, subsequently, that the ongagemeut of rsons within the United States to proceed to Halifax, in the British pro vince of Nova Scot:a, and there enlist in the service of Great Britain, was going on extensive ly, with I,ttle or no disguise. Ordinary legal steps were immediately taken to arrest and pun parties cnicerned, and so put an end to acts infringing the municipal law and derogatory to our sovereignty. Meanwhile suitable represen• cations op the subject were addressed to the Brit ish government. Thereupon it became known, by the admission of the Brittsh government itself, that the attempt draw recruits from this country originated with it, or at least bau its approval and sanction; but it also appeared that tha public agents en gaged in it had "stringent instructions" not to vi,,ate the taucliclrml law or the United States. It is difficult to understand how it should nave born supposed that troops could be raised here, by Great Britain, without violation of the tuuulvicial 'law Toe unmiatiitable object of the law was to prevent every such sot, which, if per formed, must be either in violation of the law, or in studied evasion of it; and in either alter native, the act done would be alike injurious to the sovereignty of the United States. IQ the meantime, the matter acquired addi tional importance by the recruitments in the United States not being discontinued, and the disc!osure of the fact that they were prosecuted upon a systematic plan devised by official author ity; that rcvrutt►ug rendezvous bad been open ed in oar principal cities, and depots for the re ception of r•cru►ts established on our frontier, and the whole business conducted under the su p.irvision and by the regular cooperation of Bri tish officers, eiv►l and military, Mime in the North Amencau provinces, and sonic in the United States The complicity of those officers in an undertak►ug, which could only be accomplished by detyiog our laws, throwing suspicion over our attitude of neutrality and disregarding our territorial rights, is conclusively proved by the ovideuce elicited on the trial of such of their ageuts tiA have been apprehended and convicted. S 'tut- of the otri -era thus implicated are of high offkaal pc , sitioo, and many of them beyond our jurisdiction, so that legal proceedings could ■ot reach the source of mtacb►ef. Tkese o ,, usiderations, and the feet, that the cause of complaint was not a mere 'casual occur rence, but e deliberate design, entered upon with full knowledge of our laws, and national policy, and euudaeted by responsible public functiona ries, impelled we to present the case to the British pvernment, in order to secure not only a Celt-4AI 100 of the wrong, but its reparetion. The bubj.:ct is still under discussion, the result of which will La ootnmunicated toy .0 in due time. BBITIaH RELATION 8--CON TIN ULD 1 repeat the recommendation submitted to the last Congress, that provision be made for the ap p dutment of a commissioner, in connectioh, with Great Britain, to survey and establish the boun• diry Auc, which divides the Territory of Wash ►ogwu from the contiguous British possessions. By re&son of the extent and importance of the country iti.dispute, there has been imminent dan ger of culizs►ou between the subjects of Great Br►tato sod the citizens of the United,States, in eluding their respective authorities ►n that quar ter The prospect of a speedy arrangemebt lama contributed hitherto to induce on both sides for bearauce to assert by force what each claims Se a rigor., Continuance of delay on the part df the two goveruments to act ►n the matter will increase the clangers and d►iculties of the con- troversy Misuthieratanding exists as to the extent, cha racter, ant value of the possessory rights of the Hudson Bay Company sad the property of the Puset's Sunni! Argricultural Company, reserved in n,ur treaty with great Britain relative to the Territory id Oregon. I have reason to believe that a evasion of the rights of bath companies to the United States, which would be the readiest menus of curt:utast/11g all question', can be ob taiood ou reasJuable terms; and, with a view to au, end, I present the subject to the attention of Congress. colony of Newfoundland, having enacted the laws required by the treaty of the sth June, 15:34, is now placed Co the saute footing in res pect to commercial interoonrse with the Uni ted States, u the other British .Noth American provinces. The cionitnissiou, wAii that treaty contem plated for determining the rights of fishery in r'.vers and mouths of rivers on the acute of the !Jutted Suites and the British North American provinces, has been organized and ball 001211ZUM eed its labors; to complete whieh there is needed further appropritions for the service of another season. SOUND DUES In pursuance of the authority, conferred by a resoinuou of the Senate of the United States passed on the 3d of March lest, notice was given ' to Denmark, on the 14th day of April, of the in tention of this government to avail itself of the stipulation of the subsisting conventicle of friend ship, commerce, and navination between that kiugdom and the United States, whereby either party might, after ten year', terminate the same at the expiration of one ye ar from the date of no tice for that pupae. The considerations which led as to all the attention of Congress to tt Litt convention, and in dueled the Senate to adopt the resolution referred to, still continue in full !ores. The eoevention contains an article, whith , although it doss not directly engage the Unite d States te.subtait to the imposition of tolls on the vesecilLatideargoes of Americans passing late or front the Baltic sss, during the coatinusipee of the treaty, yet any, by possibility, be imam d as implying sash submission. The emotion of these toils not be ing justiliecl by anyprine iple of int l ersa.tional law, it became the right is d the ditty Odle Erni ted'Statet to relieve theme ilves from the bnpli cation of engagement on tb • eabjeet, so as to be perfectly free to sot is the premises is such way as their public interest and honor shall dem and. I remain of the opinion t.l tat the United &awe ought not to mount to the p Immo, of the So and dime, not, io math becalm of their amount, w high is a, secondary matter, bat hi use it is ia a Let the reeogaitioa of the right of Ellnemark tot rest ewe of the great manilas It 411. 11 .1 1 of sat hems es a eke* ess; and the au* Wee of ass pri vilege for which tribes. way be imposed a pia those who have oswisioa to ale • it. This geveramst, on a fee Mr Senalla SOS unlike the present, signalised its denermination maintain the freedom of the sees, and of the greet natural ehaatiels of navigation; The Btroary States had, for a long time, csoere4 the payment of tribute from all nations, whose !hips frequent- ed the Mediterranean. To the last demand of snob payment side by them, the United Stases, although suffering less by their depre.lations than any other nations returned the explicit answer, that we prefer war to tribute, and thus opened the way to the relief of theoommerce of the world from an ignominious tax, so long submitted to by the more poSrerfal nations of Europe. If the manner of payment of the Sound dues differ from that of the tribute formerly coooeded to the Barbary States, still their exaction by Denmark has no better foundation in right.— Each was, in its origin, nothing but a tax on a common natural right, extorted by those, who were at that time able to obstruct the free and secure eajoyment of it, but who no longer pos. sass that power. Denmark, while resisting war assertion of the freedom of the Baltic Sound and Belts, has indi. edited a readiness to make some new arrangement on the subject, and has invited the governments interested, including the United States, so be represented in a convention to assemble for the purpose of receiving sad considering a proposi tion, which she intends to submit, for the capi talisation of the Sound does, and the distribu tion of the sum to be paid as commutation among the governments, according to the respective proportions of their maritime commerce to and from the Baltic. I have declined in behalf of the United States to accept this invitatiou, for the most cogent reasons. One is, that Denmark does not offer to submit to the convention the question of her right to levy the Sound dues.— A second is, that, it the convention were allowed to take cognisance of that particular question, still it would not be competent to deal with the great international principle involved which af fects the right in other oases of navigation and commercial freedom, as well as that of access to the Baltic. Above all, by the express terms of the proposition it is contemplated that the con sideration of the Sound dues shall be commingled with, and made subordinate to a matter wholly extraneous, the balance of power among the gov ernments f Europe. While, however, rejecting this proposition, and insisting on the right of free transit into and from the Baltic, I have expressed to Denmark • willingness, on the part of the United States, to share liberally with other powers in compensa ting her for any advantages, which commerce shall hereafter derive from expenditures made by her for the improvement and safety of the navi gation of the Sound or Belts. 1 lay before you, herewith, sundry docutuenta on the subject, in which my views are more fully disclosed. Should no satisfactory arraugement be soon concluded, I shall again call your atten• Lion to the subject, with recommendation of such measures as may appear to be required io order to assert and secure the rights of the United States, so far as they are effected by the preten sions of Denmark. FRAXCII I *cumin.° with much gratification, that, wino the adjournment of the last Congress, the qn,*• tion, then existing between this government and that of France, respecting the French consul at San Francisco, has been satisfactorily determined, and that the relations of the two government* continue to be of the most friendly nature. OILY= g A question, also, which has been pending for several years between the United Suites and the Kingdom of Greece, growiug out of the seques tration, by public authorities of tbat country, of property belonging to the present American con sul at Athens; and which had been the subject of very earnest discussion heretofore, bas recent ly been settled to the sottisfaction of the party interested and of both governu►ents. With Spain, peaceful relations are still main tained, and some progress has been made in se curing the redress of wrongs complained of by this government Spain his not .inly disavowed and disapproved the conduct of the officers, who illegally seised and detained the steadier Black Warrior at Havana, but has also paid the suui claimed as indemnity tor the t ie thereby inflict ed on citizens of the United States. In consequence of a destructive hurricane, which visited Cuba iu 1544, the supreme author ity of that Island issued a decree, permitting the importation, for the period of six mouths, of certain building materials and provisions, free of duty, but revoked it when about half the period only liau elapsed to the injury of citizens of the United States, who had proceeded to act on the faith of that decree. The Spanish government refused indemnification to the parties aggrieved until recently, when it was assented to, payment being promoted to be inadesosoon as the amount due can be ascertained. Satisfaction claimed fur the arrest and search of the steamer El Dorado has not yet been ac corded, but there is reason to believe that it will be, and that ease, with others, continues to be urged on the attention of. the Spanish govern ment. Ido not abandon the hope of concluding with Spain some general arrangement, which, if it do not wholly prevent the recurrence of dill culties in Cuba, will render thew les., frequent, and whenever they shall occur facilitate their more speedy settlement. The interposition of this government has bees invoked by many of its citizens, on account of injuries done to their persons and property, for which the Mexican republic is respousible. Tbe unhappy situation of that country, fur some time past, has not allowed its government to give due oonsidtratiou to claims of private reparation, and has appeared to call fur and justify some forbear /11100 ►n such matters on the part of this gulp/ali ment. But, if the revolutionary movements, which have lately occurred in that republic, end in the organisation of_ a stable government, ur gent appeals to its justice will then be made, and, it may be hoped, with sucioess, for the redress of all complaints of our °Wiens. , CINTILILL ♦ML&ICA In regard to the kisericaa republics, which, from their proximity sad other coueideratiosa, have peculiar relations to thLo government, while it has been my constant aim strictly to observe all the obligations of political fricadship and of good neighborhood, obstacles to this hav e arises in some of them, from their own insufficient power to cheek lawless irruptions, whisk in effect throws most of the task on the United States Thus it is that the distracted internal rooditiun of the Scats of Nicaragua has made it ineumbeat on me to appeal to the good faith of our citizen to abstain from unlawful intervention in its af fairs, mid to adopt prevestive measures to the same end, which, on a similar occasion, had the best results in »-masse t ag the pesos of the Mel issa States of Bosom mad Lower California, 1, 1 YNti 1 Sines the last emaioa of Congress a treaty of amity, cainateres, sad sangation, and fur the sarreader of fugitive erincialls, with the king dom of the Two Skilies; a treaty of friendship, mmiateree, and 'sanative, with Nicaragua; and a roarmities of ocinimereial reciprocity with the &maim kingdom, base been negotiated. The Lamer kingdom and the State of 1 4 4 lower"' have also seeded to a deolaratioa, recognising as in tersetiotal rights t►u principles contained in the eosvestios between the Limited fltatessad Aussie of the 22d of July, 1844. These treaties and oonveetioes will be laid Wore the 13ensta for ratification. 111ZASUAT The etatemesta madc is my lest anneal wee age, »specials the anticipMed receipts sad ex penditures of the Treasury, have bee* ennetan tinny vended. It appears from the report of the Seermary of the Treseary, that the receipts daring the Met heal year ending Jane $O, 1866, from all soma, were sixty-in sullies three theassati nine ham And and shiny doiaesl and that the pal& ea piedirono for the MSS period, missive sit pug noels as MINIM of the plebs diet, to lifipiz minks tam boadrod serf al ilioessed this. liesdrod sad liallty 411/01) Dories she sass period, the memo mio is SPAIN MIXICO redemption of the *die debt, iselofflog is eat awl reasons, altspantod to Gibe lithos ei* hundred sod forty 4 thwassod MCI boogied au I :wenty-eight deaufs. 'fbe. balsam) in the Treasury at thole% of the present bad year, July 1, 1 was eighties esi/lioe nice leaded and thiet!posie thousand sine hood* sad seveuty-siz dollars; the reetipte for the Ira quartet, and the wins ted receipts for the retosiniog three quarter., amount, together, to sixty-eaves naillson sine bu.dred sad eighteelohoosand mien lambed and thirty.four dollars thus affording in all, as the available resourop i e( she 'arrest fiscal par the sum of eighty -dia million eight iwiadred and fifty-six thousood seven bus and too do: tars. If, to the actual expenditures of the first quar ter of the current heal year, be added the pro bable expenditures for the remaining three quar ters, as estimated by the Secretary of the Treas. ary, the sum total will be seventy ose sillies two hundred and twenty-six thonrand alibi hand red and forty-six dollars, thereby lowing as estimated balance in the Treasury as July 1, 1856, of fifteen million six hundred and twenty three thousind eight hundred and sixty-three dollars and forty-one Gents. In the above estimated expenditures of the present fiscal year are included three million dollars to meet the last instalment of the ten millions provided for in the late treaty firth Mexico, and seven million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars appropriated on account of the debt due to Texas, which two sums make an aggregate "amount of ten million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and reduce the expen ditures, actual or estimate d, for ordinary objects of theyear, to the sum of sixty million four 'hundred and seventy six thousand dollars. The amount of the public debt, at the nom tuenoement of the present fiscal year, was forty million five hundred and eighty-three thousand and thirty-one dollars, and, deduction being made su bseq nen t psynients, the whole-public debt of the federal government remaining at this time is less than firty million dollars. The remnant of certain other government stooks, amounting to two hundred and forty: three thousand dollars, referred to in my last message as outstanding, has sines been paid. I am folly persuaded that it would be difficult to devise a system superior to that, by which the fiscal business of the government is now cioaduct ed. Notwithstanding the great number of public agents of collection sod disbursement, it is be lieved that the checks and guards provided, HI- E eluding the requirements of monthly-Aeturna, render it Namely possible for any considerable fraud on the part of those agents, or neglect in volving bawd of serious public loss, to escape detection. 1 renew, however, the recommends uou, heretofore made by me, of the enactment of a law deolaring it felony on the part of public officers to insert false entries io their belie of record or account, or tie make false returns, sad also requiring the off the termination of their service to deliver to their successors all books, rreer , ls mai other object* of a public nature in their en,tudy. P.mved .s our public revenue is, is chief part, from duto.4 us imports, its magnitude af fords gratifying evidence of the prosperity, not oily of our commerce, but of the other great in terests upon which that depends. The priuciple that all moneys not required for the ourrent expenses of the government should remain for acute employment in the hands of the people, and the conspicuous fact that the an• nosl revenue from all sourees exceeds, by many millions of dollars, the amount needed for a pru dent sed , econornical adininistratiosi of public af fairs, cannot fail to suggest the propriety of an early revision mid reduction of the tariff of duties, on imports. It is sow so generally couseeded that the purpose of revenue alone can justify the imposition of duties on imports, that in re-adjust lug the impost tables and schedules, which un quertiousbly require essential modified-loos oi depar.nre Irmo We principles of the present tariff not The army, during the past year, has bees aet ively engaged in defending the ['Wien frontier, the state of 'he service permitting but few and small garrisons in our permanent fortifications. The additional regiments authorised at the last session of Congress have been recruited and or poised, and a large portion of the troops have already been sent to the field. All the duties, which devolve on the military establishment, have been satisfactorily performed, and the dan gers and privations incident to the °hamster of the service required of oar troops have furnished additional evidenei of their courage, seal, and capacity to meet any requisition, which their couutry may make upon them. For the details of the military °pastime, the distribution of the troops, and additional provisions required for the military service, [ refer to the report of the Sec retary of War and the accompanying documents. Experience, gathered from events which have transpired since my last, annual message, has but served to °militia the opinion then expressed of the propriety of r makisg prevision, by a retired hat, for disabled airtenn, and for increased com pensation to the (doers retained on the list for active duty. All the reasons which existed, j when these measures were recommended on former occasions, continue without modification, except so far as circumstances have given to some of them additional force. The recommendations, heretofore made, for a partial reorganisation of the army, are also renew ._d. The thorough elementary education given to those officers, whoecisaineeee their service with the grade of cadet, qualifies them, to a consider able extent, to perform the duties of every arm of the serf ice; but to give the highest elleieney to artillery requires the practice and special study of many years; sad it is not, therefore, believed to be advisable to maintain in time of pesos, a larger free of that &is that sma be usually em ployed in the duties appertaining to the service of field and asp artillery. The duties of the staff in all its various branches belong to the movements of troop., and the efficiency of an army in the field would materially depend upon the ability with which thole duties are discharg ed. Is is nali s it tie ere of the artillery, a speciality, but requires, also, an intimate know ledge of the duties of an officer of the line, sad it is not doubted that, to complete the educa tion of as officer for either the has or the general staff, it is desirable that he shall have served in both. With this view, it was recommended on a former images that the ditties of the muff should be mainly performed by details from the lime; sad, with a weeklies of the ad vantages which would result from such a shame, it is again presented for the oossidanition of Cos gross. TIN report dais Bectetary of the Naay, here with submitted, exhibits is fall the maul opera tions of the pees year, together with the present ouadition of the service, sad it makes saggestiose of farther legislatios, to whioh your atteutioa is merited. Me coostruetios of tee iii steam frigates, for which appopristwas Were made by the last Con gress has proceeded in the most satisfsetory man- Der, sad with seek espeditioa, as to warrant the belief that they o will be ready for wens, early is the oonuag. Important this additive to our level * it aid remains badmen*/ to UIC Contluipst sungeacies of ins proteetioa of the *Velum Me meet aid vast emissraid /s -tomas of United &ass. Is vim of this int, and of the iiiknowisiged wisohe of she Oily of a (radial sad mitossatio is of the Easy, an approprostioa is raisauasaamt fir tb coa artistica of out sass sloop le 11 1 11.., In regard ter die saps isku hitessoliss of the as* of Osersis so prima, the dabsaay of the awry, it is sassoessory far an* 11101601aa so esprem amiss esonnegmre is tbs as Ow sabjess frabtlied by tie noweiely is Me report. r. 4 h beiplipiii*by the wrin,at PlA =4iiiiabiklMMlA &WAR ruisesramlimmtas bribelmse*NOVplß UMB tics aim looked and uaiy 4ibt uleseia kindred asri boron Mim i as i the per re MIXT NAYT ..disportatic. 4 , yea amlaamiaty-tutu ammaltadaisa hundred sad fif ty two dollars greater than the previous year. Much Of the heavy expenditures, to wiieh the Truasury is thus subjected, is to be ascribed to the large quantity of printed matter, conveyed by the mat, either finished, or liable to no postage by law, or to very low rates of postage compared with that chased on letters; and to the great oust of mail swam oa railroad* and by ocean steam. are. The saggensiess of the Postmaster Geaeral on the subject deserve the consideration of ()oli ves. nicriaunt. The report ef the Secretary of the Interior will engage your attention, ss well for usetul sugges tions it canaille, as for the interest and impott sue of the subjects to which they refer. The aggregate *mount of public land sold dur ing the last basal year, located with military scrip or land werreaes,taken up under grants for roads, and selected as swamp lands by States, u twenty four millions five hundred and fifty •se ire n thousand font hundred and nine sores of which the portion sold was fifteen million seven hundred and tweety nine thousand five hundred and twenty:four acres, yielding in rsersipts the awn of eleven million four hundred and eighty-five thousand three hundred and eighty dollars. In the same period of dna, eight million seven hundred and twenty-three thousand eight hundred and fifty four wires have been surveyed; but in con sideration of the quantity already subject to entry, no additional tracts have been brought into mar ket. The peealier relation of the general govern ment to the District of Columbia renders it pro per to eommeati to your cue not only its mate rial, bat also its moral interests, mania% edit- Cation, more especially in those parts of the dia trit outside of the cities of Washington and George town, The oommissioners appointed to revi-e and w ilily the laws of the District have made such pro gress is she performance of their task, as to insure its completion in the time preecnbed by the act of Coagresa.. Information has recently been received, that the pesos of she settlements in the Territories of Oregon and Washington is disturbed by hostili ties on the part of the Indians, with of excessive combinations, of a hostile chsract--r among the tribes is that quarter, the more serious in their possible effect by reason of the undetermined foreign interests existing in those iferritories, to which your att-litivi, ha. already been especially itivitei. Efficient mea sures have been taken, which, it is beli , •red, will restore qtuet, and afford protection to our eitixens In the territory of Kansas, there have been acts prejudicial to good order, but as yet now• have occurred under circumstances to justify the interpositionof the federal Executive. That could only be in case of obstructiou to federal law, or of organised resistance to territorial law, assum ing the character of insurrection, which, if it shoull mew, it would be my duty promptly :o overeotne and suppress. I cherish the hope, now ever, that the oceurrenee of any such untoward event will be prevented by the sum! sense of the people of the Territory, who, by its orgaole law, possessing the right to determine their own do mestic iustitutions, are entitled, while deprting themselves peacefully, to the- free exercise ofthat right and must be protected in the enjoyment of it, without interference on the part of the citizens of any of the States. The southern boundary line of tbis Territory has never been surveyed end established The rapidly-extending settlements in that region, and the fact that the main route between Ind. pen deuce, in the State of Missouri, and New Mexi co, is contiguous to this line, suggest thq' proba bility that embarrassinguestions of jurisdiction may ocoosequostly seise. For those sod other con siderations, I Commend the subject to your early sutucioa. OONSTITITTIONAL THEORY Or THE GOVERNMENT I have thus passed in review the general state of the Union, including such particular concerns of the federal government, whether of dineeetie Of foreign relation, as it appeared to me ittetra ble and useful to bring to the special notLe of Congress. Unlike the great states of Furope and Asta, and many of those of America, tbe.e United States are wasting their strength neither in foreign war nor domestic strife Whatever of discontent or publie dissatklaction exists, is attributable to the imperfotion of human nature, or is incident to all governments, however per-. feet, which human wisdom can devise Such subjeets of political agitation, as occupy the pa. bite wind, consist, to a great extant, of exaggera tion of inevitable evils, or over zeal in social improvement, or mere imagination of grievance, having bin remote connexion with any of the counnotioual functions or dtities of th. federal I goverumen. To whatever extent these questions exhibit a tendency meowing to the stability of the constitution, or the integrity of the Union, and no farther, they demand the consideration of the Executive, and require to he presented by him to Congress. Before the Thirteen Colonies became a con federation of independent States. they were as sociated only by community of traneettlantle origin, by geographical position, and by the mu' teal tie of common dependence on Great lit omit) When that tie was sundered they severally as sawed the power and rights of ah..olute self government. The municipal and social institu tions of each, its laws of property and of persousl relation, even its political organization, were such only as each one chomie to establish, wholly witbout interference from any other In the language of the Declaration of Independence, each State had "full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish cotnmeree, and so do all other acts and things which indepen dent States may of right do." The several ell °Gies differed in climate, in soil, in natural pro. ductioos, in religion, in systems of education, in legislation, and is the forms of political adminis tration; and they continued to differ in these re spect* when they voluntarily allied themselves as States to eery on the war of the revolution The object of that war was to disentliral the Untied Colonies from foreign rale which bail proved to be oppressive, and to separate them permanently froanthe mother country: the 'ideal result was the ibundation of a federal re public of the free white men of the colonies, con stituted, as they ware, in distinct, and mciprocal• ly independent State goverment*. As for the subjeet races, whether Indian or Afrivan, the wise and brave statesmen of that day, being engaged in no extravagant scheme of social change, left them en they were, and thus preserved themselves and their posterity from the anarchy, and the ever recurring civil wire, which bare prevail ed in other savolenietised European colonies of Amens. When the codederated States found it eon voni-nt to modify the conditions of thtir associa tion. by 'it , * to the general government direct access in some reopens, the people of the State s , imitated of eindisiog ft'tiPactini on the Stoics as such, they proowniodi so frame the exalting you &nuttiest, altering steadily to one guiding thought, with* was, to deiterteettly seen power as was specesitiary and propg-to , thwerectution of specific purposes, as, is other woe* to retain as much as possible, ociesistantly with dicer purposes, of the sideplate*. Fewer of .she individual States.-- For objects of oonsmoa demos and security, they intrusted to the ifteefligovernment Lis care. hilly &Seed funtioao, imarviag as the ainntegatatil righiret she aspirate • independent eoveroirdla is shaosesukaaisheory of our "swam meet, she prapsisid eheareeme of which his ear. ried of ) sad airalosa : p ous reodera mobiles, Lime* hearly dies of time !visional she fall stars diep • Mold abed is Aai ii lava Wile &iamb Goal osomisoi of astirra r isimumaso, lied as to ooloodoiammillafilooolo Moth hit aipilaat foes* So* 414 nudes into powerful SLIA and bas raised oar iarimastisi irtedastiess, sad ear aminsree white transports them, to the Wel of Rs riotiennt not the greatest nations oil , Lad the eihar• able adaptation of our politer' in do teems, objects, combinini local calf I agregate strength has setabl . the' iiimetiesi? 1 it; of a government like ours to cover a clouding t with eonfisissrate Staten. 4 The Congress of the United States is, is elect, that congress of sovereignties, which good men in the Old World have sought for, but weld sever attain, and which imparts to America an clamp. lion front the rentable leagues for oonsmon action, from the wars, the mutual invasions, and vague 1 as after the balsam of pour er , which con vulse from time to time the governments of Ea rope. Our eo-operative action rests in the condi tions of permanent confederation pr escribed by o the constitution. Our belief* potter in W ilke separate reserved rights of the States, and their equal representation in the Senate. That in dependent sovereignty in every one of the States, with its reserved rights of local self-government natured to each by their co-equal power in the Senate, was the fundamental condition of theeon stitution. Without it the Union would never have existed. However desirous the larger States might be to re-organise the government so as to give to their population its proportionate weight in the common councils, the knew it was impos sible, unless they con c ede d to the smaller ones authority to exercise at least a negative influence on all the measures of the government, whether legislative or executive, throughtheir mina l re presentation in the Senate . Indeed, the larger States themselves could not have failed to per ceive, that the same power was equally necessary to them, for the security of their own domestic interests against the aggregate fore. of the gen eral government. Is a word, the original States went into this permanent league os the agreed premises, of exerting their common strength for the defence of the whole, and of all its parts; but of utterly exeloding ail capability of reciprocal fig gression. Posh whimsy bound itself to all the others, neither to undertake, nor permit, any en • croacbmentupon, orintarmeddling with, another's reserved rights. Where it was deemed expedient. particular rights of the States were expressly guarantied by the con stitution ; but. in all things besides. these rights were guarded by the limitation of the powers gran ted. and by express reservation of all powers not granted. in the compact of union. Thus the great power of taxation was limited to purposes of com mon defence and general welfare. excluding objects appertaining to the local legislation of the several States; and those purposes of general welfare and common defence *ere afterwards defined by ape eificeuucneration, as being matters only of corela- non between the States themselves. 9r between them and foreign governments, which, because of their common end general nature. could not be left to the separate control of each State. Of the circumstances of local condition, interest, and rights, in which a portion of the States, con stituting one great section of the Union differed from the rest. and from another section. the most important wee the peculiarity of a larger relative colored population in the southern than in the northern States. A population of this class. held in subjection, ex isted in nearly all the States. but was more numer ous and of more serious concernment in the South than in the North. oh account of natural differen ces of-climate and production ; and it was foreseen that, for the same reasons while this , population would diminish. and sooner or later, cease to exist. in some States. it might increase in others. The peculiar character and magnitude of this question of local rights, not in material relations only, but still more in social ones, caused it to enter into the special stipulations of the Constitution. H en ce. while the general government, as well by the enumerated powers granted to it. as by those not enumerated. and therefore refused to it. was forbidden. to touch this matter in the sense of at tack or offence. it was placed under the general safeguard of the Union. in the sense of defence a gainst either hivasion or domestic violeuce, like all other local interests of the several States. Each State expressly stipulated. as well for itself as for each and all of its citizens, and every citizen of each State became solemnly bound by his allegiance, to the constitution, that any person. held to service or labor in one State. escaping into another, should not, in isonsequenos of any law or regulation there of, be discharged from such service or labor, but should be delivered up on claim of the Arty to whom such service of labor might be due by the laws of his State. 'Thus. and thus only. by the reciprocal guaranty of all the rights of every State against interference on the part of another. was the present form of gov ernment established by our fathers and transmitted to us ; and by no other means is it possible for it to exist. If one State ceases to respect the rights of another, and obtrusively iota-meddles with its local interests—if a portion of the States assume to im pose their institutiobs on the others, or refuse to fulfil their obligations to them,—we are no longer united friendly States. but distracted, hostile ones. with tittle capacity left of common advantage, but abundant means of reciprocal injury and mischief. Practically. it is immaterial whether aggressive interference between the State'. or deliberate ,refu sal on the part of any one of them to comply with constitutional obligations, arise from erroneous COO' ViCtIOU or blind prejudices, whether it. be perpetra ted by direction or indirection. In either case, it is full of threat and of danger to' the durability of the Union. ONSTTTTTIONAL RELATIONS OT SLAIZRT Placed in the office of Chief Magistrate as the executive agent of the whole-country. bound to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and espe cially enjoined by the constitution to give informa tion to Congress on the ttste of the Uuion, it would be palpable neglect of duty on my part topes, over a subject like this. which, beyond all things at the present tune, vitally concerns individual and pub lic security. It has been matter of painful regret to see States conspicuous for their services in Wending this Re public, and equally sharing its advantages. disre- I their constitutional obligations to it. Al though conscious of their inability t.) heal admitted and palpable social evils of their own. and which are completely within their jurisdiction. they en gage in the offensive and hopeless undertaking of relenting the domestic institutions of other States wholly beyond their control and authority. In the vain pursuit of ends, by them entirely unattaina ble. and which they may not legally attempt to compass. they peril the very existence of the cousti teflon, and all the countless benefits which it has conferred. While the people of the Southern States confine their attention to their own affairs, not Fire smiling officiously to intermeddle with the social in stitutions of the Northern States, too many of the inhabitants of the latter are permanently organized in associatious to inflict injury on the former, by wrongful acts, which would be the cause of War as between foreign powers. and only fail to be such in our system. because perpetaated.under cover of the Umou. It is impossible to present this subject as truth and the tax:anon reqqire, without noticing the reit erated. but groundless, allegation. that the South has persistently asserted claims and obtained ad vantages id the practical administration of the gen eral government, to the prejudice of the North, and in which the latter has acquiesced. That is. the States. which either promote or tolerate attacks on the rights of mimosa an.l of property in other States, to disguise their own injustice, pretend or imagine, and constantly aver that thelr, whose constitution al rights are this systematically assailed, are them selves the aggressors. At the present time. this im puted aggression, resting`as it does, only on the vague, declamatory charges of political agitators, resolves itself into misapprehessiou, or misinterpret. tation, of the primipka tad facts of the political organisation of the new Territories of the United 9tutes. hat is the voice of history? When the ordin ance, which provided for the government o f the territory northwest of the river Ohio, and for its eventual subdivision into new States. was adopted in the Congress of the confederation, it is not to be supposed that the question of future relative pewee. between the States which vet/deed, mod those whitish did am retain, a numerous colored 'popula tion, escaped entice, or failed to be considered.— And yet the concession of that vast territory to the interests and *pinions of the Northern Statesial ter ritory now the seat of five among the largest mem bers of the Vuion. was, in great toemere, the aft of QiR State of Virginia and of the finesh. When Louisiana was acquired 12 the Mahatma. k war an acquisition not lees to the Noe* dim to the South ; for while it was important totheeMmery at the mouth of the river liliestotippi to bosom the emporia.' al the country above k. se she it was even more . importent to the whole Union to have that estrum!' ; and althoso the saw revises. by reason Oita reed settimmt, was mainly Or-- I larded II old GUN of Mroloo, yet, la fact, It Lt.. bowed/Wes of the Uldted =111116 4 = heed& abet* thee %Mew. and was la Medan'', as in et s =orally at user as 61111116111 to the bow ie may dausisi and prejudice. therefore. to spew ' d Louisisau Oil acquisition ns the special l l a ma s i tbe South. The pstdaltie and just meth who participated is the act. wen inliumced by motives far shov e e g aeatleeel jesdessies. It was in truth the pe st aeo. which. by cum letin i f for us the possession pf the Talky Of ih• • with Ilhatom to the G u if o f ifeliesh imparted unity and stem s * - the whale eonfecterwhou, and attached term.. k_ t° indissoluble tids the East and the West, as arak ' 7 4 ,„ the North and South. As to Florida. that was but th e t rens f er h e to the United States of territory rie t h e es ,C ei r a 7 the river Mississippi. in exchange for large tem. top. w hi c h the United States transferred to Sp a on the west side of that river , es the entire g rp ;, sciatic history of the ttIIWIWIA6WI scrams t o rt erwm. dreg. Moreover, it ‘ ,15 an acquisition decnswAt y the commercial interests and the security of tb , whole Union. In the meantime. the people pf the Coked NA. had grown up to a proper consciousness of r t,, tr strength, and in a brief eontest with France, let in a second serious war with Great Britain. they b id shaken off all which remained of undue reve rent , for Europe. and emerged from the 'Lamph ere of *hostel transatlantic influences which surrounded th e i n f an t Republic. had begun to turn their rhea. thou to the full and systematic development o f t h e internal resources of the Union. Among the evanescent controversies o f the period. the most conspicuous was the question regulation by Congress of the social condition the future States to be founded ILI time terntory of Louisiana. The ordinance for the government of the terr. tory northwest of the river Ohio had containec a provision. which prohibited the use of servile latex therein. subject to the condition of the extrsdit. oo of fugitives from service due in any part oz th e ted States. Subsequently to the adopt.ou of we constitution. this provision ceased to remain as o law ; for its operation as such was absolutely Sup „. ceded by the constitution. But the rer9,..4 1 .,„ the fact excited the zeal of props4fanchia so ,4 sections of the confederation ; and. when a mond State. that of Missouri, came to be formed .n mte territory of Louisiana, proposition was made to et tend to the latter territory the restriction 0.4 1111 . 7 applied to the country situated between the mon . Ohio and Mississippi. Most questionable as was this propositio n is ti its constitutional relations. nevertheless it reuse,,, the sanction of Congress. with some slight 0..0 rations of hoe. to save the existing rights La i intended new State. It was reluctantly actf.-s in by southern States as a sacrifice to the ca.ase tr peace and of the Union. not only of the rig h ts stioo fated by the treaty of Louisiana. hut of the ciple of equality among the States guarantie: or the constitution It was received by the -late" with angry and resentful condemnation ant complaint. because it did not concede al: wo , c they had exactingly demanded. Having pa in through the forms of legislation. it took its place in the statute book. standmg open to repeal site say other act of doubtful constitutionality. suJject to be pronounced null and roil by the court, A law. and possessing no possible eifinicy to introl the rights of the States. which m•ght thereifter be organised out of any part of the original territory of Louisia na. In all this. if any aggression there. were any in novation upon pre-exulting rights. to which poruee of the Union are they justly coargesute ' Tbis controversy passed away with the Kam= nothing surviving it save the dormant letter of the statute. But, long afterwards. when, by the proposed accession of the Republic of Texas. the Caited States were to take their next step in ter tonal greatness. a similar contingency occurred and 'pe came the occasion fur systematized attempts to in tervene in the domestic affairs of inc section of ..r.e Union. in defiance of their rights as States, the stipulations of the constitutibn rhex attempts assumed a practical direction. in the shape of pff severing endeavors. by some of the representat:sea in both houses of Congress. to Jeprtve the souther. States Of the supposed benefit ut the provisions of the act authorizing the organization of the Sure of M issonri . But, the good sense of the people. and the t,:a force of the constitution. triumphed ovet secteas prejudice. and the poll:lest errors of the air Inc the State of Texas returned to the Un:on was. with social instituto.as which her peot.. , tad chosen for themselves. and with express izr tzent. by the re-annexing act. that she should oe sus et ptible of subdivision into a pluralit% mates Whatever advantage the interest the Southern States. as such. gained by this. w.-r- tar , L f.... 0r in results. as they unfolded in the progress of trot to those which sprang from prei ions (A)DeefiLval made by the South, To every thoughtful friend of the Cn,:u.--tc. "L. true lovers of their conntry.—to all who amigeif. sa labored for the full success of this great eirr,met: of republican institutions.—it wa• cause of grati..l - that such an opportunity had occurred to ida trate our aivancing power on t:i.- corltuwat sat to furnish to the world additiuual assurance a Lie strength and stability of the ouistitat,,u would wish to see Florida soil a Lurop.. , ar. scp.st' Who would rejoice to hail Texas as a lore its: stead of one in the galaxy of State.' WI. not appreciate the incalculable netietits t-e quisition of Louisiana ?. And iet narrow i l eiiric,t sectional purposes Would inv. itaidi hate exc.e..e.. them all Irons the Union. But another struggle on the slime point ease: when our victorious 'mies returned from )lei.:: and it devolved on Congress to provide for ::,.-- ritories acquired by the treaty of Guadalupe H sae go. The great relations of the subieet had crw come distinct and clear to the perceptvin.lthe lie mind. which appreciated the ev sect.r.4. controversy upon the question of t:..' 5i1121,+,011 new Staters In that crisis intense s.,,..naie f iery' ded the nation. But the patriotic , ',Ruses it the popular heart, guided by the adinor,teri sic s' the Father of Ins-Countrj. rose sup. n r difficulties of the incorporation of a Ilea tue r .- the Unidn. In the counsels of Conizre- "' manifested extreme antagonism of tion between some rep; eseutatii es. wn., by the abusive and unconstitutional emp:oyinent it the legislative powers of the governmeut to inter'"!. tt the condition of the inchoate State , . and t , T , tat their own social theories nixna the 'aut.; ; emer representatives. wnu repelled the iiiterp,-,• the general government in this tes,au.t. a,. tamed the self constituting rights it the Mate' truth, the tLing - attempted was, in f, tion of the general government, wtale w res was the endeavor. by abuse of legislat, , e - force the ideas at internal policy. entertatneo u , ticular States, upon allied independent 'lf' , " °flee more the constitution and the Union thaw; signally. The new Territories were oritat.,:e.. rrd out restrictions on the disputed point. we; to judge in that particular for thein-elves. I ' l ' 2 sense of constitutional faith proved vigairou , "li o 4 t. in Congress not only to accomplish this ry object. but also the incidental and hard y portant one, of so amending the provisi statute for the extraditiowi of fugitives from krill as to place that punim duty under the cafe-t ratr the general government. and thus retie% e it tn..* f' stacles raised up by the legislation of some 0: States. . _ Misr declamationregarding the provisions ols' for the extradition ot togitises from occasional episodes of frantic effort to obstruct tI execution by riot and murder. continued tor a ti ed time, to agitate certain localities. But t he car principle. of leaving each State and Territory for flare its own laws of labor according to its 0 4 sense of right and expediency. had aoltured h et hold of the public judgment. to bocu a degree. ta• by cognition consent, tt was obisei,cd to thdLore l ration of tbe Territory of Washinzton. THE NIB/LIMA BILL When, more recently. it became requisite t, I ganixe the Territories of Nebraska and Klass' was the natural and legitimate. it not the me e conseqnences of previous events and le;-iciat.. s '- the same greet and sound principle. ready be ou balm applied to Utah and New should be applied to them ; that they shoulc''" -. etnpt from the restrictions proposed in the Or ° tive to the State of 'Missouri. These restrictions were. in the estimatios ( 41 ° 1 thoughtful men null from the beginning. uas aed by the constitution. contrary to the trot!' aQ ulation for the cession of Louisiana, and urva'" — witn the equality of the States. They had been stripped of ail moral suth°!.., t '' persistent efforts to procure their iniirrct 7 , through contradictory enactments. The,' practically abrogated by the kgislation suer. the organisation of Utah, New Mexico. a nd ‘‘ l ", iugton. If any vitality remained in them• it wpO have been taken *way, in effect. by the n ew tei vial acts , in the form originally prorfed 1 '1; Senate at the first session of the last l'oure' was mealy sad ingenious. as well as paintjest,. to do this directly and plainly. and the statute-book of an act. which alight oe hie future injury, but of no p oss ible tuture i. bi. O . and the mason of its repeal was die 6 " 1 pio =Ow and complete recognition of the Pe u awi l er cl og that no portion of the United States 'Ball through assumption of the powers of the 11 11 :1 gorermoent, to dictate dm social institabuts • lOW peeks& ,L. r .' ]ic
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers