- • _
BY DAVID OYER.
mmws mi-ami,i;.
i tl-.O'-B ritis 'n.t of the Sevt'e
nod oj i!it Uouxt of RtprtuniaHrtf:
The constitution of the United State* pro
ti-.i that Congress shall assemble annualy
•, the first Monday of December,and it has
a usual for the President to make no
unmnication of a public character to the
-enu e and House of Representative? until
hiscd of their readiness to recieve it. I
iuve deferred to this usage until the close
of the first month of the session, but mv
r'f ;iviell ms of duty will cot permit melon
•>r to postpone the discharge of the obligo
timt enjoined by the constitution upon the
President "to give to the Congress inforiuu
iion of the state of the Union, and rccoai
nund to their consideration rnch measures
as he shall judge necessary and expedi
ent."
It is a matter of congratulation ili-it the
Republic is tranquilly advancing iu a career
•f prosperity- and pease.
. laniG-S relations: central amejuc.v.
Whilst relations of amity continue to ex
ist between the United States and all for
i-isiu powers, with some of them grave ques
tions are depending, which uuy require the
cousi leratiuu of Congress.
Of such questions, the most important is
that, which has arisen ont of the negotia
tions with great Bntaiu in reference to Ueu
trai America.
By the convention concluded between the
two governments on the lUth of April, 1860
both parties covenanted, that "neither will
over occupy or fortify,or colonize, or assume
or exercise any dominion over, Nicaragua,
I Asia Rica, the Mosquito coast, or any part
■ f Central America.''
It was the undoubted understanding of
the United States, in making this treaty,
that all the present Slates of the former re
paoiie of Central America, and the entire
■ rritory of each, would thcueeforth enjoy
tuiplete independence, and that both con
: -acting parties engaged equally, and to the
- mie extent, for the present and for tiic fu
i-.v. and if cither tun had any claim of
'.Tit- i • Central, America, such claim, and
occpat'oa or authority under it, were
;rtsc vetlly relinquished by the stipulations
•f the convention: and that no dominion wa.i
; hereafter to be exorcised or assumtd in
; oy part r>f Central America, by great Brit
ain or the United States.
This government consented to restrictions
io.-i egartl t> . egbus uf mnnmtMf, wkeceia
we had specific and peculiar interests, only
upou the conviction that the like re-trio
tious were iu the same sense, obligatory oti
Great Brita in But for this understanding
of the force and effect of the convention, it
would never have been concluded by us.
So clear was tiiis understanding on the
part of the Uuited States, that, in correspon
dence contemporaneous with the ratifica
tion of the convention, it was distinctly ex
press td, that the mutual o-jveuatrts of uon
f-ecupation were not attended to apply to
the British establishment at the Belize.—
flu- qualification is to be ascribed to the
fact: that, in virtue of successive treaties
Ah previous sovereigns ~f the country.
Great Britain has 11 timed a concession of
the light to cut mahogany or dye-woods at
the Balizc, but with positive exclusion of all
domain or sovereignty; and thus it confirms
the i .turn! corn-traction and understood
import f the treaty as to all the rest of
t lie region to which the stipulations ap
plied.
It however, became apparent, at an early
day after entering upou the discharge of my
p: -rent functions, that Great Britiuu still
continued in the exercise jar assertion of
large authority in all il.it part of Central
America common.y called the 3lo*quito
oast, anil covering the entire length of the
•lata of Nicaragua, and a part of Costa Ri
ca; that she regarded the Balizc as her ab
solute domain, and was giadualiy extend
ing its limits at the expense of the State of
j. nduras; an 1 that she hid formally colon
ized a considerable insular group known u
ibc Bay islands, and belonging,of right, to
that State.
All these acts or pretensions of Great
Britain, being contrary to the rights of tue
States of Central America, and to the man
ifest tenor of her stipulations with the Uni
ted .States, as understood by this govern
ment, have been tuide the subject of nego
tiation through the American .Minister ill
Itondon. I transmit herewith tue instruc
tions to him on tlie subject, and the corres
pondence between him and the British Sec
retary for Foreign Affairs, by which you will
jicrceive that tuo two governments differ
vilely and irreconcileabiy as to the con
struction of the convention, and i's effect on
their respective relations to Central Amer
ica.
Croat Britain so construes the eonven
tion, as to maintain unchanged all her pre
vious pretentions over the Mesqaito coast,
and in different parts of Central America.
I hose pretentions, as to the Mosquito coast,
we founded on the assumption of political
relation between Gre.it Britiau and the rem
nant of a tribe of Indians on that coas*,en
'vred iDto at a time when the whole country
was a eolnui.il possession of Spain. It can
not be successfully controverted, that, by
e public law of Europe and America, no
ossible act of such Indians or their predc-
M =or* could confer on Great Britain any
ditical rights.
Great Britain dees not allege the assent
i 5 :' dti as the origin of her claims or. the ,
■ vipum coast. riu) ( b:is, on the contrary,
' j icpeaic 1 and successive treaties, renouu
-1 'ud r dtnq'ii.i'.ieJ nil pretensions of iter
A * an i recognized the fill and sovereign
iu the luost unequivocal
Yet these pretensions, M without
* " J ' •■'ulation iu th-i beginning, and thus
P !" *'®diy ahjtired, r?re, at a r.*ceo r period
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revivod by Great Britain against the Cen
tral American States, the legitimate suc
cessors to all the aneieut jurisdiction of
.Spain in that region. They were first ap
plied to only a defined part of the coast of
Nicaragua, afterwards to the whole of its
Atlantic coast, anil lastly to a part of the
coast ot Costa Rica; and they are now reas
serted to this entent, notwithstanding en
gagements to the United States.
On the eastern coast of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica, the interference of Great Brit
ain, though exerted at one time iu the form
of military occupation of the port of Sail
Jit-.iii del Norte, then in the peaceful pos
session of the appropriate Authorit iesof the
Ouutral American States, Is uow presented
by her as the rightful exercise of a protec
torship over the Mosquito tribe of Indi
ans.
But the establishment at tue Balizc, now
reaching far beyond its treaty limits into the
State of Honduras, arid ihat of the Bay is
lands, appertiiiuug of right to the same
State, are .as distinctly colonial governments
as those of Jamaica or. Canada, and there
fore contrary to the very letter hs well as
the spirit of the convention with the United
States, as it was at the time of ratification,
and now is, understood by this govern
ment.
The interpretation which the British gov
ernment, thus in assertion and act, persists
in ascribing to the convention, entirely
cnanges its character. While it holds us to
all our obligations, it in a great measure
releases Great Britaiu from these, which
constituted the consideration of this govern
ment ior entering into the convention. It
is impossible, in my judgment, for the Uni
ted States to acquiesce in such a construc
tion of the respective relations of the two
governments of Central America.
Jo a renewed call by this government
upon Great Brriain, to abide by, and carry
into effect, the stipulation* of the conven
tion according to its obvious import, by
with!,-awing from the possession or col
onization of portions of the Central Ameri
can States of Honduras, Nicaragua, and
Costa Rica, the British government has at
length replied, affirming that the operation
of the treaty is prospective only, and did
not require Great Britain to abandon or con
tract any poresasions held by her mCentral
America at the date of its conclusion.
This reply substitutes a partial issue, in
tue place of the general one presented by
the I uited States. The British government
pa*se- over the question of the rights of
Grim Hrrfaiiry real of sUpf'jaeT, fa CaStm
America, ail assumes that she had such
rights at the date of the treaty, and that
! those rights comprehended the protector
ship of tue AI >s juitn Indians, the extended
I jurisdiction and limits of the Baiise, and the
colony of thoßty islands, and thereupou
proceeds by implicaliou to iufer, that, if the
stipulation* of the treaty be merely future
m effect, Great Britain may still continue
to hold the contested portion.* of Central
America. The United States cannot ad
mit either she inference or the premises. We
.-toaddy deny, that, at the date of the treaty
Great Britain had any possessions there,
other than the limited and peculiar establish
ment at the Balize,and maintain that, if she
had any, they were surrendered by tha con
vention.
This government, recognizing the obli
gations of the treaty, has of course, desired
to see it executed iu good faith by both
parties, and in the discussion, the rehire,
has net looked to rights, which we might
assert, i'ldepeudcnriy of the treaty, in con
si leration of our geographical position and
of other circumstances, which create for
us reutlon* io the Oentral American States
different from tho*c of any government iu
Europe.
The British government, in its last com
manicatiou, although well knowing the
views of the United States, still declares
ili it it sees no reason way a conciliatory
spirit nny not enable the governm -nts in
overcome all obstacle* to a satisfactory ad
jsstn-eat of the subject.
Assured of the corre. tness of the con
struction of the treaty cju.sta.ntly ad.iered
to by this government, aid resolved to in
sist on the right., of the United State*, yet
actuated also by the satnn disirc, which is
avowc-t by tho British government, to re
move all causes of serious misunderstand
ing between two nations, associated by so
many ties of interest and kindred, it his ap
peared to me proper not to consider an ami-
Cable solution of the contra versy hone
less.
'i'.iere i*, however, reason to apprehend,
that with Great Britain iu the actual oieu
pat'ou of the disputed territories, and the
treaty therefore practically mill, so far as
regards our rights, this international diffi
culty cannot long remain undeteruiiued,
without involving in serious danger the
friendly relations, which it u the interest
as weli as the duty of bo'n countries to
cherish and preserve. It will afford un
sincere gratification, if future efforts shall
result iu the success, anticipate 1 heretofore
with more confidence than the aspect of the
case permits toe now to eotertaiu. .
KECKt'TiIEST.
One other subject of discussion between
United States an l Great Britain has
grown out of tne attempt, which the exi
gencies of the war ill which she is engaged
with Russia induced her to make, to draw
recruits from the United States.
iPfs the traditional and settled policy of
the United States to maintain impartial
neutrality during th * wars which fro.u tiiuo
to time occur among the great powers of
the world. Pcrformiug all the duties of
neutrality towaid* the respective bellige
rent state*, we may reasonably expect them
uot to interfere with our lawful enjoyment
of its benefits. Notwithstanding tiie exis
tence of such hostilitms, oar citizens retain
the iu .ii-jdu t! riglp to continue ill their uc
j customed pursuits, by land or by sea, at
. home or abroad, subject only to such rt
| stricliuns iu this relation, as the laws of
war, the u*age of nations, or special trea
ties. may impose; and it is our sovereign
; right that our territory and jurisdiction shall
not be invaded by either of tin- belligerent
parties, tor the transit u f their- armies, the
| operations of their tbcts, the levy of troops
for their service, the fitting out of cruisers
; by or against either, or any othrr act or iu
cideut of war. And these undeniable rights
of neutrality, individual and national, the
Uuited States will under no circumstances
; surreuder.
In pursuance of this policy, the laws of
the Uuited States do uot forbid their eTti
i 7,ens to sell to either of the fielligereut
powers articles, contraband of war, or to
j take munitionsof war or .soldiers on hoard
| their private ships for transportation: and,
! although, in so doing, the individual eiti
! zeu exposes his property or pension to some
of the hazards of war, hia arts do n-it. iu
: votve any French of uational neutrality,
"or of themseives implicate the government.
1 Thus, during the progress of the present
■ war in Europe, our have, without
national responsibility therefore, sold gun
powder .and arms to all buyers, regardless
of the destination of these article*. Our
merchantmen have been, and still continue
to be, largely employed by Great, Britain
and by France, in transporting troop-, pro
visions, and inanitions of war to the princi
pal seat of military operations, and iu bring
ing home their sick and wounded soldiers;,
hut such use of our mercantile marine is
not interdicted either by the intern ition tl,
or by our municipal law, and therefore doe
not comprouiit our neutral relations with
Russia.
Bat our municipal law, in accordance
with the law i>f nations, peremptorily for
bid-, not ouiy foreigners, but our own citi
zen*, to St oat, within the limits of the
United States, a vessel to commit hostili
ties against any state with which the United
States are at peace, or to increase the force
of any foreign armed vessel intended for
such hostilities against a friendly state.
Whatever concern may have been felt
by either of the bcllig rent powers lest pri
vate armed cruisers, or other vessels, in the
service of one, might be fitted out in the
por's of this country to depredate on the
property of the other, ali such fears have
proved to be utterly groundless. Oar citi
zens have been withheld from any such act
or purp.-sy i?v good faith, ap4 by .respect for
tiled Aw. ' '
Wddie the laws of the Ur'nn are thus pe
remptory in their prohibition of the equip
ment or armament of belligerent cruisers in
our ports, they provide not less absolutely
that no person shall, within the territory or
jurisdiction of the Uuited Slates enlist or
enter himself, or hire or retain another per
son to cniist or enter himself, or to go b
y iltd lhe limits or jurisdiction of the United
States avirli intent 10 bo enlisted or entered,
in the service of any foreign state, either as
' a soldier, op as a marine or seaman on
board of any vessel of war, letter of uur
qno or privateer. And these enactments
;.re also in etricf conformity with the law of
nations, which declare* that no state has
:he right to raise troops for land or sea ser
vice :u another state without its consent, —
and ilia', whether forbidden by the munici
pal law or not, the very attempt to do it,
without such consent, is an attack on the
national sovereignty.
Such being the public right? and the mu
nicipal law of the United States, no * diei
tndo on the subject was entertained bv this
governm'.-.nt, when, a year since, the Brit
ish Parliament passed ari act to provide for
the enlistment of foreigners in the military
service of Great Britain. Nothing on t tie
face of the act, <<r its public historpy indi
cated that the British government proposed
to attempt recruiting in he United States,
nor did it ever give intimation of such inten
tion to this government. It was matter ot
surprise, therefore, to find, subsequently,
that the engagement of persons within the
United States, to proceed to Halifax, in the
British province of Nova Scotia, and there
enlist in the service of Great Britain, was
going on extensively, with little or no dis
guise. Ordinary legal steps ire re immedi
ately taken to arrest and punish parties
concerned, an Isopitan en 1 to nets in
fringing the municipal law and derogatory
to our s wereignty. Meanwhile suitable
representations on the subject were address
ed to the British Govermufn!-.
Thereupon it became known, by the ad
mission of the Britisti Government itself,
tnat the attempt to draw recruits from this
country originated with it, or at least bad
had its approval an 1 sanction; but it also
appeared that the public agects engaged in
it had stringent instructions not to violate
the municipal law of the United State*.
It is difficult to underataad how it should
have hueu supposed that troops could be
raised here by Great Britaiu, without vio
lation of the municipal law. Tle unmis
takable object of the law was to prevent
every such aet, which, if performed, must
be either in violation -of the law, or in
studio! evasion of it; an 1 in cither alterna
tive, the act done would be alike injurious
to the sovereignty of tue Uuited States.
Iu the meantime the matter acquired ad
ditional importance, by the recruitment iu
the United States uot being discontinued,
and the disclosure of the fact that they
were prosecuted on a systematic plan de
visa 1 by official authority; that rocruiliug
reaJizvous bad bcea opc-tieJ in our princi
pal cities, and depots for the reeeptiou of
recruits established on our frontier; and
the whole business conducted under tbe su
pervision and by the regular co-operation of
British officers, civil and military, some in
the North American province- , and some in
the Uuited States. The complicity of these
oU.-c:-- in an utt Urta'tiug. which could on-
BEDFORD. DA.. FRIDAY JANUARY 18,18-50.
ly be accomplished by defying onr laws,
j throwing suspicion over our attitude of
j neutrality, arid disregarding our territorial
rights, is conclusively proved by the evi
dence elicited ou the trial of sueh of their
•gouts as have been apprehended and con
n-'ieted. Soma of the officers thus implica
ted arc'of high official posirion, and many
of them beyond om jurisdiction, so that le
gal proceedings could not reach the source
of the mischief.
Tii as a considerations, two the fact, that
the cause of complaint was apt & mere cas
ual occurrence, but a deliberate design, en
tered upou with full knowledge of our laws
and national policy, and conducted by re
spousibje public functionaries, impelled me
j to pvesant the case to the British govern
. meat, in order to secure, not only a cessa
tion of the wrong, but its reparation. Tho
j subject is still under discu-siun, tho result
of which w.ll be communicated to jouin
due time.
I repeat the rceoinmcudiitSyfi submitted
itot ic las; Congress, that provision be
made fur the appointment of a commission
i tr, iu connexion vi h Urea; Britain, t > sur
vey and establish ;bc boundary line, which
I divides the Territory oi Y-hashiugton Rom
the contiguous British possessions. By
reas.m of the extent ami iejfeortsnce of
the country iu dispute, there bus beau tm
mijiettt, danger of collision beiwgcn the sub
jects of Great Britain and tho, citizens of
the United .States, including their rcspoct
. ivo authorities in that quarter* The pros
j peet of a speedy arraageaienbv contribn
j ted hitherto to induje ou bnthtridc- forbear
ance to as<ert by force what i|acfi t ciaims as
a riitht. Ouiitiuuauee of delay ou the part
• of the two governments to aqf iu the in.at-
I tor will increase the danger*a:td dtffiuul
! tics of the controversy. I
j Misunderstanding exists 4* to the ex
tent, character and value ojlihe possesso
, ry rights of the Hudson's B;ty Company
and the property of the Fug* s Sound Ag
ricultural Company, reservctliu our treaty
with Great Britain relative t|[tho Territo
ry of Oregon. I have tcitfii t believe
thai a cession uf the rights ,<i. both compa
nies te the Uu:ted Srates, wlwh wsmld be
the rowdiest means of tcrmyipiag ail ques
■ tions, can be obtained ua mk buabic tonus.
| and with a view to this cud, a present the
: subject tj the attentiwu of XSjagrc-,.
I'ue colony of having cn
j acteii the laws required b# treaty of
i the fifth of June, I Sot, L .mi* placed on
■ intercourse with the Tinted States, as the
j olio r British North American provinces,
j The commission, which that treaty cor.-
, tempi a ted, fur doterminiug the rights of
! fishery iu rivers and mouths of rivers on
! the coasts of the United States and the
i Britisli N'orih American provinces, lias- been
organized and has commenced its labors: to
complete which there is needed further ap
propriations for the services of another sca
i sn.
EOVKU ULt r.
In pursuance of the authority conferred
; by a resolution of the Sct'ate of the Uni
: te<l States passed on the 3d of March last,
notice was given to Denmark, on the 14th
. day of April, of the intention of thi* gov
j crinitent to a Vail itself of the stipnlntfoo of
the subsisting convention of frtcn-Rhip,
I eoimuerce and navigation between that
Kingdom and the United ..States, whereby
cither party might, after ten years, tonai
; na'.e the same, at the expiration of one year
from the date of notice for that purpose.
The considerations which le i nm to call
! the attention of Congress to that conven
ii< n, and induced the Senate to adopt (lis
resolution referred to still continue in full
force. The convention contains an article
which although it does not directly engage
i the United States to submit to the tmposl
siiion of tolls on vessels and cargoes of
Americans passing into or from the Baltic
sea, during the continuance of the treaty,
yet may, tq possibility, be construed as im
plying such submission. The exaction of
those toll* not being justified by any prin
ciple of international law, it became the
right and the duty of the United States to
relieve themselves from the implication of
engagement on the subject, so as to be per-
I fectly free to act in tho premises in such
way a* their public interests and honor
shall demand.
I rettiim of the opinio.; that the Uol'ed
States ought not to submit to the payment
of the Sound dues, not so much because of
their ninonnt, which i* a secondary matter,
< but bjcause it is in effect the recognition
of the /ight of Djortiark to treat ouc of
the great maritime highways of nations as
a close ses, and the navigation of it as n
privilege for which tribute nny be imposed
upon those who have occasion to use it.
This government, nn a former occasion
not unlike the present, signalized its deter
, initiation to maintain the freedom of the
| sea, and of the great natural channel* of
. navigation. The Barbary States had, for a
long time, coerced the payment of tribute
from all narion*, whose ships frequented
the Mediterranean. To the last demand of
; such payment made by them, the United
I States, although suffering less by tbeirdep
redutions than many other nations, return
ed tho explicit answer, that we preferred
war to tribute, and thus opened the
win Pa the relief of the commerce of tiic
world from an ignominious tax, no ioug sub
mitted to by the more powerful nations of
Europe.
If the matter of payment of the Sound
dues differ from that of tfce tribute former
ly conceded to the Barbary States, still
; their exaction by Denmark has no better
j foundation in right. Each was, iu its ori
i gin, trolling but a tax ou a common natural
right, by those, who wore nt that
time able lo obstruct the free and secure
enjoyment of i', but wl j a-: longer possess
that power.
Douinarh,chile resisting our assertion of |
the freedom of the Baltic Bmtut au<i Belts,
his indicated a readiness tt> make so rue new j
arrangement ou the.subject, and has invi- !
ted the governments interested, including
ti-e L uiteil Sta'cs, to be represented in a
convention to assemble for tire purpose tf
receiving and considering a proposition,
which she iatooils to submit, for the capi- :
talizatiou of the Sound dues, ar.d the dks- i
tributiuu of the sum to be paid as couuuu- j
tat ion among the governments, according j
to the respective proportions of their tnara- ;
time commerce t.< and from the Baltic, i j
have declined in behalf of the United
States to accept this invitation, for the most
cogent reasons. One i>, that Ben mark
docs not offer to submit to the convention ;
the question of her right to levy the Hound
dues. A second is, that if the convention !
were allowed 10 take cognizance of that
particular question, still it would not L.i
Competent to deal with th • great interna- j
t tonal principle involved which affects the
right iu other cases of navigation and com- j
uiercial freedom, ar- well as that of aec >s
to toe Baltic. Above ail, by tbe express
terms of the progo>;tU>n it is contemplated,
that the consideration of the Sound dues j
shall be commingled with, and iuade saber- 1
ulnate to, a matter wholly extraneous, 1:
balance ut power among the gnveruuieuU j
of Europe.
While, however, rejecting this proposi- :
titmguid insisting in the right of free transit
into and from the Baltic, 1 have expressed
to Denmark a willingness, on the [.art of ;
the United .States, to pluire übe rally with |
other pouters' in compensating her for an;, j
commerce shall heron I - ,
icr derive frown expenditures made by her
for the improvement and safety of the nav
igation of tbe Sounder Be!re.
1 lay before you, hcrewi iu sundry docti- !
moots on the subject, iti which toy views
are move fully disclosed. Should no satis
factory arrangement be soon concluded, 1
shall again call your attention to tbo sub- ;
jrct, with ii-CQinniendatiou of sn h meas
ures as may appear to be required i:i order
to .assert and sac'.ire the rights c. the 1, til
ted .States, so far as they arc affected by the
pretensions of Denmark.
FKASO
I announce with much gratification, that
.-luce the adjourn incut of the last Congress,
tbe question, than exi-t'ng between this
government and that of Trance, respecting
'Fr h Co'tptl Ji.t T ■ T .. i
been s&'.istactorily UewrfuTned, and tan t
relations of tbe two government coutlude
to be of the tries 1 fnanuiv nature.
-
ORSECK.
A quo#: ion, also, cinch ba< been pending ■
for several years between the United State; 1
aud the Kingdom of Greece, growing oat of
the sequestration, by public authorises o!
that country, of property belonging to tin
present American consul :-l Athens, and
which bad been tin* subject of very rartu s;
discussion heretofore, b .• recently been set
tle I to the satisfaction to the party niter- '
estei and of bo T h governments.
SPAIN.
With Spain, t r-.-m ful relation* ar still
maintained, and souia progress hu be :u
made in securing the redress of wr ings
complained of bv this goTernwvi'. Spain
has not only disavowed and di-ap; riv -i
tbe conduct of tbe officers, vrho l'logdv
seized and detained the sreamei Black War
ner at Havana, btrt has also paid the sum
claimed as indemnity for the 10-s thereby
inflicted on citizens of the United States.
In consequence of a destructive hurri
cane, which visited I,'ubu in 1811, tin. sa- ;
r.rauie authority of that island issued a de- :
cree. permitting the ituportat! >n, for the
period of six months of certain building
materials and provision--, free of du'y, but
revoked it when about half tit-? period only
had clasped, to tbe injnty*fclttzen* of the
United State*, who had pro-ceded t- act 011
tlic faitb of that decree. The Spanish gov
ernment refused inofai-riScartftu to the par
ties aggrieved untii recently,when it wis
assented to, pay mutt being promised to be ;
made so soon as tbe amount due can be as- .
ccrtair.ed.
Satisfae?: v.i claimed for tin- arrest and i
search of the steamer K! Dorado has not j
yet been accorded, but there is reason to |
oelieve that it will be, and that ease, with
others, continues to be urged on the atteu- |
trou of the Spanish government. Id • not '
ahaiJ'ion ttie hope tf concluding wi-h Spin.,
some general arrangement, which, 'f it 00
not wholly prevent the recurrence of I!!th
en i ties in Oubt, will render them 1 =.•• fre- ;
quout, whenever they shall occur facilitate |
their more speedy settlement.
Mtxrbo.
The ir.tciposition of this government has '
beeu invoked by many of its citizens, 0:1 ar
count ot injuries done to their pers mj and j
property, for which the Mexican republic is i
responsible. The unhappy' situation ot
that country, for some time | Ist, has not
allowed its government to give due con- .
sideration to claims of private reparation
and bus appeared to call for and justify
some forbearance ju syab matters ou the
part of this government.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
Iu regard to the Auieric tn republics,
which, froiu tb./ir proximity and other con- I
siduratious, have peculiar 'relations to this
government, while it has been my constant I
aim .strictly to observe all Ihe obligations of j
political friendship and of good neighbor- [
hood, obstacles to this have arisen in soui l j
of them, from their own jnsaffl jienj power j
to check lawless irruptions, which in effect i
throws moat of the task ou the United States, i
Thus it is that the distracted iateruhi cop- j
ditionof the State of Nicaragua has made |
it incumbent on me to appeal to the good '
faith of our citia.'tu to abstain f roe:, unlaw- i
! lal iutcrvciiiiort in its affair*, and to adopt !
1 prevutitive n.co'sotes to the same end, which,!
I oil & fcitiiilar orcastou, bad the best renuh* ;
I in reaisutlng the peace of the Mexican States
| of Sonora aud L wer Caitforsts.
Tf.KATILS.
[ Since the la*t ----ion of Congress a trea-1
| fy of ai.iity, commerce, and navigation, and ;
1 fertile surrender of fugitive criminals,.with
j the kiodom of the Two Ste'iics; a treaty of j
; friendship, commerce., and tiivigaiion with !
j Nicaragua; arid con vrqtion of commercial i
; reciprocity with the Uttuaian kingdom,have !
j been negotiated. Tbe bitter kingdom and '
j the State of Nicaragua have also heeded to j
i .-■• ilcciaraiion, iiicagniziag as iaternational ;
i rights the j.riueiples cunt Tned in the con- ;
; vent;.m between the I nitcd Stales and '
i Russia of the of July, 185*. These
treaties and coaveotioos will be laid before ;
. tile He.nate for latiiiCiUioU.
TREAhCHV.
The stab-ments made, in my but ann nl j
message, respect in ;: the atieipatod receipts
and expenditures ->f the Treasury,hate bn u
• substautiaHy voiiacu.
It appears froth thct r port of the Seer>-
. tary of tbe T.ea-.iry, that the receipts du- :
i riitr tic last fiscal year ending June JO,'
| lb-si, from all sources, were sixty-five mil- !
- boa three tin us ;n 1 nine hundred and tbir- '
iiv dollars, at.dT. t the public expenditure! I
1 for tb • same period, exclusive of payment i
.'• account of tbe tmblic debt, amoubted tn !
, fifty-h'x n-iiliou three UnVidreJ and sixty
| five thousand tit.-ee hundred and nincty
| tiiiv.• dollars. During the <- in? p-ri-vi, the !
. payments made in t-demptiou of the put.-!
, lie debt, itu.'niding interest and premium. ]
, amounted to nine indium eight hundred and j
j forty-:* mr tb usmd five huudtvd aad tvreu
! ty- ight dollars.
Tin; balance in the Treasury at the ty-'
; ginning of the prcsrut fiscal year; July 1,
i-Bv.">. was eighteen million nine hundred -
1 and tbirry-OiJt; thousand nine hundred an i i
I seveuty-feii dollars: the rooeipts for the :
first quarter, and the estimated receipts for ;
; the ri-maititiig tl •toe-quart' s, tnuoottt, t>-
gct'uer, to sixty-seven ii.dU.ei nine hundreil |
and ciglitcen tbousand s -ve'n hundred and 1
thirty-four dollirs thus affording fa all, as :
' lite avalalile r--so :i-s of the cnrrcrit Sseul
i sum eighty-six million eight
: hundred arid teu doti.os.
If. to the actual exvoi.Trr.rcs of tin f;.--t
j quarto.-.-f tiie <■
: of the Tic..- ti.-y, the suni total will be sev
cnty-otic uiiiibiu tv. • lii.ndt -i and tw. n?;.-
1 six thonsaml eight hlud.-i.-d aud forty-six
i dollars tln-reby leaving an estimated bal
j anc® iu the treasury on Jtdv 1, 1 of
j ut'teca uifilio-j .-:ix buiid.-eJ atid tweary- '
i three thoitsriu.! eight hundre'l aud six'v
•
' three i.i bars -an i lorry one cent;.
Iu in j S" Vf cXjVnuifdrijT (if
the 1 res. Nt ii-.-il ;.-ir ar > included three
militia dollars to meet the last instalment
of the tea Sii'liioi..; provided for in the late
ity ml.li yi.'xi-.-iq at 1 sev. 'i iv.ilHon -cv
, en honored and fifty thouu' I dollar* ap
. prqpritod on m -pant of t debt duo to
: Texas, which two sums make ;:l aggregate
1 amount i.f ten ml.lion seven hundred ami
City (liinisaod dollars, a: d reduce the cx
( pend it tires-, ae '.mi or cs!i:ii-tieU, f.r ordina
ry < i jjets </ tin year, t . ti.e .-cni of sixty
uiv . : .or lit: . :,-c i art i • -venty-s.x thoa
...'! t u.iil vs. •
Th.; at.-: Illur of tbt! public debt, at the
] coiiuucti -i .ncnt of the pi vsotit fiscal year,
; w.i> forty i.iorio'i five hiu. ircd and eighty-.
three tuyu.su.d mx iiuu li .1 aid thirtv-Mic
: dollars, -1.11 ic.Ju itduii being ni .de of suh
} soqu.-Ut pryuii'tus. tint whole public ?.•!•!
|of the i-ccr.i! govrntiuj-uit re.jiaiaiug at r't.is
; tirn 1 is less than f. r y million doila-
Viie rsmnaui ut certaiu oilier govern
ment sti cits, atuo tna.-g to two h-tudrpd
and flirty-three tbotmn 1 iioilara, rcfe.-re<l to
In uiy lot message as ouistau ling, b is since
been paid
lam faliv pnrsuade 1 tint i: w jnld be'
diffi -nit to dcvi.sea *y >- in sopcrior to that,
by which th j fl-s-.a! lot unless of the gov., r. -
; tu.nt 1 cow coiv.iacte J. Nu.wi.h. tandit:g ■
j the groat nuiiiber of public ag.o.its of cyi
j lection and dLsburscmcdt, it is beiieve.l that
; the checks and guards provided, including
I the roqcirovj 'X'. nf munthly return:?, render 1
I it scarcely po.ssihlo for any considerable fn.-
amy corisiicrul in fraud oil the part of those
j agents, or neglect involving hazard of
i serious public b ss, to escape uetefetioii. 1
i.ivutv.'. e rawer !lt cowuivttditi-m, hcrct.;-
forc made by uii-, of tbe 00.! ?! .uent of 3
law declaring it felo'ty oil the part of p ib- '
j l.c officers to i.-isert fa's s p.ttries in their .
| books of r-.-eo.- l or a v-ount, or to m ike
! false returns, art I also requiring thetn <>:.
the tcruiination of their servi'-e to deliver
Ito their suuccs.mii'4 til boukr, rcbords and
■ other cif j vts cf a pMo'ic nature in their
j custo'ly.
| Derived as our public revenue D, in ehi.f
| part, fr0,,1 duties on imports-, its lUjgnitß'ie
: affords gratifying eviiicn.-e f the priw? • r
: ity, not only of mr cotuaicrcc, but o, the
other great interests opeu wh ea t.:u
p!l is.
"ihe principle ?hat ail ruonevs not re-,
".aired f„r the ourreirt expenses of tue gov- '
ernuieot shoald remain f.r active etnpiny :
ment in tbe hunts of tha peopie, and the
coaspii-ions fact that ti.o annual revenue I
i trom nil- sources exce-eds,by many millions ;
of iioii irs, the aa.ouat needed tor A rra
l dent iiud econoiahutl a iniuistrWtioii of gab
| lie affairs, caaat rail to ruggest the pro-
I pricty of an early irftsiwi and redaction
; of* the tariff of duties on iiuporcs. It is
; now so genorAliy conceded tn .t tas purpose
! of revenue nJme can justify the imposition
lof duties or, imports table# a:iJ schedules,
1 which auqacstiou inly tojuire essential
! ui . iideations, a departure from tb_i pri.'i-
J cipLx of iui3 present tariff is not a'atu-ipv
, tu 'd. 1
VOL. ->9, \0 3.
I a::*.**:.
i Ti* urutr, during thep.;-t year, ha I.- r.
i actively engage Ain defending the lut'lan
' frontier, lite state of ti.e service peraiiuitig
• Out few ami small garrisons in our peruia
j lie tit lorufjotmons. fh ni>iui ual r6g:tncuM
authorized at the - tost ses-ion of Cciigt-e-.i
; !::txe been reeiuitsd ULl<l organ.Zt-d aii'J a,
j largo portion f the troops Lave already
!?.* K'.nt to tc Se!J. All 100 duties,
i which devolve on the military fi.tab!ihaio4S
have ii&ttt eatUibetirii, peiibrm-d, nod iir
j ti. ngi.ra Mid ;,r.i xtiou- I.;ci>lt>:it to the liar
| ■•••ter of ti.?se:v •ert;. l uircii o-f our tnwpa
h-ivt !a r t; ist.t-.i additional evidence of their
i courage, zeal, t>iiti• capacity to meet any
j ri'tj ui-;. i.-n, ivit:eh their country may Utah 4
■upon 11* 'in 1'.." tLedetalix ot d;e military
■-jj.i'fftiionn, the di-lnbolieii of the t: j>,
j and adiitujivdpnivUioto retpiired by the
f aiilitary service. I refer to the report ti.e
■Secretary of V. ar &a<| the a& ••luynuyiiig
; document*.
Experience, gathered from events which
have transpired since my last annual use*-,
-age. lias- but serve ! I ; confirm fh<> opinion
then erpfes-:?:] of the propriety of making
' provisions, by a retired iisr. for diwbkd of
; ti .•rs, and for increased compensation to
: ihti officers r-'tained' wo the Ist for active
■ ditty. AH the reason; which existed when
i iti'.-e measures were reeotoiiviiiied on f.r
--h iiirr ccasioa*, Continue lii'idi'leatimt
i except so : r ■•ircuHistancc.s have given !o
j soi.is Oi thctn .tddt'k.aal force.
The n.' .' j i. uhhsiioas, heretofore made f.-.?
■ a j artij rcoigiuisalkti of the ante, are
| a-i'J renewed- The thorough elementary
ebucatku given to those of!h\ r>. who •
menee their -• rvl v iiii the grade tf cad*',
| ijuaktt'j thetii, !• a certain t.ve.-;!, tq pxf't
I rui tis tiuite.-; f every arm of the •..-> ity;
but to give toe highest eJli -k;6cy to artillery*
, tcrjuirex the ■ rccricc at. d special study cf
j tinny years; un-i it is not, therefore, believed*
to be* IviitpJe to niaint.ii j, ij time of peace,
1 s laiger force of that sru than can be u-u il
ly enipicycd ia the duties appertain hi to,
i >:;e service u! fioid uid siege artillery.
■ Tiis duties if the staff .in abt its vario.u
branches be mug to tie m-tvciacnt of troops
ku 1 to Ctile-iet!U_ of .un aViity ill the C rid
would nta.tfirialiy dep i; l u;*hi the al/iliiy
with v. iieti those duties a-e .liacLargvJ. It
, is ui.:, m in the ess-, of tiio art tilery, a
upeciiSiyv, but retjmm also, an intimate
i. iowSc ige < t the uytas of an offiret of
i tie . i. . and i. is not dkmteed ChtUy to cem
rif Sa tor oititer
ntu te o ilie f~ s ! ii*.*, "if rii*-^
sU.thlc iitst ho siiali have served n: both.
With ibis vie v, it was reaomcaded t a a
torn, x uvea i tha: t .a hui.es oi the
shuu.d be inaijiiy perfortued ay details frota
tlrf line; atid vitk couvictiott of the advnn
icp js w.dcu would result iVotu such a change
it again preset::,:ti iorthe eoiisiueratiotiof
Ccucr ■ ? *.
.v vvr.
The report of the Secretary of (he Navy,
iMTß'vitb stibuii'.ted, eiiiittiis in t.l the
navat operaUoii, of the past year together
■..•lib lac ore.-c.it oonuitiou oi the Ser
ve, and it makes suggestions of further
let'isiatiutj to wu'eL your attention is in
vited.
Th ' ' n of the si v steam frig
ates, t • • * iiieb appr. priations wore untie by
ia •' C'ttgros-, ii.is proecefeil lit tli-j
must satis artery ntaciKr and uit'u fiie'u
c apediii t., to warrant, the nciief that
1 they witi be ready for service turfy in the
. n: sprh-tg. luip-i! :ai;t as th > adit
l.• .i i our ouval force it sini rcuiatus
• inadequate to the exigencies of the piinjec?
lion of the extensive sea unii vs-f
e.uuuHirci.il inrbio-ts of the I uited SuC
la v fw ; tins fact and of the acknowledg
ed wu t.,c policy oi a gradual and
sysi->.u:tt ,e increase* of 'he navy, an appro
priaiiuit :< l erikumeu led lor the cutistrttetuu:
e! sot s'<- o *:oups 0.-war.
In re.; .r ! to Hie steps tahtcn in etXtd' ir-rt
of tii .' .art of Congress to promote the effi
ciency of the tuvv, it is HHnecessary for c
to say ir-' than t • cs.-r-.-s#- entire emi
cnrreuce in the .!>s-. rv.-t'i o on that sub
je'ct pir-ciited by the Secretary i.i it s re
pott. *
i'OST I IKICK.
It v. " Is.' perceived, by the report ■? the
ro.-tiu.i-un' tue'tiCfai, that tin grfc
turo ot' ibo dupatUaent for <, w Sst-ai
tear was tuidi<>a nine hundred and
-ixty-ccfit th .-an I three hundred u.I
' foittrtwv dollars, and tbo gio- receipts
seven niititon litrce Lundrcd and forty-two
. iiiousau.l Oiu haadrt'd and tliir-e-.- x doi
lars, uiak.ng nri exc >u of expend.rartjovju
re'ceip:.- of two sis hundred ;<'
twenty-*",* Yacn.. two fclJr.'ban 1 si:
■iHilars; atid li.at tiio co-t of ..••! tr.t i
f.o taiio i ion tag ti. it year w.u six uuudrt'o
and seventy-!'jar, thousand nine i.undrcl
nwl fiiiy-twi, doitars gr.stor ib.au t'w pre
\i> 14 - nr. of tii- L wvy exponii-
- thus sui>-
j i ied, U ' ' H.> .u :r:>oi to tax i <j 3 n.-
uy of p,ditei i.J.ifer conveyed to trie
uiai' i, either ira-ikcJ, or liable to no pos
tga afC'iwhb that cw irtre-l o t lettrs:
and to tin- gr-ot coat of lu.iii Service . u.;
railroads aid by eewn. etcati. ?r. Tiie -gg
gestioasof *lie Fosituxs'er on ho
fcubject d-iscrvo ;ii3 eo a of Oqa
gvess. . - ■■ .-a • u J i ,
INTLRIPti.
T!; report of the Hecretxrv cf the ln!cr
ior will engxg' your attention, .n well for
useful engtr'-iioos it contains, as for the
in'eri-st and importance of tbo sub: cis to
ivbieli tfarv refer.
; *" .. - , .
Tio .iggi'epT.i ? o amouyt of public l,te i
sold during thi lass year, located ■;
military .scrip or l ud- warrants, taken ti.
i undir gruub; for i and. sclecteu at