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‘ i:t &
BY W. S. JONES.
TERMS.
THE WEEKLY
CHRONICLE & SENTINEL
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THE CHRONICLE * SENTINEL
DAILY AND TEI-WEEKLY,
A r ■ .',-,d at this office, and mailed to sub
scribe •- at the following rates, namely i
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Riitee for Weekly Adverilsemente.
Okdinai'.r advertisements, published once a
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Special Notices, TenCenlt per line, for the fin’
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Fif’y C’< each. Obituaries, Ten Centt pe
L. HOYT’S
AMOXJATED BONE
SOPER-PHOSPHATE
L TME,
OF TUB
MOST APPROVED QUALITY.
A STJ BSTITUTE
FOB PERUVIAN GUANO.
/sv V T.l V V V/-I C r WAD TfCJ
NEW-yORK.
OFFICE NO. 194 WATER STREET,
Adjoining U. S. Hotel.
A FERTILIZER
Producing all the immediate effect of the beat Peru
vian Ouan , without the danger of destroying a crop by
Its ctniin/ in contact with the seed and being lasting In
the n il year h after the Guano is exhausted It is pul
ve lseed to a fine powder ready for use. No loss of time
rni ila cr in break g lumps, screen ng, Are.
l*ho phate of L n.t; isth*- o Ay element in Guano, or
any other Fertilizer, from which permanent effect can
be expected, hence t at Fertilizer which contains the
i a indietency of ammonia to pro
slut’ a 1 the fleet that can be had from Ammonia, is the
best, inasmuch . k more than that is a was'e.
\ u —To test the relative value of this Fertilizer, use
in quit iit v ami all other respects same as Peruvian
Guano.
*a ked n strong Bags of 150 pounds. Barrels average
My super I'h. i hate of Lime is not mi experiment.
Four years’ trial of it upon all kiuds of Crops and Soils,
has proved its value each year, ami that it is of uniform
Try it side by side with No. 1 Peruvian Guano upon all
your crops, ami see which is cheapest, safest aud most
lasting * a TOP DRESSING upon Grain or Grass
early in the Spr ng it “will pay.”
Certtti. ates, dated from the Ars year of the introduc
tion of my Fertilizer, each year since, might be added ;
but the ru t satisfactory Certificate is for every Farmer
to try it for himself
Sold by t‘i Dealers in Agricnltural Implements in
the City, aud at 12-i We street, corner Dey street.
PRICE $45 PER TON
CDF 2000 LBS.
A Discount made to buyers of
Five Tons or more.
For Direction*. Analyses and Certificates, seePamph
Ist, #eut free upon application to the Proprietor.
L 8. HOYT,
194 Water st., N. Y.
ty- CAUTION. -Observe tbat every Bag aud Bar
ve‘Ot H ‘Vi s Super-pbosphate of Lime is branded aa
a: ,.n ■ .-1 i. oaii ,1 UNK OTUEK Is GENUINE
N 11 ;..i ! I. aud, or l’a- idc Oeean GUANO, No. 1
Pot-avian m • GotomWsu UPA GROUND BONE,
I*ol D-El lE.aud BLASTER, for sale Inany Quantl
ly.ao.lati.—.. free. oc-M-vrif
LOOK HERE.
Farmers. Planters and Keepers of
HORSES.
“Keep your Hoi sea in Good Condition..’
im\nsirs
BUU VEGETABLE HORSE POWDER.
I M\N HOUSE FUWDER are attested by thousand*
who have used it It la composed of Vegetable Root*
au t Heros and highly recommended tor the cure aud
preveut . ai*s to which that animal—the
H..rse —is>ui>!.<: as Distemper, Hiic-boand, Drowsi-
UCH.-V Lie • t \ppe*ite, luw aril Sprains, Yellow Wafer,
Patigu rom h id exert work, inflammation of the
i \ , It carries off all
florae* from becoming stiff or
fouud.T. and puriflt < aud cools the blood, and improves
thetr g.-.n ra. condition. The constantlv increjuing de
xnaml t.r t i. celebrated HORBK MEDICINE” is one
.. >abl proofs of It* worth. In case*o/
l>rowsiness. Fatigue,
Distent pe* 1 tNi- mat sou of the Eyes. It improves the
condition ofth- Skiu . imparts a dne glossy coat of
Ha- * universal Condition Powder. Farmers and
flaatt > should no: be without this valuable Powder.
For sale, wholesale aud retail, by
FIBUER A HEINITBH,
Columbia, S. 0.,
PLUMB & LEITNER,
W - ou-sale and Retail Druggists, Augusta, Ga.
anrtt J “
“PROLIFIC COTTON SEED.
|)l, WTMl'i are informed that I have succeeded in
X prutuciug a PROLIFIC COTTON that yields more
to the sudx fan any 1 b.ave ever seen. Being fond of
experiments, 1 have Hied, for the last twenty-rive years,
every vane*; ot cotton that promised a large yield, and
have :oucdr.''thingthat equal* toy present stock of
Seed 1. -sly rid of .he Bo\d** aud other Prolific*
with the Petit Gulf 1 have sta'ks now mmy office.
Fear teet high, with 150 bolls on it
Three ft el high w ;th 125 “ “
Two fe t hig.i, with 75 ** *’
As many as i a o hundred and fltXy bolls and forms have
been counted on a tew large stalks. Every person who
ha-* seen my crop pr.-n in e.l tbe heavies: boiled cotton
thev ever >*w One Planter pulled off a limb twelve
inches o. g. having tune bolls on it. As this Cotton does
not .:ub a tong as Pe.d Gulf, tt can be planted closer in
the row and drill, thus securing a greater number of
i will riil order* for Seed at ONE DOLLAR AND
TWEN l Y FIVE CF.N INS PER BUSHEL, sacked in
uew cotton sacks, and delivered in Augusta, and for
warded as directed. Address,
GEORGE SCHLEY.
nsvfi-wtf Augusta. Georgia.
“TltOlT IIOISE,”
ATLANTA,
BY DR. J. D. BOYD,
YTTHU has taken a lea.-e of the property, and intend*
U u> •• brush up’ and cave things as they shou.d be,
wilt be g sd :o s. e his old friend*, and others, when they
rlaitthi* ficariahiiigcity. nov23 3m
DOWNING HILL NURSERY,
rHK subscribers beg leave to call the attention of the
public to their extensive collection of
SOUTHERN RAISED FRUIT TREES,
e-uVnu mg all be best varietiea that have been tested in
A * * ‘ * o. ecticn of ORNAMENTAL TREES
and SHRUBS.
Catalogue* sent by mail, free of charge, to all appli*
Address PETERS, HARDEN A CO..
novil w4in Atlanta, Ga
ELEGANT TOILET ARTICLES
I> IM ?l Ki.*S Ros Leaf POWDKR. a delightful eoa
k met.c. f.-r imparting a smooth and roseate Lae to
* Labia Pomade and Antique OIL ;
Man ut t A Com:ray < W hue buck POMATUM ;
Lo - Chite.-e Mush SOAP ;
Lubia s Do.;
Low • Cold CREAM ;
Be*.:; . .B. •*. Hvr BRUSHES. ini* and with pearl,
u oGnE* an l Puff BOXES ;
Harr.su *CRE*M OF BEAUTY and
PL* > Px;.fci aDT.O*. f* the Skin;
Lub-.u i EX PRACTS, 30 different coots ;
Fraugipaui S\OHJBT>. tor pertain tag wardrobes.
Tbe Atteu: nor the Ladies u* ojr :.ed to our stock of
FAN Y <HH>DS, comprising the richest *nd most ele
gant t-Lcle- troji the hast Xlanuiacturers in th * country
iod Li:- It W. H. TUIT.
DROPSY CURED.
HE undersigned proposes to CURE DROPSY of
X everv dei. r pLoa. He can be seen personally five
mile-= south o: Union Point, or addressed by letter to
Un -a Point Greeae county, Ga. The Medic ae can
be sent aevwhere by railroad, with direction* for
giv ag it or, I will attend personally, it requeet
ei and paid for my trouble. I will buy Negroes
cted with Dropsy,or care the.m, a* the owner may
peter Satisfactory references given, if desired.
, J MILES G. BKOOME
SUU’ of Oterrim, G-tnt era my :
Tin. is to t rtify tha-my feiberbad a negro nan at
w,th Orjpsy in ISM; he had been treated by se
vers; ptypsciaaswithontanyenre, when be applied to
M G Bro-me t r his remedy, which cored him. He it
atil l living. and in good health.
Jan 21, ltd* HrKRT CHiMPIOS.
Ua.o i P at. reene-0., April 7, 1858.
COTTON FAN!
I HAVE anpoir-ted THOMAS TOBIN, of the
L ty o. Augusta my ioie Agent for the *ale of
Ki.hu for th mau .faetare and use of my COTTON
w o Ate *’ Cohatie*, wr mdiviauaUin the State*
of S u h C*r . ina, Georg* and Fionda. The ue of
the above Fan ito c ean Cotton of s ad, dirt and heavy
trash, previous to its being g: ined
THOS OLIVER, Patentee,
Ykaoo City, Mi**i*aippL
PATENT MEDICINES.
The Liver Invigorator,
PREPARED BT DR, HANFORD,
IB a great scientific medieai discovery, and is dailj
working cure*, almost too great to believe It cure
wif by magic, even the first dose giving benefit ano
seldom more than one bottle is required to cure any km
of Liver Complaint, fron the worst Jaundice or Dyjpep
sia to a common headache, all of which are the result ou
a diseased Liver.
Tbe L.ver Is one of the principal regulators of tb*
tuman body, and when it performs Its function* we!
the power* of the system are fully developed. Th
stomach is almost entirely dependent on the health
action of the Liver for the proper performance of it
when the stomach is at fault, the bowel
are at fault, and the w! -i* system suffers in const?
quence o? one organ —the Liver -having ceased t
do it* duty. For the and iaeas ■es of that organ, on* of tb*
propri*tors baa made It his study, in ft practice c
m re than twenty years, Ito find some remedy wher
with to counteract the many derangement* V
which it is liable u*
To prove that this re medy is at last found, a 1
person troubled with Liv Complaint in air
of it* forma, has but to try a W bott anu conviction it
certs in.
A compound baa been formed by dissolving gum.’
and eztract.ng that part which is soluble for the a<
tive virtue* of tbe medi p""* cine. The*e gums remov
all morbid or bad matter from the system, supply
mg in their pi ace a healthy flow of bile*, invigo ratio i
the stomacu, causing food r to igest well, purifying
the blood, giving tone and health to the whole macbi
nery removing the causes / . of the disease, and effect
ing a radical core without any of the disagreeable
after effects, felt by using Calomel or Mineral Po
son that ia usually resorted to.
One dose after eating is sufficient to relieve tfc
stomach and prevent the food from rising and sour*
lag- H
Only one dose taken _ before retiring prevents
nightmare
Only one dose taken at night loosens the bowel’
gently, and cures costive L ness.
One dose tacenafter each meal will cure Dyspepsia
%3f Oae dose of two tea r spoonsful* will always rt
Ueve Sick Headache.
One bottle taken for fe male obstruction remove;
the cause of the disease, L.J and makes a perfeot core
Only one dose immedi''ately relieves Cholic,whiW
One dose often repeated is a sure cure for Choi
era Morbus, and a pre jX) ▼•otive of Cholera.
One dose taken oftenillpre vent the recurrence
of Bilious Attacks while* it relieves ail painful feel
feeling*.
GP Only one bottle is needed to throw out of tb*
system the effects of medi after a long sicknesr
One bottle taken for Jaundice remove* al.
eliowness or unnatural ” color from the skin.
One dose taken a short time before eating gives
vigor to the -ppetite and W makes food digest well.
One dose often repeated r cures Chronic Diarrhea
10 its worst forms, while Summer and bowel oom
plaints yield almost to the first done.
One or two doses cures rw attacks caused by worms,
while for worms in child ren, there is no surer, sai
er or speedier remedy in .the world, as it never fails.
There is no exaggeration in these statements ; they
are plaiD, sober facts, that we can give evidencf
to prove, while all who use lire ffiviag naan*
mous testimony in its (Jj favor.
Retake infinite pleasure in recommending this med
ciue a* a preventive for Fever and Ague, Chill Fever
and all Fevers of a Bilious type. It operates with ce:
tainty, and thousands are willing to testify to its won
derful virtue*.
Among the hundreds of Liver Remedies now offeree
to the public, there are none we can so highly recom
mend as Dli SANFOP.D’tt IN VIGORATOR, so gene
rally known now throughout the Union. This prepara
tion *s truly a Liver Invigorator, producing the most
happy results on all who use it. Almost innume able
certificates have been given to the great virtue of this
medicine by those of the highest standing In society,
and we know it to be the best preparation now before
the public. —Uudton County Democrat.
PRICE ONE DOLLAR PER BOTTLE.
SANFORD A CO.,
Proprietors, 345 Broadway, New-York.
PLUMB A LEITNER and W. H. TUTT, Agents iD
Augusta. Bold by Druggists generally,
mb 10T>d -dlwAw 1 y
JACOB’S CORDIAL.
FRESH SUPPLY,
FRESH SUPPLY,
FRESH SUPPLY,
FRESH SUPPLY,
FRESH SUPPLY,
FRESH SUPPLY,
FRESH SUPPLY,
ONE HUNDRED GROSS,
ONE HUNDRED GROSS*
ONE HUNDRED GROSS,
ONE HUNDRED GROSS,
ONE HUNDRED GROSS,
ONE HUNDRED GROSS,
ONH HUNDRED GROSS,
JACOBS CORDIAL.
JACOBS CORDIAL.
JACOB’S CORDIAL.
JACOB’S CORDIAL.
JACOBS CORDIAL.
JACOB 8 CORDIAL.
JACOBS CORDIAL.
THE GREAT REMEDY OF THE AGE,
THE GREAT REMEDY OF THE AGE,
THE GREAT REMEDY OF THE AGE,
THE GREAT REMEDY OF THE AGE,
THE GREAT REMEDY OP THE AGE,
TIIK GREAT REMEDY OF THE AGE,
THE GR AT REMEDY OF THE AGE,
THE BEST REMEDY EVER MADE,
THE BEST REMEDY EVER MADE,
THE BEST REMEDY EVER MADE,
THE BEST REMEDY * VER MADE,
THE BEST REMEDY EVER MADE,
THE BEST REMEDY EVER MADE,
THE BEST REMEDY EVER MADE,
FOR DYSENTERY AND DIARRHEA.
FOR DYSENTERY AND DIARRHEA.
FOR DYSENTERY AND DIARRHEA.
FOR DV SEN TER Y AND DIARRHEA.
FOR DYSENTERY AND DIARRHEA.
FOR DYSENTERY AND DIARRHEA.
FOR DYSENTERY AND DIARRHEA.
BUY IT.
BUY IT.
BUY IT.
BUY IT.
BUY IT.
BUY IT.
BUY IT.
TRY IT.
TRY IT.
TRY IT.
TRY IT.
TRY IT.
TRY IT.
TRY IT.
HAVILAND, CHICHESTER & CO.,
Wholesale Druggists, Augusta, Gm.
decl dtwAwlm
SALVE vs. LINIMENTS.
DR. CAVANAUGH’S
GREEN SALVE.
AS* a universal FAMILY REMEDY, exceeds, in iU
curative action, any article ever offered to tho at
tention of the afflicted.
Gentlemen in all professions, and every rank of life,
attest to Its merit*.
MARK ITS-EFFECTS AND TEST THEM.
It will take the fire oat of a BURN or eiUALI), in a
few minutea, and heai the wound WITHOUT A SCAR.
QP* Bee certificates in hands of Agenu.
Price 50 cents and *25 cents per box. For sale by all
Druggists and dealers. T. H. CAVANAUGH,
Proprietor, at. Louis, Mo.
Agents-PLUMB A LEITNER, tJPEARh A HIGHT,
HAVILAND, OHICFKBTER Sc CO., W. H. TUTT,
ii F. PALMER, Augusta, Ga.; A. A. ALEXANDER
and Dr. SMITH, Atlanta, Ga., aud C. W. 6c U. R. J.
LONG Athens. Ga an*2:i’Sfl-d4rwlT
GOOH MEDICINES.
/ It is estimated that AYERS’ CHER
A i RY PECTORAL and CATHARTIC
Hi PILLS have done m >re to promote the
public health, than any other one cause
0 There can be no quea- ion that the Cher
ry Pectoral has by its thousands on thousands cures of
Colds, Coughs, Asthma Croups, Influenza, Bronchitis,
Ac., very much reduced toe proportion of deaths from
consumptive diseases In thU country. Tbe Pills are as
good aa the Pectoral, and will cure more complaints
Everybody needs more or less pursing Purge the
blood from its impurities. Purge the bowels, liver and
the whole visceral system from ob*tnictious Purge out
the diseases which fasten on the body to work its de
cay. But for disease we should die only of old age.
Take antidotes early and thrust it from the system, be
fore it is yet too strong to yield.
Ayer’s Pills do thrust out disease, not orly while it is
w> ak. bat when it haa taken a strong hold. Read the
astounding atatements of those who have been cured by
them from dread ul Scrotula. Dropsy, Ulcers. Skin Dis
eas s. Rheumatism, Neuralgia. Dyspepsia, Internal
Pains. Bilious Complaints, Heartburn. Headache, Gout,
and many less dangerous but still threatening ailments,
such as Pimples on the face, Worms, Nervous lrritabili
ty. Loss of Appetite, Irregularities, D tziness in the
Head, Colds Fevera, Dysentery, and indeed every va
riety oi complaints for which a purgative remedy is re
qured.
These are no random statements, but are authentica
ted by your own neighbors and your own physician*.
Try them once, and you will never be without them.
Price 25 cents per Box—five boxes for sl.
Prepared by Dr. J. C. AYER, Chemist, Lowell,
Mas*., and sold by all respectable Druggists everywhere,
deel dAwSm
EUREKA OIL
IS the result of many years’ experiments made by a
medical man, a dealer in slaves, in efforts to meet
and *accesßfnlly combat the different ills and ache*
those nnuer his care were *nbject to from the various ex
posures m traveling and camp life. It has been found
from experience to possess restorative and healding vir
tues equalled by no other mixture or compound yet dis
covered for the foUowingaffiictions :
Sores or Eruption* of the Skin. Ulcerated Sores on tho
legs or any part of the body. Rheumatism, Neuralgia,
H* ad A ‘he, Tooth Ache, Bone Pellon*, Tetter*. Pains,
Throat. Swollen Gian*, Sore or weak Eye* in man
or beai, Ear Ache, Cramp or Pain in the Stomach,
Colic, Weak Back, Bpinai Affection*, Sore Breast*, Sore
or Cracked Nipples, Fever Sore*, Scald Head, Fresh
Cuts and Bruises, all Pgina in the Limds and Joint*,
Sprains and Strains, Swollen Feet and Ankles, Baras,
Stricture.
We claim no magic for the workings of this great
soother and successful competitor in the healing art, of
all the remedies which have been put forward for poblic
favor. If the first application does not give relief, try the
second, third or fourth, and we will guarantee the suffer
e/shall not be di*appointed. Where it ha* been Intro*
duced it has superceded DeGrath's and all reme
dies. W e challenge the world for the production of it*
equal in allaying pain, or in the healing art. It would
seem superfluous to mention the wonderful cure* pro
duced in a very few minute* in the streets of Columbus,
Ga. when administered to a horse judged to be dying
under the effect* of the bou, and on two other occasion*
when administered to moles suffering greatly with colic.
Price ONE DOLLAR per bottle.
For sale in Columbus, Georgia, by Daaforth, Nagel
A Cos.. Pemberton, Nuckol* A Cos.; Brocks A Chap
man ; Nance A Ge-uer. Robert A. Ware ; A. K. Ayer.
This truely great Medicine is sold la the city of Augus
ta only by CLARKE A WELL*. Druggists, who will in
every case refund the money when satisfaction is not
given in the use of one bottle, if used strictly as direct
ed for any of the above diseases. For Coughs common
among the people, the EUREKA OIL has no equal. 12
or 15 drop# in water three or more times in the day, the
same at night if needed, no charge will be made for the
OU in case of return of Chill and Fever. If rubbed well
on the spine and breast and nock in time of fever, after
the terer a eentinuatich of the same application, and
take 15 drops in waters every five hours, till the time for
Chill passes off.
Every bottle is properly directed, with certificates at
ached. Fiantersnetd no ether doctor on their planta
tions over Eureka OiL Try it—it is no humbug. Half
the quantity for children.
dc^-tf G W. CROFT AGO.. Atlanta. Ga
CHOICE MEDICIXES.,!
THE following preparations have been tried and
found go and g-**tlv needed for proses
sell readily :
rrvvrL’ at COMPOUND. OR
TEN Nib ALTERATIVE y or Purifying th* Bljod
and Diseases of the Liver, this is the bii medicine of
DEN lb STIMULATING OR HOT BITTERS
D dSsr vooM, “ and
DENNIS’ STIMULATING LINIMENT rr ROr
THEKN PAIN KILLER.—ForRheuiL.p
in Back. Ac. ra “*’ r *- a
DENNIS ANTI BPASMODIO TINCTr RF—P-r
all sudden and dai geroas attacks of d.*eaaa a wh efc
immediate act.cn is necessary. a ‘ cc
A better remrdy in sadden Colds, Pneumonia, Crons
Colic, Ac . has never bren offered to the putl'c.’
F- r sale by Pnigeists g-nrx )y novT
Tilt BEST FLOW YET LNTBOUICtD
UTLEY’S
Patent Combined Subsoil & Turning
PLOW!
THE mbscriber announce* to tbe Farmer* of Rich
in cad. Barke. JmStrooa Columbia, Warren, Haa
cock, Greene. W likes and Morgan coonsiea. Ga. that he
has purchased the right of the a bore PLOW for these
coart:ee and that he will be pr-o red to otfe- samples
of the Plow la October, for ex.lnal 100 and trial
UTLEY'S PLOW U a Southern iDTention, and those
who at predate the raloe es deep plowing and easy
draft cannot ‘ail t> be pleased with It I put it forth
entirely on its owu -cents, and consider no Plow sold
unless it girei tbs i orchaser foil satisfaction. For coun
ty or individual rights in she above a unties, address
D. REDMOND,
■splV-twAw Algaita, Georgia
Cferomclc & Skntinil.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE.
FtlUnc Citizens of tke Senate
and Hou*e of Repreeentaiivti :
When we compare the condition of the counfty at
Ue present day with what it was one >ear ag<<, at
“e meeting of Congress, we have much remaon for
?r& i ude to trat Almighty Providence which l as
ever faied to in'erpos for our relef at tie most
criti al periods • f oar history. One year ago, t e
sectional st."ife be'w-en the North an 1 the s>outh
on the daege ous subject of slavery, had aga n be
come bo mte seas to tb eaten the peace and per
petui yof the confederacy. The application[for tfe
admission of Kansd* as e Sta r e into the Union, sos
tered this agitation, and broug t toe whole
subject once mo e before Congress. It was the de
s re of ever, patriot tuatsuch measure* of leg:s a-
Pon might be adopter as would remove the excite
ment from the S afes, and confine it to the Territory
where it legitimately belonged. Much hns been
done, I am hapuy to say, towards the accompl nh
nentof this ooject, during the last session of Con
gre-s.
The Supreme Court of the United States had pre
viousl • decided that all American ci izens have an
equal right to take into the territories, wha everia
held as pr. p rty under the laws of any of the Stages
,ml touoid such property there under the guardian
ship of the federal cons-’itution, as long as the tor
ritnrial condition sba l retrain.
This n-*w a well-established position, and the
proceedings of the last sese on were alone wanting
to give it practical effect Tee principle has been
re-, ognized, in some form or other, by an almost
u’ a’ irnous vote of both houses of Congre*, that a
Terr tory has a right to come into the Union ei her
a-; a free or a slave State, according to the will of a
major.ty of its peop'e. The just eqr.al ty of the
S ates lias thus been vindicated, aud a fruitful
source of dangerous dissension among them has
been removed.
Whist such baa been the beneficial tendency of
your legislative proceedings outside of Kansas,
their influence haa nowhe> e been so happy as with n
that Territory iteelf. Left to manage and control
its own affairs in its own way, wittio t the pressure
of external influence, the revolutionary Topeka or
g nization and all resistance to the territorial gov
ernment ea abli-hed by Congress have been finally
abandoned. Asa naturraJ consequerce, that the
Terr tory now appears to bo tranquil and prosper
ous, ana is attract ng i ihous&nds of im
migrant- to make it iheir happy home,
The past unfortunate experience of Kansas has
enforced the iessou so often already taught that re
sistance to lawful authority, under our form of
government, cannot fil in the end to prove and sa9-
t ous to if* authors. Had the people of the Terri
tory yielded obedience to the laws enacted by their
legislature, it would st the present moment have
contained a large add tioual population of industri
ous aud enterprising citizens, who have bee-i deter
red from entering its borders by the existence of
civil strife and organized rebellion.
It was the resistance to rightful authority and the
persevering attempt* to eetablish a revolutionary
government under the Topeka constitution, which
ciused th” peop’e of Kansas to commit the grave
error of refusing to vote for delegates to the con
vention to frame a conatitution, under a law not de
nied to be fair and just in its provisions. This re
fusal to vote has been the prolific source of all the
evil* which have followed, li Dcr hostility to the
territorial government, they disregarded the prin
cipal essential to the working of our form of gov
eminent, that a majority of those who vote—not the
majority who may remain at tome, from whatever
cause—must decide the result of an election. For
this reason, seeking to take advantage of their own
error, they denied tbs authority of the convention
thus elected to frame a constitution.
The convention, not with standing, proceeded to
adopt a constitution uuexceptionab e in its general
features, and providing for tho submission of the I
slavery question to a vote of the people, which, in
my opiui u, they were bound to do, under the Kan
sas and Nebraska act. This was the all-important
question whic.i had alone convulsed the Territory-,
and yet the opponents of the lawful government,
persisting in their first error, refrained from exer
cising their right to vote aud preferred that slavery
should continue, rather than surrender the revolu
tionary T< peka organization.
A w ser and better spirit seemed to prevail be
fore the first Monday of January Inst, when an
election was held under the con titution. A major
ity of the people then voted for a governor and
other State officers, for a member of Congress, and
members of the S ate Legislature. This election
w e warmly contested by toe two political parlies
in Kansas, an a greater vote was polled than at
any previous election. A large majority of the
members of the Legislature elect belonged to that
party which had previously refused to vote. The
anti slavery partjr were thus placed in tho ascen
dant, and the poiili al power of the St ite was in
their own hands. Had Congress admitted Kansas
into the Ui ion under the Lecompton constitution,
the Legislature might, at its very first session, have
submitted the question to a vote of the people,
whether they would or would not have a convention
to amend their constitution, either on the slavery or
auy other quea ion, and have adopted all necessary
means for giving speedy effect to the will of the
majority. Thus tho Kan-o s question would have
immediately and finally settled.
Under these circumstances I submitted to Con
gret* the const tution ttus framed, with all the ofli
ceis a ready e.ected necessary to put the btate gov
ernment into operation accompanied by a strong
recommendation in favor of the admission of Kan
sas as a State. In the course of my l ing public life
I nave nev r performed any otfic al act, which, in
t l e retrospect, las afforded me more heartfelt satis
faction. Its admission could have indicted no possible
injury on any human being, whilst it would, wit iu a
brief period, l ave restored peace to Kansas and
harmony to t e Union. In U,at event the slavery
question would ere this have been finally settled,
according to the legally ex* ressed will of a majority
of the voters, and popular sovereignty would thus
have been vindicated in a constitutional manner.
With my deep conviotious of duty, I could have
pursued no ether course. It is true, that, as an in
dividual, I had expressed an opinion, both before
and daring the seesion of the convention, in favor
of submitting the remaining clauses of the constitu
tion, as well as that concerning slavery, to tbepeo
pie. But, acting in an official character, neither
myeelt nor any human authority had the power to
rejudge the proceedings of the convention, aud de
clare the constitution which it had framed to be a
nullity. To have done this would have been a vio
lat on of the Kansas and Nebraska act, which left
the people of the Territory -perfectly free to form
and regulate their domestic institutions in their own
way subject only to the constitution of the United
States.” It would equally have violated the great
principle of popular sover-ignty, at the foundation
of our institutions, to deprive the people of the
power, if they thought proper to exercise it, ofcon
tid ng to delegates elected by themselves, the trust
ot flaming a constitution, without requiring them
to sntjtct their constituents to the trouble, expense
and dei&y of a second election. It would have been
in opposition to many precedents in our history,
commencing in the very beat age of the republic,
of tbe admission of T|)mtonea as States into the
Union, without a previous vote of the people ap
proving their constitution.
It is to be lamented that, a question so insignifi
cant when viewed in its practical effects on the peo
ple of Kansas, whither decided one way or ths
other, should have kindled such a flame of excite
ment through-ut the country. This rifl-otion may
prove to be a lesson of wisdom and of warning for
uur future guidauoe. Praetioally considered, the
question is simply whether the people of that Terri
tory should first come into the Uniop aud then
change any provision in their constitution not
agreeable to themselves, or accomplish the very
same object by remaining out of the Uuicn and
framing another constitution in accordance with
their will. In either case, the result would be pre
cisely the same. The only difference in point of
faot is. that the object would hare been much
soouer attained, and the pacification of Kansas
more speedily effected, had it been admitted as a
State during the last session of Congress.
My recommendation, however, for the immediate
admission of Kansas, failed to meet the approbation
of Congress. They deemed it wiser to adept a dif
ferent measure tor ths settlement of the question.
For my own part, I should have been willing to
yield my assent to a'most any constitutional mea
sure to accomplish this object. I, therefore, cordial
ly acquiesced in what has been called the English
Compromise, and approved the “Act for the admis
sion of the Stale of Kansas into the Union,” upon
the terms therein prescribed.
Under the ordinance which accompanied the Le
compton constitution, the people of Kansas bad
claimed double the quantity of public lands for the
support of common schools, which had ever been
previously granted to any State upon entering tbe
Union; and also the alternate sections of land for
twelve miles on each side of two railroads, proposed
to be constructed from th# northern to the southern
boundary, and from the eastern to the western
boundary of the State. Congress, deeming these
claims unreasonable, provided, by the aot of May I,
1858, to which I have just referred, for the admis
sion of the State on an equal footiog with the origi
nal Sta'es, but “upon the fundamental condition
precedent,” that a majority of the people thereof, at
an election to be held for that purpose, should, in
place of the vary large grants of public lands
vhich they had demanded under the ordinance,
accept such grants as had been m ids to Minnesota
and other new States. Under this act, should a ma
jority reject the proposition offered them, “it shall
be deemed and held that the people of Kansas do
not desire admission into the Union with said con
stitution under tbe conditions set forth in said pro
position.'’ In that event, the act authorizes the
people of the Territory to elect delegates to form a
constitution and State government for themselves,
“whenever, and not before, it is ascertained by a
centus, duly and legally taken, that the population
of said Territory equals or exceeds the ratioof repre
sentation required tor a member of the House of Kep
resentatives of the Congress of United States ” The
delegatee thus assembled “shall drat determine by a
vote whether it is the wish of th# people of the pro
posed State to be admitted into the Union at that
time, and, if so, shall proceed Cos form a constitution
and take all necessary steps for the establishment
of a State Government m conformity with the
federal constitution.” After this constitution shall
have been formed, Cocgrese, carrying oat the prin
ciples of popular sovereignty and non intervention,
have left “ the mode and manner of its approval or
ratification by tbe people of the proposed State'’ to
be “ presented bylaw,’ and they shall then be
admitted into the Union as a State under such con
stitution thus fairly and legally made, with or with
out slavery, as said constitution may prescribe.
An election was heia throughout Kansas, in pur
suance of the provisions of this act, on the second
day of August last and it resulted in the rejection,
by a large majority, of ths proposition submitted to
the people by Congress. This being the oase, they
are now authorised to form another constitution,
preparatory to admission into the Union, but not
unt'l their number, as ascertained by a census, shall
equal or exceed the ratio required to elect a mem
ber of the House of Representatives.
It is not probable, in the present state of the case,
that a third constitution can be lawfully framed ana
presented to Congress by Kansas, before its popula
tion shall have reached the designated number.
Nor is it to be presumed that, after their sad expe
rieuce in resisting the territorial laws, they will at
tempt to adopt a constitution in express violation of
the provision* ot an act of Congress. During lbs
session of 1856 much of the time of Congress was
occupied on me question of admitting Kansas un
der the Topeka constitution. Again, nearly the
whole of the last seesion was devoted to the ques
tion of its admission under the Leccmpton constitu-
tion. Sorely it is not unreasonable to require the
people of Kansas to wait, before making the third
attempt, ontii tbe number of their inhabitants shah
amount to mnety-three thousand four hundred and
twenty. During this brief period the harmony of
tae States, as well as the great business interests of
the oountry, demand that Hie people of the Union
•hall not for a th-rd time be oonvulsed by another
agitation on the Kansas question. By waiting lor
a short time, ana aciing in obedience to law. Kansas
will glide into the Union without the slightest im
pediment.
This excellent provision, which Congress have
applied to K-tnsa*. ought to be extended and ren
dered applicable to ah Territories which may here
arter seek admission into tbe Cnioo-
Wbiint Congress possess the undoubted power of
admitting anew Stale into the Union, however
small may be the number ol its ishabilan's, yet this
: power ought not, in my opinion, to be exercised be
-1 tore the population shall amount to the ratio requi
-1 red by the act lor the admission of Kansas Had
j this been previously the iu!e, the country would
have esca{wd all the evils a> and misfortunes to whioh
1 it has been exposed by the Kansas question.
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 15, 1858.
I Os course, it would be unjust to give this rule a
retrospective application, and exclude a State which
acting upon the past practice of the government,
has already formed its constitution, elected its legis
lature ana other officers, and i* now prepared to
enter the Union.
The rule ought to be adopted, whether we con
sider its bearing on the people of the Territories or
upon the people of the existing States. Many of the
serious dissensions which have prevailed in Con
gress and throughout tue country, would have been
avoided, had this rul- been established at an earlier
period of the government.
Immediately upon the formation of anew Terri
tory, people from different Spates and from foreign
countries rush into it for thejaudabie purpose of im
proving their condition. Their first duty to them
selves is to open and cultivate farms, to construct
roads, to establish schools, to erect places of religious
worship, and to devote their energies generally to
reclaim the wilderness and to lay the foundation of
a flourishing and prosoerous commonwealth. If. in
this incipient condiiion. wiib a population o* a few
thousand, they should prematurely enter the Union,
they are oppressed by the burden of State taxation,
anu the means necessary for the improvement of
the Territory and the advancement of their own
interests, are thus diverted to very different pur
poses
The federal government has ever been a liberal
parent to the Territories, and a generous contribu
tor to the useful enterprise* of the early settlers. It
haa paid the expenses of their government* and le
gislative assemblies out of the common treasury,
and thus relieved them from a heavy charge. Ua-
these circumstances, nothing can be better cal
culated to retard their material progress, than to
divert them from their useful employments, by pre
maturely exciting angry political contest* atnoDg
themselves, for the benefit of aspiring leaders. It
is surely no hardship for embryw governors, sena
tors, and members of Congress, to wait until the
number of inhabitants shall cquil of a single
congressional district. They urely ought Dot to be
permitted to rush into the U lon, with a population
less than one-half of several of the large counties
in the interior of eome of the States. This was the
condition of Kansas when it made application to
be admitted under the Topeka constitution. Be
sides, it requires some time to render the mass of a
population collected in anew Territory, at ail
homogeneous, aud to uuite them on auything like a
fixed policy. Establish the rule, and all will look
forward to it aud govern themselves accordingly.
But justice to the people of the several States re
quires that this rule should be established by Con
gress. Each State is entitled to two Senators and
at least one Representative in Congress Should the
people of the States fail to elect a Vice President,
the power devolves upon the Senate to select thid
officer from the two highest candidates on the list.
Iu case of the death of the President, the Vice Pre
sideut thus elected by the Senate, becomes Presi
dent. of the United States. On all questions of leg
islation, the Senators from the smallest Slates of the
Union have an equal vote with those from the larg
est. The same may be said in regard to the ratifi
cation of trea iee, and of Executive appointments.
All this has worked admirably in practice, whilst it
conforms in principle with the character of a gov
eminent instituted by sovereign States. I presume
no American citizen would desire the slightest
change in the arrangement. Still, it is not unjust
and unequal to the existing State* to invest some
forty or fifty thousand people collected in a Territo
ry with the attributes ot sovereignty, aud place
tiiem on an equal footing with Virginia and New
Yt rk in the Senate of the United States ?
For these reasons, I earnestly recommend the
pasaege of a general act, wh : ch shall provide that
upon t< e application of a territorial legislature, de
claring in r oeiief that the Territory contains a
number of inhabitants which, if in a State, would
euii le tLHin to elect a member of Congress, it shall
be the duty of the President to cause a census of
the inuaoitant* to be taken, and if found sufficient
then tv the terms of this act to authorize them to
proceed ‘fia their own way” to frame a SVe con
stitution prepa/atory to admission into the Union.
I also recommend that an appropriation may be
made to enable the President to tak 3 a census ot the
people of Kansas.
The present condition of the Territory of Utah,
when contrasted with what if was one year ago, i6
subject for congratulation. It was then in a state
of open rebellion, and, cost what it might, the char
actei of me government required, that this rebel
lion should he suppressed aud the Mormons com
pelied to yitld obeu once to the constitution and the
la we. In order to accomplish this object, aa I in
formed you in my la*r ennual message, I appointed
anew governor instead of Br gham Young, and
other federal officers to Uke the place of those who,
consulting their personal safely, ha found it neces
sary to withdraw Iromthe Territory. To protect
these civil officers, and to aid them, as a posse coini
talus in the execution of the laws in case of need,
I ordered a detachment of the army to accompany
them to Utah. The necessity for adopting these
measures is now demonstrated.
On the 15:h of September, 1857, Governor Young
issued his proclamation, in the style of an indepen
dent sovereign, announcing his purpose to resist by
force of arms the outry of the United States troops
iutoour own territory of Utah. By this he requir
ed all the forces in the Territory, to “hold them
selves in readiness to march at a moment’s notice
to repel any and all euch invasion,” and established
martial law from it* date throughout the territory.
These proved to be no idle threats. Forts Bridger
aud Supply were vacated and burnt down by the 1
Mormons, to deprive our troops of a shelter after
their iongand fatiguing march. Orders were issued
by Daniel H. Wells, styling himself “Lietenant
General, Nauvoo Legion,’’ to stampede the animals
of the United States troops on their march, to
set fire to their trains, to burn the grass aud the
whole country before them and on their flanks, to
keep them from sleeping by night surprises, Bnd to
blockade the road by felling trees, and destroying
the fords of rivers, &o , &c., &e.
Those orders were promptly and effectually
obeyed. On the 4th October, 1857, the Mormons
captured and burned on Green River, three of our
supply trains, consisting of seventy-five wagons
loaded with provisions and tents for the army, and
carried away several hundred animals. Tuis di
minished the supply of provisions so materially
that General Johnston was obliged to reduce the
ration, and even with this precaution, there was
only sufficient left to subsist the troops uutii the
first of June.
Our little army behaved admirably in their en
campment at Fort Bridgcr, under thea-i trying pri
vatiuns. Iu the midst of the mountains, in a dreary,
unsettled, and inhospitable reg.on, more than a
thousand miles from home, they passed the severe
and inclement winter without a murmur. They
looked forward with confidence for relief from their
country iu due season and in this they were not
disappointed.
The Secretary of War employed all hie energies
to forward them the necessary eupp'ies, and to mus
ter and send such amiiitary force to Utah as wonld
render resistance on the part ot the Mormonß hope
less, aud thus terminate the war without the effu
sion of blood In his effort he was efficiently sus
tained by Congress. They granted appropriations
sufficient to cover the deficiency thus necessarily
created, and also providing forraiding two regiments
of volunteers, -for the purpose of quelling dietur
bauces in the Territory of Utah, for the protection
of supply and emigrant trams, and the suppression
of Indian hostilities on the frontiers.'’ Happily,
there was no occanon to call thef v regimen s into
servioe. If there had bsen, I should nave felt seri
ous embarrassmeut in selecting them, so great was
the number of our bruve and patriotin citizens anx
ious to serve their country iu ibis distant and appa
rently dangerous expedition. ThU6 it has ever
been, and thus may it ever be 1
The wisdom aud economy of sending sufficient
reii.fjreemeiith to Utah are established not only by
the event, but iu the opinion es those who, from
their position and opportunities, are tbe most eape
ble of forming a correct judgment. Gen. Johnston,
the commander of the forces, in addressing the Se
cretary of War from- Fort Bridger, under date of
Oct 18,1857, expresses the opinion that “unless a
large force is sent here, from the nature of the coun
try, a protracted war on their (the Mormons) part
is inevitable ” This he considered necessary, to
terminate the war “speedily and more economi
cally than if attempted by insufficient means.”
In the mean time, it was my anxious desire that
the Mormons should yield obedience to the consti
tution and the laws, without rendering it necessary
to resort to military force. To aid in accomplish
ing this object, I deemed it advisable in April last,
to despatch two dietingui bed citizens of the United
Slates, Messrs. Powell and MoCullooh, to Utah. —
They b’ re with them a proclamation addressed by
myself to the inhabitants of Utah, dated on the
sixth of that month, warning them of their true
condition, and how hopeless it was on their part to
persist in rebellion against the United States, and
offering all those who should suomit to the laws a
fall pardon for their past seditions and treasons
At the same time, I assured those who should per
sist in rebellion agaiuat the Uuited States, that they
must expect no further lenity, but look to be rigo
rously d-olt with according to their deserts. The
instructions to these agents, as well as the copy of
the prec!*® uion, and their reports are herewith
submitted. It will be seen by their report of the
3d ot Jay last, that they have fully confirmed the
opinion exp. essed by Gen. Johnston in the previ
ous Oc f ober, ae to the necessity of sending reinforce
ments to Utah. In this they state that they “are
firmly impressed with the belief that the presence
of ftie at my here and the large additional force that
had been ordered to this Territory, were the chief
inducements that caused the Mormons to abandon
the idea of resisting the authority of the United
Stales. A less decisive policy would probably have
resulted in a long, bloody and expensive war.”
These gentlemen conducted themselves to my
eulire satisfaction, and rendered useful services
in executing the humane inventions of the govern
ment.
It also r.fl .rds me great satisfaction to state, that
Gov. Camming has performed his duty in an able
and conciliatory manner, and with the happiest ef
fect. I cannot, in ‘his connection, refrain from
mentioning the valuable serv'cea of Col. Thoa. L.
Kane, who, from motives of pure benevolence, and
without any official character or pecuniary com
pensation, visited UaL during the last inclement
winter or tbe purpose of ooutrionting to the pacifi
cation of the territory.
I am happy to inform yon that the governor and
other civil officers of Utah, are now performing
their appropriate functions without resistance. The
authority of the constitution add the laws has
been fully restored, and peace prevails throughout
the territory.
A portion of the troops sent to Utah, are now en
camped in Cedar valley, 44 miles southwest of Salt
Lake City ; and the remainder have been ordered
to Oregon to suppress Indian hostilities.
The march of the army to Salt Lake City, through
the Indian Territory, has had a powerful effect in
restraining the hostile feelings against the U. States
which existed among the Indians in that region,
and in securing emigrants to the Far West against
their depredations. This will also be the means of
estabiisf ing military posts and promoting settle
ments alobg the route.
I recommend that the benefit* of our land laws
and pre-emption system be extended to the people
of Utah, by tbe establishment of a land office in that
Territory.
I have cecasion.also, to ongratulate you on the
result of our negotiation with China.
Yon were informed Cy my last annual massage,
that our minister had been instructed to occupy a
neutral poritron in the hostilities conducted by
Great Britain and France against Canton. He
was however, atthe same time, directed to co
operate cordially with|the British and Frencb minis
sters. in aii peaceful measures to secure by treaty
those lost concessions to foreign commerce, which
the nations of the world had a right to demand. It
was impossible for me to proceed further than this,
on my own authority, without usurping the war
making power, which, under the constitution, be
longs exclusively to Congress.
Besides, alter a careful examination of the nature
and extent of our grievances, I did not believe they
were of each a pressing and aggravated character,
as would nave justified C.-ngress in declaring war
against the Chinese tmptre, without first making
another earnest attempt to adjust tnem by peaceful
negotiation. I was the more inclined to this opi
nion, because of the severe chastisement which had
theD but recently been indicted upon the Chinese
by our squadron, in the capture and destruction of
tne Barrier for us, to avenge an alleged insult to
our flag.
Tbe event has proved the wisdom of our neutra
lity. Our minister has executed his instructions,
with eminent ski l l and ability. In conjuction with
the Russian plenipotentiary, he has peacefully, but
effectually, cooperated with the English and French
plempoteniianee ; and each of the four powers has
concluded a sepera'e trea’v with China, of a highly
saasfactorv character. The treat/ cacciuded by
our own plenipotentiary, will immediately be sub
mitted to the Senate
lam happy to annrtmc-. that through the ener
getic yet conciliatory efforts of our oonsul genera,
in Japan, anew treaty has been concluded with
that empire, whieh may be expected materially to
augment our trade and intercourse in that quarter,
and remove from our countrymen the disabilities
which have heretofore been imposed upon the exer
cise of their religion. The treaty shall besubmitted
to the Senate for approval without delay.
It ia my earneet desire that every misunderstand
ing with the government of Great Britain, should
be amicably and speedily adjusted. It has been the
misfortune of both countries, aimost ever since the
period ot tue revolution to have been annoyed by a
succession of irritating and dangerous questions,
threatening their friendly relations. This nas par
Daily prevented the full development of those feel
ings oi mutual friendship between ihe people of the
two countries, so natural in themeelves and condu
cive to their common interest. Any serious inter
ruption of tue commerce between the United States
and Great B itain, wouid be equally injurious to
both. Iu fact, no two nations have ever existed on
the (rc j o’ the earth, which could do each other so
much good or so much harm.
Enter .aining tfatee sentiments, I am gratified to
inform you, that tlierioDg pending controvercy be
tween Tec two governments in relation to the ques
tion or visitation and search, has been amicably ad
jus:ed T.*e claim on the part of Great Britain,
:o rcioly visit American vessels on the high eeas
in time ( f could not be sustained under the
law of nations, and it had been overruled by her
own most eminent jurists. This question was re
cently biought to au issue, by the repeated acts of
British oruioerd, iu boarding and searching our mer
chant vecSeio n the Gulf of Mexico and the adja
cent Seui These acts were the more injurious aud
aunoyiug. as these waters are traversed by a large
portion of tho commerce aud navigation of the Uni
ted Sta’es, au ; their free and unrestricted use is es
sential to the security of the coastwise trade be
tween differentiate.fr3* of the Union. Such vexatious
interruptions could not faii to excite the feelings of
the country, and to require the interposition of the
government. Remonstrances were addressed to the
British government against these violations of our
rights of eoveroeignty, and a naval f orce was at the
same time ordered to tbo Cubah water-, with direc
tions “ to proiect ail veseels of the United States
on the high seas, from search or detention by the
vessels ot war of any other nation.’ These mea
sures received the unqualified and even enthusiastic
approbation of the American people. Most fortu
nately, however, no collision took place, and the
British government promptly avowed its recogni
liou of the priuc.ples ot international law upon tide
subject, as laid down by tho government of the
United Srates, in the note of the Secretary of State
to the British minister at Washington, of April 10,
1858, which secure the vessels of the United States
upon the high seas from visitation or search in time
of peace, under any circumstances whatever. Tne
ciaim has been abandoned in a manner reflecting
honor on the B it.ish government, and evincing a
just regard for the law of nations, and cannot fail to
btrengthen the amicable relations between the two
Countries.
The British government, at the same time, pro
posed to the United States that eome mode should
be adopted, by a nu ual arrangement between the
two countries, of a character which may be found
effective without being offensive, for verifying the
nationality of vessels suspected of good grounds of
carrying of false colors. They have al j o invited the
United States to take the initiative, and propose
measures for this purpose. Whilst declining to as
sume so grave a reeporisiblity, the Secretary of
State has informed the British government that we
are ready to reosive any proposals which they may
feel disposed 1 1 offer, having thn object in view,
and to consider them iu an amicable spirit. A strong
opinion is, however, expressed, that the occasional
abuse of the flag of any nation, is an evil far lees to
be depreca ed tnaa would be the establishment of
any regulations which might be incompatible with
tae freedom of the seas. Tnis government has yet
received no communication, specifying the manner
in which the British government would propose to
carry out their suggestion; and I am inclined to
believe that no plan which can be devised, will be
free from grave embarrassments. Still, I shall form
no decided opinion on the subject, until I shall have
carefully, and in the best spint, examined any pro
posals which they may think nroper to make.
I am truly sorry I cannot also inform you that the
complications between Great Britain and the Uni
ted States, arising out of the Clayton aud Bulwer
treaty of April, 1850, have been finally adjusted.
At the commencement of your last session, J had
reason to hope that, emancipating themselves from
turther unavailing discussions, the two governments
wouid proceed toseitie Central American questions
iu a praot cal manner, alike honorable andsatistac
tory to both; and this hope I have not yet aban
doned. In my last annual message, I stated that
overtures had bear, made by the British government
for this purpose, in a friendly spirit, which I cordial
ly reciprocated. Their proposal was, to withdraw
these questions from direct negotiation between the
two govern men*;* ; but to accomplish the same ob
ject, by uegoiieiUorj betweeu the British govern
ment and each of the Central American republics,
whose territorial interests are immediately involv
ed. The settlement was to be made in accordance
with the general, tenor of the interpre’ation placed
upon the Clayton and Bulwer treaty by the United
States, with csitain modifications. As negotia’ions
are still pending upon this basis, it wouid m t be
proper for me now to communicate tlieir present
condition. A final settlement of these questions is
greaily to be desired, as this would wipe out the last
remaining subject of dispute between the two coun
tries.
Onv relations with the great empires of France
and Russia, as well as with all other governments on
the continent of Europe, except that of Spain con
tinue to be of tbe in mt friendly character.
With Spain our relations remain in an unsatisfac
tory condition. Iu my message of December l&^t,
I informed you that our envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary to Madrid had asked for
his recall; and it was my purpose to send out a now
minister to that court, with special instructions on
all questions pending betweeu the two govern
ments, and with a determination to have them
speedily and amicably adjusted, if that were possi
ble. This purpose has been hitherto defeated by
causes which I need not enumerate.
The mission to Spain has been entrusted to & dis
tinguished citizen of Kentucky, who will proceed
to Madrid without delay, and make another and a
final attempt to obtain juctice from that govern
ment.
Spanish officials, under the direct control of the
captain-general of Cuba, have insulted our national
flag, and, in repeated instances, have from time to
time it dieted injuries on tbe persons and properly
of our ci: izens. These have given birth to nume
rous claims against the Spanish government, the
merits of which have been ably discussed tor a se
ries of years, by our successive diplomatic represen
tatives. N twitbstauctiug this, we have not arrived
at a practical result in any single instance, unless
we inuy except the case of theß'ack Warrior under
the late cviministration ; and that presented an out- j
rage of feUoU a character aa would have justified an ‘
immediate resort to war. All our attempts to ob- j
tain redre-jb Lave been bafflid and defeated. The ;
frequent and oft-recurring charges in the Spanish
ministry have been employed as reasons for delay.
We nave Been compelled to wait, again again,
until the new minister shall have had time to inves
tigate the justice of c ur demands.
Even wnai have been denominated “the Cuban
claims,” in which more than a hundred of our citi
zens are directly interested, have furnished no ex
ception. These claims were for the retunding of
duties urjastly exacted from American vessels at
differt-nt uus r om houses in Cuba, so long ago as the
year 1844. The princ pies upon which they rest are
so manifestly equitable aud just, that after a period
of nearly ten years, in 1854, they were recognized
by the Spanish government. Proceedings were
afterwards instituted to ascertain their amount, and
this was finally fixed according to their own state
ment (with which we were satisfied) at the sum of
one hundred and twenty-eight thousand six hundred
and tbirty-five doliars and fifty-four cents. Just at
the moment, after a delay of fourteen years, when
we had reason to expect that this sum would be re
paid with iuterest, we have received a proposal of
fering to refund one third of that amount, (forty
two thousand eight hundred and seventy eight dol
lars aud lorty-one cent*.) but without interest,’ if
we would aocept this in full satisfaction. The offer
is, also, accompanied by a declaration that this in
demnification is not founded on auy reason of striot
a stice, but is made aa a special favor.
One alleged cause for procrastination in the ex
amination and ad justment of unr claime, an es from
an obstacle which it is the duty of the Spanish go
vernment to remove. Whilst the captain-general of
Cuba is iuvested with general despotio authority in
the government of that island, the power ia with
held from him to examine and redress wrongs com
mitted by officials under his control, on citizens of
the United Slates. Instead of making our com
plaints directly to him at Havana, w*e are obliged to
piesent them through our minister at Madrid.
These are then referred back to the captain-general
fur information ; and much time is consumed in
preliminary investigations and correspondence be
tweeu Madrid and Cuba, before the Spanish gov
ernment will consent to proceed to negotiation.—
Many of the difficulties betweenr the two govern
ment* would be obviated, and a lofcg train of nego
tiation avoided, if the captain general were invest
ed with authority to settle questions of easy solution
on the spot, where all the facts are fresh, and could
be promptly and satisfactorily ascertained. We
have hitherto in vain urged upon the Spanish gov
ernment to confer this power upon the captain
general, and our minister to Spain will again be in
structed to urge this subject upon their notice. In
this respect we occupy a different position from the
powers of Europe. Cuba is almost within sight of
our shores ; our commerce with it ia far greater
than that of any other nation, includingspaiu itself,
and our citizens are in habits of daily and extended
personal intercourse with every part of the island. —
It is, therefore, a great grievance that, when any
difficulty occurs, no matter how unimportant, which
might be readily settled at the moment, we should
be obliged to resort to Madrid, especially when the
very tiret step to be taken there is to refer it back to
Cuba.
The truth is, that Cuba, in its existing colonial
condition, is a constant source of injury and annoy
anqe to the American people. It is the only spo.
in the civilized world where the African slave trade
is tolerated; and we are bound by treaty with
Grert Britain to maintain a naval f iree on the
coast of Aft ‘.id, a- much expense both of life and
treasure, solely ...r * pose of arresting slavers
bound to that isioii’ . i’ue late serious difficulties
between the United States and Great Britain re
specting the right of search, now so happily termi
nated, could never have arisen if Cuba had not af
forded a market for slaves. As long as this market
shall remain open, there can be hope for toe civili
zation of benighted Africa. Whilst the demand for
slaves continues in Cuba, wars will be waged among
the petty and barbarous chiefs in Africa, tor the pur
pose of se ; z eg subjects to supply this trade. In
such a condition ol affaire, it is impossible that tbe
light of civilization and religion can eves penetrate
these dar k abodes.
It has been made known to tbe world by my pre;
decesaors, that the Uuited States have, on several
occasions, endeavored to acquire Cuba from Spam
by honorable negotiation. It this were accomplish
ed, the lasi relic of tbe At'rffiau slave trade wou.d
instantly disappear. We would not, if wecomd, •
acquire Cuba in any other manner. This is due to
our national character. All the territory which we
have acquired since she origin of the government,
bas been by fair purchase from France, P al ° *? a
Mexico, or by the free and vojunrary act of the in
dependent State of Texas, in blending her destime.
with our own. This course, we snail ever
unless circumstanoes should oecur, which we do nor
now anticipate, rendering a departure
lyjuotitiabie, under tie imperative and overruling
law of self-preservation. • ■
Tee Diana of Cuba, from itsi e<®E. ra Pk P®“,
tiou commanas the meflth of tne Mi.-siseippL
the immense and annually iucreas.ng trade, .o.eign
“o from tbe valley of .that£oble ***
r.nw embracing half of the sovereign States ot the
Un on With that Diana under the dominion of a
foreign power, this trade, of vital importance
h ,.£ B is exposed to the danger of being
deeri“y=*i in time of war, and it h hitbert, been
to perpetual injury and annoyance m
“"I nf 6m-relatione with tspam. which
“” p t oCof the most friendly character,_ must al
ways bo piared in jeopardy, wrnist the existing co
toffial government ever the Isiand shall remain.®
Ml, t j*. possession of the I ‘land would be of
vas* kmoortanoe to the United States, its rs t e to
Soain if comparatively, unimportant. Su h was
the relative situation ol the parties, wfcen'the great
Napoieon tr jisrerre’d Louisiana to the Uuited States,
as be ever was, of tbe national honor and
uitere-'U of France, no person throughout the world,
tas imputed blame to him, for accepting a pecunia
ry equivalent for tipis cession.
J Tbe publicity which has been given to our former
negotiations up. n this subject, and the large appro
priation which may he required to effect the purpose
repder it expedient, before making another attempt
to renew tne negotiation, that I should lay the whole
subject before Congress. This is eepec ally neces
sary, as it may become indispensable to success,
that I should be intrusted with the means of ma-
king an advance to the Spanish government imme
diately after the signing of the treaty, without
awafting the ratification of it by the Senate. lam
encouraged to make this suggestion, by the exam
pie of Mr. Jefferson previous to the purchase of
Louisiana from France, and by tbat of Mr. Polk in
view of tbe acquisition of territory from Mexico. I
refer the whole subject to Congress, and oouimeud
it to their careful con^deiariou.
I repeat the recommendation made in my me*
sage of December lasr, in favor of au appropriation
“to be paid to tbe Spanish government for the pur
pose of distribution among the claimants in the
Ar mated case.” President Polk first made a simi
lar recoramendari n in December, 1847, and it was
repented by my immediate predecessor in Decem
ber, 1853. I entertain no doubt that indemnity is
fairly due to thess claimants under cur treaty with
Spain of the‘27th October, 1795 ; and w’hilst de
ir.andtngjustice we ought to do justice. An appro
priation promptly made for this purpose, couid not
fail to exert a favorable influence on our negoiia
tions with SpaiD.
Our position in relation to the independent States
e utb of us on tbi! continent, aud especially those
w ithin the limits of North America, is of a peculiar
character. The northern boundaries of Mexico is
coincident with our own southern boundary from
ocean to ocean ; and we must necessarily feel a
deep interest in all that concerns tbe well-being and
the fate ofsoneara neighbor. We have always
cnerietied the kindest wishes for the success of that
republic, and Cave indulged the hope that it mignt
at last, after all its trials, enjoy peace and prosperi
ty under a free aud stable government. We have
never hitherto interfered,directly or indirectly, with
its internal affairs, ano it is a duty which we owe to
ourselves, to protect the integrity of its territory,
against the hostile interference of any other power.
Our geographical position, our direct iuterest iu all
that concerns Mexico, and our well settled p iicy iu
regard to tbe North American continent, render this
an indispensable duty.
Mexico ha* been in a state of constant revolution,
almost ever since it achieved its independence.—
O.ie military leader after another has usurped the
government in rapid succession ; and the various
constitutions from lime to time adopted, have been
set at naught almost aa soon as tbev were proclaim
ed. The successive governments have afforded no
adequate protection, either to Mexican citizens or
foreign residents, against lawless violence. Here
tofore, a seizure < f the capital by a military chief
tain, has been generally followed by at least the
nominal submission of the country to h's rule for a
brief period, but not so at the present crisis of Mexi
can affairs. A civil war has besn raging for eome
time throughout the republic, betweeu the central
government at the city of Mexico, whioh has en
deavored to subvert thenona'itutiou last framed, by
miiita r y power, aud those who maintain the autho
rity of that couatitu'ion. The antagonist parties
each hold possession of different States of the re
public, and the fortunes of the war are constantly
changing. Meanwhile, the most repreheLsible
means have been employed by both parties to
extort money from foreigners, as well as natives,
to carry on this ruinous contest. The truth is, that
this tine country, bletsed with a productive so 1 and
a benign climate, haa been reduced by civil dissen
sion to a condition of almost hopeless anarchy and
imbecility. It would bo vain lor this government
to attempt to enforce payment in money of the
claims ot American citizens, now amounting t:>
more than ten million dollars, against Mexico, be
cause she is destitute of all pecuniary means to satis
ty these demands.
Our late minister was furnished with ample pow
em and instructions tor the adjustment of ail pend
ing questions with the central guvemnent of Mexi
co, and he performed nis duty with zeal and ability.
The claims of our citizens, some of them arising out
of the violation of sm express provision of the trea
ty of Guadalupe Hida go, aud others from gross in
juries to personsas well as property, have remained
unredresaed and even unnotioed. Kemonstauees
against these grievances have beep addressed with
out efleet to tnat g ivernment. Meantime, in vari
ous parts of the republic, instauces have been nu
merous of the mmder, imprisonment, and piundei
of our citizens, by different parties claiming and
exercising a local j urisdiotiou; but the centra
government, although repeatedly urged the.em
have made no effort either to punish the authors ol
these outrages or to prevent their recurrence. K
American citizen can now visit Mexico on lav.fii
business, without imrnmet danger to his person and
property. There is uo adt qua-e protection to eith
er 1 and in this respect our treaty with that republic
is almost a dead letter.
This sta'e of affairs was brought to a crisis in
May last, by the promulgation of a decree levying a
contribution pro rata upon all the capital in the re
public, between certain specified amounts, whether
held by Mexicans or foreigners Mr Forsyth, re
garding this decree in the light, of a “forced loan,”
tormaliy protested against its application to his
countrymen, and advised them not to pay the eon
tribu ion, but to suffer it to be forcibly exacted.
Acting upon this advice, an American citizen re
(used to pay the contribution, and his property was
eeized by ai med men to satiaiy the amount. Not
content with this, the government proceeded still
further, aud issued a decree banishing him from the
country. Our miui-ter immsdia ely notified them
that if this decree should be carried into execution
be would feel it to be his duty to adopt “the most
decided measures that belong to the powers and ob
ligations of the representative office.” Notwith
standing this warning, the bauishmeut was enforced
and Mr. Forsyth promptly announced to thegovern
ment the euspension of the political relations of his
legation with them, until the pleasure of hu own
government should be ascertained.
This government did not regard the contribution
imposed by the decree of the 15th May la9t to be in
strictness a “forced loan,” and as such prohibited
by the 10th article of the treaty of 1826 between
Great Britain and Mexico, to the benefits of which
American citizens ate entitled by treaty; yet the
imposition of the contribution upon foreigners was
considered an unjust, and oppressive measure Be
sides, internal factions in other parls of the republic
were at the same time levying similar exactions
upon the property of Our citizens, and interrupting
their commeice. Thtrehad been an entire failure
on the part of our minister, to secure redress for
the wrongs which our citizens had endured, not
withstanding his persevering effoi ts. And horn tne
temper manifested by the Mexican government, he
had repeatedly assured us that no favorable change
could be expected untilthe United States should
“give striking evidence of their will aud power to
protect their citizens,” and that “severe chastening
is the only earthly remedy for our grievances.”
From this statement offacts.it would have been
worse than idle to direct Mr. Forsyth to retrace bis
steps and resume diplomatic relations with that
government; and it was, therefore, deemed proper
to sanction his withdrawal of the legation from the
city of Mexico.
Abundant cause now undoubtedly exists, for a
resort to hostilities against, the government still
holuiug possession of the capital. Should they suc
ceed in subduing the constitutional forces, all rea
sonable hope will then have expired of a peaceful
settlement of our difficulties.
Ou the otherhand, Bhonld the constitutional par
ty prevail, and their authority be established over
the republ’o, there is reason to hope that they will
be auima’ed by a leas unfriendly spirit, aud may
grant that redress to Amirican citizens which jus
tice requires, so far as they possess the means. But
for this expectation, I slum and at once have recom
mended to Congress to grant the neees ’ary cower
to the President, to take possession of a sufficient
portion of the remote and unsettled territory of
Mexico, to be held in pledge until our injuries shall
be redressed, and our just demanas be satisfied.
VVe have already exhausted every milder meaus of
obtaining justice. Id such a case, this remedy of
reprisals is recognised by the law of nations, not
only as just in itself, but as a means of preventing
actual war.
But there is another view of our relations with
Mexico, arising from the unhappy condition of af
fairs along our Southwestern frontier, which de
mands immediate action. In that remote region,
where there are but few white inhabitants, large
bands of hostile and predatory Indians roam pro
miscuously over the Mexican States of Chihuahua
and Sonora, and our adjoining Territories The lo
cal governments of these States are periec.tly help
less, and are kept in a state of constant alarm by
the Indians. They have not the power, if they pos
sessed the will, even to restrain lawl-es Mexicans
from passing the border, and committing depreda
tions on our remote settlers. A state of anarchy
and violence prevails throughout that distant fron
tier. The laws are a dead leiter, and life and pro
perty are wholly insecure. For tire reason the set
tlement of Arizona is arrested, whi st it is < f great
importance that a chain of inhabitants should ex
tend all along its southern border, sufficient.fur their
own protection and that of the United States mail,
passing to and from California. Well founded ap
prehensions are now entertained, that the Indians
and wandering Mexicans, equally lawless, may
break up the important stage aud postal communi
cation, recently established between our Atlantic
and Pacific possessions. This passes very near to
the Mexican boundary, throughout the whole length
of Arizona. I can imagine no possible remedy for
these evils, and no mode of restoring law and order
on that remote and unsettled frontier, but for the
government of the United States.to assume a tern
porary protec orate over the northern portions if
Cnibuabua and Sonora, and to establish mil.tary
posts within the same —and this I earnestly recoin -
mend to Congress. ThU protection may be witu
drawn, as soon as local governments (shah be estab
lished in these Mexican States, of perform
ing their duties to the United S'ates, restraint! g
the lawless and preserving peace along the borr.tr
I do not doubt that this measure will be viewed
in a fendiy spirit by the governments and people
of Chihuahua and Sonora, as it wiil prove equally
effectual for the protection of their citixens on that
remote and lawless frontier, as for citizens of the
United States.
And in this connection, permit me to re call your
attention to the condition of Arizona. The popula
tion of that Teiritory, numbering, as is alleged,
more than ten thousand souls, are practically with
out a government, without laws, and without any
regular administration of justice. Murder and otter
crimes are committed wi h impunity. This state of
things calls loudly tor redrees; and I, therefore, re- |
peat my recommendation for the establishment of a i
territorial government over Arixoua.
Tne political condition of the narrow isthmus of
Central America, through which transit routes pass,
between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, presents a
subject of deep interest to all commercial nations.—
It is over these transits that a large proportion of
the trade and travel between the European and
Asiatic continents, is deetinec to pass. To the Uni
ted States these routes are of incalculable impor
tance, as a means of c immnnication between their
Atlantic and Pacino possessions. Tre latter Dow
extend throughout seventeen degrees of latitude cn
the Pacific ooast, embracing the important State of
California, and the flourishing Territories of Oregon
and Washington. All commercial nations, there
fore, have a deep and direct interest that these com
munications snail be rendered secure from inter
ruption. If an arm of the eea, connecting the two
oceans, penetrated through Nicaragca and Coeta
Eica, it could not be pretended that these States
would have the right to arreet or retard its naviga
tion, to the injury of other natious. The transit by
land over this Harrow isthmus, occupies nearly the
same poeition It is a highway in which they tiiem-
Belves have little l iterest, when compared wit i t'.e
vast interests of the rest of the world. Whilst the,r
rights of sovereignty ought to be respected, it is t e
duty of other nations to require, that this important
passage shall not be inerrupted, by the civil ware
and revolutionary outbreaks, which have so fre
querdly occurred in ‘.bat region. The stske is ’co
important, to be left at the mercy of rival compa
nies, claiming to bold conflicting contracts with Ni
caragua. Tne commerce ot other nations is not to
stand still and await the adjustment of such petty
controversies. The government ol the United States
expect no more than th, and they will not be satis
fied with less. They wonld not, if they could, de
rive any advantage frem tne K caragua transit, not
common to tne r,st of the worid Its neutrality and
protection, for t.,e common use of all nations, is
their only object. They have no objection that Ni
caragua snail demand and receive a fair compensa
tion, irom the companies and individuals who mey
traverse the route ; but they insist that it shall never
berhafter be doeed, by an arbitrary decree of tnat
government. If disputes arise between it and thoee
with wnom they may have entered into contracts,
these must be aujosied by some fair tribunal pro
vided for the pnrpoee, and the route must not be
doeed pending the controversy. This is our whole
policy, and it cannot fail to be acceptable to other
natious.
All these difficulties might be avoided, if. consis
tently witn the good faith of Nicaragua, the use of
this transit could be thrown open to general compe
tition ; providing at the same time for the payment
of a reaeonab e rale to the N.caraguan government
on passengers and freight.
In August 1852, the Accessory Transit Company
made its first inter oceanic trip over h e Nicaragu
an route, and continued in successful operation,
with great advantage to the public, until the 18th
February, lo*6, when it was closed, and the grant
to this company, as well as its charter, were earn
m*™y And arbitrarily revoked bv the government
•° lvaß ’ . >rev * oUß 10 this date, however,
1! f u- ’ a<?r * oua disputes concerning the settlement
of their aocounts had arisen between the company
and the government, threatening the interruption ot
the route at auy moment. These the United Staten
iu vain endeavored to compose. It would be use
less to narrate the various proceedings which took
place between the parties, uo till the time when the
transit was disoontinod. Suffice it to say that, since
February, 1856, it has remained closed, greatly to
the prejudice ot citizens of the United S'ates.—
Bincw that lime the competition has ceased between
the rival routes of Panama and Nicaragua, and. in
cousequence thereof, an unjust on i unreasonab'e
amount has been exacted from our citizens for tlieir
passage to ana from California.
A treaty wan signed on the 16‘h day of Novem
b®r * I^' , 7, bv the Secretary of State and Minister
of Nicaragua, uu'der tbe stipulations of which the
use and protections of the transit route would have
been Becured, not only to ths United States but
cqna ly to all other nations. Ilow and ou what
pretexu this treaty haa failed to receive the ratifi
cation of the Ntoaraguan government, will appear
by the papers herewith communicated from tne
State Department. Ihe principal objection ecema
to have been, (o the piovieion authorizing the Uni
ted States to employ toroe to keep the route open,
in case Nicaragua should fail ao perform her duty in
Uiie respect. From the feebleueae of that republio,
ita frequent changee of government, and ite con
stant internal this had become a moat
important stipulation, and one essentially n-eessary
not only for tbe security of the route, but for the
Fafety of Americau citizens passing and repaasiog
to aud from our Pa tfic possessions. Were such a
stipulation embraced in a treaty between the Uni
ted States and Nicaragua, the knowledge of this
tact would of itseit most pronably prevent hostile
parties from committing aggressions on the route,
aud render our actual interference lor its protection
unnecessary.
The executive Rovernmeut of this country, in its
intercourse with toreign nations, is limited to the
employment of diplomacy alone When this fails,
it can proceed no further. It cannot legitimately
resort to 1. roe, without the direct authority of Cou-
Kress, except in resisting and repelling hostile at
tacks. It would have no authority to enter the ter
ritories of Nicaragua, even to prevent the destruc
tion of the transit, and proteot the lives and proper
ty of our own citizens on their passage. It is true,
that on a sudden emergency of this character, the
President would direct any armed force in the vici
nity to march to their relief; but in doing this, he
would act upon his own responsibility.
Under these circumstances, 1 earnestly reoom
meud to Congress the passage of an act authorizing
the President, under suoh restrictions as they may
deem proper, to employ the land and naval torces
of the United Statee in preventing the transit from
being obstructed or olosed by lawless violence, and
in protecting the Jives and properly of American
citizsns travelling thereupon, requiring at the same
lime that these foroes shad be withdrawn the mo
ment the danger sha! l have passed away. Without
euch a provision, our citizens will be constantly ex
posed to interruption in their progress, and to law
less violence.
A similar necessity exists for the passage of such
au act, for the protection of the Panama and Tehu
antepec routes.
Iu reference to the Panama route, the U. States,
by their existing treaty with New Grenada, ex
nressly guarantee the neutrality of the Isthmus,
‘ with the view tbat the free transit from the one to
the other sea may not be interrupted or embar
rassed in any future time, wh let this treaty exists.”
Iu regard to the Tehuantepec route, which has
been recently opened under the most favorable aus
pic s, our treaty with Mexico of the 3Uth Dec., 1853
secures to the citizens of the United States a right
oi transit over it tor their persons and merchandise,
and stipulates that neither government shall ‘‘in
teipose at y obsisds” thereto. It also concedes to
the Untied Slates the “right to transport across the
isthmus, iu Closed bags, the mails of the United
S ates, not intended for distribution along the !me
of tbe communication; also, the effects of the
Uni'ed S ates government and its citizens, which
m..y be intended for transit, and not for distribution
cti ihe I'-tit iiots, free of custom house or othor
ebsi ges ot the Mexican government.’’
Tii .su itcaiy stipulations with New Grenada and
Jlc.v o in auui u ito the considerations applica
b'c to .e Nicaragua route, seem to require legisia
''o o-ti e pur, oe of carrying them into effect.
T e iujar.es which have been inflicted upon our
etttz ns tr. Uos’.a Rica and Nicaragua, during the
last two or three years, have reoeived the prompt
attention of this government. Some of these inju
tree were of the most aggravated character. The
transaction at Virgin Bay, iu April, 1856, when a
company of unarmed Americans, who were ia no
way connected with any beligerent conduct or pat -
ty, were tired upon by tbe troops of Costa Bica, and
numbers of them killed and wounded, was brought
to the knowledge of Congress by tny predecessor
soon after its occurrence, and was also presented to
the government of Costa Rica for that immediate
investigation and redress which the nature of the
case demanded. A similar course was pursued
with reference to ether outrages in these countries,
some of which were hardly lees aggravated in their
character than the transaction at Virgin Bay. At
the time, however, when our present minister to
Nicaragua was appointed, in December, 1857, no
redress bad been obtained for any of these wrongs,
and no reply even had been reoeived tothede
mantis which had been made by this government
upon that of Coeta Rioa more than a year before.
Our minister was instructed, therefore, to lose no
time in expressing to those governments the deep
regret with which the President had witnessed this
ioatlention to the just claims of the United States,
and in demanding their prompt, and satisfactory ad
justment. Unless this demand shall be satisfactorily
complied with at an early day, it will only remain
for this government, to adopt snob meamres as may
be necessary , in order to obtain for itself that justice
wuioh it has in vain attempted toseoure by peaceful
means, from the governments of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica. While it haa shown, and will continue
to show, the most sincere regard for the rights and
honor of these republics, it cannot permit this re
gard to bo met by an utter neglect, on their
part, of what is due to the government and citizens
of the United States.
Against New Granada we have long-standing
causes of complaint, arising out of the unsatisfied
claims of our citizsus upon that republio; and to
these have been more recently added the outrages
committed upon cur citizens at Panama in April,
1856. A treaty for the adjustment of these difficul
ties was concluded by tbe Secretary of State and
tie minieter of New Granada, iu September, 1857,
which contained just and acceptable provisions for
that purpose This treaty was transmitted to
Bogota, and was ratified by the Government of New
Granada, but with ctr aiu amendments. It was
not, however, returned to this city until after the
dose of the laet seseion of the Senate. It will be
immediately transmitted to that body for their ad
vice and consent; and should this be obtained, it
will remove all our existing causes of complaint
against New Granada on the subject of claims.
Questions have arisen between tbe two govern
ments as to the right ofNew Granada to levy a ton
nage duty upon the vessels ot the United Slates in
its ports of the Isthmus, and to levy a passenger
tax upon our citizens arriving in tnat country,
whether with a design to remain there or to pass
from ocean to ooean by the transit route; and also
a tax upon the mail of the United States transported
over tue Panama railroad. Tne government of
New Granada has been imormei that tbe United
States would consider the collection of either of these
taxes as au act in violation of the treaty betweeu
tbe two countries, and as such would be resisted by
the United States. At the same time, we are pre
pared to discuss these quest ions in a spirit of amity
and justice, and with a sincere desire to adjust them
in a satisfactory manner. A negotiation lor that
purpose has already been commenced. No effort
has recently been made to oollect these taxes, nor
is any anticipated under present circumstances.
With the empire of Biazil our relations are of the
most friendly character. The productions of the
two countries, and especially those of an agricultu
ral nature, are suoh as to invite extensive mutual
exchanges. A large quantity of American Hour is
consumed in Brazil; whilst more than treble tbe
amount in value of Brazilian ooffee is consumed in
tbe United Statee. Whilst this is the case, a heavy
duty has been levied, until very recently, upon the
importation ot Americau flour into Brazil. I am
gratified, however, to be able to inform you that iu
September last this has been reduoed from $1.32 to
about forty-nine cents per barrel, and the dutieß on
other articles of our production have been diminish
ed in Dearly the same proportion.
I regret to state that the government of Brazil
still continues to levy an export duty of about 11
per cent on coffee, notwithstanding this ar’iole ii
admitted free from duly in tbe UniLed States. This
is a heavy charge upon tbe consumers of coffee in
our country, as we purchase half of the entire sur
plus crop of tbat article raised in Brazil. Our min
ister under instiuctions will reiterate his efforts to
have this export duty removed; aud it is hoped that
the enlightened government of the Emperor will
adopt this wise, just and equal policy- In that
i e. e.A, there is good reason to believe that the com
! merer, between the two countries will greatly m
i crease, much to the advantage of both.
The claims of our citizens against the government
of Brsz’’ are not, in the aggregate, of very large
an- u ‘; but some of these rest upon plain princi
ples of jprtioe, and their settlement ought not to be
lunger < eiayed. A renewed and earnest, and I
t u-t, * -uceeesfu’ effort, will be made by ourminis
t* r I,* pr -cure their final adjustment.
l<r I • pr c uin iTir m . .
Ou the 2d of June Uwt, Congress paised a joint
ion an nuiisUig the President “to adoptsuch
a,enures and use such force as in hiß judgment,
;>* ncc tury and adviHable” “for the purpose
if feu ua.-iig r H and fferencea between the United
States ana t"” republic of Paraguay, in connection
w ; attack oil the United States steamer Water
W; *.,u w'lii otr.er measures referred to” in hid
annua/ message. Arid on the 12tb July following,
ix.tau an a prnpriation to defray the expenses
uiiu*>j ..ptiaxvnm ol a commissioner to that repub
-1 c, -Loll'd the President deem it proper to make
sue*; an appointment,.
in f o < j 1 an * w th these enactments, I have ap
pointed a ©ui ’ ■ oner, who has proceeded to Pa
raguay, w’.tli full powers and ins', rue ions to settle
these differences in an amicable and peaceful man
ner, if this be practicable. His experience and dis
cretion justify the hoi e, that he may prove success
ful in convincing the Paraguayan government, that
it ia due both to ho’ or and jus ice, that they should
voluntari y and promptly make atonement for the
wrongs which they have committed against the
United Sta es, and indemnify our injured citizens
whom they have forcibly despoiled of their property.
Should our commissioner orove unsuccessful, af
ter a sincere and earnest effort, to at’ ompliah the
object of his mission, then no alternative will re
man, but the employment of force to obtain ‘ juf*
satisfaction” from Paraguay. In view of this con
tingency, the Secretary of to© Navy, under my di
rection. has fitted out and despatched a naval force,
to rendezous near Buenos Ayres, which, it is be
ieved, will prove sufficient for the occasion. It is
my earnest desire, however, that it may not be
found necessary to resort to this la t alternative.
When Congr. ss m*-t in December last, the busi
ness of the country had just been crushed, by one
of those periodical revulsiccs, which are t‘e mevi
table consequence of our unsound and extravagant
system of bank credits end inflated currercy. With
all the elements of national wealth -n abundance,
our manufactures we-e suspended, our us*-ml public
and private enterprises were arrested and thousands
of laborers were deprived of employment and re
duced to want Universal dis ress preva led among
the commercial, rr anufactoring, and mechanical
classes. This revulsion was felt the more severely
in the United States, became similar causes had
produced the like deplorable effects throughout the
commercial nations of Europe AI. were experienc
iog sad reverses at the same moment. Our manu
facturers everywhere suffered severely, not because
of the recent reduction in the tariff of dut es ou im
ports, but because there was ro demand at any
price for their pr* ducrions. The pleople were
obi ged to restrict them selves, in their purchases to
articlr sos prime necessity. Iu the general pros ra
tior* of business, the iron manufactu ers in different
States probably suffered more than any other class,
and much destitution wa* their evitable eonsequen’ e 1
among the great, number of workmen who had been
employed r this useful branch of our industry.
There could be no supply where there was no de
maud. To present an example, there could be no de
man:J for railroad iron, af erour magnificent system
of ra iroads, extending its benefits to every portion
of the Union, had b en brought to a dead pause
The same coi sequences have resulted from similar
causer to many other branches of useful mar ufac
lures It s self evident tha* where there is noabil
ity to purchase manufactured articles, these cannot
be sola, aLd consequently must cease to be pro
duced.
No government, and especially a government of
such limited powers as that of the United States,
could have prevented the late revolution. Tke
whole commercial world seemed for years to have
been rushing to this catastrophe. The same ruin-
VOL. LXXII. —NEW SERIES VOL. XXII. NO. 00.
ous consequences wnud have followed in the Uni
ted Statee, whether tbe duties upon foreign imports
had remained as they were under the tar.ff ot 1846,
or had been raised to a much higher standard. The
tariff of 1857 had no agency Iu the resrP. The
general causes existing throughout the w rid, could
not have been controlled by the legisia'iun of any
particular country.
The periodical revulsions which have exited in
our past history, must counuueto return s’ inter
vats, so long as our pres* nr ui.huUu m system of
bank credits shall prevail. They ail!, in-wiver,
probabiy be the less severe in future ; because it is
not to be expected, at !-ast foi manv \ fac.r : iu aims,
tbat the comm rcial nation* us Eur. pa, *;*n whose
interests our own are so materially mvo v and, will
expose themselves to similar calamities But this
subject was treated so much at large in uy last
annual message that 1 shall ul t u w puru u it fur
tier. StiU 1 respectfully renew the re. W iomsnda
tiou, in favor of the passage of ,v unit’ r n oankrupt
iaw, applicable to beiiki ,< >rs .itutions. This is
all the power over the subject which, I celiav., the
fed-ral government posses.-es. Such a law would
mitigate, though it might not prevent the evil. Tho
instinct of self-preservation might produce a whole
some restraint upon their baukiLg business, it they
knew in advance, that a suspension of specie pay
ments would inevitably produce their civil death
But the effects ot the revulsion ore now elowiy
but surely passing away. The energy and enter
prise of our citizens, with our unbounded resources,
will within the period of another year, restore a
state of wholesome industry and trade. Capital haa
again accumulated in our large cities The rate of
interest is there very low. Conhdmceis gradually
reviving, and so soon as it is discovered that this
capital can be profitably employed in comuu rcial
and manufacturing enterprise, aud iu the construc
tion of railroads and other works of nutilioand pri
vate improvement, prosperity will again smile
throughout the land. It ia vain, however, to dis
guise the fact from ourselves, that a speculative in
flation of our currency, without a corresponding iu
tiatiou in other countries, whose unnuf iciures ujus
into competition with our own, must ever produce
disastrous results to our domestic manufactures.—
No tariff, short of absolute prohibition, can prevent
these evil consequences.
Iu conuection with this subject, it ia proper to re
fer lo our tinanoial oonditiou. l’he same causes
which have produced pecuniary distress throughout
the country, have so r„duoed the amount of imports
from foreign countries, that the revenue has proved
inadequate to meet the necessary expenses of the
government. To supply the deficiency, Congress,
by the act of the 23d December, 1857, authorized
the issue of $ JO, 01)0,06(1 of treasury i o’es, and, this
proving inadequate, they aulbo ized by the aot o’
June 14th, 1858, a loan of S.O 060,000, “to be ap
plied to the payment of appropriations made by
iaw.”
No statesman would advise, tbat we should goon
increasing tbe national debt to meet tbe ordinary
expenses of the government This would be ano it
ruinous policy. In case of war, our credit must co
ourohiet resource, at least for the first year, and
ttiis would be greatly impaired by having contrac
ted a large debt in time of peace. It is our tr ue
policy, to increase our revenue eo as to equal our
expenditures. It would be ruinous to continue lo
bonow. Besides, it may be proper to observe, th t
lbs incidental protection, thus afforded by a revo
nue tariff, would at the present moment, to some
extent, increase the confidence of the manufactu
ring interests, and give a fresh impulse to our re
viving business. To this, surely, so person will ob
ject.
In regard lo the mode of assessing aDd co le : ing
duties under a strictly revenue tariff, I have long
enter ained and often expressed the opinion, that
sound policy ri quires this should be done by specific
duties, iu cases to which these can be properly ap
plied. They are well adapted to commodities which
are usually ro’.d by weight or by measure, and
which, from their nature, are of nearly equal value.
Such, for example, are tho articles of irou of dis
ferent classes, raw sugar, and foreign wines aud
spirits.
In my deliberate judgment, specific duties are tbe
best, if not the only means of securing the revenue
against false and fraudulent invoices, and such has
been the practice adopted for this purpose by o'her
commercial nations. Besides, specific duties w ould
afford to tie Americas manulacturer the incidental
advantages to which he is fitiily entitled under a
rcveuue tariff. The present system is a sliding scale
to his disadvantage Under it, wSion prices are high
and business pio-perous, the dure-* rise in amount
when he least inquires tlieir aid. On the contrary,
when prices fall, and he is struggle g against adver
sity, tue duties are diminished iu the same propor
tion, greatly lo his ii j ury.
Neither would 1 fit::e ba danger that a higher rate
of duty than that intended by Uungress, couid be
levied in the furm of specific du’i e. It would be
easy to ascertain the average value of any import
ed article for a senes of yea-e; end instead oi sub
jecting it to an adv Inrem Hu'y at a certain rate
per centum, tosurs'iluie in its place an equivalent
specific duty.
By such au arrangement Ihe oonsmnt r would not
be injured. It is true, lie might have to pay a little
more duty ou a given art ice- in line year; but if no,
he would pay a little ess iu another, and iu a series
of years these would eoun trbalanee each other,
and amount to the same thing, so tar a- Ins interest
is concerned. This inconvenience would be tiitiing,
when contrasted with the ad iitioual security thus
aflorded against frauds t p iu the revo ue, in which
every consumer is directly interested.
I have thrown out these s ggesti ns as tbe fruit
of my own observation, to which Congress, iu Iheir
better judgment, willgtvd suuu weight as tuey may
justly deserve.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury will
explain iu detail the oneratiuus of that dipirimeol
of the government. Tne r< e'nts into the r're&’ ury
from all sources during the tr ee: year ending 30fh
June, 1858, inc uding tho Lca-u y notes m'horized
by the act of December 23 1*57. * ere S7O 273,-
869 50, wLich amount, with ue balance of $17,710 -
114 27 remaining in tbe Uoasnrp a*, the commence
ment of the year, made an agg r ega'e fur the ser
vioo of the year of $37,983 9h3 66.
The public expenditures ourtug ‘he fi-nel year,
ending June 30, JBSB, amuuuuu to s*! 585 6i 7 76,
of which $9,684,537.99 were a i, lie: u ‘.’■•* uaymeut
of the public debt, and the redeinp 1 nos treasury
notes, with tbe interesttbeieuu, leuvmg <u ‘ lie trea
sury, on July 1, 1858, being the e ■muienccineut of
the present fiscal year, $6,393,310.10.
Tue receipts into the treasury, ‘ ‘King the first
quarter of the piesent li-cal year, ennuuncing the
Ist of July, 1858, including •.ns halt cl the loan of
twenty millions of dollars, wiili t.ho premium upon
it, authorized by the act ot 14;h Juue, 1803, were
$25,230,879.46, and the eitimated receipts, for the
lemaming three quarters, to the 30th Juue, 18.4),
from ordiuary sources, are $38,500,000; making,
with the balance before stated, an aggregate ot $70,-
120,195.56.
The expenditures during the first quarter of the
present fiscal year were $21,708,198 54, of whioh
$1,010,142.37 were applied to the payment of the
pubi c debt and the redemption of treasury notes
and the interest taereon. The estimated expendi
tures, during Ihe lemaining thtes quarters, to tbe
30ih J uue, 1859, $52,357,698 48, making en aggre
gate of $71,065,896 99, being nu excess of expend!
ture beyoud the estimated receipts into the treasury
from ordinary sources, during tbe fiscal year, to the
30th June, 1859, of $3,936 901 43. Extraordinary
means are placed ny law within the command of
the beeretery of the Treasury, by the re-issue of
treasury notes redeemed, and by negotiating the
balanc of the loan aathorized by the act of 14th
June, 1853, to the extent of eleven millions of dol
lars which if realized duriug the present fiscal year,
will leave a balance in the treasury, ou the first day
of July, 1859, of $7,063 293.57.
The estimai ed receipts during the next fiscal
year ending 30th J unc, 1860, are $62,000,000, which,
with the above estimated balance ot $7,063,298 57,
make an aggregate for the service of the next fiscal
year, of $69,063,298.60. The estimated expendi
tures during ihe next ti-cal year ending 30ih June,
1860, are $73,139,147 40, which leave a deficit of es
timated means, oomnared with the estimated ex
penditures for that ysar, commencing on the Ist of
July. 1859, of $4,075,848.89.
In addition to this sum. the Postmaster General
will tequire from the Treasury, for tbe service of
the Postoffice Department, $3,838,728, as explained
in the report of tne Secretary of tbe Treasury,
which will increase the estimated deficit on tbe 30ch
June. 1860, t 057,914 57 6 89. To provide for the
payment of this estimated deficiency, which will
be increased by such appropriations as may be
made by Congress, not estimated for in the report,
of the Treasury Department, as wellae to provide
for the gradual redemption, from year to year, of the
out-tandirig treasury notes, tbe Secretary of the
Treasury ieoommendasuoh arevisiou of the pre
sent tariff as wiil raise tbe requited amount. After
what I have already eaid, I need scarcely add that I
concur in the opinion expressed in his report—that
the public debt ehould not be increased by an addi
tional loan, and would therefore strougly urge upon
Congress the duty of making, at their present ses
sion, the necessary provision for meeting these lia
bili'ies,
The public debt on the Ist July, 1858, the com
mencement of the present fiscal year, was $25,155,*
977 66.
During the first quarter of the present fiecal year,
the eum of $10,000,000 has been negotiated of the
loan authorized by the act of 14th June, It?sB
the present outstanding public debt, ex
clusive of treasury notes, $36,155,977 66. There
was on the Ist of July, 1858, of treasury notes is
sued by authority of the act of December 23,1857,
unredeemed, the sum ol $19,754,800— making the
amount of the actual indebtedness, at that date,
$54,910 777 66. To this will be added $10,000,000
during the present fiscal year—this being the re
maining half of the lean of $20,000,000 not yet ne
gotiated.
The rapid increase of the public debt, and the ne
cessity which exists for a modification of the tariff,
to meet even the o-dlnary of the govern
ment, ought to admonish n# all. in our respective
spheres of duty, i© tne practice of rigid economy.—
The objects of expenditure should be limited in
number, as far as trna may be practicable,and the
appropriat OM n©ceßßB r y o carry them into effect,
ought to be disbursed uud*r the* st ictest accounta
bility. Enlightened wo on? os not consist in
the refusal to apptopri-ite u o i**v tor constitutional
purpoes, essential o the n. tone*, progrefio, and
prosperity of the repuul c, but in taking care that
none of this money snail be wasted by mismanage
ment, in its applicat on to the o j cts oeeiguated
by law.
Comparisons between the annual exp°nditure at
the present time, and what it was -on or twenty
years ago, are altogether fula* o w Tne ranid in
crease of our country iu extent and j o ulviou, ren
dera a corresponding inorrant of expenditure, to
some extent, unavo'datl'-. This • io e*aut y creat
ing new objects of i‘”rc, ra i aagmen mgthe
amount required lor th** o I Tie questions
theD, are, have these objec's b*n unn^ce’saiily mul
tiplied? or, has the am un; expended up© i any or
ail ot them, been larger than comports with dae
economy ? In ce wi*h tbe>-** principles,
the beads of the different *i*c)nve department* of
the government have b en iattracted t • r*du3e
their estimates for the nex’ fi cal year, to ‘ln towesf
standard consistent with the efficiency of the ser
vice, and this duty they hive perform*d in a spirit
of just economy. The estimates ot tho Treasury,
War Navy, and Interior D^partuieo 4 .*, have each
been in some degree reduced, and unless a sudden
and unforeseen emergency ehonld ariv\ It is not
anticipated that a deS vr lUxs iu e.tfcer
within the present or tl next ti-cat y*y. The
Poe office Departmen is placed in a peon i-j* poai
tioo, different from the oucr department*, and to
tbia I shall hereafter reier.
lin vile CoDgrees to issMWe a H ©mutiny to
ascertain whether the uptM * in a 1 tr depart
ments cannot be still furth. t reduced, and ! prom
ise them all the aid in my power in pursuing the in
vesigatioDß.
I transmit herewith the rep r 4 * made to me by
the Secretaries of War, of the Nivy, vs the Inte
rior, and of the Postmaster G reral T*>ey each
contain valuable information and im^ r >r ¥ uat re
commendations, to which I invite the attention of
Congress.
In my last annual message, I took occasion to
recommend the immediate construction of ten
small steamers, of light draught, for the purpose
of increasing the efficiency of the navy. Congress
responded to the recommendation by authorizing
the construction of eight of them. The progress
which has been made in executing tbie authority,
ia statod in the report of the Secret try of the
Navy. I concur with him in the opinion that a
grea s er number cf this class of vessels is necessary
fjr the purpose of protecting in a more efficient
manner the persons and property of American
oit zens on the high eeas, and in foreign countries,
as well as in guarding more effectually our own
coast. I accordingly recommend the passage of an
act for this purpose. ,
The suggestions contained in the report or tue
Secretary of the Interior, especially those in re
gard to the disposition of the public domain, tne
pension and bounty land system, the policy to-
wards the Indians, and the amendment ot our
patent laws, are worthy of the serious consideration
of Congress.
The Post Office Department occupies a position
very different from that ot the other department**.
For mauy yearn it was the policy of the govern
ment to render this a self sustaining depa'tmeut ,
and if this cannot now be accomplished, in the pre
sent eerditiou of the country, we ought to make a*
near an approach to it as may be practicable.
The Postmaster Genet al is placed in a most em
b&rrasbiug position by the exi ting laws, lie is
obliged to carry these into effect. He has no other
alternative. He finds, however, that this cannot be
done without heavy demands rpon the treasury
over aud above what is received for postage; ar.d
those have been progressively increasing from
year to year until they em matedjfor the Inst fisc il
year eoding ou the 3 )th Juu**, 18 8, to m *re tbau
tour miHious and a half of dollars ; whilst :t . estima
ted th%r f u r the present fro*! year they will amount
to $(1299.000. These sums aie exclusive of the
annual appropriation of $700,000 for “compen-jatiou
for the mail service performed for the two houses
of Congress, and tne other departments aud officers
of the government in the transportation of free
master.*’
The cause of these Urge deficits is mainly attribu
table to the increased expense of transporting ths
mails. Iu IBsd the sum paid for this service was
but a fraction above four millions and a quarter.
Since that year it has annually increased until in
1858 it has reached more than eight, millions aud a
quarter, aud for the service of 1899, it i a estimated
that that it will amount to more than ten m hums
of dollars.
The receipts of the Post Office Department can
be made to approach or to equal its expenditures,
only by means of the legisla ion of Congress Iu
applying, any remedy, care should be taken that
the people shall not be deprived of the advantages,
which they are fairly entitled to enjoy from the Post
Office Department. The principal remedies ro-
CJinmendfcd to the eunriueiation ol Congress by tho
Postmaster Geueral, are to restore the former rate
of postage upon single letters to five cmla ; to eub
stituieK r the franking privilege tue delivery to
those now entitled to ei j >y it of post c dice stamps
for their correspondence, and to direct t*e Depart
ment, iu makiug contracts for the transportation of
the mail, to confine itse f to the payment of the sum
necessary tor this single purpose, without requiring
it to be transported iu poifc coaches or carriages of
any particular description. Under tho present sys
tem, the expense to tne government is greatly in
creased, by requiring tha the mail shall be carried
in such vehicles as wi.l accommodate pAßsengeis.
This will be be done w ithout pay from the Depart
ment, hvur all roads where the travel will remunerate
the contractors.
These rec vnmendntiona deserve the grave coj
slderation of Congress.
I would again call your attention to the construc
tion of the Pacific railroad. Time and refiectiou
have but served to confirm me in the truth aud jus
tice of the observations which I made, on this sub
ject, in my la4 annual message, to w hich 1 beg
leave respectfully to refer.
It is freely admitted that it would be inexpedient
for this government to exercise the power of con
structing the Pacific Uiinoad by its own immediate
agents. Such a policy would increase the patron
ego of the executive to a dangerous extent, and in
troduce a system ot jobbing and corruption which
no vigilance ou the pait of federal officials could
either prevent or de.ect. This can only be done by
the keen eye and active and careful superv si on of
individual interest. Theconstinotion of this road
ought, therefore, to be committed to companies in
corporated by the States, or other agencies whoje
pecuniary interests would be directly involved.—
Congress might often assist them in the w ik by
grams of land, or of money, or of both, under euob
conditions and restrictions as wou;d secure tho
transportation of troops aud niuuit ions of war free
from any charge, and tbatof the United Statts mail
at a f-tir and reasonable prioe.
The progress of events tiuefe the commencement
of your last session, has shown how soon difficulties
disappear before a firm and determined resolution.
At that time euoh a road was deemed by wise and
patr.otic men to boa visionary project. The great
distance to be overcome and the intervening mouu
taina aud derurts iu the wav, were obstacles which,
in lhe opinion of many could not be surmounted.—
Now, alter the lapse of but a single year, t lit ns t b*
stacles, it has been discovered, are lar less formida
ble than they were supposed to be ; aud mail stages
wi h passengers now pass aud re pass regularly,
twice a week, by aoommoa wagon road between
San Frauoisco and St. Louis and Memphis, in less
than twenty five days. The service has b en as
regularly performed ai it was, in former years, be
tween Ne a - York and this city.
Whilst disclaiming all authority to appropriate
money for the construction of this road, except that
derived fiom the war-malt ng p jwer of the const;tu -
tion, there are impottani collateral considerations
urging us to undertake tho woik asßpaedil/as pos
sible
The first and most momentous of these is, that
such a road would be a powerful bond of union be
tween the States east aud west of the Ko ky Moun
tains. This is so self evident as to require no ilius
tration.
liut. again, in a commercial point of view, I con
sider this the great question of the day. With the
eastern trout of our republic stretching along the
Ailuntic,and its western trout aioug the Pucitio, If
ail the parts should be united by a safe, easy, and
rapid intercommunication, we must necessarily com
msudavety largo proportion of the trade both of
Europe anu Asia. Our recent treaties with China
aud Japan will open these rich and populous em
pires to our commerce; and the history ol the world
proves, that the nation which haa gained possession
of the trade with Eastern Asia, has always become
wealthy and powerful, i'he peculiar geographical
position of Cal forma and our Pacific possessions,
invites American capital aud enterprise into this
fiuiibeld. To reap tue rich hat vest , however, it te
an iudispet sable prerequisite, that wi shall first
have a railroad to convey and circulate its pro
ducts throughout every portion of the Union. Re
sides, such a railroad through our temperate latitude,
which would not be impeded by the trusts and
snows of winter, nor by the tropical heats of sum
mer, would attract to itself muon ot the travel aud
the trade of all nations, passing between Europe
and Asa.
On the 21st of Aurusl last, Lieut. J. N. Mai lit, of tho V.
S. brig Dolphin, c&vtured the slaver •‘Echo,” (formerly tho
Putnam of New Orlennt,) near t ape Verde, on the coa.it of
Cuba, with more than three handled African negro* n ou
board. The prize, under the command of Lieut, bind fora
of tho United ntates Navy, arrived at Chant ntou on th*
27 tb of August; when tho negroes, three hundred unit six in
number, were delivered into the custody of the United
States Marshal lor the District of South Carolina. They
were first placed in Castle Pinckney, ami afterwards iu
Fort .>umter for sate keeping, amt were detained there
until tho illth September, when the survivors, two hundred
und seventy-one iu number, were deliveied on bouiu the
United States steamer Niagu a, to be transported to the
canst of Africa, under the charge of the agent of the United
States, pursuant to the provisions of the act of Ud March,
1 bill, “in addition to the sets prohibiting the slave trade.’*’
Under the 2d section of this act, the President is “author
ized to make such regulations and arrangements UH he may
deem expedient, for the safe keeping, support and removal
beyond the limits ot the United States, ot all such negroes,
mulattosi, or persons of color” captured by vessels of the
United States, as may be delivered to the marshal of the
district into which tney are brought; “and to appoint a
proper pet son or persons residing upon the coast of Africa,
as agent or agents fur receiving the negroes, mulattoes, or
persons of color, delivered from on board vessels seized iu
the prosecution of the slave trude by commandos of tho
United States armed vessels.”
A doubt immediately arose as to the true construction of
this act. It is quite clear from its terms that the President
wus authorized to provide ‘ for the sate keeping, supper*,
and removal” of these negroes up till the time of their de
livery to the agent on the const of Africa; but no express
provision wus made for their protection and support after
they had reached the place ol their tU stination Still an
agent was to be appointed to receive them m Africa; and
it could not have been supposed that Congress intended lie
should desert them at the moment they were rec* ived, and
turn them loose on that iuhospitnhle const to perish for
want of food, or to become again the victims of the slave
tiade. Had this been the im>:uliou of ( ongress, the em
ployment of an ugeut to receive them, who is required to
reside ou the coast, was unnecessary, and they might have
been lauded by our vessels anywhere in Africa, * ud left
exposed to the sutferiugs und the fate which would cer
tainly await them.
Mr. Monroe, in his special message of 17th Decent bsr,
181‘J, at the first session after the act was passed, announced
!to Congress what,’in his opinion, was its true construction,
lie believed it to be his duty turner it, to follow ti.ei un*
fortuuates into A.frica, auct make provision for them there,
until they should be able topiovide for themselves.
In communicating this interpretation of the art to Cou
gress, he staled that some doubt had been entertained as ,<>
its true intent aud meaning, und h* submitted the question
to them, so that they might, “should it be deemed advisa
ble. amend the same before further proceedings are had
under it.” Nothing was done by Congress to explain the
act, and Mr. Monroe proceeded to carry it iuto execution
according to his own interpretation. This, then, became
the practical construction. When tho Africans from on
board the Echo were delivered to the marshal at Charles
ton, it became my duty to consider what disposition ought
*o be made of them under the law. For many reasons, it
was expedient to remove them from that locality a-, speedi
ly uk possible. Although tho conduct of the authorities aud
citizens of Charleston, in giving countenance to the execu
tion of the law, was just what might have been expected
from their high character, yet a prolonged continuance ot
three hundred Africans iu the immediate vicinity of that
city, could uot have failed to become a source of inconve
nience und anxiety to its inhabitants. Where to send them
was the question. There was no portion of tho coast of
Africa, to which they could be removed with any regard to
humanity, except to Liberia. Cuder these circumstances,
an agreement was entered iuto with the Colonization Soci
ety on the 7th.of September last, a copy of which is here
with transmitted, under which the Society engaged, for thn
consideration of forty-five thousand dollars, to receive
these Africans in Liberia from the agent of the United
States, and furnish them during the period of one year
thereafter, wall comfortable shelter, clothing, provisions,
and medical attendance, causing the children to receive
schooling ; und all, whether children or adults, to be in
structed iu the arts of civilized life, suitable to their con
dition. This aggregate of forty-five thousand dollars va*
based upon the allowance of one hundred and fifty dollars
for earn individual, and as there hus been considerable
mortality among them, and may be more before they reach
Africa, the society have agreed, in an equitable spirit, to
make such a deduction from the amount, as tinder tho cir
cumstances may appear just and reasonable. ‘J his cannot
be fixed until we shall ascertain the actual number which
may become a charge to the society.
It was also distinctly agreed, that, under no circumstauces
shall this government be called upon for auy additional ex-
P The agents cf the Society manifested a laudable desire
to conform to the wialira of the government, throughout the
transaction. They assured me that after a careful calcula
tion, they would be required to expend the sum of one hun
dred and fifty dollar* ou each individual in complying with
the agreement, and they would have nothing left to remu
nerate them for their care, trouble, and responsibility. At
all events, I could make no better arrangement, and there
wu no other alternative. During the period when the go
vernment itself, through its own agents, undertook the task
of providing for captured negroes in Africa, the coat pet
head was very much greater.
There having been no outstanding appropriation applica
ble to thia purnose, I could not advance any money on th
agreement. I therefore recommend that an appropriation
may he made of the amount necessary to carry it into effect.
Other capture# of aaimilar character may, and probably
will, be made by our naval force#; and 1 earnestly recom
mend, that Congreaa may amend the second tectiou of tb
act of March 3, ißiy, so os to free its construction from the
ambiguity which has ho long existed, and rendor the duty ot’
the President plain in executing its provision.
I recommend toyour favorable regard the local interests
of the Diatrictof Columbia. As the residence of Cougress
and the executive department# of the government, we < an
not fail to feel a deep concern in iia welfare. This is height
ened by the ‘ugh character and the peaceful and orderly con
duct q£ its resident inhabitants.
I cannot conclude without performing the agreeable
duty of expressing my gratification that Congress so kindly
responded to the recomincndatiou of iny last annual mes
sage, by affording me sutlicieni time, before the close of
their last session, for the examination of all the bills pro
sented to me for approval. This change in the practice of
Congrees has proved to be a wholesome reform. It exert
ed a beneficial influence on the transaction of legislative
busiuesH, and elicited the general approbation of the coun
try. It enabled Congren# to adjourn with that dignity and
deliberation so becoming to the representatives of tins greet
republic, without having crowded into general appropria
tion bills provisions foreign to their natures, and of doubtful
constitutionality and expediency. Let me warmly and
strongly , commend this precedent, established by them
selves, as a guide to their proceedings during the pmsont
sessiou. JAAILS BU< lIANAN.
Washington City, Dec. 6, 1858.
A Catholic Jubilee.— BisLop Fitzpatrick of
Boston has deponed the entire month of December
as a Jubilee Thia jubilee is held by order of the
Pope, for having travelled in safety through his
own dominions and secured during his progress the
gratulations of his subjects. The journey was made
iu 1857, and the Jubilee ia for the faithful through
out the world The Boeton Pilot informs us that the
first celebration of the Jubilee in its present form
took place in the year 1300, during the
of Pope Boni'ace VIII * ‘*>en rstabUshed
with the intention of having
hundred yenre at the beginning of theoenury ;bnt
its good effects on the piety ot the uithlui were eo
rHtld everyX C of
hilee of the old dispensation. In 1470, Pope Paul
II nnblished n Bull establishing the Jubilee for
every twenty-five years, and this practice etid re
“iSaddiaonto the stated times, however, the Ju
bilee has often been proclaimed on extraordinary
occasions when the severe* n Pontiffs have thought
that the necessities of the limes required a united
effort of the Chri-tiens of ! ’ lands The last Jnbi
lse was tnat which Drecedtd tbe dennition of the
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin as an
aitioleof taith, 1854.
A convention ot colored men, for tt. state of
Ohio, have resolved that if the Ured Soott decision
j is to prevail, colored men are absolved none allegi
ance to the Government,