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TUB BMFiBK STATE
Its PUBLISHED WEEKLY,
By” A. C3-aul<ains.
YKItMS: TWO DOLLARS IX ADVANCE, OR TIIRKK DOL
LARS AFTER SIX MONTHS, PER ANNUM.
a®-office up-stairs over W. R. Phillips & Ca.^t
Advertisements are inserted at One Dollar per square for
the first insertion, aud Fifty Cents per square for each in
sertion thereafter.
A reasonable deduction will be made to those who adver
tise by the year.
All Advertisements not olhet'icise ordered null be continu
ed till forbid .
Sales of Lands by Administrated, Executors or Guar
dians, arc required ny law to be held on the first Tuesday
in the month, between the hours of 10 in the. forenoon and
3 in the afternoon, at the Court House, in the county in
which the Land is situated. Notice of these sales must be
given in a public Gazette forty days previous to flic day of
sale.
Sales of Negroes must lie made at public auction on the
first Tuesday of the month, between the usual hours of sale,
at the place of public sales in the county where the Letters
Testamentary, or Administration, or Guardianship may
have been granted—first giving forty days notice thereof in
one of the public Gazettes of the State, and at the Court
House where such sale is to be held.
Notice for the sale of Personal Property must be given in
like manner, forty days previous to the day of sale.
Notice , to Debtors and Creditors of an Estate, must be
published forty days.
NotioC that application will be made to the Court of Or
dinary'for leave to sell Laud, must be published lor two
m>ntbs. ~ , ,
✓ notice for leave to sell Negroes must be published two
’ onths before any order absolute shall be made thereon by
be Court. . , ....
Citations for Letters of Administration must be publish
ed thirty days ; for Dismission from Administration, month
ly six months ; for Dismission from Guardianship, forty
d *Notice for the foreclosure of Mortgage must be publish
ed monthly for four months ; for publishing Lost Pa
pers, for tlie full spaeevof three months ; for compelling ti
ties from Executors aim Administrators, where a bond lias
been given by the-deceased, for the space ot three months
HENRY HENDRICK,
A T T O R NBY AT L A W ,
Jackson, Butts County, Georgia.
May 3, 1555. ts
RTwTsvrcuNE,
Attorney at Law,
fcrlffin, Geor&a-
May 3,1855. ts
H. &, G. J, GREEN & MARTIN,
Attorneys at Law,
(jiLBKN .i. fiKKKX, { Gl . i(rm Georgia,
DAVID N. MARTIN, )
HARTFORD GREEN, Zchulon, GCO.
May 3,1855.
DANIEL. & DJSMUKE,
Attn rn e y s at La w ,
Georgia.
Rs DANIEL, F - 1 ’- IHSMI:KE -
May 3, 18,55. L.
\V. POPE JORDAN,
Attorney at Law,
JZcl.ulo,,, . . Georgia.
WrLL practice in all the counties of the Flint Circuit.
May 3, 1555. ts
IIAYGOOD & WHITAKER,
Attorneys at ‘Law,
Atlanta, ..Georgia.
OFFICE, over Gunby's Store, White Hall Street.
It II tYftOOD L HIT AKi.lv,
Formerhi of tVatkinsviUe, Fonnerh; of Fayetteville,
Georgia. Georgia.
May 3, 1855.
Attorneys at Law,
ALL business entrusted to their care, will receive prompt
attention..
k. m. stele, r ” B ’,'p K-
May 3, 1855. u
Dll. 11. W. BROWN,
Griffin, Georgia.
OFFICE in the basement story, under the Store of Messrs.
J. A. & J. C. Becks.
May 3,1855. ts
J. 11. MANGIIAM,
/\ ttomey fn t; y
GIi.IJ.CFI?!, GEORGIA.
May 3, 1855-ly 1
ANDREW M. MOORE,
attorney at law,
Lagrange Georgia.
TTTILL practice in the Courts of the Coweta Circuit. All
W business entrusted to liis care will meet with prompt
attention.
July 4, 1855. 9-ts
WM. 11. F. HALT,,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
ZEBULON GEORGIA.
July 4, 1855. Q ts
A. D. NUNN ALIA',
ATTORN E Y A T L A W ,
GRIFFIN, GEORGIA.
June, 27,1855. • U
GASKILL & WOOTTON,
ATTORNEYS AT LA W ,
JONESBORO, GEORGIA.
T. A. GASKILL Y - L. WOOTTON
July 11th, 1855 11 ts
UNDERWOOD, HAMMOND & SON,
ATTORNEYS AT LAW,
ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
WILL give personal attention to all business entrusted
to their management, and attend the Sixth Circuit
Courtof the United States, at Marietta, the Supreme Court
at Macon and Decatur, and the Superior Courts in Cobb,
Morgan, Newton, DeKaJb, Fulton, Fayette, Spalding, Pike,
- gjrr, Monroe, Upson, Bibb, Campbell, Coweta, Troup,
■\Yhitfield and* Gordon, in Georgia, and Hamilton county,
(Chattanooga,) in Tennessee. May 3,1855. ts
Q. C. GltlCE , B - FULLER.
GRICE & FULLER,
ATTORNEYS A T L Aw,
FAYETTEVILLE, GEORGIA.
December 10th, 1855. 33—ts
W. L. GRICE, AVM> s ” WALLACE.
GRICE & WALLACE,
ATTORFEYS AT L AW,
BUTLER, GEORGIA.
PERSONS intrusting business to them may rely on their
fidelity, promptness and care. Dec. 10, ’55-33-1 y.
GAUTRELL & GLENN,
ATTORNEYS A T LAW,
ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
WILL attend the Courts in the Counties of Fulton, De-
Kalb. Fayette, Campbell, Meriwether, Coweta, Car
*Jll, Henry, Troup, Heard, Cobb, and Spalding,
i Lucies‘j.Gartrell, I Luther J. Glenn,
I formerly of Washington, Ga. | Formerly of xMcDonough,Ga.
\ May 16, 1855. _ __ 3tf
MTDIIE subscriber respectfully announces to
HI the public, and bis numerous friends, that he
■ill open a shop on Broadway, below New Orleans Street,
H: B. W. Doe’s old Ware-House, where he will be prepared
do all kinds of
BLACKSMITH WORK,
IN THE BEST STYLE AND
AT THE SHORTEST NOTICE.
He hopes by strict ATTENTION TO BUSINESS, to merit
as well as receive a liberal patronage.
A. A. PjRTER.
Griffin, December 18th, -55. ,31. .ts
ts ii $ (Flit tit xt Hrit t #
xi. If. INfci-.
Yol. 1.
PROSPECTUS
OF
“Cjrc (Lnijitre .State.”
THE undersigned having purchased the Press and mate
rials of the “Georgia ’Jeffersonian,” and the ‘‘Job Of
fice’’ of James 11. Logan, proposes at an early day, the Ist
of May, to commence the publication of a weekly News
paper, under the above title, devoted to Agriculture, the
Arts and Sciences. Politics, and General Intelligence. The
“Empire State” will advocate the principles of the present
National Administration, so far as they may comport with
the doctrines of our Republican Fathers, the Rights of the
States, and flic preservation of the Union. In matters of
State Policy, and of Local Interest in the present threaten
ing aspect of Public Affairs, the “Empire State” will al
ways lie found upon the side of Republican Principles and
liberal sentiments—“independent in all things, neutral in
Nothing.” ft shall be the vehicle for the dissemination of
Liberal Principles,Conservative, Doctrines, and the best in
terests of Georgia and the Union.
£TTTerms: Two Dollars in advance, or Three Dollars af
ter six months. A. A. GAULDING.
Griffin, May 3, 1855.
rates of advertising.
The following are the Rates of Charges for Advertising,
determined on between the undersigned, to take effect
from the time of entering into any new contract:—
jQSSrTransient Advertising, $1 00 per square, for the first
nsertion, and 50 cents for every subsequent one.
CONTRACT ADVEUTisING, 3 mos. 6 mos. 0 mos 12 ms.
1 square, without change $ 6 00 $ 8 00 $lO 00 sl2 00
Changed quarterly... 7 00 10 00 12 00 1(5 00
Changed at will, 8 00 12 00 14 00 18 00
2 squares, without change, 10 00 15 00 20 00 25 00
Changed quarterly,.. . 12 00 18 00 24 00 28 00
Changed at wi11,.".... 15 00 20 00 25 00 30 00
3 squares, without change 15 00 20 00 25 00 30 00
Changed quarterly.. . 18 00 22 00 26 00 34 00
Changed at wi11...... 20 00 26 00 32 00 40 00
Half column, without change.. 25 00 30 00 40 00 50 00
Changed quarterly,.. 28 00 32 00 45 00 55 00
Changed at wi11...... 35 CO 45 00 50 00 00 00
One column, without change,.. 60 00 70 00 SO 00 100 00
Changed quarterly,.. 65 00 75 00 90 00 110 00
Changed at will.. 1... 70 00 85 00 100 00 125 00
S“A1! transient advertisements will be inserted until or
derca discontinued and charged for accordingly.
A. A. G.UTLDING, “Empire State.”
A. P BURR “American Union.”
BOOK AND JOB OFFICE
TIIE EMPIRE STATE,
GRIFFIN, GEORGIA.
THE PROPHIETOR OF TIIE
Having recently received a large assortment of
NEW AND BEAUTIFUL
FANCY TYPE AND BORDERS,
Are now prepared to execute, in the best style, and at short
notice, all kinds of
nnk (Dnininrntnl printing,
SUCH AS
;E Jk. YJK IPI-1L1353 *3? J3&
’(Neat/ars, labels, Business Cards,
Chlaldgne-s, Programmes, Address Cards,
jffll Heads, Posters, Visiting Cards,
Jte-nii Chirks, Hard Biffs, • Freight mils, ,
Blank Notes, J.egal Blanks, s>'C., <§"C., 4’-
PBIT t iftt I H* G O LORS
PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO.
‘ SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. “
A Monthly Journal, devoted to the interests of Southern
A Agriculture, and designed to improve both the Soil
and tlic Mind ; to elevate the character of the Tillers ot
the soil, and to introduce a more enlightened system of Ag
riculture, Horticulture, Stock Breeding, and General Farm
Economy.
Illustrated with Numerous Engravings.
Daiel Lee, M. D.. and TANARUS). Redmond, Editors
Volume 13. commenced Ist January, 1855 ; each number
will contain 32 large octavo pages, 7| by 11 inches, of close
ly printed matter, embracing the contributions of some ot
the most intelligent and practicable planters in every sec
tion of the Southern States.
1 copy 1 year, $1 00
6 copies 1 year, 5 00
12 “ “ 10 00
20 “ “ 20 00
150 ’ “ “ 75 00
JKg-Always in advance.sLSr
The bills of all specie-paying Banks received at par. All
money remitted by mail, postage paid, at the risk of the
publisher. Address Yf. S. JONES, Augusta,Ga.
May 3, 1855.
CAR!HAGE, CAbTnET
SASH nTa KING!!!
rpilK subscriber takes pleasure in 3/
Icing to the citizens of Griffin and sur
rounding country, that he still continues the Xlxr \}j
business of CARRIAGE ami CABINET Making. CAKiiiA
GES, BUGGIES, and WAGONS made to order at ‘.iort no
tice. A few of the best made Buggies always on hand.
He has recently added to his establishment the business of
SASH MAKlNG—cheap, and good as the best.
Meta 1 i e
Burial ca
ses, newstyle. He will be found at his old stand, always
ready towait upon his customers. Give him a call.
A. BELLAMY.
Griffin, Aug. 29,1855... .18.,, ,ts
J. E. WILLIAMS JXO. RHEA, WM. M. WILLIAMS.
J. K WILLIAMS & CO.,
Successors to J. E. Williams,
General Commission Merchants.
AND DEALERS IN *
GRAIN, BACON. EARI), FEATHERS, and TEN
NESSEE PRODUCE , GENERALLY,
Decatur Street, near the “Trout House,” Atlanta, Ga.
Letters of inquiry, in relation to the Markets, Ac.,
promptly answered. May 16,1855.-3tf
V. IL. WRIGHT,
EXCHANGE BROKER ,
ATLANTA, GEO.
WILT, attend to collections entrusted to him, and remit
promptly, at current rates of Exchange: buy and sell
uncurrent Bank Notes, Coin, Ac. The highest cash price
paid for Bounty Land Warrants. Fir Apply to C. W. C.
Wright. Griffin, Ga., for sale of Land Warrants.
REFERENCES.—-John Tiiomuson, Banker, No. 2, Wall
street, and Cahhakt, Buo. & Cos„ New York ; Converse
& Cos., New Orleans. Atlanta, May 16, ’55 ts
.J. M. DORSKY,
J. .WIIRASHER & CO.,
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
Grocers and Commission Merchants,
(At the Warehouse formerly occupied by J.E. Williams,)
A TLANTA £ GEORGIA.
H. JJ. GLENN, A. CIIAMBLESS
May 10, 1855. 3-ts
e. RL WJIXiAIVIS,
RESIDENT PHYSICIAN,
GRIFFIS, GEORGIA.
Hill Street, over Banks’Boot & Slioe Store.
May 3, 1855. ts
Window Glass I
FRENCH Window Glass, of all sizes, f. ■ sale by
Sept 19, hill A. SMlTilti’ss-.
“ fto qp Uiicq cosh)dg oqir Jfce Coqliirt b Oqls.”
GRIFFIN, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 16, 1856.
President’s Message.
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the
House of Representatives:
T he Constitution of the United States pro
vides that Congress shall assemble annually on
the first Monday of December, and it has been
usual for the President to make no communi
cation of a public character to the Senate and
House of Representatives until advised of
their readiness to receive it I have deferred
to this usage until the close of the first month
of the session, but my convictions of duty will
not permit me longer to postpone the discharge
of the obligation enjoined by the constitution
upon the President, “to give to the Congress
information of the state of the Union, and re*
commend to their consideration such measures
as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”
It is a matter of congratulation that the Re
public is tranquilly advancing in a career of
prosperity and peace.
CENTRAL AMERICA
Whilst relations of amity continue to exist
between the United Ssates and all foreign pow
ers, with some of them grave questions are
depending, which may require the considera
tion of Congress. 01 such questions the most
important is that which has arisen out of the
negotiations with Great Britain in reference
to Central Ammea.
By the Convention concluded between the
two Governments on the I9th of April, 1850,
both parties covenanted that “neither will
ever” “occupy, or fortify, or colonize, or as
sume, or exercise any dominion over Nicara
gua, Costa Rica, the Musquito Coast, or any
part of Central America.”
It was the undoubted understanding of the
United States, in making this treaty that all
the present States of the former Republic of
Central America, and tire entire territory of
each, would thenceforth enjoy complete in
dependence ; and that both contracting par
ties engaged equally and to the same extent,
lor the present and for the future ; that if ei
ther then had any claim of right in Central
America, such claim, and 311 occupation of au
thority under it, were unreservedly relinquish
ed by the stipulations ot the Convention, and
that no dominion was thereafter to be exercised
or assumed in any part of Central America by
Great, Britain or the United States.
This Government consented to restrictions
in regard to a region of country wherein wc
had specific and peculiar interests, only upon
the conviction that like restrictions were in the
same sense obligatory on Great Britain
But for this understanding of the force and ef
fect of the ( ouveution, it would never have
been concluded by us.
So clear was this understanding on the part
of the United States, that in correspondence
cotemporaneous with the .ratification of the
< ouvetstion, it was distinctly expressed that
the mutual covenants of non-occupation were
not intended to apply to the British establish
ment at the Balize. This qualification is to be
ascribed to the fact that, in virtue of snecssive
treaties with previous sovereigns cf the coun
try, Great Britain had obtained a concession
of the right to cut mahogany or dye-woods at
the Balize, but with positive exclusion of alt
domain or sovereignty, and thus it confirms
the natural construction and understood im- 1
port of the treaty as to all the rest of the re
gion to which the stipulations applied.
It, however, became apparent., at nn caily
day after entering upon the discharge of my
present functions, that great Britain still con
tinued in the exercise or assertion of large au
thority in nil that part of Central America,
commonly called the Musquito const, and cov
ering flic entire length of the State of ‘Nicara
gua and a part of Costa Rica ; that she re
garded the Balize as her absolute domain, and
was gradually extending its limits at the ex
pense of the State of Honduras; and that she
had formerly colonized a considerable insular
group, known as the Bay Islands, aud belong
ing of right to that State.
All these acts or pretensions of Great Brit
ain, being contrary to the rights of the States
of Ceutral America, and to the manifest tenor
ot her stipulations with the United States, as
understood by this Government, have been
made the subject of negotiation through the
Amer can Minister in London. I transmit
herewith the instructions to him on the sub
ject, and the correspondence between him and
tljc British Secretary for Foreign Affairs, by
tf’hich yon will perceive that the two Govern
ments differ widely and irreconcilably as to
the construction of the Convention and its ef
fect on their respective relations to t’entral
America.
Great Britain so construes the Convention
as to maintain unchanged all her previous pre
tensions over the Musquito Coast, and in dif
ferent parts of Centra! America. ‘1 hesc pre
tensions as to the Mosquito Coast are founded
on the assumption of political relation between
Great Britain and the remnant of a tribe of
Indians on that Const, entered into at a time
when the whole country was a colonial posses
sion of Spain. It cannot be successfully con
troverted that, by the public law of Europe
and America, no possible act of such Indians,
or their predecessors could coufor on Great
Britain any political rights
Groat Britain does not allepc the assent of
Spain as the origin of her claims on the Mus
quito Const. She has, on the contrary, by re
peated arid successive treaties, renounced arid
relinquished all pretensions of her own, and re
cognized the full and sovereign rights of Spain
in the most unequivocal terms. Yet these pre
tensions, so without solid foundation in the be
ginning, and thus repeatedly abjured, were at
a recent period, revived by Great Britain
wgainst the Central American States, the lc
gitimntc successors to all the ancient jurisdic- .
tion of Spain in that region, ‘i hey were
applied only to a defined part of the of!
Nicaragua, afterwards to the whole of its At-1
laotic coast, aud lastly so a part of the cost
of Costa Rica, and they are now re-asserted to
this extent, notwithstanding engagements to
tiie United States
On the eastern coast of Nicaragua and Cos
ta Rica, the interference of Great Britain
though exerted at one time in the form of mil
itary occupation of the port of San Juan del
Norte, then in the peaceful possession of the
appropriate authorities of the Central Amcri
call States, is now presented by her as the 1
rightful exercise of a protectorship over the
Musquito tribe ot Indians.
But the the establishment at the Balize,
now reaching far beyond its treaty limits into
the State of Honduras, and that of the Bay
Islands, appertaining of right to the same
State, are as distinctly colonial Governments
as tho>e of Jamaica or C'anada, and therefore
contrary to the very letter as well as the spirit
of the Convention with the United States, as
it was at the time of ratification and now is
understood by this Government.
The interpretation which the British Gov
ernment, thus in assertion and act, persists in
ascribing to the Convention entirely changes
its character. While it holds us to all our ob
ligations, it iu a great measure releases Great
Britain from those which constituted the con
sideration of this Government for entering in
to tiie jfertu (?ktion It is impossible, in my
judgment, for the United States to acquiesce
in such a construction of the respective rela
lions of the two Governments 1 6 Central
America.
To a renewed call by this Government upon
Great Britain to abide by and carry into effect
the stipulations of the Convention according to
its obvious import, by withdrawing from the
possession or colonization of portions of the
Central American States of Honduras, Nica
ragua ande Costa Rica, the British Govern
ment has at length replied, affirming that the
operation ftf the treaty is prospective only and
did not require Great Britain to abandon or
contract any possessions held by her in Central
America at the date of its conclusion.
Tin? reply substitutes a partial issue, in the
place of the general one presented by the Uni
ted States. The British Government passes
over the question of the rights of Great Brit
ain, real or supposed, in Central America, and
assumes ttmtabe h- and such rights at the date of
the treaty, tif*i-that those rights comprehend
the protectorship of the Musquito Indiana, the
extended jurisdiction and limits of the b alize,
and the colony of the Bay Islands, and there
upon proceeds by implication to in r er, that if
the stipulations of the treaty be merely futnre
in effect, Great Britain may still continue to
hold the contested portions of Central Amcri
ca. The United Slates cannot admit either
the inference or the premises. We steadily
deny that at the date ot the tre-jty, Great
Britain had any possessions there, other than
a limited and peculiar establishment at the Ba
lizt, and maintain that, if she had any, they
were surrendered by the Convention.
This Government, recognizing the obliga
tions of has of course desired to
see it executed in good faith by both parties,
and in the therefore, has not looked
to rights we might assert, independently
of the consideration of our geograph
ical po.5 1 “'djd of o.t.t er circumstances, which
create relations to the Central American States
different from those of any Government of Eu
rope.
The British Government, in its last commu
nication, although well knowing the views of
the United States, still declares that it sees no
reason why a conciliatory spirit may not ena
ble the two Governments to overcome all ob
stacles to a satisfactory adjustment of the sub
ject.
Assured ol the correctness of the construc
tion of the treaty constantly adhered to by
this Government, and resolved to insist on the
rights of the United States, yet actuated also
by the same desire which is avowed by the
British Government, to remove ail causes of
serious misunderstanding between two nations
associated by so many ties of interest and kin
dred, it has appeared to me proper not to con
side! an amicable solution of the controversy
hopeless.
There is, however, reason to apprehend that
wit !j Gteat._Kritat;t in the actual occupation
of the disputed territories, and the treaty
therefore practically null, so far as regards our
rights, this internal difficulty cannot long re
main undetermined without involving in serious
danger the friendly relations which it is the in
terest as well as the duty of both countries to
cherish and preserve. It will afford me sincere
gratification if futnre efforts shall re<nlt in the
success anticipated heretofore with more confi
dence than the aspect of the case permits me
now to entertain,
RECRUITMENT.
One other subject of discussion between the
United States and Great Britain, has grown
out of the attempt which the exigencies of the
war in whirh she is engaged with Russia, in
duced her to make, to draw recruits from the
United .States.
It is the traditional and settled policy of the
United States to maintain impartial neutrality
during tin* wars which from time to time occur
among the jircnt powers of the world. Ber-
duties of neutrality towards the
respectivejbelligercnt States, we may reasona
bly expects them not to interfere with our law
fill enjoyment of its benefits. Notwithstanding
the existence of such hostilities, our citizens
retain theandividual right to continue nil their
accustomed pursuits, by land or by sea, at
home or abroad, subject only to such restric
tions in tlbse relations as the laws of war, the
usage of nations, or special treaties may im
pose ; anti it. is our sovereign right that our
territory tjnd jurisdiction shall not be invaded
h 7 either/Of the beligerent parties, the
transit of j their armies, the operations of
their flee®', the levy of troops for their service,
the fittingout of cruisers by or against cither,
or any oilier act or incident of war. And
these undeniable rights of neutrality, individu
al and national, the United States will under
no circumitnncca surrender.
In pursuance of this policy, the laws of the Uni
ted States lo not forhiu their citizens to sell to oi-
Iheir of thqbeligerent powers articles contraband
‘m ‘iTtShions of War or soldiers on
I board Illicitpri€ k< r mbnitx^ r transportation ; and
although il so#“ e Bh ’l w . .v idual citizen expo-
jseahis ‘"dlY. of the hazards
of war l;isW f Pew?” to . 80n, \ .breach of na
tional neutlf™ do not involve any ,j t the
Governmeipty nor of themselves fth
present wri- ihus ’ during the
national r’ “ 1U b;uropc, our citizous nave, wiUMAm
and therefore, sold gunpowder
tion of (*> all buyers, rognrdlass of the destina
bcen, arnlp ßo articles. Our merchantmen have
tlreaf Hritai; f <' ontmue to bo > lar ß cl y employed by
provisions 4 an( l France in transporting troops,
Seat of miySiW!Kiona of to the principal
iboir sick iftiu'v operations, and in bringing home
<ur morcof 1,(1 wounded soldiers ; but such use ot
Idle marine is not interdicted either by
IrthwHS&OO, fa
the international or by our municipal law, and
therefore does not compromit our neutral relations
with Russia.
But our municipal law, in accordance with the
law of nations, peremptoriully forbids not only for
eigners, but our own citizens, to fit ont within the
United States a vessel to commit hostilities against
any State with which the United States are at
peace, or to increase the force of any foreign armed
vessel intended for such hostilities against a
friendly State.
Whatever concern may have been felt by either
of the beligerent powers lest private armed cruis
ers or other vessels in the service of one, might be
fitted out in the ports of this country to depredate
on the property of the other, all such fears have
proved to be utterly groundless. Our citizens
have been withheld from any such act or purpose
by good faith and by respect for the law.
While the laws of the Union are thus peremp
tory in their prohibition of the equipment of arma
ment of belrgencnt cruisers in our ports, tliey pro
vide not less absolutely that no person shall, with
in tbe territory or jurisdiction of the United States
enlist or enter himself, or hire or retain another
person to enlist or enter himself, or to go beyond
tlie limits or jurisdiction of the United States,
with intent to be enlisted or entered, in the service
of any foreign State, either as a soldier or as ama
rine or seaman on board of any vessel of war, let-
ters of marque, or privateer. And these enact
ments are also in strict conformity with the lay of
nations, which declares that no State has the right!
to raise troops for land or sea service in another
State without it3 consent,and that,whether forbid
den by the municipal law or not, the very attempt
to do it, without such consent, is an attack on the
national sovereignty.
Such being the public rights and the municipal 1
law’ of the United States, no solicitude on the sub- i
ject was entertained by this Government when a
year since the British Parliament passed an act to
provide for the enlistment of foreigners in the mil
itary, service of Great Britain. Nothing on the
.face of the act, or in its public history, indicated
that the British Government proposed to attempt
recruitment in the United States ; nor did it ever
give intimation of such intention to this Govern
ment. It w r as a matter, therefore, of surprise, to
find, subsequently, that the engagement of persons
within the United States to proceed to Halifax, in
the British Province of Nova Scotia, and there
enlist in the servi.ee of Great Britain, was going
on extensively, with little or no disgu’se. Ordina
ry legal steps were immediately taken to arrest
and punish parties concerned, and so put an end to
acts infringing the municipal law, and derogatory j
to our sovereignty. Meanwhile suitable represent
ations on the subject were addressed to the British
Government.
Thereupon it became known, by the admission
of the British Government itself, that the attempt
to draw recruits from this country originated with
it, or at least had its approval and sunction ; but
it also appeared that the public agents engaged in
it had “stringent instructions” not to violate the
municipal law of the United States.
It is difficult to understand how it should have
been supposed that troops could be raised here by
Great Britain without violation of the municipal
law. The nnmistakeable object of the law was to
prevent every such act, which if performed, must
be ‘either In violation of the law, or in studied eva
sion of it, and in either alternative, the act done,
would be alike injurious to the sovereignty of the :
United States.
Iu the meantime the matter acquired additional
importance by the recruitments in the U. States
not being discontinued, and the disclosure of the
fact that they were prosecuted upon a systematic
plan devised by official authority ; that recruiting
rendezvous had been opened in our principal cit ies,
and depots for the reception of recruits established
ob our frontier ; and the whole business conducted
under the supervision and by the regular co-opera
tion of British Officers, civil and military, some in
the North American Provinces, and some in the
United States. The complicity of those officers
in an undertaking which could only be accomplish
ed by defying our laws, throw ing suspicion over
our attitude of neutrality, and disregarding our
territorial rights, is conclusively proved by the
evidence elicited on the trial of such of their agents
as have been apprehended and convicted. Some
of the officers thus implicated are of high official
position, and many of them beyond our jurisdic
tion, so that legal proceeding could not reach the
source of the mischief.
These considerations, and the fact that the cause
of complaint was not a mere casual occurrence,but a
deliberate design, entered upon with full knowledge
of our laws and national policy, and conducted by
responsible public functionaries, impelled me to
present the case to the British Government in or
der to secure not only a cessation of the wrong:, but
its reparation. The subject is still under discus
sion. the residt of which will be communicate to
you in due time.
I repeat the recommendation submitted to the
last Congress, that provision be made for the ap
pointment, of a Commissioner, in connexion with !
Great Britain, to survey and establish the bennda
ry line which divides the territory of Washington
from the contiguous British Possessions. By rea
son of the extent and importance of the country
in dispute, there has been imminent danger of
colission between the subjects of Great Britain
nrd the citizens of the United States, including
their respective authorities in that quarter The
prospect of a speedy arrangement has contributed
h'therto to induce on both sides forbearance to as
sert by force what each claims as a right. Contin
uance of delay on the part of the two Govern
ments to act in the matter, will increase the dan
gers and difficulties of the controversy.
Misunderstanding exists as to the extent, char
acter and value of thopossessory rights of the Hud
son's Bay Company and the property of the Pu
get's Sound Agricultural Company, reserved in j
our treaty with Great Britain relative to the terri
tory of Oregon. 1 have reason to believe that a |
cession of the rights of both companies to the I
United States, which would be the readiest moans j
of terminating all questions, can be obtained on ■
reasonab.e terms ; and with a view to this end, I
present the subject to the attention of Congress.
The Colony of New’ Foundland, having enacted
the laws required by the treaty of the sth day of
June, 1854, is now placed on the same footing, in
respect to commercial intercourse with the United
States, as the other British North American pro
vinces.
The commission which that treaty contemplated
for determining the rights of fishery in rivers and
mouths of rivers on the coasts of the United
States and the British North American Provinces
Ims been organized and has commenced its labors ;
to complete which there is needed further appro
priations for the service of another season.
SOUND DUES.
In pursuance of the authority conferred by a re
solution of the Senate of the United States, pass
ed on the 3d of March last, notice was giver. A
Hcmnark, on the 14th day of April, of the inten
tion of this Government to avail itself of the stip
ulation of the subsisting convention of friendship,
commerce and navigation between that Kingdom
andH! 10 States, whereby either party might
ft r£! n YCars ’ terminate the same at the expira-
U netp5SSCfWM?? f . •““ that
purpose.
The considerations which led ine
teution of Congress to that Convention, and in
duced the Senate to adopt the resolution” referred
to. still continue in full-force. The Convention con
tuius an article which’ although it docs not dircct-
ly engage the United States to submit to the inv
position of tolls on the vessels and cargoes of
Americans passing into or from the Baltic Sea,
di ring the continuance of the treaty, yet may, by
possibility, be construed as implying such submit
sion. The exaction of those tolls not being justi
fied by any principle of international law,” it be
came the right and the duty of the United States
to relieve themselves from “the implication of en
gagement on the subject, so as to be perfectly free
to act in the premises in such way as their public
interests and honor shall demand.
I remain of the opinion that the United States
ought not to submit to the payment of the Sound
Dues, not so much because of tlie : r amount, which
is a secondary matter, but became it is in effect,
the recognition of the right of Denmark to treat
one of the great maritime highways of nations as
a close sea, and the navigation of‘it as a privilege
for which tribute may be imposed upon those wild
have occasion to nse it.
No. 37
The Government on a former occasion not un
like the present, signalized its determination to
maintain the freedom of the seas and of the great
natural channels of navigation. The Barbary
States had fora long time coerced the payment of
tribute from all nations whose ships frequented thd
Mcditcranean. To the last demand of such pay
ment made by them, the United States, although
suffering less by their depredations than many oth*
er nations, returned the explicit answer, that wo
preferred war to tribute, and thus opened the way
to the relief of the commerce of the world from an
ignominious tax, so long submitted to by the more
powerfal nations of Europe.
Ts the manner of payment of the Sound Dues
differs from that of the tribute formerly conceded
to the Barbary States, still their exaction by Den
mark has no better foundation in right. Each was
in its origin, nothing but a tax on a common natu
ral right extorted by those who were at that time
able to ob-itrm-t tbetreo and secure enjoy meet ©C
It, but who no longer possess that power.
Denmark, while resisting our assertion of the
freedom ot the Baltic Sound and Belts, lias indi
cated a readiness to make some new arrangement
on the subject, and has invited the governments in
terested, including the United States, to be
represented in a Convention to assemble for
the purpose of receiving and considering a propo
sition, which she intends to submit, for tlie Capital
ization of the Sound Dues and the distribution of
I the sum to be paid as commutation among the Go
vernments, according to the respective proportions
! of their maritime commerce to and from the Bal
tic. I have declined in behalf of the United States
i to accept this invitation, for the most cogent rca
j sons. One is, that Denmark does not offer to sub
i mit to the Convention the question of her right to
| levy the Sound Dues. A second is, that if the
i Convention were allowed to take cognizance of
that particular question, still it would not be com
petent to deal with the great international princi
j pie involved, which affects the right in other ca
j ses of navigation and commercial freedom as well
|as that of access to the Baltic. Above all, by the
! express terms of the proposition, it is contemplate
j ed that the consideration of the Sound Dues shall
be commingled jwlth utxl made, subordinate to a
matter wholly extraneous, the balance of power
among the Governments of Europe.
While, however, rejecting this proposition, and
insisting on the right of free transit into and front
the Baltic, I have expressed to Denmark a willing
ness. on the part of the United States, to share Ji
! berally with other Powers in compensating berfor
any advantages which commerce shall hereafter
derive from expenditures made by her for the inv
provement and safety of the navigation of the
Sound or Belts.
I lay before you, herewith, sundry docu
ments on the subject, in which my views ard
more fully disclosed. Should no satisfactory
arrangement be soon concluded 1 shall again
call your attention to the subject, with fecom
mendation of such measures as may appear to
be required in order to assert and secure the
rights of the United Stales, so far as they are
affected by the pretentions of Denmark
France.
f announce with much gratification that,
since the adjournment of the last Congress, the
question then existing between this Govern
ment and that of France, respecting the
French Consul at San Francisco, has been
satisfactorily determined, and that the relations
of the two Governmests continue to be of the
most friendly nature.
GKEF.CE
A question also, which has been pending for
several years between the United States and
the Kingdom of Greece, growing out of the
sequestration, by public authorities of that
country, of property belonging to the present
American Consul at Athens, ard which had
been the subject of very earnest discussion hero
toforc, has recently been settled to the satisfac
tion of the party interested and of both Gov
ernments.
SPAIN'.
With Spain peaceful relations are stilt
maintained, and some progress lias been mado
in securing the redress of wrongs complained
of by this Government. Spain lias not only
disavowed and di?ft[ proved the conduct of the
officers who illegally seized and detained the’
steamer Black Warib r at Havana, but has
also paid the sum claimed as indemnity for the
loss thereby inflicted on citizens of the United
States.
In consequence of a destructive hurricane
which visited Cuba in 1844, the supreme au
thority of that island issued a decree nermit
; ting the importation, for the period of six
months, of certain buildingmatorials and provis
ions, free of duty, but revoked it when about
half the period only had elapsed, to the injury
!of citizens of the United States, who had
proceeded to act on the faith of that decree.
1 lie Spanish Government refused indemnifica
tion to the parties aggrieved until recently,-
when it was assented to, payment being promis
ed to be made so soon as the amount due can
be ascertained.
Satisfaction claimed for the arrest and search
of the steamer El Dorado has not yet been
accorded, but there is reason to believe that
it will be, and that case, with others, will
; continue to be urged on the attention of the
Spanish Government. Ido not abandon the
hope of concluding with Spain some general
arrangement, which, if it do not wholly pre*
vent the recurrence of difficulties in Cuba, will
render them less frequent, and whenever they
shall occur facilitate their more speedy settle- 1
ment.
MEXICO.
The interposition of this Government has
been invoked by many of its citizens on account,
of injuries done to their persons and property *
for which the Mexican Republic is responsible;
The unhappy situation of that country for
some time past lias not allowed its Government
to give due consideration to claims of private
reparation, and has appeared to call for and
justify some forbearance in such matters on the
part of this Government. But, it the revolu
tionary movements which have lately oecnred
in that Hepubticcnd in the organization of a
stable Government, urgent appeals to its
justice will then be made, and, it may be hoped,
wiJif.A.nceess.for the rcdiess of all complaints of
our citizens.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
11l regard to the American Republics,
which, from their proximity and other consider-*
ations, have peculiar relations to this Govern-*
ment, while it has been my constant aim strictly
to observe all the obligations of political friend
ship and of good neighborhood, obstacles to
this have arisen in some of them, from their
own insufficient power to check lawless irrap-
