Newspapers / The North Carolinian (Wilson, … / Dec. 31, 1859, edition 1 / Page 2
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Tiie Weekly Noifli Carolinian. P. J. SINCLAIR, EBnB PuorRiETOB. FAYETTEVlItLE, N- C SATURDAY, December 31. 1859. Cash SvSTior. Vrofn ant't after tiie VZth day of August none other than ca&t subscriptions will be received for the Daily or IVfekty .Xorlh Carolinian, rtftd the names of all persons who have not paid their arrearages will be vtricken from our mail hooks on ih e first day of ianuary next. We are compelled to this course in i-onsequence of the large amount of' nunty which is inure due this eslublrsh menS. All monies mailed t us will he at our risk- President's Message. FMow Citizciis of the Senate and House of Representatives: Our deep and heart-felt gratitude is due to thut Almighty Power which has bestowed upon us such varied and numerous blessings through out the past year. The general health of the country has. been excellent ; our harvests hare been unusually plentiful, and prosperity smiles throughout the laud. : Indeed, notwithstand ing our demerits, we have much reason to be lieve from the past cvelits in our uistorj', that we have enjoyed the special protection of Di vine Providence ever since our origin as a na tion. VVe have been exposed to many threat ening and alarming difficulties in our progress; but on each successive occasion the impending cloud has been dissipated at the moment it appeared ready to burst Upon our head, and the danger to our institutions has passed away. May we ever be under the divine guidance and protection ! Whilst it is the duty of the President "from time to time, to give to Congress information of the stale of the Union," I shall not refer in detail to the recent sad and bloody occurrences at Harper's Ferry. Still, it is proper to ob serve that these events, however bad and cruel in themselves, derive their chief importance lioiu t ue apprehension that tliey are but symp toms of an incurable d sease in the public mind, which may break out in still more d fgerous outrages and terminate at last in an open war ' by the North to abolish slavery in the South. I Whilst, for niysolf, 1 entertain no such appre hension, thev ouirlit to afford a solemn warning CONCESSIONS. The Democratic parry at 'ashington have distin guished themselves this yer, so far as thwir numer ous concessions to the othr faction called Opposi tion. "We think this in a certain sense i! enmmend- able, and have been pleas&I to notice the fact, but we also think they have niflc enough have offered all the inducements whiehiright and duty demand ed to elect a Speaker, and yc are constrained to is sue our protest against any more. The Opposition seems determined to hold .out until a Black Repub licun is elected, and although they do not actually support the Black Republican nominee, the thing is too obvious to deny that ithey are guilty of indirect support to Shkuman. Now our advice is, and we believe the true senti merits of the Dcmoeiktts ; of the "rl t ongressiooa i to us all to beware ot the approach ot danger district, that our representatives in company with i Our Union is a stake of silch inestimable value ,1 V- nr At i ! . . . f 1 ttiiu uciure me lerniwy is preparea lor aumissiot a a State into Union this decision, one way we j other, will h-ive been a foregone conclusion. II if while the settlement of the new Territory will i cced without serious interruption, and its prof t and prosperity will not be endangered or reti by violent political struggles. t f j When in the progress of events the inhabit " any Territory shall have reached the numbv quired to form a State, they will then proceed j regular mauuer, and in the exercise of the rig popular soqoreignty, to form a constitution p atory to admission into the Union. After tt been done, to employ the language of the I, and Nebraska act, they ' shall be received h tinion with or without slavery, as their consti may prescribe at the time of their admission. sounu principle lias hippily been reeognunsti some form or other, by an almost unanimous voU botti houses of the bust Congress. All lawful means at my command have becp ployed, and shall continue to be employed, to cute toe laws against the African slave-trade. -ter a most careful and rigorous examination of i coasts unt a thorough investigation of the subjy we ha've not been able to discover that any slar have been imported into the United States cxel the cargo by the Wanderer, numbering betwj three anU four hundred. Those engaged in tliisll lawful enterprise have been rigorously prosecute! but not with as much success as their crimes h deserved. A number of them are still under prl ecu tion. - J Our history proves that the Fathers of the Itepii lie, in advance of all other nations, condemned t. davs. The numerous victims required to supply it - by the cabinet of Madrid as a reason against would convert the whole slave coast into a perfect Pandemonium, for which this country would be held responsible in the eyes both of Gpd and man. Its petty tribes would then be constantly engaged irf predatory wars against each other for the purpose of seizing slaves to supply the American market. Ail hones ot African civilization , would thus be Mded. t , On the other hand, when a market for African laves shall no longer be furnished in Cuba, and Jims all the world be closed against this ti'ade, we fY indulge a reasonable hope for the gradual im provement of Africa. The chief motive of war junong the tribes will cease whenever there is no j longer, any demand tor slaves. Ine resources oi .hat fertile but miserable country might then be t developed by the hand of industry and afford sub- i J jects for legitimate foreign and demestio commerce. gradually penetrate the existing gloom. .UJUba wisdom of tho course pursued by this Gov r fCnnient towards China has been vindicated by the Tent Whilst we sustain a neutral position in the i Max 'Waged by Oreat fir 1 tain and 1- ranee against the Chinese empire, our late minister, in obedience "O his instructions, judicously co-operated with the ministers of these powers in all peaceful measures tt) secure by treaty the just concessions demanded by the interests of foreign commerce. The result it that satisfactory treaties have been concluded with China by the respective ministers of the Uni fied States Great Britain, France, and Russia. Our ' ''treaty, or general convention of peace, am ty, and eommerce, witli thut empire was concluded at Tient "ffon the 18th June, 1853, and was ratified by the jt'resdeht, by and with the advice and consent of the the settlement of our claims I need not repeat the arguments which urged in my last annual message in favor the acquisition of Cuba by fair purchase, therefore, asraiu invite the serious attention of the republic to General Zuloaga. The constitu tion provided that in the abs enee of the President j nis omce snouia aevoive upon me uiuei Jiistico ot jleft the country, this functionary, Gea. Ju.uez, pi-o- I ceeded to form, at Guanajuato, a constitoti.ui.il gov 1 ! eminent. Before this was olliciallv known. Im wever Congress to this important subject. Without j at the capital, the government of Zuloaga had nceu a recognition of this policy on their part, it' j recognized by the entire diplomatic corps, including will bTalmost impossible to institute negotia- i the minister of the United Stales, as tuc U fa-i tions with any reasonable prospect of success .! government of Mexico. The constitutional Until a recent ueriod there was good reason I jfcnt nevertheless, mamUuned las portion with Until a receus periou ineie was h tn . hrmness, and was soon estahlihed with his cabinet to believe that I should be able to announce to , at Vcra Cfuz AIeanwhUc the vcrniuent of Zulo. you on the present occasion that our difficulties , aga Was curnestiy rct,i.stt.j ;,, umiiy j,alts of tic re with Great Britain, arising out of the Clayton public, and even in the capital, a portion of ti.e al and Bulwer treaty, had been finally adjusted j my having pronounced against it, its functions were in a manner alike" honorable and satisfactory j declared terminated, and an assembly of citizens tO both parties From causes, however, which i was invited for the choice of a new President. Tins the British government had not anticipated, ! "J ftvd. UuneVai Mjrmo, but that otiicer . . i,i .. ,. repudiated the plan under w hich he was chosen, and they have not yet completed treaty an ange-; ZuJ was ths lx.,tored t-his .uvious Slli ments with the republics of Honduras and ic- j 1Ie a!iSum(.(1 it however, only to withdraw from it, aragua, in pursuance ui uic uuciouhiuiu6 wv l ano. Aliramon, Having become, by Ula appointment tween the two governments. It is, neverthe- j " President Substitute," continues, w ith that title, less, confidently expeeted that this good work at the head of the insurgent party, will ere long be accomplished. In my last annual message I communicated to Con- Whilst indulo-in"- the hone that no other 1 SreS:i the circumstances under which the late Mm- subject remained which could disturb the good j J" "r ates suspended h.s omc.a reia- J . .. .. tlous w nil tne. ceiiti-:il frnv4.rr111w.nt- and itrnliew ' African slave-trade It was, notwithstanding, deea ed expedient by the trainers of the Constitution j deprive congress oi toe power to promtiMfc "tne bib lsnAt on the 21st I)er-..ndi(r rnlWIno gnilion or importation of such pefi as any.oSr'' T Qu the 15th December, lf35c!, John E. Ward, a ouues now existing shall think proper to adifi lrft3njruishBil citizen nf (lnrr ln!v omminc. 'prior to the year one thousand eight huudrev understanding between the two countries, the question arising out of the adverse claims of the oarties to the Island of San Juan, under eovernment. from the country. It was impossible to maintain friendly intercourse with a government, like that at the capital, under whose usurped authority wrongs the Oregon treaty of the 15th of June, 1646, were constantly committed, but never redressed. ti'-iit. the body of the partj-, rctSiseany further concessions j nominate a candidate-, and never hav htm un that' party which hol!sthe balance of power wil be compelled to take ati active part either (or or against the f,uth. j Offers have been maie to them to select from amongst us any on thJy choose and the Demo crats have pledged thiysclves to support such a man. They have also aked of them to allow t5ie Democrats to select fromitheir ranks such a man as ! would meet with the approbation of the Democrats in CongrefK, and all of hose overt ires have been indignantly rejected. Consequently let the Demo crats fall back upon their nominee, or take some unexceptionable, northerp Democrat. " The excuse that was inade as a justification of tlleir course, when Ranks, of Mass., was elected Speaker, has now piisseif from them, for the Demo cratic party to cc.nil.itii th-jm have even dropped their own nominee and vfcre willing to vote for any Ih:tn selected by them. ; ; Let the people bear in'mind that these Democrats have made all the concessions, for the purpose of evading the election of a Ttl.-ick Republican, and that all their overtures : have been spurned by the Opposition. i as to demand our constant and watchful vigi lance for its preservation. lit ihis view, let me implore my cou itryiuen, North ami South, to cultivate the ancient feelings of mutual for bearance and fjood-wiU towards each other, and strive to u-lhiy the demon spirit of section al hatred and strife now alive in the laud. Tins advice proceeds from the heart of an old public tu:iotionary, whose service commenced in the last generation, among the wise and conserva tive statesmen ot that day, now nearly all pas-1 sua away, and whose tirsi. and dearest earthiy j wish is to leave his country tranquil, prosperous, united and powerful. We ought to reflect that in this age, and! especially in this country, there is an incessant i llux and reflux of public opinion. Q-iestious which in their day, assumed a most threaten ing aspect, have now nearly gone from the memory of men. They are " volcanoas burnt out, and on the lava and ashes and squalid scoria? of old eruptions grow the peaceful olive, the cheering v. ne, and the sustaining corn." Such, in my opinion, will prove to be the fate of the present sectional excitement, should those who wisely seek to apply the remedy, continue always to confi.ie their efforts within the pale of the constitution. II this course be pur- It will be seen that this restriction on the piM'c; of Congress was confined to such States only a: mi'' lit in ink proper to admit the importation ' slaves. It did not exteud to other States or to he trade cu rled on abroad. Accordingly, we till that so early as tne 22d March, 171H, Congress passed an act imposing severe penalties and punishments upon citizunsaud residents of the United cjiulcs who snould engage in this trade between fureii nations. Tne provisions of this act were extended a)id enforc ed by the act of tUth May, 1800. ! Again : The States themselves had a clear right to waive the constitutional privilege Utended for tueir benefit, and to prohibit, by their j own laws, UsTtJnguished citizen of Georgia, was duly commis roy extraordinary und misistor pleni iirTs-wHW J4ieit in-ismGXl statPfr the place of his destination ou the 5th of February, lboy, bearing with linn the ratified copy ot this treaty, and arrived at Shanghai on the 2rfth May. I rom thence he proceeded to Peking ou the Itith June, but did not arrive in that city until the 27th July. According to the trea y the ratifications were to b exchanged on or before the 13th June, lSjy. This was rendered impossible by reasons and events beyond his control, not necessary to detail ; but still it is due to the Chinese authorities at Shanghai to state that tiiey always assured hiin no advantage should be taken of the delay, and this pledge has been faithfully redeemed. Uu tlie arrival ot Mr. ard at Pekincr he reouos mis trade at any time they thought proper previous tH, an .iu,lit.,ic(j of the Elmoror t .0!llt hlJ lel. to 1808. Several ot them exercised th j tcr of cwuVnco. This he uid not obtain, in conse- lore tuat period, and among them some? conta. . g of Uijj Vl.ry pr r ..j to sub uit to tiie 1!,.. ,rri.t,!,.t liniiilwr lit ul.lVl'J TllK TSV1! tO LOU" 1 i- . W 1 1 ... o : o . . .. 1 iiuuiiiiaiu ' ceremonies rei miss lli.! imnu-diate power to act in regard to all .such States, because they themselves had removed the constitutional barrier. Congress accordingly pass ed an act on USUI r'ebruary, 1803, "to prevent tho importation of certain persons into certain fctates where, by the laws thereof, their admissien is1 pro hioited." In this manner the importation of Afri can slaves into the United States was, to a great extent, prohibited some years in advance of 1S08. As tho year lSuS approached, Congress detfcruiin- d not to suifer this trade to esist even tor a single day after thev had the power to abolish it. On the j 2a of March, 1807, they passed an act to take effect j "from and after the 1st of January, 1808," prohibit j ingthe importation of African slaves into the United j Suites. This was followed by subsequent acts of a suddenly assumed a threatening prominence. In order to prevent unfortunate collisions on that remote frontier, the late Secretary of State, on the 17th July, 1855, addresesed a note to Mr. Crampton, then British minister :it. Wnyhintrtnn not n mil nifii t i n it tn him n. ponv instructigwjtujhje liv. Marcy .ad given, on the 14th July, to UOTs, atcvej.'S, not Washington Territory, having a special refer ence to an "apprehended conflict between our citizens and the British subjects on the Island of San Juan." To prevent this, the governor was instructed "that the officers of the Territo ry should abstain from ali acts on the disputed grounds which are calculated to provoke any conflicts, so far as it can be done without imply ing the concession to the authorities of Great Uri-tain of an exclusive right over the premises. The title ought to be settled before either par ty should attempt to exclude the other by force, or exercise complete and exclusive sov ereign rights within the fairly disputed limits." Had this been an established e-ovemment, with its power extending, by the consent of the people, over the wholeof Mexico, a resort to hostilities against it would have been quite justifiable, and indeed nec essary. Rut the country was a prey to civil war ; and it was hoped that the success of the constitu tional President miuht lead to a condition of things Jess i'ijurioas to tltx cniWLAtoir ''b came so probable that, in January last, I employed. a reliable agent to visit Mexico, and report to me the actual condition and prospects of the contending parties. In consequence of his report, and li om in formation which reached me from other sou.ee.-, favorable to tho prospects of the constitutional cause,, I felt justified in appointing a new minister to Mexico, who might embrace the earliest suitable opportunity of restoring "our diplomatic relations with that republic. For this purpose a distinguished citizen of Maryland was sele ted, w ho proceeded on his mission on the 8th of March last, with discretion- I ary authority to recognise tho government d l'resi ! dent Jaurez, if on his arrival in Mexico he should i find it entitled to such recognition, according to the established practice of the L'i ited States. ( In the I 7th of April followiiur. Mr MeLane presented bis . We can not promise ur readers at what time we will be able to place thts President's Message before them. It is evident, ljiwevcr, that it will not be j transmitted until after New Year, and its we wil doubtless b moving or establishment to a more Commodious building ore Green Street, we may have o suspend the publication of our Daily two num bers. If so our reader will please bear with us. Our advertisers will noj loose by it, as we will in sert extra for the delay; Since wntin-' the above the 1 'resident s Message i has come to hand, and: we would here return our llcinks to the Hons. Tf I.. Clingman and 'Warren AVinslow for copies of "the tamc. We will give it in tuli to-morrow. The President recommends the purchase of Cuba. The sending of a sufficient force into Mexico to pro tect the lives and property of our citizens. He i Fpeuks in strong terms against the slave trade, and considers tho question if slavery in the territories ns settled by the Supreme Court. He also recom - mends un additional revenue to meet tho demands of tins creditors of the government. Ml :'d the eXiStimr ai-ilatiini on the subject of di . : cl,-.i---i,.v tn ivb;.li I ho.mI not snnri.-iH v re- ! ... -i - - - . ..." , ', .... " ... I. r i w ... to unserve uiestic slavery, use everytuiiig unman, win nave i icr. suai were me principles aim tuui uicinui. its day and give place to other and less threat! tice of our ancestors more than fifty years ago iu J O I .... I i . . i: - ..i .... 1 . i.,m; t n reiraru to ine .vuicaii siave traue. It did not occur to CliALrESOKn. Tom- Marshall, of Kentucky, has Iim.ii challenged to Hirfit a duel at Dubuque. The ... - - o rouble com need in Che bar-room of the .Tulien , by Tom's telling a noisy custonur that his brain were located somewhere else than in his head. Jf ft will be seen; by reference to our advertis ing columns, that the Jlank of Fayetteville has de clared a semi-annual; dividend of five per cent., payable on the 2nd Japuaiy, 1300. Hi: Epitok: I see "in a town paper, a communi cation signed f 'itizi n, Eulogising the present wo rt y Mayor and Conimiasfoners. When I read it I thought I was in some large city; but upon looking around I find it old Payetteville yet, with as bad gji'e walks as ever disgraced any town. Hut there Is a few new walks ulxiut the market, and one bridge being made new. Uy rivuding the communication of 'Citizen," one at a'distance would suppose the Mayor and Commissioners had built the Railroad and" this works dnringjthc past year. And to "A vot.-r" in the same paer, I would say that, I don't t'.ink any man has tfui right to do business that requires the town to kisep a guard to keep order at the expense of the quiet citizens. I am opposed to a hired guard' in a town Shat is taicd as high as the ciiizuns of Favettevilleidre. t TAXES. We give placo to the above communica tion from ''faxes," without expressing any opinion, thereon; to our knowcledge, but one set of candiates areiu the field, we ofi ourse do not take grounds, for or against. Wo would s ty, h iwever, that o ir present Town Officers are good enough for us. einng controversies. 1 ublic opinion m country is all powerful, and when it reaches a dangerous excess upon any question, the good sense of the people will furnish the corrective and bring it back within safe limits. Still, to hasten this auspicious result, at the present crisis, we ought to remember that every ration al creature must be presumed to intend the natural consequences of his own teachings. Those who announce abstract doctrines sub- r .!... v -l .1... TT..: vcianc ui uic vuiiMii nun uim tiic union,- . , - . , . ,c, ... i j , . , . , ,i ,i - i . j . ! they imagined tliat Congress would po.- 5",r"!' sncMii.i men U..UI-U ! cr to proiiibit the trade either beloro or tisans advance One step further, and attempt I thl.v not have taken so much care 1 1 it v I I - 1 1 r . 1 1 t-tfrn I liuu t.wif fititif int : " miM a ileal errect. In this view of the subject it ought that period. Nay more, they would not have atUJIi never to be forgotten that, however great may cd such vast importance to this provision as to he have been the political advantages resulting I excluded it from the possibility of future repealer it . . , amendment. lt wnicli otuer ponions oi iue iv- the I; nitiii to nvrr nortinn ot our coiumou aiiiinumci w ""K 1 . . .. . . . .: 1 . .. i siitutioo w ere exiw)scd. it would, men, uae oeen imred by the etiouette ot this strange people iu approaching their sov ereign. Nevertheless the interviews on this ques tion were cunuueteu in tne most friendly spirit and with all due regard to his personal feelings and the honor of his country. When a presentation to his Majesty was found to be impossible, the letter of credence from the President was received with pe culiar honors by Kweiliang, "the Kmpeior's prime niiuister and t!io second uiun in the empire to the Emperor himself." The ratifications of the treaty were afterwards, on the lGth of August, exchanged in proper form at l'ei-tsang. As the exchange did not take place until after the day prescribed by the treaty, it is deemed proper, before its publication, again to submit it to the Senate. It is but simple justice to the (. hinese authorities that, throughout the whole transaction, ' they appear to have acted in good faith and in a j friendly spirit towards the United S:ates. It is In acknowledging the receipt on the next day of j credentials to President Jaurez. havinir no hesitu- Mr Marey's note, the British minister expressed his j tion "iu pronouncing the government of Jaurez to entire concurrence " in the propriety of the course ' be the only existing government of the Republic." recommended to the governor of Washington Ter- He was cordially received by the authorities at ritory by your Mr Marey's instructions to that j yera Cruz, and thev have ever since manifested the officer," and stating that Im had "lost no time in . most friendly disposition towards the United Stab-s. transmitting a copy of that document to the gov- Unhappily, however, the constitutional governuiviit eminent general of British North America," and had j has not been, able to establish its power over the " earnestly recommended to his Excellency to take j whole republic. It is supported by a large inajm is such measures as to him may appear best calculated Qf the people an.l the States, but there are iuip.Vtaill to secure, on the part of the British local authori- j j,arts of the country where it can enforce no ob.-di-ties and the inhabitants of the neighborhood of the : ence. General Miramon maintains himself at On line in question, the exercise of the same spirit of capital ; and in some of the distant provinces there .forbearance which is inculcated by you Mr Marcy ; are military governors who pay little respect to the .1., i. .i -f i..tt:,..i t;...e. hi , . . 1 - . . 1 uu un- auui.ii uii-s unu iniitus ui uiu u uucu can's. Uecrees oi either government. In the mean tune Thus matters remained upon the faith of this ar- the excess which always attend upon civil war, espe rangement until the 9th July last, when Gen. Har- j ciallv in Mexico, are constantly recmrin-. Outra-es nev paid a visit to tne island. lie tound dutuur back for may oe consist The conduct of received my en- the revered patriots who had "' "-r ''"" peculiar - 1 T.i ii in I. iir ii'ii niiilir T. . , , . I .... tU 1 ... ...... i bee., dele .rates to the convention, and afterwards i .' v" " u "'"'"' became mT-mbers of Congress, that iu passing these j " toms ot an empire I laws thev had violated lite Conststution whien they i thousands of years, so tar as this had trained with so much care and deliberation, cut w.th our own national honor. Thev smmoscd that to Prohibit Congress in express ' minister on tho occasion has : it-mis. from cXercisimrasucciticd power before an ap- ! tire approbation. pointed day, necessarily involved the right to exer- j Iu order to carry out the spirit of this treaty, and cise this po.ver after that day had arrived. j to give it full effect, it became necessary to coii- lftiiis were not the case, the framers o'ihe Con-1 cluue two supplemental conventions tiie one for stitulion had expended much labor in viilin. Had the adjustment and satisfaction of tho claims ot our no pow- ctizeiis, anu tne otuer to nx tiie tariu on imports ter lSuS, ' and exports, and to regulate the transit duties and jssiflt no pow or Jner 1 SuS, are protect from the U country, these would all prove lobe as nothing should the time ever arrive when they cannot be enjoyed without serious danger to the sonal safety of the people of fil'teeu members of the confederacy II the peace of the domestic tireside throughout these States should ever be invaded if the mothers of families within this extensive region should not be able to retire to rest at night without suffering dreadbd appre hensions of what may be their own fate and that ol their children before the morning it would be vaiu to recount to such a people the political benefits which result to thetu from the Union. Self preservation is tne Urst instinct of nature; and therefore any state of society in u-ud -rrr rrrr ventions bear date at Shanghai on ot our merchants wn V i" n t iuii;l fins duty ws too niTTTn-Tefr These the Slh No. , u I ..... i. . . - 1 , . . . . uj'j- 'o iecn eoustui-reu in the h dit of binding agret nieuts subsidiary to the principal treaty, and to be carried into execution with ut delay, they do not provide for anv formal ratifiea- Pe" I tutun: i . ............. . ... t. .... II... i-i it. I x i-i i . i i.t i ...... . . ......i........ ... ..:iz. i wnony uiiuecess i. n vnitin n mv. .w... ...uw.w , Uin o lAiuaui; oi laiiueaiious iy the contractinT the Constitution, prescribing the mode of its owu j parties. This was not deemed necessary by the amendment, the proviso, that no amend- j Chinese, who are already proceeding in good faith nieiit which may be maue prior to me cuouu to salisly the t launs ot our citizens, and, it is hoped thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any man- to carry out theother provisions of the o u ventions' ur affect" the provision in the Constitution secur- jjtill 1 thought it was proper to submit them to tiie ing- to the State the right to admit the importation Senate, by which they were ratified on the i 1 Un? ratified copies, however, did rhai umi after the .1 ..-.. ,.f- I'll Si I ! ies. of .African slaves previous to that period. March, IojU. According to the adverse construction, tne clause t not reach shun;. Itself, ou which so much care and discussion had been employed bv the members of the convention, was an aosolute nullity from the beginning, and all that hac since been done under it a mere usurpa tion. It was w ell and wise to confer this power on Con gress, because, had it been left to tin States, its ef- would have been impossible. In ARRIVAL (fF THE ARAGO. New Yonk, Dec. 2.--Thc Arago from Liverpool 14-th, has been signaled.5- She w ill not be up before 7 o'clock. ; Baltimore, ell day. Dec. 2S. -It has been snowing here MEXICAN NEWS. New Oki.k.vnR, Dec. 27. The steamer Tennessee from Vera Cruz, reports Jhat thn Miramon Govern ment have protested agauist Molme-Jaurez treat' of the 8th. " Miramon haa in his possession all but $200,000 of the specie which was seised by Maqucz. DESTRUCTIVE FIRlf AT NEW ORLEANS. Few Obleaxs. Dec. 2(fe The jewelry store of Messrs Hyde & Coodrich.Jin Canal street, wi.s de stroyed bv fire on Sundau. The loss is estimated at $100,000 ; Utica. N. Y. Dec. 20.x-The Hon Timothy Jen kins died on Saturday a Martinsburg, wdiere he was in attendance at Coijrt. He had represented his county in Congress, nd was one of the most distinguished lawyers in central New York. Till- UNITED STATES TREASURY NOTES. WAsnixTON, Dec. 27 The priqvcala for the remainder of the $2e0 000 Treasury notes were open to-i!ay. Thf aiids amounted to about $r loO.OO'O. The sura 5f $125 000 was taken nt 3 p.-r cent, and the: balance will be dis triouted pro rale nmong Uia other bidders. Who all offered 6 pr ccnl. : i. .i . .. i ii .i . . . i .i lieieut exercise ",' w e hw",ru 15 an, Ule ,ue susi.e-.ueu over , ih;it . ;mvonu u, could have effectually con- me iieaus oi tiie p- opie, must at least uecoiuc. .utolerable JJut I indulge iu no such gloomy forebodings. On the.coutrary, I firmly believe that the events at Harper's Ferir, by causing the people to pause and reflect upon the possi ble peril to t teir cherished institutions, wiil be tho means, under Providence, of allaying the existing excitement and preventing future out breaks of a similar character. They will re solve that the Constitution and the Union shall not b;: endangered by rash counsels, knowing that, should ' the silver cord be loosed or the golden bowl be broken at the fountain," human power coird never reunite the scattered and hostile IragmelitS. I Jjrjially so:igr.itulatj you upon tho flljal settle ment by the Supreme Court of the Unite'! Stales of the question of slavery in the Territories, which had I presented an aspect so truly lormiuaiue av tne com mencement ot my administration. I ne right lias been established of every citizen to to take his pro perty of any kind, including slaves, i ito the common Territ-H'ies belonging equally to all the States of the Confederacy, and to have it protected there under the Federal Constitution. Neither Congress nor a territorial legislature nor any human power has any authority to annul or impair this vested right. The I supreme judicial tribunal of the country, which is a co-ordinate branch of he Government, has sanc tioned and ailirmed these principles of constitutional law, so manifestly just iu themselves, and so well calculated to promote peace and harmony among the States. It is a striking proof of the sense of justice which is inherent in our people, that tho property in slaves has never been disturbed, to my knowledge, in any of the Territories. Even throughout the late troubles in Kansas there has not been any at tempt, as I am credibly informed, to interfere, in a single instance, with the right of the master. Had any such attempt been made, the judiciary would doubtless have aiforded an adequate remedy. Should they fail to do this hereafter, it will then be time enough to strengthen their hands by further legisla tion. Had it been decided that either Congress or the territorial legislature po.ssc.ss the power to annul or impair the right to property in slaves, the evil would be intolerable. In the latter event, there would be a struggle for a majority of the memoers of the legislature at each succesive election, and the sacred rights of property held under the Feder al Constitution would depend for the time being on the result. The agitation would thus be rendered incessant whilst the territorial condition remained, and its baneful influence would keep alive a dan gerous excitement among the people of the several States. Thus has the status of a Territory, during the intermediate period from its first settlement until it shall become a State, been irrevocably fixed by the final decision of the Supreme Court. Fortunate has this been for the prosperity of the Territories, as well as the tranquility of the States. Now, emi grants from the North and the South, the East and the West, will meet in the territories on a common platform, having brought with them that species of property best adapted, in their own opinion, to pro mote their welfare. From natural causes the slavery question will in eucb case soon virtually settle itself; linn. .d the t.-.i'di; not only for itself but for all the other slave States, though never so much against their will. And why i ISecause African slaves, when once brought within tne limits of any one State, jn accordance with its laws, cannot practical ly be excluded trom any other State whe.e slavery exists. And even if all the States had separately passed laws prohibiting the importation ot slaves, these laws would have faded ot effect for want of a naval force to capture the slaves and to guard the coasts. Such a force no State can employ in time of peace without the consent of Congress. These acts of Congress, it is believed, have, with very rare and insignindfnt exceptions, accomplished their purpose. F or a period of more than half a century there has been no perceptible addition to the number of our domestic slaves. During tins period their advancement iu civilization lias far sur passeu that ot any other portion of thu African race, ilie light and the blessings of Christiauity have been e tended to them, and both their moral and physical condition has been greatly improved. Keopen the trade, and it would be difficult to de termine whether the effect would be .more deleteri ojs on the interests of ttie master or on those ot the native-born slave. Ol the evils to the master, tire one most to bedreaded would be the introduction .' i i .1 .ml i .mm';, i.r. l..'11-oa.rians anions oi I11. in -1 1 1 11, ii . n nl.,.r ..r-.lei-lv Illld UUlct slaYCS, W KO have been on the soil for several generations. This might teuu to barbarize, demorah,e,and oxasperate the whole mass, and pr oduce most deplorable con sequences, 'l'he effect upon the existing slave would, if possi ble, be still more deplorable. At present he is treat ed with kindness and humanity, lie is well fed, well clothed, and not overworked. His Condition is incomparably better than that of the coolies which modern nations of high civilization have employed as a substitute lor African slaves. Both the philan thropy and the self interest of the master have com bined to produce this human result. But let this trade bo reopened, and what will be the effect? l'he same, to a considerable extent, as on a neigh boring island the only spot now ou earth where the African slave-trade is openly tolerated and this in defiance of solemn treaties with a power abun dantly able at any moment to enforce their execu tion. There the master, intent upon present "ain, extorts from the slave as much labor ashis physical powers are capable of enduring knowing that, when death comes to his relief, his pla a can be supplied at a price reduced to the lowest point by the competition of rival African slave-traders. Should this ever be the case in our country which I do not deem possibhs the present useful charac ter of the domestic institutions, wherein those too old and too young to work and provided for with care and humanity, and those capable of labor are not overtasked, would undergo an unfortunate change. The feeling nf reciprocal dependence and attachment which now exists between master and slave would be converted into mutual distrust and hostility. But we are obliged as a Chistian and moral na tion to consider what would be the effect upon the unhappy Africa itself if we should reopen the slave- trade. "This would frive the trade an impulse and extension which it has never had even in its palmiest minister to l eiiiinr. una thi-se ......i...... ...,. i.i not, therefore, be exchanured at th. c-nn,. t;... -;k No dollbt is entertained l!i it d by the Chinese government, snould this be thought advisial.le ; but under the circumstances presented, I shall consider them binding engagements from ih,.;.- ,l..t.. u..t). the prim ip il treaty. they will uo iititicl unci t'icliitnij parties, and cause itiem to be puoli.-hed as such for the information and guidance of tom- merchants traduur with the Chinese empire. It affords me much satisfaction to inform vou that all our difficulties with the republic of Para guay have been satisfactorily adjusted. It happily did not become necessary to employ the force for this purpose wuich Congress had placed at my command, under their joint resolution of 2d June, loot!. On the contravy, the President of that re public, in a friendly spirit acceded promptly to the just and reasonable demands of the Government of the United States. Our commissioner arrived at Assumption, the capital of the republic, ou the 2oth ol January, ISoi), and left it on the 17th of Februa ry, having in three weeks ably and successfully ac complished all the objects of his mission. "The treaties which he has concluded will be immediate ly submitted to the Senate. in the view that tho employment of other than peaceful means might become necessary to obtain "just satisfaction" from Paraguay, a strong naval force was concentrated in the waters of tne Ija Plata to await contingencies, whilst our commis sioner ascended the rivers to Assumption. The Navy Department is entitled to great credit for the promptness. flipii.nf n.i . . . -i i. . -1 iiuiiviiit nun upon it 25 American residents with their families, and also an establishment of the Hudson s Bay Company for the purpose of raising sheep. A short time be fore his arrival one of these residents had shot an animal belonging to the Company, whilst trespassing upon his premises, for which, however, he offered to pay twice its value; but thnt was refused. Soon after ' the chief factor of the company at Victoria, Mr Dalles, son-in-law of Governor Douglas, came to the island iu the British sloop of war Satellite, and threatened to take ' this American (Mr Cutler) by force to Victoria, to answer for the tresspass he had committed.' The American seized his rifle and told Mr. Dalles if any such attempt was made he would kill him on the spot. The affair then ended." Under these circumstances, the American settlers presented a petition to the General " through the xfm-ctrdt itrrmAs Inspector or customs, Mr flubbs, to place a force upon the island to protect them from the Indians as well as the oppressive interference of the authorities of the Hudson Hay Company at Vic toria with their rights as American citizens.'" The General immediately responded to this petition, and ordered Cap. George E. Pickett, 9th infantry, "to establish his company at Bellevue, or San Juan is land, on some suitable position near the harbor at the southeastern extremity." This order was promptly obeyed, and a military post was establish ed at the place designated. The force was after wards increased, so that by the last return the whole number of troops then ou the island amounted in the aggregate to ti'.l men. Whilst 1 do not deem it proper on the present oc casion to go further into the subject, and discuss i..e uSiii v. un.!. uiigni i ou .iiiaiaieu to mi? aiaic- : teased nave only obtained their liberty after in: meuiA oi me coiomai auinoruies, contesting tne ; suilerin-r and uniirv and without ..i ..... dress. The wholesale massacre of I'V.-iiiLe oi l hi; I of the worst description are committed both umu i persons and property. There is scarcely any form of injury which has not been suffered by our eiii ! zens in Mexico during the last few years. " We have j been nominally at peace with that republic, but ".-o ! far as the interests of our commerce or of our eiti- zens who have visited the country as merchants. I shipmasters, or in other capacities are cnnccrnc.l. we might as well have been at war." Life has been , insecure, property unprotected, and trade impo-Mbl,-i except at a risk of loss which prudent men caiun.t be expected to incur. Important contracts, involving large expenditures, entered into by the central gov j eminent, have been set at defiance by the lo.-al I governments. Peaceful American residents, o, . u- pying their rightful possession, have In I expelled the country, iu defiance of trea l the mere force of nrliilrary rever. I-.Ven lie ; of justice has not been safe from the c uiiroi, ! recent decree of Miramon permits the inteiv ; of government in all suits where either an foreigner. Vessels of the United Si.i-es ..av seized without law, and a consular otiicer v. h i tested against such seizure has been tine I ai prisoned for disrespect tn the authorities. .i contributions have been levied in violation of e. i . I principle of right, and the American who r -.iste'.i ; the lawless demand has had his property forcibly j taken away, and has been himself banishe- a conflict of authority in different pari.- country, tariff duties which have been paid iu one place have been exacted over again at anodic r place. Large numbers of our citizens have been arretted I and imprisoned without any form of examination or a"J "I'poiiuiioj ioi a Hearing, aim even when le nd I Willi'; an-1 pro- Pr-.! of t! accuracy of the information ou which the gallant ; General acted, it was due to him that I should thus ! present his oh n reasons for issuing the order to J Capt. Pickett. From these it is quite clear his ob- ' ject was to prevent the British authorities on Van- j couver's island from exercising jurisdiction over j American residents on the Island of San Juan as well as to protect them against the incursions of the Indians. M uch excitement prevailed for some time through out that region, and serious d inger of collision be tween the parties was apprehended. The British had a large naval force in the vicinity ; and it is but an act of simple justice to the admiral on that sta tion to state that he wisely and discreetly forbore to commit any hostile act, but determined to refer the whole affair to his government and await their in structions. This aspect of the matter, in my opinion, de manded serious attention. It would have baen a rreat calamity for both nations had they been pre which this expedition was fitted out and conducted, W Consisted of nineteen armed vessels, trreat and 200 euus and 2.5U0 men. all under Ue Command of the vetcrai.Jand gallant Shubriek. l'he Entire expenses of the expedition have been de frayed out of the ordinary appropriations for tho naval service, except the sum of $2!J.0U0, applied to tie purchase of seven of the steamers, constitu ting a part of it, under the authority of the naval appropriation act of the 3d March last It is be lieved that these steamers are worth more than tlieir cost, and they are all now usefully and active ly employed in the naval service. The appearance of so lame a force, fitted out in such a prompt manner, in the far distant waters of the La Plata, and the admirable conduct of the of ficers and men employed in it, have had a happy effect in favor of our country throughout all that remote portion of the world. Our relations with the great empires of France and Kussia, as well as with all other governments on the continent of Europe, unless we may except that of Spain, happily continue to be of the most lriondlyi character In my last annual rapssace I presented a state ment of the unsatisfactory condition of our relations with Spain ; and I regret 1 3 say that this has not materially unproved. Without special reference to other claims," the pat-ment of which has been ably urged by our ministers, and in which more than a hundred of our citizens are directly interested, re main unsatisfied, notwithstanding both their justice and their amount (128,635 54) had been recognised and ascertained by the Spanish government itself. I atraiu recommend that an appropriation be made "to be paid to the Spanish government for the purpose of distribution among the claimants in the Amistad case." In common with two of my predecessors, I entertain no doubt that this is required by our treaty with Spain of the 27th October, 1795. The failure .jo discharge this obligation bas been employed cipitated into acts of hostility not on the question of j but without any conjecture by Ins friends of associates without trial in Sonora, as well as the seizure-and murder of four sick Americans who had taken shelter in the house of an American, upon the soil of the Cuited States, was communicated to Congress at its last session. Murders of a .-till more attrocibus character have been committed in the very heart of Mexico, under the authority of Miramon's government, during the present year. Some of these were only worthy of a barbarous age, and. if they had not been clearly proven, would l.ave seemed mpossible in a country which claims to be ivilized. Of this description was the brutal Massacre in Aj.ri last, by oriler of Gen. Marquez, of three American physicians, who were seized in the hospital at Ta. u baya while attending upon the sick an I dving of both parties, and without trial, as without crime, were hurried away to speedy execution. Little lcs shocking was the recent fate of bnimiiil C'h s , who was shot in Tepic on the Tth-of August by order ol the same Mexican general, not only without a trial, Un title to the island, but merely concerning what should be its condition during the intervening period whilst tiie two governments might be employed in settling the question as to which of them it belongs. For this reason Lieut. General Scott was despatched on the 17th September last to Washington Territo ry to take immediate command of the United States forces on the Pacilie coast should he deem this ne cessary. The main object of his mission was to carry out the spirit of the precautionary arrange ment between the late Secretary of State and tho British minister, and thus to preserve the peace and prevent collision between the British and American authorities pending the negotiations between the two governments. Entertaining no doubt of the validity of our title, I need scared' add that, in any event, American citizens were to be on a footing at least as favorable as that of British subjects, it be ing understood that Capt Pickett's company should remain on the island. It is proper to observe that, considering the distance from the scene of action, and in ignorance of what might have transpired on the spot before the General's arrival, it was neces- ry to leave much to his discretion, and I am happy to state the event has proven that this discretion could not have been entrusted to more competent hands. General Scott has recently returned from his mission, having successfully accomplished its objects, and there is no longer any good reason to lpprehcn 1 a collision between the forces ot the two countries during the pendency of the existing ne- otiations. I regret to inform you that there has been no im provement in the affairs of Mexico since my last innual message, and I am again obliged to ask tho earnest attention of Congresa to the unhappy con dition of that republic. lhe constituent Corisrrcss of Mexico, which ad journed on the 17th of Februarj', 1857, adopted a consution ana provided lor a popular election. This took place in the following July, 1857, and General Comonfort was chosen President, almost without opposition. At the same election a new Congress was chof.en -whose first session commenced on the Ifilh nf Si-ntimlwr l"l 857.1 Bv tha constitution of 1857 the presidential term was to begin on the 1st of) Mexico have reached a very lar December, 1857, and continue for tour years, un that dav General Commonfort appeared before the assembled Congress in the city of Mexico, took tne oath to support the new constitution, and w-as duly inaugurated as President. Within a month atter- r. cjirniai. ii..--. 11 0 1 11 bi.u I ' wards he had been driven military rebellion had assigned the supreme po wer .. i . i . ... . cause oi ine arrest. lie is represented as a young man of good character and intelligence, who had made numerous friends in Tepic by the courage and humanity which he had displayed on several trying occasions, and his death was as unexpected as it was shocking to the whole community. O'her outrages might be enumerated, but these are sullieient to illustrate the wretched state of the country and lhe unprotected condition of the persons and pronertv of our citizens in Mexico. In all these cases our minisTers have l-ecu con stant and faithful in their demands for rchc-s. but both they and this Government which they have successively represented, have been wholly power less to make their demands effective. Their tisti mony in this respect, and in reference to the only remedy which, in their judgments, would meet the exigency, has been both uniform and emphatic. " Nothing but a manifestation of the power of "the Government of the United States (wrote our late minister in lHoii) and of its purpose to punish the , wrongs will avail. I assure you that the univer-al belief here is that there is nothing to be apprehend ed from the Government of the United States, and that local Mexican officials can commit the.-e out rages upon American citizens with absolute impu nity." "I hope the President " (wrote our present minister in August last) "will feel authorized to ak lrom Congress the power to enter Mexico w th the military forces of the United States, at the . ali of the constitutional authoities, in order to protect the citizens and the treaty rights of the United Mates. Unless such a power is conferred upon him, neither the one nor the other will be respected in the ex isting state of anarchy and disorder, and lhe out rages already perpetrated will never be chastised ; and, as I assured you-in my No, 2:3, all these evils must increase until every vestige of order and gov ernment disappears from the country." I have beeii reluctantly led to the same opinion, and, in justice to my countrymen who have suffered wrongs from Mexico, and who may still sutler them 1 teel bound to anno'unce this conclusion to Congress. The ease tiresen ted, however, is not merely a case of individual claims, although our just claims against auiouiu. .Nor is It marelv the case ol proiecuon io ine nves ami property of the few Americans who may stiil re main in Mexico, although the life ami property of every American citizen ought to be sacredly pro tected in every quarter of the world. Bui is a question which relates to the future is well as to the present and the past, and which involves, iudi-
The North Carolinian (Wilson, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 31, 1859, edition 1
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