. . . I J E JTlEDELTi EXTOESS, runusiiEN weekly, TI VPw eq&r? fr the first weelc. ani ' k. n. (DRAKE. BY W, P. PRAKE. Suttee wae .or , Icsa, wvU, trnVe, a square.- Deduction mad ifi favorof standing inat ter-tu follows 1 ' ' " . . tmU B. DRAlLfi & SDN, Editors and Proprietors. ,Oumarcl: ..$5.50 ..S..G0 'SioUre,. . .-T.O0'. . 10.(H . . 14.0a 4 TJii-een1ifirr 10.00 . . 15.00 f. iO.OO VERMS OF THE TAT?ER, 1 "i"f4,: y,' t- Vol. 1 1 1. Statesville, N. C, Friday, January 13, 1860. .-, r- "r ' ..... ...... . ... ,? . , . ... -. Urf' -V v v to inrC4t b AdvertiAMiitnt, it tilU publiih- $2 a Year, in Advance. I JHW ti i -Kti,,-tvl.;ifa - ...'. - ,-.',.., ..'..'- - - ... . a . . ... "." ' .- ' , - ' - - - - - :. - ; . - ... ; .. , ,n. T . . .-.s, vm t uufmnn r rv rv is. J rsT. re re : rc . rrs -rc rr . f: : im rz ? n 1 . . - r . "v 1- MESSAGE. l'i ioio clft.riiit J ft awl JTone '.of' , j Jifprf.ic.ti lali iXS. rk.,1 ,tr .,nA i,nnw.f,Jr .rrnt'.tnfJ A, that Atmijrlity Power which has heetowed xiponlus wch'vHricd and numerous blessings i throi ghout the past yearLThe general ljealth vtslhav hep umisimllv "nlMitifiil! And r.ro. liave been unusuallv nlenttful. and rroa-1 m;i l.m,,l.,.i toV.l rn,l.i 1 - . . ' - iiir timMna r r ..nil vt i .tint tlia Ion. notwjthetandii); our dcnueritA, IIVl U fill I tn llll VUII'Mllt HIV IWII't. -1 . V. ' I reasdn to believe from the past event in our - - liibtcf v, that we have enjoyed the.peoial pro fectiQn of Divine 1 rovulence ever since our origili as a nation. We; have been exposed to many threatening and alarming difficulties in ouir progre-s; but on each successive ocoa-gion'jhe-impending cloud has been dissipated . at the inoinent it apjeared ready to burst uj ' on our head, and the daner to our institu- , tions; has passed away. IMay we ever be un-- der t he divine gniiiance anil jirotection ! hilstiti the duty of the J'residciit "from jto time to give to Gongress information time of the state of the Union." 1 shall not refer in dejtail to the recent ?ad and bloody occur mires at Harper'- Ferry. iStill, i,t i.-i projier to oltervetlifit these events, howeverbad and criiel in themselves, derive their chief impor- tance fpohi- the RpprehrtifMOH thnt they are rmjitpnis of au incumbje disease in the but P jjublii mini, which may break out in still morel dangerous, outrages and terminate at i.an open w;ir by the North to abolish last i f-iavcrv m t.ic riuini. iv mist, ior nivseir, i nteilain no such ai.iprclil'iisiou, thev ought to .tflorfi a solemn WTtningj to' us all to beware ot the aiirn'oach ot danger. Uur Union is a tnke , . .'11- ,1 i uTIi- i ItiiKlllllfl iirnlni. nj Ia i utnnr.'f I ... ........ ......v " j our ri uistant anu waiirniui vigilance ior . I .,. . . . n this view, let me implore iircsffl-vinion uiv couittrvmcn, NoVtl Mill O.Htll. to CUltl- vale sue : incient tt lniirr" f mutual "forbear-! itin-c and i n id-w ill 'towards each other, and strive tr Q-Hay thcMemoiii 'spirit of sectional" liatriM arid.sirit'e how alive in the land. This ndvhfeiiroceeds from the heart of an old rmb-, lie. fiinclionarv who-ie service commenced m (he ijist generation, annoig I he wise and con cervdttvc statesmen ot'tlnat dav, now nearlv all, 'lissed awav, and whose first and dearest eartl lly wish is to 'leae his country tranquil, pr s U iicrouri, uinteii, aiei liowenui.. . ought to reflect thiit in this age. and -penally in tins country, mere is aiP mccs- iiit jfiux niiil iH-flux of iiiibhc opinion. (Jues tion.4 which in their day ossumcd a most t-lirea tening aspect, have now nearlv gone Irom th-emieinorv ol men. 1 hey are volca- iioe hnrnt out, and on the lava and ashes and iillid scoria of old eruptions grow, the jiencH'ul-live. the checrjicj vine, and the sus tain Hm' corn." Sm b. in mv oointon, will lirovk' to be the fate of the present sectional cxcitlVmcnt, should those who wiselv seek to "PP y the remedv. continue alwavs tconfine their efforts within the pale of the Constitu tion..! II tins course be liiniVs.ued, ttie existing agitation on the subject jof donieftic slavery. liKe give lrov k'vcrvtlimg human, will have its dnvnncl place toother and lless threatening con rsies. Public opinion in tliis countrv is .'ill tl hi .iill-powerfuTand when itj reaclit s a dangerous vxcess upon any iiiostiin. the good sense of icoiile will fnrundi I the corrective and bring it l.a('1 within saSfti limits Mill," to hast u this auspicious .result, at the present . we ought to remember that evei-y ra- tioiiiil creature must be iiresuinel to intend the liatural conseipieiiceslof'hisown teachings. Thof'p who announce ,'ilif tract doctrines sul vei ve ofthe .Constitution and the Union, must not be surprised should their heated , (artisans advance one step- further, and at tempt bv violence to caii'v these doctrines in to practical effect. In Ibis view of the sub ject bt ought never to he forgotten that, liOw- c.vcij great may hae been the political ad vantljiges resulting from the Union to every rtifn of our common country. ths??e would all prove to be asjothing .should . the time ever arrive when they cannot be enjoyed without serious danger to the -personal safety of the people of fifteen members of the con- 'fedc -acv. If the peace of the domestic -fire side throughout these States hould ever be invalded if the mothers of families within this extensive region should not. be able to , retiie to rest at night ..without suffering dread ful apprehensions of wh.ut nriy be their Twn fate and that of their children before -the morning it would be v. lift to recount'to such a people the olitical benefits which resultto theii from the Union" Self-preservation is the irst instinct of nature : and therefore any state of society in which! the. sword is all the time suspended over (he! heads of the people, must at last become intolerable. But I in dulge in no such gloomy forebodings. On the contrary, I firmly believe that the events 'at Uaiper's Ferry, by caihsing the people to paufiejahd reflect upon the possible peril to thei r cherished instil utioiis, will be the mea ns, nndor I'rqvidcnce, of allaying the existing "excitement and preventing future outbreaks f a similar character. Thev will resolve that the Constitution aud the Union shall not be endangered bv'rash counsels, knowing that. should "the siilver cord lie loosed or -the gold- tow 1 be broken f;" at the fountain. hunkan power could never reunite- the scat tered and hostile fragments. I ordiallv congratulate vou uion the final settlement by the Supreme (.'ourt of the Uni ted States of the ouestion of slavery in the Territories, which had jircsented an aspect so trul v formidable nt the commencement ofmy mlminiatration The ri.ht has been icstab lishe.1 of every citizen to take his property of any kind, including, slaves, into the common Territories belonging equally to all the States oft ie Confederacy, and to have it protected thete under the Federal institution. Neith er Congress nor a territorial legislature nor anvj'humun power has anv authority to an md or impair this vested right. The-supreme judicial tribunal of the country, which is a .co-prdinate branch of th5 Government, has .aiietioned alid nflirmedj these principles of constitutional law, so manifestly just in them selves, and so well calculated to promote periee and harmony among the States. It is a striking proof of the sense pf justice which is inherent in our people that the property in slat ew has never been disturbed, to my knowl elgk?, in any of the Territories. Even through tmu the late troubles in Kansas there has not beon any attemnt. an 1 am credibly informed. to interfere, in a suede- instance, . with ,the right of the master. Iliad any such attempt been 'made, t lie judiciary would doubtless have afforded an adequate remedy. Should thek' fail to do this. hereafter, it will then be time enough to strengthen their hands' by further legislation. Had it been decided that either Congress or the territorial legislature possess the power to annul or impair the rig it to property in slavjes, the evil, would be int derable. In the latter event, there would be n struggle for a majority of the members ot he legislature at each successive-election, ari 1 the sacred' rights of property.held under I hi; Federal Constitution would depend for th time being on the result. The :agitatiou wofuld thus be rendered incessant whilst the territorial condition remained, andUts bane lull influence would keep alive a dangerous excitement among the people of the several States. ' ' Thus has the status of a Territory, during tle intermediate period j from its first, settle ment Until it, shall become a State, been irre vocably fixed bv the final decision of; the Mi reme '..art. Fortuiiate has this heen for PRESIDENT'S i the prosperity of the Territories, aa well as the J tranquility of. the States. -Now, emieranta from thp'North and the South, the Ertst apd the Wpst,' wilt meet in the Territories oh a common platform, ' havins brought with them tl,at of property best ad.apteil.jn their own oi'iuiog, to promote their.welfare. From natra1 caes R f,rery q1iet oti will in each case soon virtually settle itself ; and be-k tfore the Territory is prepared .for admission lasA State into the TTnion this decionVojit n.n.r A II.. ..ill Kara llOAn fiA.fifl.Ah coneiu.sion. jjieimwime lueseiiieuieuipuji i i r i i .1 . . I j r i new Territory will proceed without serious interruption, and its progress and prosperity will not beendangeredor retarded by violent political struggles. . . ' When in the progress of events' the- inhab itants tif any Territory shall have reached the number required to form a State, they will then proceed, in a regular manner, and in the exercise of the rights of popular sover eignty, to form a constitution preparatory to admission into the Union. After this has been done, to employ the language of the Kansas and Nebraska act, they -"shall be re ceived into the Union with or "withou t slav ery, as their constitution may prescribe at the time of their admission." This sound prin ciple has happily been recognised, in some form or other, by an almost unanimous vote of both houses of the last Congress. ' All lawful means at my command -have been employed, &ud shall continue to be em ployed, to execute the laws against thtv Afri can slave-trade. After a most careful and rigorous examination of our coasts and a tho rough investigation of the 'subject, we have not been able to discover that anv slaves have OtCIl i4l 1 lJl I Vlt Jilt-' HIV umnu in wo tAVI. V ' . . , , ... the cargo bv the Wamterer. mimncrmg be mrtii nut c tiiii i'jml .... . . t . ..vv v... -1 . .. . 1inlwflll ftnf(irn,.is have hecri rigorously prosecuted; but not with as much j success astheirerimes have deserved. A num I her of them are still under prosecution V ( )nr history jroes that the Fathers of the "Republic, in advance of all other nations, condemned' the African slave-trade. It wns. notwithstcinding, deemed expedient ly-the f ranters of the Constitution, to deprive 'Congress-of t lie pfiwer to prohibit "the .migration or importation ofsucli persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to ad mit'' "prior to the year one thousand eight hundred nnd eight." It will be seen that this restriction on the power of Congress, was confined to such .States only ns might think "proper to admit the im portation of slaves. It did not extend to oth er States or to the trade carried on' abroad. Accordingly, we hud that so early as the 22d March, 1794. Congress passed an act impos ing severe penalties and punishments non citizens and residents of the United .States who should engage in this trade between for eign nations. The provisions of this act were extended and enforced bv the act of 10th May, 1SU0. Again : The States themselves had a clear right to waive the constitutional privilege in tended for their benefits and to prohibit, by their own laws, this trade at anv time they thought proper previous to 1S0X. Several of them exercised this right before that period, and among them some containing the great est number of slaves. This gave to Congress the immediate oower to act in regard to all such States because they themselves had re moved the constitutional barrier. Congress passed an act on 2Mb February, lwOvl, ','to prevent the importation of certain persons in-. te certain States where, by the Taws, thereof, their admission is prohibited." Tn this man ner the importation of African slaves into the United States was, to a great extent, pro hibited some years in advance of IS()8. As the year 1808 approached. Congress de termined not to -suffer this trade to exist even for a single day after they had power to abbl- i ish it On the 2d of March. 1807, thev pass ed an act to taue eneet lrorn and alter the 1st day of .January, 1S0," prohibiting the importation of Africnn slaves into the United Stat.es. This was followed by subsequent acts of a similar character, to which I need hut specially refer. Such were the principles and such the practice of our ancestors 'more than fifty gears' ago in regard to the African slave-trade. It did not occur to'the revered patriots who had been. delegates to the convention, and af terwards became members of -ongress, that in passing 'these laws they had violated the Constitution which they had framed with so much care and deliberation. They supposed that to prohibit Congress, in express terms, from exercising a specified power before an appointed day, necessarily involved the right to exereise this power after that day had ar rived, j If this yere not the case, the framersof the Constitution had expended much: labor in vain. Had they , imagined that Congress WOnld possess no power to prohibit :the trade either before or after 1808, they would not have taken so much care to protect the States against the exercise of this power before that period.' Nay, more, thev would not have at tached such vast importance to this provision as to, have-excluded it from the possibility of future repeal or amendment, to which pther portions of the Constitution were exposed. It would, then, have been wholly unnecessary to erjgraft on the fifth article of the Constitu tion, prescribing the mode of its own, future amendment, the proviso, "that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall iri any manner affect" the provision in the Con stitution securing to the States the right to admit the importation of African slaves pre vious to that period. . According to the adverse construction, the clause itself, on which so much care and dis cussion had been employed by the meinbers ot the convention, was an absolute nullity from the beginning, and all that has 'since been done under it a mere usurpation.-. t It was well aud wise to confer this power on Conzress. because, had it been left to the States, its, efficient exercise would have been impossible.. In that event any one State could have effectually continued the trade not only for itself but for all the other -slave State though nelver so much. "against their --will And why?! Because; African -slaves when once brought within the; limits of any ;orie State, in accordance j with its laws, cannot ni l . e. . ci. practiealty.be excluded from a"J' other State where slavery exists. And cveiVif ,a!l" the States ha'd) se'pntately tiassed laws -prohibit i n o-1 h e i m porta tion of si aves: these taws owld have 1'aifed ot rtect tor want 01 a navai tores trt caoture the slaves ami ta guard Uic coasts, Such a lores ho State -can etMploy is JUnaj&f iteace witnoui me contscui ui mii .-. - Thesa aks of Congress, Jt is believed, ha Vv - - ,t t. y - t": a -..i5' with vert rare ana insigpincam e.cepiiony. accomplished'tlmf ' purpose.-' For- a perii1 of more than half a centuT Uier hasbiefl no perceptabte additioii to the ixmubeir-otour dome$tialaves;X)urimr hU Iriod,. their ail vancementt U-civilization. hsrf far Asurpas ed that of anv bthcj portion or.the African race. Tli'e, ligtiC'aiidthe- blessing of. Chris tianirv hate been Extended to the.m.'and both their moral and physical conditioij ha'been greatly improved. ! -jva?r: j Beropeu.the.tradeind H5oldl'eMffionJt to determins uwhether the .-effect J'6al4 more deleterious on the interests or the mas ter OJ ob (.1)06$ Xt the uative-brrkHsBjave. Of the fiYilr?.tbe niasterthe- one, iostf to be drdd woulba ..thc introductios of wild. ; jieatheu, and ignorant harharwuia among te sober, ; orflerlyratidjo cestora have been on the soil for several gen erations. This might tend to barbarize, de moralize", and exasperate the whole mass, and produce most deplorablrtastiseqnences,-' ; X he eneet upon ther.existmg slavewould. if iossible. be atillmore deolorabler t ore-i sent he"s treated witH kindness ahdhnman-7 ity. die is' well fed, well clotfied, and not enf gress Jiad placed at my coinmand, under their Terworked. , Ilia condition h , incomrjarablrespluiioa ofd June, 1858. , On the contra better than that of tlpS coolies, which modern ry, the Treaident of that republic, id a friend-, nations of high civilization have employed as lj spirit, aicceded , promptly tp the just and a substitute for African slaves "Eoth :the:, reaspnable,demand3 of tneoveromentof the philanthropy and the.6elf-iDterest of the mas- United States. ()ur cpmjnissioae? 'arrived at ter have combined to produce this humane 'Astumptior..the capital- of the : republic, on result. But let this trade be re-opened, and the 25th . January, 1850, and left, it on.-the what will be the effect ? The same to a con- 17th of February, having in threeyveeks ably sidrable extent as on a neighboring island ; and successfully accomplUhed all the objects -the only plaee now on earth where the Af- j of his mission The ireajijes which he has rican blave-trade.is openly tojerated: and thisi concluded, will Tae immedjately submitted to in defiance of solemn treaties with a power : the Senate. ... ,t ., s . ; abundantly able at any mOrhent to enforcej ; lu te view that th employment of other their execution . - There th e .master, i n tent th an paacef u 1 means might becom e. nacessa upon present gain, extorts from the slave as j ty to obtain "iust satisfaction'' from Pajagnav, much labor as hi's phvsical powers are capa ble of enduring knowing that, when death comes to his relief, his place can be Supplied " ' . v " i . r , i comoetition of rival African slave-traders. f at a pirice reduced to the lowest points by the Ol 1,1 1 . ii ' ' i Should this ever be th case in our country-- which I do not deem, possible the present useful character of the domestic institution, wherein those too old and too young to work are provided for with care and humanity, and I those capable of labor are not overtasked, would undergo an unfortunate' change. The feeling of reciprocal dependence and attach ment which now 'exists between master, and slave would be converted into mutual distrust and hostility. ' . But we are obliged as a Christian and mor al nation to consider what would be the ef fect upon unhappy Africa itself if we should re-open the slave-trade. This would give the trade an impulse and extension which it has nevcHind even in. its palmiest days. The numerous victims required to supply it would convert tne w n oie slave coast into a penecn 1 Hmi.-mi.'iouiii, 101 n hu h 11113 tuiiiitrv ivuuiu I be held responsible in the eves both of Cod and man. Its petty tribes would then be con stantly engaged in predatory wars against each other for the purpose of seizing slaves to supply the American' market. All hopes of African civilization would tlius be ended. On the other hand, when a market for Af rican slaves shall no longer be furnished in Cuba, and thus all the world be closed against this trade, we may' then indulge a reasonable hope for the gradual improvement of'Africa. The chief motive of war among the tribes will cease whenever there is no longer any .de mand for slaves. The resources of that fer tile but miserable country might then be de veloped by the hand of mduetry' and afford subjects for legitimate foreign and domestic commerce. In this .man her Christianity and civilization may gradually penetrate the ex isting gloom. The wisdom of the course pursued by this Government towards China has been vindi cated by the event. Whilst we sustained a neutral position ii the war waged by Great .Britain and France against the Chinese em pire, our late minister, in obedience to his in structions, judiciously co-operated with the ministers of these powers in all peaceful measures to secure by treaty the? just conces sions demanded by the" interests of foreign commerce. The result: js that satisfactory treaties have been concluded with China by the respective ministers of the United States, Great'Britain, France and Russia. Our "trea ty, or general convention of peace, amity and commerce," with that empire was concluded at Tientsin on the 18th June, 1858, and was ratified bv the President, bv and with the ad- vice and consent of the Senate, on .the 21st pecember following. ;l On the loth December, 18)8, John K. Ward, a distinguished citizen of Georgia, was duly commissioned as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, to China. He left the I nifed States for the place of his des tination on the 5tli of Febrnarv, 1850, bear ing with him the ratified copy of this treaty, and.arrived at Shanghai on the 28th May. From thence ho proceeded to Peking on the Jbtli .June, but did not arrive it that? citv un til 27th Julv. According to the, treaty the ratifications were to be exchanged on or be fore thed8th June, 1859. This was rendered impossible by reasons and events beyond his control, not necessary to detail; .but Btill it. is due to the Chinese authorities at Shanghai to state that they always assured him no ad vantage should be taken of the delay, and this 'pledge has been faithfully redeemed. Oh the arrival of Mr. Ward at Peking he requested an audience of the Emperor to pre sent his' letter ..of credence. This he did not obtain, in consequence of his very proper re fusal to submit to the humiliating ceremonies required by the etiquette of this strange peor pie In approaching, their sovereign. 'Neveri thelcss the interviews on this question were conducted in the .most friendly '.spirit and with all due regard' to his personal feelings and the honor of his country." When a pre sentation to his Majesty was found to be im jHissiblc, the letter of credence from the Pre sident was received with peculiar honors by Kweiliang, "the Emperor's prime minister and the second man in the empire to the Em peror himself." The ratifications ofthe trea ty were afterwards, on the 10th' of iAug-ust. exchanged in proper ..form at-Pei-tsa.ng. As the exchange did not take place until after the dav prescribed bv the treaty, if is deemed proper before its publication, again to submit it to the enate. It is but simide" justice to the Chinese authorities to observe, that throughout ithe whole transaction, they appear to. have; acted in good faith and in a friendly spirit towards the United States. It is' true this has beer, done after their own peculiar fashion ; but we ought to regard with, a lenient eye the ancient customs of an empire' dating back for thousands of years, so far as this may be con sistent with our, own national honor.. The conduct of our minister on the occasion has received my entire" approbation. - :tv. In OTder to carry out the! spirit of this trea ty, ami to give it full effect, it became neces sary to conclude two" 'supplemental conven-tions--the ohe Tor the adjaetraentan satis faction of .the claims of oiif, citizens, apd the other to fix the tariff on ini ports and ex portal arid to regulate the transit duties and trade of bur merchants witlfClunaiyThis- duty Ava$ eatisfactorilyperformed byjour lateninister. These 'conventions .benr date'at Shanghai" 6n th e- 8th- Nov em Uer L858. ; Havi ng been con sidered in thelightof binding agreements sub sidiary to the principal treatv, and to Jbccar- ..'! & .1 .t ..tf-l'l.' ' -1 , J. 5I .. riea into execution. jvataOTeiayaeyxrojiot provide for mifraisi&esiimnge of ratifications by the, contracting parties. This vrns nbi deemed tiecessary by the Chi ftese, whoiarejalreadyi ,raeio irtrgood iaith "o satisfy the cUim$ooiirt!ens,.and, it isIioped, to carry bui Ihe 'other provisions 4f ih.conventions.Stifl Itougit Vns propertosubmk, them ta Uie Senate, by whicb Ihey, were ratifiedoo t-hft 3d Marck 1859. The'rafified &rAji&kir.l did hot I reach j Shanghai untibaftthpartaf b-f coLldoL thereforeTteexlLnsedat thesamV time WHtf thrin C!ST enainlUatlraafied eh'anged byhe Chinese government,; sho A? this-be thought advisable f $ulr under JL&M '"ih cinnimstancespreseted;IshitVeo BVZ?$ JSHSM binding .engagements. pthHmV ' eDaea' ' -'f ri H parties,, and eause them to be published as such for.thednformation of our merchants trading with, the.phinese empire, j , . .It affords me much eatisfactipn ictinforni yon tliat all our difficulties, with .".the, republic of l?araguay have been saUsfactorily.adjnsteiL. It'haDilv did not uecolne ploy th.erforce ior thia purnose which Con- a strong naval force was concentrated, ia the La Plata to await contingencies, whilst, our commissioner ascended the rivers to Assump l,x"" 1 , ";""Bi'"u " rrtat rrdif (nr.thA : nmmninMi -ofRnan 1 r . . . . . ... and economy witii. which this expedition WM fitted, out-and conducted. It consisted 0f piaeteetn .arcned Vessels, great and small, carryins 20ft guns and 2,500 men , all under ih command, of the veteran and eallant Shubrick. The entire expenses of the exoe di tion have been defrayed out of the ordina ry appropriations for the naval service, ex. cept the piom of $?9,t)00, applied to the purs. chase ol seven ot the steamers, constituting a part of if, under the authority of the naval appropriation act of i he 3d March last. It isf believed that these steamers are worth mors than their'icostf nnd ihey are all nownsefully and actively employed in the naval service The appearance of sa large a force, titled oil! m such a prompt manner, in the far dis tant waters of the La Pia!a, aud ;he admira- be Pond0rt of the officers and men emp'oy. g(j j( jjve had a Ol appy effect in favor of our country throughout all that remote por tion of the world. - . . Our relations with ihe great empirps of France and Russia, a wellas with all other governments on the continent of Europe, un less we may except th it of Spain,' happily continue b be of the most friendly character In my last annual message I presented a" statement oi the unsatisfactory condition of our relations with pain ; and 1 regret 4 say that this has npt malerially improved With, out special reference to olhar claims, even the "Cuban claims,1' the payment off which has been ablv urged by our m'mitprs, and in which more than a hundred of our citizens are directly iuters'e.t, rpmaui unsa'iofipd, notwithstanding 00' h their jiiRtice and the r amount (12(? fi35 54) hsnl buen recognised and ascertained b the Spanish government itself. ' ' " , ; I again recommend thai an appropriation b ;.-iade ''to' be paid to the Spanish govern ment for the pnrpose of disiribution among the claimants in the Amis'adcase." In com mon with two ot my predecessors, f enter- lain -no- lubl zhut -iW. ia-. required by oar treaty with Spain of ihe 27ih October, 17575. The failure to discharge this obligation has been employed by the cabinet of Madrid as a reason against :he settlement of our claims. I need not repeat the arguments which I urged in my last annual message m favor ot the acquisition of Cuba by fair purchase. My opinions on that measnre remain unchanged. 1, therefore, again invite the serious attention of Congress to this important subject With out a recognition of his policy on their part, it will be almost impossible to institute nego tiations with any reasonable, piospect of bur.' cess. Until a recent period there was good rea.. son to believe that I should be able to an nounce, to you on the present occasion that' our difficulties with Great Bri'a n, arising out ofthe Clayton and Bulwer treaty, had beei final'y adjusted in a manner alike honorable and satidactory to boih pirties. Fromcau es, however, which the British- government had not anticipated, they have not yef com plefod treaty arrangements with the republics of Hondmas and Nicaragua, in pursuance of the understanding between the two govern-, ments. Jt is. nevertheless, confidently ex pected that this good work will ere long be accomplished. - - ' 1 Whilst jindtflging the hope" that no other subject remained which could disturb the good understanding between the two coun tries, the question arising out oT the adverse claims of ihe parties to the Island of San Juan, um(er the Oregon treaty of the 15th of June, 1846, suddenly assumed a threatening pro minence. In order to prevent unfortunate collisions on that remote frontier, the late. Secretary of State, on the 17th July, 1855, addr issed a note to Mr. Crarnpton then Brit ish ministerat Washington) communicating to him a copy of the instructions -which, he Mr Marcy had given, on the 14ih July, to Gov Mevens, of Washing-ton ! erritory, having a lepecial reference to an ''apprehend, ed conflct betwen our citizens and ihe BriU ish subjects on the Island ot. San Juan." To prevent this, the governor was instructed ''that the'ofh'cers of ihe Territory should ab stain from all acts on-the rfisputed gTOnnds which are ca culated to ; provoke any vconi flicts, e far as it can be dope- w'a.hoMt imply ing the concession to the authorities of Great Britain of an exclusive right over the premi sps.?',The'iitle ought o be "settled before either party should attempt to ' ecludefh other bv iforce, or exercise complete andestv clu'ive sovereign rights within thetawly-dis', pjted limits. : " In acKiiowisuing tree receipt on me nexr day of Mr. Marey's iiote the British minister expressed his entire' cone urrence 4 io the pro priety 01 Jheepurse recamnieaeu to ..the oy of VVa hiingtoo. rerritory . by yon c Mr Map cy 'sl instriKitions to that ofRceri" amt plating7 tharhe had "lost no time m Mrausrmuiiig- a copv'df that docnmeiit to the g.svernor-gen; eraiof , British .North Araarka, and, had, "earnestly recomfnended to his Kxcellepcy; fotake sncb measures as to him rny appear best aTculatetf fo'seoare, ort I; eopart of "the British loc a auiborivies and the iphahitaTts ofthe teighborbood ot the ne in qneation j the exercise 61 Oie sinie spirit iiroaraAc'e; whichls Sncqlcatfd by you Mr Marcy 'on tbe aothofities and citizens' of th United "Thns, matters remained opoo e faith of this Jrraiigeraeni IWtU th'e,9th Jufy lastwhen Geri Harney pari"- vwitlo'the lslafld'Vlg foil rrd -upon - i watyfi vfeWAm meAfAiS dents .iltU their notaW? ':$KWihtofi fivb on t of ahA uhdsoaV JJsj' Compaq y: fof the.purpase.of rafting heep. iphoit" iin before,hts arrival oneoC these- Hsiehti had Shot art art) mal betortlm'gto5 rhejeompwiy' rhick; hjcjeet offered to pay iwice.Ul yle iu l tha yrss 4ref useJL . .6onn j.fte -tie chief factor of tieompanv" ? Victoria. M.'iVf'. 'tf .Uude these fiircumaTances 'ijKA'roeajj ' settlers presented a !Wftiqn'".ti.th0Ci?neral J "through" he ttnifedlateiTios"pecor of cus- ' toms Mr. Hubbs, 1 9 place .a force jip Vn,. be ' Island to protect lh.erro.3&lod.ns!is, well as the' oppress! v interference . of. . the authorities of ThelHmfs6r,.BijjCp 'at Victorja.with their righ's as American cjti ziis'' fhe Gertefal initediately responded to this petition, and ordered Captain -George EPickeU.th infanty' to esfablisb oiscomx paoy oh BelWvue, or 5an" Jfian7.fsIat.d,Ton some'sui'ablepbsitmrt hear theHarbor at the southern exrefniiy,". This order was prorrTpt ly,obejed,and a military post was establish ed at the ptace designated. The Torce'was afterwards increased, o that by the last re turn,. he, whole number oj trpdpsthen On the island amoutiied irt'thetaregale to -691 i ,Whils('t ' thrtp't'dern'it'p'roper on ibe pre sent occasion jj 'go' further into the" subject T and discuss tBe weight' Whictj ouzht to te attached to thestatements of the Britjsh coF oni&l authorities, cor.festing the -accuracy of the. information on which the gallant General acted, 11 was due to , Kirn that I should thus present nis own reasons tor iSBaing theo" j .nv. re-ir.. -. t r der to Captain Pickett. From these if isnuiie clear his object was to prevent,'. the. British authorities on ajcouyer's Island frm ex ercising jurisdiction oyer raencan residen ts on the Jslatid, of San Juan, as well aa to pro tect them .aga'insf the. incursions of the Indi ans. '. ' "(."'"' '"", . Much pxciteraent prevailed fer Wrnejime" inrougnoui uiai ibiou, auo serious fianger of coMisipn between the parties was. appre herided. The British had a Iare naval force in the vicinity ;'and if is but an act of simple justice to the admiral on that station, to state that he wisely and discreetly foxpore to com mit any hostile act, but determined to refer the whole affair to his government and, await their instructions. . " . This aspect of the matter, iu my opinion, demanded Serious attention , Tt yould have been a great calamity for both nations bad they been precipitated into acts of hostility not on the. question of title to the Island, but merely concerning what should be its condi tion during the intervening period whilst the two governments might be employed in set .1 tling the question to... which of them it be Imnr th mi t ion f A tat it in h rt t Vi r it I t longs For this reason Lieutenant General 8cott was despatched on the 1 7.ib September last to Washington Territory to take irrjmedi ate command of the United States forces on the Pacific (coast should he deem this neces sary. The main object pf hi mission was to carry out ihe spirit of the precautionary ar rangement between the late Secretary of btate and the bnlish minister, and thus tp preserve the peace and prevent collision be tween the British and American authorities pending the negotiations between the two 20vramen!s. hntertaunng no doubt ol the validity of our title, 1 need scarcely add that,- in any event, American citizens were to be braced on a footing .t least as favorable as that ot British subicts. it being understood that Captain Pickett s company should re main on the island. It ts proper to observe that, considering the distance from the scene bt actirtn, and in ignorance of what might have transpired on the-spot before the Gen- eral's arrival, it was necessary no leave much to his discretion, and I am happy to state the event has proven that this discretion could not have been int rested to more competent hans- General Scott has recently returned from his mission, having sui-cessfully ac complished its objects, ami there is no longer any good reason to apprehend a colliion be tween the forces of vhe two countries during the pendency of the existing negotiation:: - I regret to inform you that there has been no improvement in the affairs of Mexico incemy last annual message, aud i am a gain-obliged to ask the earnest ttenti3n of Congress to the unhappy condition of lhat re public."" ' " - The constituent Congress of Mexico, which adjourned on the 1 7th of February, 1857, a dopted a coristrtufi jn and provided for a pop ular election, This took place in the follow t! ing July-, 1857' and General Comaafort -t was chosen President; almost without oppo sition. At the same election a new Congress was chosen, whose first session commenced on the 16th of September, S. By the constitution of 1857 the presidential term was to "begin1 on the 1st of December, 1857, and continue for four years-. On thai day General Comonfort appeared before" He as sembled Congress in the city of Mexico, took the oath to support the newconstitution, and was duly inaugurated as Presiden-. Within a month afterwards he had been driven'from the capital, and a military rebellion had as signed the supreme power of the -republic to General Zuloaga. The Constitution provided that in ihe absence of the President his office should devolve upon the Chief Jus'ice pf the Supreme Court, and, Gen. COrrjoufort having left the ' country, this function aty, General Juarez, proceeded to form, at Guanajuato, a coasfuutionaj government. Before this was Officially known, however, at the capital, the government bf Zuloaga .had been recognised by the entire; diplomatic corps including the minister ol tao Unitea j.ates. asfhe ac facto ( government of Mexico -Tne Cone. notional Presi'daf, neyertheleis, mairitained his po silioa with firmness, and was soon establish ed with his cabinet nt .Vera Crvjz Mean. while, 4 he., K," vero.ue.nl of Zuloaga -vas earn estly resisted ia many parts of the repualic, and eyeu in me jpapta4, a'rortioa of the ar-, qay.having pronounced igahist it, its func lioas were deoiared terminated, and an as , sembfy of citizens was lnviietl for the choice. of.& new' President... This. assembly elected Geueral Muamoh but that offlcer repudia ted ie plan under which he was chosen, and Zulpagawas thu restored to . his previous position. He assumed it, h;wever,, only' to wiihdra fr?on it anjl Jlkamoii, having be , come,- by'his Hppoiaimeul. '-'President Sub. LitJieJ'" jconlinues, with Uiait title, at the head ot"the,iasiKgenl. pariy. . . .t U lri my last annual message I commur ni6ated to Corigress the ircumstanee under which the lat a "-Mi nister of the riitejdtates pexi-edhir officiai re; Iations'with the'C'iHtal bvfirurrient; and fwitMr0w.ffOiftt-ilie country. It was iiapossibierto ntaintafnrienalylflh terco irrse witn s, igo vera intni i?m o uuu al the"'"titelnn4erwh atliorify worlg y? eWcpsrstaritly eorii hjfttedj put never idressei!: TIal this ftspover exid tngji jlie JiQ 91 tbe'peop:Aye?vtneayy.npU:,ueotieo, might i Jead ttft eoqdiiioii of things leai fDjurionS'ta t'.Uaite4.f State This unceess becftme-s- probabio-hatin J ant aditnCprec reataa n inousozreyoxa? lebHIi TTvtteetsf thereeasttttroiu. have bcei:itjdstifiablr and'-mdeed neces'aTY.r But .the anfrVri-tliipi'ef BuccessOL tha- eoasutuUQQai iTcsuicnt ttar3Tasf?I mpkyeo7 rename ngfni aUaue, I felt justified ja Appointing Jlast) iHvill feel authorized to ask from new. tninbterta -lloxico,, .lio' rnighit Gwigress the piower. to enter Mexico mbrkbe thi5 earliest suitaWei oppenilTth'iKo-iniHtiirVVoitTS'of'the 1 United mty :t reiotiffg-"l(HirJ -'diptoihuttc relaft States, --'at thep.tll of thenco tions with'tha (u.oi'der to 1 STartJanV was selected, ,whp, proceeded" oii,ivi mission; 6 the Bth of Marehf lastj viti Al. .ii i u wrtfiiuuaa-y' " attuioriiyr 10 1 recognu' the government k Iresfilent J uarez, f f on hi tifri'ral in "Mexico e filiouid'ri! ; it Entitled t6 suclTbcbgrjition, ftccorrii ing to the .established. . practice of tlv United States. Om the 7th of Arjrilfc4'- lavv in,.Mr.3IcLanet.presented bis cr dential to President Juarez having nH hesitation 1 lniyroinouncirjffthe ttovenn nieht of .TnareB t$b6 the cmlr existiriil r t IB ey nave .ever , sino manifested the moist friendly dispbsitia; towards the Uniteki States. .TJnhapnilt; howeVer;- th .stitntionl --.'govenll- ment has not been able to establish it j power over the whole repuhl supportccl by a lsirffe" majority " tt itA people -and the Suites, but there aro iivj. po i- tan 1 parts 01 :wie country w;ueroj can enforce no obeilie nee.- General MSft ramon maintains himself at the canita) and ili 'some" of tjie distant j province habere are tnilitary gorernors 'whV'pti, uvtie respect to te . aecreesoi eito government. In "ipe meati time' the ei cesses which, always attend upon war, especially in iilexico, arjecoi&teirl t3T'Teeurrtng. Outrages of ( the worti description are ?6mmitte both upcti persons' and propertyr There isscaej- ly any.forni of infury rhlct n , nas pt i in Mexi) been sufjToredJjy our citizens durins the hist few years. We havt been nominally at peaca with that iff public, but lso far as the- ihtereits.Ajf our commerce or of our citizens wh-'i have visited the" country US merchant W . . .' . - ' ' - shipmasters, or in other capacities, ani concerned, we might as well have be&V at war." Life hais been insecure,' pr' oertv nniirotected,. and trade imnosi ble except at a risk or loss which pry7n dent men eannotl be expectejd to iniv. Important contracts, involving lar expe'rditures, entered into by the cej tral governmeut.Siave boen.set at iM- fiance by the lacaI government8Peaefi- tul American residents, occupying thf rightful possessions, have been sudden ly expelled the country, in defiance 'jf treaties, and y the mere force of arVt trary, power. Ey3n the com jSe. of justify has not been" safe from control, and4 recent decree of Miramon permits tr. intervention of government! in all su where either partly ts a foreigner. Vc sels of the United States ihave beffi seized without la.lv, and a consular o cer who protested against such seizu has been lined and ini prisoned or d; respeet to the antliorities. Military Qo-)-tiibutio'ns have been levied in violatiii of every principle of right,' and the merican AvholrcsSsted . tho lawless'(, riiand . has . had his. property fbt cil4r taken away, and has been lmslfbj ished. ' Froma-cdnflictof authority ili' different parts- of ithe country, tariff-d-ties which have been paid in one platte have been exacted oyer again In anotT -er place; Large ntimbers of pur. dtize have been arro&ted and imprison tiJ without any formi of examination & any opportunity for a hearing,-and c en when released have only obtajnfil their liberty afteir much suffering afl injury and yithout any hope of red retf . The wholesale massacre of Crabbe. ai-rt his associates without trial;in SpuOKt, as well as the seizure and jnumler four sick Americans who ,bad tak( n shelter in the house of an j Amcric upon the soil of tike United States; w s communicated to' Congress at its ltjt session. Murders of a still more atjt cious character Isave been committtl in the vry heart of M exicq, under fc authority of Mimmon's govern metri, during the presentt year- Some of the so were only worthy of a barbarous aje, and, if they had iOt been clearly pre v eu, would have seemed impjossible iii'a country which claims to beieiviiizcd;r- Of this description was the brutal ms- sacre in pii lasi., vy umcrui cncu Marquez, of three American physicians", vno were seized in trie nospuai at cubaya while attending upon the stlk 1 Tl V-: ' '.Oil .il . ann tne ayingoi.iuoiaparupiuuu w.ii out trial . as- without . cri mev were 1 ried away- to ospoedy execution. - Jiile- less shocking was the recent fate fpf Ormorrd Chase, ho was shot in -Tc C onthetth of August byr pMerof &b same, Mexican general not only ytjl . otit sw trail, btvifwithout any. wnjec,f;xc. by his friends ol the cause of his ari.. lie is represented youg.nif S...LJ .i .. . .j ; -1 1: a 3 goou cnartu ier nn iiiLcuigeirce, had made namefonsfricnds Tn Tepiy tlic ccttragC rfndhumamtf whrchiiiV j had"sdacdrqr seyerKItyi hg oq; ston.;a.nl Eideiya.M;iMie$pc as it was shocking tQ the whole sim?, munity. .Other oatrages might bei 4iu meratetl; bat th4se are sufficient. t'il lnstrtie the wretched state of the ein tfy aFthtf ftnjrptc6tetf "(ridnditioiiof tUenSrsQnlnd lsjjct 6j ouirj cigirt lu alHhese cajsies mxr ministers lfve ly pxwrlessf -:j make. 1 heir 5 dem ids effieMiix.VheiilJtesUaiQay in thi ue peefcfnrl rrh-eferJDneo toitho only-jre 11 . :!. .!-., r?l A eramenLot tWtedtaXw'Pte win lato tmnister - to.-i5it ptsrrpoefto punish thesor rftit,1! fissure vwt that1 holier herflifj tha.t tliem u nnt.hinir TXhriimXKrhmU: J. -i s. i C - "? tha-tjiterlSLte and That lot-al X- kain voflitaala can.iedninxii these ootrj a. .'T - 1- T?.:i 7- .'iJt. "i"--L upon American aUzenst with itte imnuntty 1 l-ope he- Pro4:pt? fwroeer owT'YrKmttmnwter ia An fust ; yose auiaiuiiruisoeuciiizenoiJj.arTuan':! izens ana uie treatv. v govern caent.ot ttw; iteptiblic He "Wi cordially "teceived by" the auiKorifies 1 S ... - -i . -l -!'.-' - - . v era 1 ruz, ana been eoristant and faithtul in theirtflo miinds for;? cdressjbhtrvth nhey,jrfd thtsoyci limej hr. cs-tvel'ii renreseted havoTee wi loi- tistittitional Protect the cit- itrlits 01 the Uni ted States. "CTnless such a powfir-ls CQn ferred upon Jaira, neither the . one nor. -the other will be respected in the exists inff-state bf anarxhy and isorder: and the'dutrftges afrend penetrated vrill never ye eqastiea; - aua; as 1 assurea jou in, ina 23,all tbese - evils :must ! inereasevuptjl ey vestige of, order ' and; goveiment,. disappears frota the pcouhtrv. I have been reluctantly led to; the- 8ftin. opinion; and, in justice to my countrymen who "have- suffeted ' vrroirigs frmji Mexico, and who my still suffer,. IheuQ, "J; feel boanil 16 announce this cquclusibulo Congress. " ,j V The case presented, however, ia not merely- a case of imhrKmat claims, nl- tho'ttgh ohr just claims against Mexico" hare reached 'ayry. tarffe'amottnt- ofpfoteUoh to th e li yea aud propert3 of the Americaus wbo. may fttill cmai i - rMexIco, although the lifo andproperty otever, American citizen oughito be sacred ;v nrcjiected in every quarter of .Ch'Q''oBa.''"t'"!fja" a qnestioa yhicli relatespih9 ftitur as Well as to tLh'o piesent nml the past, and 'whldh ,In vol ves, i ndirectly - at least, the whole subject of our duty to Mexico as a neigh boring Statet The exercise of the pow- eriof the tTnilcd StateSin that country to redress tne wrongs ancr protect the rights of out ovyu citizens is none. ihe. less to be desired, bemuse, efficient and necessary aid n ay thus be rendered at the same time t&pestore peace arid or der to Mexico itself In the accomplish ment of this result the people ot the Uriitcd States must necessarily feel a deep and earliest interest, Mexico ought to be a rich arid prosperous and power ful republic- She possesses an extensive territory, a fertile soU, and an incalcu lable store-of mineral wealth. She oc cupies aft1 important position letween' thesf XJulf and the'peean' for transit routes and for commerce Is it po'ssible , that such acountiy asthiscan bejgivcii tip to anarchy and ruin without jau ef-, fort from any quirterfor ii rescue and it fetyl Wiff jhe commercial nations of the world, which have o many interests connected with Jt, remain" ' 'wh'otty MidifTeren? if g'iich a" result! Can th Unite? Statesrei'pecialb, which-'aught tcj Bhajo most largely in its commerciaf interourie, . al 1o their immediate rveighbor tbus 1 destroy it selfsnd injure them? Yet, without support from. I some quarter, it is impossible to perceive now Mexico can' resume tier position among nations and enter upon a career which' promises any good results, .The aid .which ah' requires, a,ri J which ibe interests of all commercial countries, require that she should have, ithelanga :te this Government to retnler, not only by virtu of our neighborhood to Mexico, along whoa territory' v& have a continuous frontier of nearly k tborj sahJ miles, hot by virtue, also, of our estsldisbetr policy, which is inconsislent with tbe; iutervea f ion l any EuropesB Power in the doaeslie concerns of that repobhe, ,-. Thewronga which we hte suffered froin Misx" ico are before the world! and rQUst deeply imt press ecry. American ruizen. A government which is either uoabfc or unwilling to .jredreM such wronga ia derelict to its highest dsties. Tbe difficulty eonsists to selecting snd enforcring remedy.- Wo may in vain apply to lh constitu Lion's I government at Vera Cruz, although it is wejl disposed to do ui justice, for adequate redress-..!- Whilst its authority ii acknowleiif ed ia all ibo important ports , and ihrooghout bs sa coauts of tbe republic, its power does not oxtenJ . to the eity of Mexico and the Slates in ita vici ity'. wherer nearly all th recent outrage: have been committed on me'ricaH citizens. .Wo must penetrtie int.) the interior before we can- reach the Offenders, and ibis can only be done tiy pass ing thro ogh the territory in the occopajtioa o( the constitutional government. Tbs most aceepo table and (east difficult mod of accomplishing the object wilt to jto act in concert "With that government.Theirconsrnt and their aid night, I believe, be obtained ; but if not, our , obligation to; protect our own ritizena'in heir just 'rights, secured by treaty, would oot be the less impera tive. For these reasons, I recommend to V,oa gress to pass a law authorizing the Pffaident, under such conditions as they may de'OT erpedi enl. to employ a sufficient military force to en lei Mexico for the purpose bf obtaining iodemnt ty for the psl and security for the future. ( purposely ' tefraio from any suggestion - to whether ibis force shall consist of regulaS trsops or volunteers, Or both. This question its y be most appropriately left fo ihe decision ctf Con trefs. I would merely observe thst, should vol" uriteers te selected,' rach a force coo Id be easily ralsetl iri tbla'coantry among those wbolsyrapo tbize with the soffcrifljjs of our unfortunate fel. low-rcitizeo in .Mexico, and with thei-unhappy j eonJitwn ollbat republic. urh an aceftsoiMla I ' : . : j frtrce, df ihe cosstnufionsl government would :;-niWt h mm to reseh the city of Mesico nsl eltend fts power over the whole republic In that event there fa4 00 reason to dolibt lihat tbe jusf claims of our "c'rliZcns would be satisfted. snd adequate redress obtained for tbe injuries inflict ed upon them, Tbe enesiituiioiial govrrneieol have ver eviaced strong desire U do too jus tice, and this" might be secured ia advance by a rrilimioary treaty,. - " ' J ' ll a)ay lie said that "these measure 0t, it least indirectly, be inronsislent with our wire and settled policy not to interfere in tbe aomet:o coiccros of foreign nationa. But does not th present case. fairly 'constitute art exception An Sftjoirpng republic is in elate of anarchy and confuWiOn frtem whtcli she has proved wholly un. Aito eirTcate1leirelf., 8he is entirely destitul of the power jo maintain peace tiOD her oiien. or4 1 prevent ine. ucpiwurif.pi uauiuiu ,mim vvi 8hf now,, wreck upon tbe oceannns of'uBdertakOibsi Uakrsdihus force os to interfere ! 1 - -1 -r :.,j A.m. i - r- ! -..t-'fm iturminiratan bf our eatablisbed Pol- fliJ '1. i-."--i 1 - ."'" '.'1- , f repeat the recommendation contaiosj in my tort annual message that authority may be gjven 1 i m. 1 . i i" . , s . .. 1 lull nrrrani ist(n T01gSr h$f 1 fd helghbq sbalt we not ejten4 lo bar the nnrWwa 'J$itiM faTM ,f m D0 ic .a Ik. 1' S 1 H.hMt m kii1.t m Ali tlAlB 3 I r : fOUlV WM WpS" ll""-VttlW WtM ..wW- t V