Newspapers / Weekly Commercial (Wilmington, N.C.) / Dec. 5, 1851, edition 1 / Page 1
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THOMAS LOKINlx, Editor aud Pioprictar : TWO DOLLARS Per Anaam, invariably in Adrance. VOL. 5. WILMINGTON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1851. . NO 13 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. F Jlovc-Citizetis of the Szna . and of Lhc Ij le House of JLDjeseLativcx. I congratulate yon and our common con stituency upon the favorable auspices un der which you meet for your first session. Our country is at peace with ail the world. The agitation which, for a time, threaten eJ to disturb the fraternal relations which - n nno iv-nnlp: 13 f;lt SIlTifriinrr raah.c u w rvr-., 0 , : ; and health year 01 geueuu piuspi?uty r ... I ami has crowned the nation with unusual bles sing. None can look back to the dan gers which are passed, or forward to the bright prospect before us, Avithoiu feeling a thrill of gratification, at the same time that fce must be impressed with a grateful sense of our profound obligations to a beneficent Providence, whose paternal care is so man ifest in the happiness of this highly favor ed land. Since the close of the.last Congress, cer tain Cubans and other foreigners resident in the United States, who were more or less Concerned in the previous invasion of Cuba, instead of being discouraged by its failure, have again abused the hospitality of this country, by making it the scene of the equipment of another military expedition against that possession of her Catholic maj esty, in which they were countenanced, aided and joined by citizens of the United States. On receiving intelligence that such designs were entertained, I lost no time in issuing such instructions to the proper offi cers of the United Slates as seemed to bo called for by the occasion. By the procla mation, a copy of which is herewith sub- mittcd, I also warned those who might be in danger of being inviegjed into this scheme of its unlawful character, and of the pen alties which they would incur.. For some time there was reason to hope that these measures had sufficed to prevent any such attempt. This hope, however, proved to be delusive. Very early in the morning of the third of August, a steamer called .the Pampero departed from New Orleans for Cuba, having on board upwards of four hundred armed men, with evident inten tions to make war upon the authorities of the island. This expedition was set -on foot in palpable violation of the laws of the United Slates. Its leader was a Spaniard, ,and several, of the chief officers, and some others eniaxed in it, were foreigners. The persons composing it, however, were most ly citizens of the United States". Before the expedition set out, and prob ably before it was organized, a slight in surrectionary movement, which appears to have been soon suppressed, had taken place in. UuM usteru quarter of Cuba. The im portance of tins movement was unfortu nately so much exaggerated in the ac counts of. Unpublished in this country, that :hese adventurers seem to have been led to believe: that the i Creole population of the island not only desired to throw off the au thority of the mother country, but had re solved upon that step, and had begun a well concerted enterprise for effecting it. The persons engaged in the expedition were generally young and ill-informed. The steamer in which they embarked left Xev Orleans stealthily and without a clear ance. After touching at . Key West, she proceeded to the coast of Cuba, and on the nirht between the 11th and 12th of August, landed the persons on board at Play tas, within about twenty leagues of Havana. " The main body of them proceeded to, and took possession of. an inland village, six, leagues distant, leaving others to fol low, in charge of the baggage, as soon - as the means of transportation could be ob tained The latter, having taken lip their lin'd o'i march to connect-themselves with the main body, and having proceeded about fourVlg igues into the co'untn, were attack ed onlthe morning of the 13th by a body Of Spanish troops, and a bloody conflict en ,sued ;! after which they retreated to the place of disembarcation, where about fifty of them obtained boats and re-embarked lutein. They were, however, intercepted. amo)ig the keys near the shore by a Span ' ish'steamer cruising on the coast, captured &od carried to Havana, and, after being examined before a military court, were .sentenced to be publicly executed, and the sentence was carried into effect on the h3th of August. Oh receiving information of what had occurred, Commodore Foxhall A. Parker, 3'as instructed to proceed in the steam-frig- xrono o hi 1 innlll rr intn the charges against, the persons executed, lQe circumstances under which they were j taken, and whatsoever referred to their in land . sentence. Copies of the instruc ts from the Department of State to him, Jnd I .. . . 1 . Tv " . ui nis letters to uiai iepaiiuitjiii, uib ciewitn submitted. According to the record of the examina tion, thn nri?nnpr3 nil ndmittftd the offiinces charged against them, of beinfi: hostile in vaders of the island At the Time of their trial and ftvp.p.ntinn thiA "main hod V of the Evaders was. still intfie field, making war uPon the Spanish authorities and - Spanish jbjects. After the lapse of some days, overcome by the Spanish troops,- they dispersedjon the 24th of Ausrust: Loocz. i their leader, was captured spme days after. and executed on thv Isi nf Sontomiior . W W UiU W . 1 jMany of his remaining followers were kill ed, or died of hunger and fatigue, and the rest were .marie prisoners. Of these, none appear to Have been tried or executed. Several of them were pardoned upon ap plication of their friends and others, and the rest about one hundred and sixty in num ber, werejsent to Spain. Of the final dis position made, of these we have no official information. Such is the melancholy 'result of this il legal and ill-fated expedition. Thus, thoughtless young men have been induced by false and fraudulent representations, to violate the law of their country,' through rash jnd junfouded expectations of assist ing to accomplish political revolutions in other States, and have lost their lives in the undertaking. Too severe a judgment can hardly be passed, by the indignant sense of the community, upon those who. being better informed themselves, have yet led awayj the ardor of youth and an illpdi rected love of political liberty. The cor respondence between this Government and that of Spain relating to this transaction is herewith communicated. t Although these offenders against the laws have forfeited the protection of their country, yet the Government may, so far as is consistent with its obligations to other countries! and its fixed puroose to maintain anil enforce tne laws, entertain sympathy for their unoffending families and friends, as well as a feeling of compassion for them selves. Accord ingly no proper effort has been spared, and none will be spared, to procure the release of such citizens of the United States, enjraed in . this unlawful enterprise, as are now in confinement in o-i'.-.- . I I .' i. spam out u is to oe uope.t mat sucn 'in- terposition wuh the government I of that country may not be considered as affording any ground of expectation thaf tlie Gov ernment of the United States will, hereaf ter, feel itself under any obligation of duty to intercede for the liberation or pardon of such persons as are flcgrant Offenders a rainst the law of nations and the laws of the United States. These laws must be executes it, we aesire to maintain our respectability amonjr. the nations ofjhe earth, it behooves us to enforce steadily and sternly the neutrality acts passed by Con- srre: s, and to follow, as far as may be, the violation ishment. of those acts with condijrn pun- But what gives a peculiar criminality to this invasion Quba is, that under the lead of Spanish subjeetsand with ihe aid of citizens oLtheUnUeqStates, it had its origim AUh" mariyin motives of cupidity. Money 'was all vanced by individ uals, prob ably in considerable" amounts, to purchase Cubaibonds, as they have been called, is sued by .Lopez, sold, doubtless, at a very large discount, and for the payment of i which the public lands and public proper ty of Cuba, of whatever kind, and the fis- cal resources of the people and govern- meni oi tnai lsianu, irom wnaievejr source to be derived, were pledged, ns well as the good. faith of the government expected to be established. All these means of pay ment, it is evident,' were only to be obtain ed by a process of bloodshed, war, and re volution, j None will deny that those who set on foot military expeditions against foreign States by means like these, are far more "culpable than the ignorojnt and the necessitous whom they induced to go forth as the ostensible parties in the proceeding. These originators of the iuvasion of Cuba seem to have determined, with coolness and system, upon an undertaking which should disgrace their country, violate its laws, and put to hazard the livesof ill-informed arid deluded men. You will con sider whether further legislation be neces sary to prevent the perpetration of such of fences in future. . 1 No individuals have a" rhrht to hazard the peace ot tne country or to violate its laws upon vague notions of altering or re forming governments in other States. This principle is not only reasonable in itself, and in accordance with public law, but is engrafted into the codes of other -nations as well as our own. But while, such are the sentiments of this Government, it may be added i that every indepentent , nation must be presumed to be able to! defend its possessions against unauthorized individu als banded together to attack them. The Government of the United Stages, at all times since its establishment, has abstain-exr-Wriar'has sought to restrain the; ' citizens of the country,"from entering into contry, controversies "between other powers,1 and, to observe all the duties of neutrality. At an early period of the Government, in 'the administration of Washington, several laws were passed for this purpose. The main provisions of these laws.! were re-enacted by the act of April, 1818, by which, amongst other, things, it was declared that if any person shall, within the territory or jurisdiction of the United States, begin, or set on foot, or provide, or prepare the means for any military-expedition or enterprise to be carried on from thehce-.agaiost the ter- ritory or dominion of any foreign prince or State, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States are at peace, every person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeamor, and shall be fined, not exceeding three thousand dol lars, and imprisoned not more than three years : acd this law has been executed and enforced, to the full extent of the power of tne 1 jovernment, from that day to this. In proclaiming and adhering to the doc trine of neutrality and non-intervention, the United States have not , followed . the lead of other civilized nations' ; they have taken the lead themselves, and have been followed by others. This was admitted by one of the most eminent of modern British statesmen, who said in Parliament, wSe a minister of the Crown, "that if he wish ed for a guide in a system of neutral ity, he should take that laid down by A merica in the days of Washington and the secretaryship of Jefferson ;" and we see ' in fact, that the act of Congress of 1818 was followed, the succeeding year, by an act of the Parliament of England, substantially the same in iis general provi sions. Up to that time there had been no similar law in England, except certain highly penal statutes passed in the reign of George II.,, prohibiting English subjects from enlisting in foreign service, the avow ed object of which statues was, that for- eign armies, raised tor tne purpose ot re storing the house of Stuart to the throne, should not be strengthened by recruits from England herself. j All must see that difficulties may arise in carrying the law referred to into execu tion in a country now having three or four thousand miles of seacoast, with an infi nite number of .ports and harbors and small inlets from some of which unlawful ex- leditions may suddenly set forth, the knowledge of Government, the possessions of foreign State. Friendly relations with all, but without against entanr- iujr aiiiaiiucs wmi none, lias lonr Deen a ! 1 1: i i - ii maxim with us. Our true mission is not to propagate our opinions, or impose upon other countries our form of government, by artificial or force; but to teach by ex ample, and show by our success, modera tion and justice, the blessings of se'lf-gov-. eminent, and the advantages of free insti tutions. Let every people choose fdr itself, and make and alter its political, institu tions to suit its own condition and conve nience. But, while we avow and main tain this neutral policy ourselves, we are anxious to see the (same forbearance on the part of other nations, whose forms of cnwi'limpllt :irr 1 1 1 fT rt n t fmm rvni" nurn J The deep interests -which we feel in the srread of likeral principles and the estab lishment of free governments, ahd the sympathy which we witness every strug-; gle against oppression;- forbid that we should be indifferent t(j a case in which tne strong arm ot a toreign power is in voked to stifle public sentiment ahd repress the spirit of freedom in any country. The government of Great Britain and France have issued orders to their naval commanders on the W est India station to prevent by force, if necessary, the landiitg of adventurers from any nation on the Is land! of Cuba with hostile 'intent. . The copy of a memorandum of a conversation on this subject between the Charge d'Af fairs of her Britannic Majesty ami the Ac ling Secretary of State and of a subse quent note of the former to tiie Depart ment of State, are herewith submitted, to gether with a copy of a note of the Act ing Secretary of State to the Minister of the French republic, and of the reply of the latter, on the same subject. Ihese pa pers will acquaint you with the grounds of this interposition of the two leading commercial powers of Europe, and with the apprehensions, which this Government could not fail to entertain, that such inter position, if carried into effect, might lead to abuse in derogation of the maritime rights of the United States. The maratime rilr'hts of the United Stales are founded on a firm, secure, and well-defended basts; they stand upon the ground of National Independence and public law, and will be maintained in all their full and just extent. The principle which this Government has heretofore solemnly announced it still adheres to, and will maintain under all circumstances and at all hazards. That principles is, that in every regularly docu mented merchant vessel, the crew who navigate it, and those on board of it, will find their protection in the flag which is over them. No American ship can be al lowed to be visited t)r searched for the pur pose of ascertaining the (character of indi viduals on board, nor can there be allowed any watch by the vessels of any foreign nation over American vessels on the coasts of the United State or the seas adjacent thereto. It will be seen by the last com munication from the British Charge d' Af fairs 'to the - Department of State that he is authorized to assure the Secretary of State that every care will be taken that, in executing the preventive measures against the expeditions, which the United States Government itself has denounced as not being entitled to the protection of any gov ernment, no interference shall (take place with the lawful commerce of any nation. In addition to the correspondence on this subject, herewith ;j. submitted, official information has been received at the De partment of Stale, of assurances by the French government that, in the orders giv en to the French naval forces, they were expressly instructed, in any operations they might engage in. to respect the flag of the United States wherever it might . appear, andto-t?ommit no act of hostility upon any. vessel or armament under its protection Ministers and consuls of foreign nations are tne means and agents oi communica tion between us and those nations, and it is of the utmost importance thai, while re siding in the country, they should feel a perfect security so long as they -.faithfully discharge their respective duties and are (Tin tv nf nn vmlntinn nf nnr mws I hi is the admitted law of nations, and , no country has a deeper interest in maintain ing it than the United States. Our com merce spreads over every sea and visits every clime, ami our ministers and consuls are appointed to protect the interests of that commerce, as well as to guard the peace of the country and maintain the hon or of its flag. But how can they discharge these duties unless they be themselves pro tected; and, if protected, it must be by the laws of the country in which they reside. And what is due to our own public func tionaries residing in foeign nations is ex actly the measure of what is due to the functionaries of other governments residins: here. As in war, the bearers of flags of truce are sacred, or else wars would be in terminable, so in peace, embassadors, pub lic ministers, and consuls, charged with friendly national intercourse, are objects of especial respect and protection, each ac cording to the rights belonging to his rank and station. In view ot these important principles, it is with deep mortification and regret 1 announce to you, that, during the excitement growing out of the executions at Havana, the office of her Catholic majes ty's consul at New Orleans was assailed by a mob, his property destroyed, the Spanish flag found in the office carried off and torn in pieces, and he himself induced to flee for his personal safeiy, which he supposed to be in danger. On receiving intelligence of these events, I forthwith 'directed the at torney of the United States residing at New Orleans to inquire into the facts and the extent' of the pecuniary loss sustained by the consul, with the intention of laying them before you, that you might make provis ion for such indemnity to him as a just re gard for the honor of the! nation and the respect which is due to a friendly power might, in your judgment, seam to require. The correspondence upon this subject be tween the Secretary of State and her Catholic-majesty's minister plenipotentiary is herewith transmitted. The occurrence at New Orleans has led me to give my attention to the state of our laws in regard to foreign embassadors, mm isters, and consuls. I think the lerisla- tion of the country is deficient in not pro viding sufficiently either for the protection or the punishment of consuls. I therefore recommend the subject to the considera tion of Congress. : 1 Your attention is again invited to the question of reciprocal trade between the United States and Canada and other Brit ish possessions near our j frontier. Over lures ibr a convention Upon this subject have been received from her Britannic Ma jesty's Minister Plenipotentary, but it seems to be in many respects preferable that the matter should be regulated by reciprocal legislation. Documents are laid before you showing the terms which the British government is willing to offer, and the mea sures which it may adopt,! if some arrange ment upon this subject shall not be nunie. From the accompanying copy of a vme from the British Legation at Washington, and the reply of the Department of State thereto, it will appear that her Britannic Majesty's government is desirous that a part of the boundary line between Oregon and the British possessions should be au thoratively marked out, and that an inten tion was expressed to apply to Congress for an appropriation to defray the expense thereof on the part of 'the - United Slates. Your attention to this subject is according ly invited, and a proper appropriation re commended. ' A convention for the adjustment of claims of citizens of the United States against Portugal has been concluded, and the ratifications have been exchanged. The first instalment of the amount to be paid by Portugal fell due on the 30th of September last, and has been paid. The President of the; French republic, according to ther provisions the conven tion, has been selected as obiter in the case of the General Armstrong; and' has signified that he accepts the, trust and the high satisfaction he feels in acting as the common friend of two nations, with which France is united by sentiments of sincere and lasting amity. The Turkish government has expressed . the Sultan's agent, Ainin Bey, on the oc casion of his recent visit to .the United States. On the 2Sth of February last a despatch was addressed by the Secretary of State to Mr. Marsh,j the American Min ister at Constantinople instructing, him to ask of the Turkish government permission for the Hungarians then imprisoned within the dominions of the Sublime Porte, to re move to this country. J On the 3d of March last both Houses of Congress passed a res olutioq.xequesting the President to author ize the employment. of a public vessel to (convey to this country jLouis Kossuth and his associates in captivity. The instruction above referred to was complied with, and the Turkish govern ment having released 'Governor Kolfuth and his companions from prison, on the 10th of September last ahey embarked on board the United States steam-frigate Mis sissippi, which was selected to carry into effect the resolution of Congress.. Govern or Kossuth left the Mississippi at "Gibral tar, for the purpose of making a visit to England, and may shortly be expected in New York. By communications to the Department of Stale he has expressed his giateful acknowledgments for the inter position of this Government in behalf of himself and his associates. This country has been justly regarded as a safe asylum for those whom political events have exil ed from their own homes in Europe ; and it is recommend to Congress to consider in what manner Goverrio, Kossuth and his companions, brought hither by its author ity, shall be received and treated. It is earnestly to be hoped that the dif ferences which have for some time past been pending between the. government' of the French republic and that of the Sand wich Islands, may be peaceably and dura bly adjusted, so as to secure the indepen dence of those islands. I Lonr before the events which have of late imparted so much importance to the possessions of the United Slates on the Pacific, we acknowl edged the independence of the , Hawaiian government. This Government was first in taking that step, and several of the leading powers of Europe immediately fol lowed. We weire influenced in this meas ure by the existing and prospective impor tance of the islands as a place of refuge and refreshment for our vessels engaged in the whale fishery, and by the consideration that tbey he in the course of the great trade which must, at no distant day, be carried on between the wesiern coast of North America and Eastern Asia. We were also influenced by a desire that those, islands should not pass, under the control of any other great naaritime State, but should remain in an indepen dent condition, and so be accessable and useful to the commerce of all nations. I need not say that the importance of these considerations has been greatly enhanced by the sudden and vast develdpeineht which the interests of the United States have attained in California and Oregon; and the policy heretofore adopted in regard to those islands -will, be steadily pursued. It is gratifying not only to those who consider the commercial interests of na tions, but also to all who favor the pro gress of knowledge and I the diffusion of re ligion, to see a community emerge from a savage state and attain such a degree of civilization in those distant seas. It is much to be deplored that the inter nal tranquility of the 1 Mexican republic should again be seriously disturbed ; for, since the peace between that republic and the United .States, it had enioved such comparative repose that It he most favorable anticipations for the future might with a degree of confidence, have been indulged. These, however, have been" thwarted by the recent outbreak in the State of Tamau lipas, on the right bank of tie Rio Bravo. Having received information that persons from the United States had taken . part in the insurrection, and apprehending that their example might be followed bylothers, I caused orders to be issued for the purpose of preventing any hostile expeditions a crainst Mexico, from being set on foot in vi-. olation of the laws of the United States. I likewise issued a proclamation upon' the subject, a copy of which is herewith laid before you. ThIS appeared to be rendered imperative by the obligations of treaties and thegeneral duties of good neighbuihood. ' In my last annual message I informed Congress that citizens of the United States had undertaken the connexion of the two oceans by means of a railroad across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. under a grant of the Mexican government to a citizen of that republic ; and that this enterprise would probably be prosecuted with energy whenever Mexico should consent to such stipulations with the Government of the United States as should; impart a feeling of security to those who should invest their property in the-enterprise. . A convention between the two govern ments for tlie accomplishment of that end has been ratified by this Government, and only waits the decision of the Congress and the Executive of that republic. Some unexpected difficulties arid dclnyfi have ntisen in the ratification of that con vention by Mexico, but it is to be presumed that her decision will be governed by just eral importance of the object, us of, her own interests and obligations! -! A'V.. In np(Tftti.iiin(f unrn fhia imnnrtant tub- : ject, this Government has had in view one, and only cue, object. Thar object has been, and is, the construction or attainment of a passage from ocean to ocean, tho shortest and best for. travellers and mer chn-de, and equally open to all the world. It has sought to obtain ntj territorial ncqui sition. nor any advantages peculiar to it- self ; and it would see, with the greatest regret that Mexico should oppose any ob stacle to the accomplishment of an , enter prise which promises so much convenience to the whole commercial world, and 6Uch eminent advantages to Mexico ,herself. Impressed with these Benrirsehts and these convictiond, the Government will continuo to exert all proper effort to brin about the necessary arrangement with the repub-" lie of Mexico for the speedy completion of the work. I For some months past the republic of Nicaragua has been' the theatre of ono those civil convulsions, from which the cause of free institutions, and the general prosperity and social progress of tho States of Central America, have so often and so severely suffered. Until quiet shall havo been restored, and a government apparent siaoie snau nave ueeu uiguuiuti, uu uu ' vance can prudently be made in disposing" t the questions pending between the two- countries. I am happy to announco that an inter oceanic communication from the mouth of the St. John to the Pacific has been so far accomplished as that, passengers have actually traversed it and merchandise ha been transported over it ; and when the ca nal shall have been completed, according to the original plari, the means of commu nication will be further improved. , It is understood that a considerable part of the railroad across the lstljrr us "of Pa-" nama has been completed, nno that the , mail and passengers will in future bo con veyed thereon. ; j ; ; "VVhichever of the several routes between the two oceans may ultimately prove most l eligible for travellers to and from the dif ferent Slates on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and our coast on the Pacific, thero is little reason to doubt that all of them will be useful to the public, and will liber- ally reward -mat moivuniai enterprise, Dy which alone they have been or ure expec ted to be carried into effect. Peace has been concluded between tlie con tending parlies in the. Island of St. Do mingo, and it is hoped upon a durable . ba sis. Such is the extent of our commercial States cannot -fail to feel a strong interest in its tranquility. mi. c r ' ' . r 'f lUiciiiiuo Willi nit. lomuu- iutib uiv wiiiiv . ine onice oi vommisriioner 10 vnma re mains unfilled; several persons have been appointed, and the place has been offered J to others, all of whom have declined its ac ceptance, on the ground of the inadequacy ' of the compensation. Ths aimnal allow ance by ' law is six thousand dollars, and there is no provision tor any outfit. I ear nestly recommend the consideration of this subject to Congress. Our commerce with China is highly important and is becoming more and rnorefcO,ih consequence of tho j increasing intercourse between our ports on the Pacific coast and Eastern Asia. - China is understood to", be a country ih i which living is ery expensive, and I '! know of no reason why the American r Commissioner sent thither should not bo placed, in regard to coinpensatioB,1 on an equal footing with ministers who represent ' this country at the courls of Kurope By reference to the'5 Ueport of I lie Secre tary of the Treasury, it will be seen that ' the aggregate receipts for the last fiscal year amounted to $32,312,079 87 ) which, Willi II1C Uill(lJ0 ill A tbaut Ull Hi lb ' Julv. 18.rj0. n-ave. as'tho available meaiiB for the .year, the sum of $53,917,524, 3G. ' The total expenditures for tho sarao pe riod were -18,005,878 G8. , . j i The total imporu for the year ending ZOih June, 1851, were " - - 8215,725.1)1)5 Of which there were in specie 4,907,901 The exports for the same peri- . oi were - - - 8217,517,130 Of. which "there1 .. , . , f :J were of do- f , . . mestic pro- . ducts - -8178,540,555 Foreign goods' , . re-exported - 9,738.095 Specie - - - 29.23i;880 v ! : 8217,517,130: Since the 1st of December hut the pay ments in cash on account of the publia debt, exclusive of interest, have amounted to 87,501, 150 5G ; ' which, however, in cludes the sum of 83,212,400 paid under the 12ih nrticlc of the treaty with Mexico, and the further sum of 82,591,213 45, be- 1 ing the amount of awards to American citizens under the late treaty with Mexico, i Continusd on fourth iag.) t
Weekly Commercial (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Dec. 5, 1851, edition 1
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