The Press. — London, England, 1858-12-25 00:00:00

THE PRESS, DECEMBER 25, 1858. American people. Tt is the only spot in the civilized world where the African slave trade is tolerated; and we see bound by treaty with Great Britain to maintain a naval force on the coast of Africa, at much expense both of life and treasure, solely fur the purpose of arresting slavers bound to that island. The late serious difficulties between the United States and Great Britain respecting the right of search, now so happily terminated, could never have arisen if Cuba had not afforded a market for slaves. As long as this market shall remain open, there can be no hope for the civilization of benighted Africa. Whilst the demand for slaves continues in Cuba, vats will he waged among the petty and barbarous chiefs in Africa, for the purpose of seizing subjects to supply this trade. In such a condition of affairs, it is impossible that the light of civilization and religion can ever penetrate these dark abodes. It has been made known to the world by my predecessors, that the United States have, on several occasions, eadeavonred to acquire Cuba from Spain by honourable negotiation. If this were accomplished, the last relic of the African slave trade would instantly dis appear. Wa would not, if we could, acquire Cuba in any other manner. This is due to our national character. All the territory which we have acquired since the origin of the Government has been by fair purchase from France, Spain, and Mexico, or by the free and voluntary act of the independent State of Texas, in blending her destinies with our own. This course we shall ever pursue, unless circumstances should occur, which we do not now antici pate, rendering a departure from it clearly justifiable, under the imperative and overruling law of selfpreserva ton. The island of Cuba, from its geographical position, commands the mouth of the Mississippi, and the immense and annually increasing trade, foreign and coastwise, from the valley of that noble river, now embracing half the sovereign States of the Union. With that island under the dominion of a distant foreign power, this trade, of vital importance to these States, is exposed to the danger of being destroyed in time of war, and it has hitherto been subjected to perpetual injury and annoyance in time of peace. Our relations with Spain, which ought to be of the most friendly character, must always be placed in jeopardy whilst the existing colonial government over the island shall remain in its present condition. Whilst the posses. sion of the island would be of vast importance to the United States, its value to Spain is, comparatively, un important. Such was the relative situation of the parties when the great Napoleon transferred Louisiana to the United States. Jealous, as he ever was, of the national honour and interests of France, no prison throughout the world has imputed blame to him fur acceptir.g a pecuniary equivalent for this cession. The publicity which has been given to our former negotiations upon this subje , i, and the large appropriation which may be required to effect the purpose, render it expedient, before making another attempt to renew the negotiation, that T should lay the whole subject before Congress. This is especially necessary as it may become indispensable to success that I should be intrusted with the means of making an advance to the Spanish Government immediately atter the signing of the treaty, without awaiting the ratification of it by the Senate. lam encouraged to make this suggestion by the example of Mr. Jefferson previous to the purchase Louisiana from France, and by that of Mr. Polk in view of the acquisition of territory from Mexico. I refer the whole subject to Congress, and commend it to their care ful consideration. The President notices at acme length the capture of the slaver Echo, end the subsequent restoration of her cargo of three hundred negroes to Africa, by arrangement with the Colonization Society, but tontines himself to a statement of the facts. 1255 bounded system of bank credits shall prevail. They will, however, probab:y be the less severe in future; because it is not to be expected, at least fur many years to come, that the commercial nations t.f Europe, with whose in terests our own are so materially involved, will expose them selves to similar calamities. But this subject was treated so much as large in my last annual message, that 1 shall not now pursue it further. Still, I respectfully renew the recommendation in favour of the passage of a uniform bankrupt law applicable to banking institutions. This is all the direct power over the subject which, I believe, the Federal Government possesses. Such a law would mitigate, though it might not prevent the evil. The instinct of self preservation might produce a wholesome restraint upon their banking business, if they knew, in advance, that a sue pension of specie payments would inevitably produce their civil death. But the effects of the revulsion are now slowly but surely passing away. The energy and enterprize of our citi zens, with our unbounded resources, will, within the period of another year, restore a state of wholesome industry and trade. Capital has again accumulated in our large cities. Tne rate of interest is there very low. Confidence is gradually reviving, and so soon as it is discovered that this capital can Le profitably employed in commercial and manufacturing enterprizes, and in the construction of rail roads and other works of public and private improvement, prosperity will again emile throughout the land. It is vain, however, to disguise the fact front ourselves that a specula tive inflation in our currency, without a corresponding inflation in other countries whose manufactures come into competition with our own, must ever produce disastrous results to our domestic manufactures. No tariff, short of absolute prohibition, can prevent these evil consequences. The remaining portion of the President's Message is occupied chiefly, although not exclusively, with the finances of the republic and their administration. INDIA. THE BOMBAY MAIL. By the express, in anticipation of the Overland Mail, we have dates from Bombay to November 25, bringing details of the events which have already reached us by telegraph. THE STATE OF MEXICO. Respecting the recommendation made in his mes sage of last December in favour of an appropriation "to be paid to the Spanish Government for the purpose of distribution among the claimants in the Armstad case," the President reviews the state and position of Mexico, their direct interest in all that concerns which, from their geographical position and their well settled policy in regard to the South American continent, rendered it, an indispensable duty. He says the truth is that this fine country, blessed with a productive soil and a benign climate, bas been reduced by civil dissension to a condition of almost hopeless anarchy and imbecility, and that it would be vain for his Government to attempt to enforce payment in money of the claims of American citizens, now amounting to more than ten millions of dollars, because she is destitute of all pecuniary means to satisfy those demands. As a set-off to all the claims and grievances which be considers un doubtedly furnish abundant cause for resorting to hostilities against the Government still holding pos session of the capital, which if it should succeed in subduing the Constitutional forces would destroy all reasonable hope of a peaceful settlement of their claims, the President suggests that the Government of the United States should assume a temporary pro tectorate over the north ern portions of Chihuahua and Sonora, and to establish military posts within the same—the protection to be withdrawn as soon as local government shall be established in those Mexican States capable of performing their duties to the United States, restraining the lawless, and pre serving peace along the border. He also repeats his recommendation for the establishment of a territorial government at Arizona, which numbers more than ten thousand souls, is practically without a govern ment, or laws, or any regular administration of justice ; disorder and crimes being permitted with impunity. CENTRAL AMERICA-ISTHMUS AFFAIRS. The question of the political condition of the narrow isthmus of Central America, through which transit routes pass between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, he considers a subject of deep interest to all commercial nations. To the United States he says they are of invaluable importance, their posses. sions extending throughout seventeen degrees on the Pacific coast, embracing the important State of Cali fornia and the fl.dirishing territories of Oregon and Washington. lie considers that the States in whose possession thews routes are have no right to arrest or retard their use by other nations any more than if they were arms of the sea, for that they are highways, in which they have little in interest when compared with the vast interests of the world. He earnestly recommends to Congress the passage of an act authorizing the President, under such restrictions as they may deem proper, to employ the land and naval forces of the United States in preventing the transit from being obstructed or closed by lawless violence, and in protecting the lives and property of American citizens travelling thereupon, requiring at the same time that those forces shall be withdrawn the moment the danger shall have passed away. The Panama and Tehuantepec route, be says, also requires similar protection. COSTA RICA AND NEW GRANADA. The President recapitulates the griefs of the United States' Government against Costa Rica and Nica ragua, arising out of the transaction at Virgin Bay, in April, 1856, when, the country being then in a state of wat, with General William Walker in the land, some American citizens, alleged by the President to have been unarmed, were fired upon, and numbers were killed and wounded. The President says that long negotiations have taken place, and unless his demands are complied with " other measures " will be resorted to. The difficulties with New Gra nada are represented as being in a fair way of ar rangement. BRAZIL. ith the Empire of Brazil the relations of the United States are "of the most friendly character," but the export duty of ten per cent. on coffee is represented as prejudicing the trade between the two countries. VIE EXPEDITION TO PARAGUAY. Nothing new is said about the expedition to Para. guay. A hope is expressed that the commissioner who accompanies the naval forces will convince the Paraguayan Government that it is bound to make, voluntarily and promptly, atonement for the wrongs done to American citizens, in connection with the attack on the steamer Water Witch. Should this hope be disappointed, force must be employed to obtain "just satisfaction " (these words are thus distinguished by inverted commas in the. Message ) from Paraguay. But the President repeats his hope that this will not be necessary. THE COMMERCIAL CRISIS. The Commercial Crisis of last winter is thus ad• verted to : When Congress met in December last, the business of the country had just been crushed by one of those periodi cal revulsions which are the inevitable consequence of our unsound and extravagant system of bank credits and inflated currency. With all the elements of national wealth in abundance, our mentifectnres were suspended, our useful public and private enterprizes were arrested, and thousands of I,tbourers were deprived of employment and reduced to want. Universal distress prevailed among the commercial, manufacturing, and mechanical classes. This revulsion was felt the more severely in the United States because similar causes had produced the like deplorable effects throughout the commercial nations of Europe. All were experiencing sad reverses at the same moment. Our manufacturers everywhere suffered severely, not because of our recent redaction in the tariff of duties on imports, but because there was no demand at any price for their productions. The people were obliged to restrict themselves in their purchases to articles of prime necessity. In the general prostration of business the iron manufac turers in different States probahly suffered more than any other class, and much destitution was the inevitable con sequence among the great number of workmen who had been emplo y ed in this useful branch of our intlust-y. There could be no supply where there was no demand. To prest.nt an example, there could be no demand fur railroad iron after our niagniticient system of railraittls, extending its benefits to every portion of the Union, had been brought to a dead pause. The same consequences have resulted from similar causes to many other branches of useful manufactures. It is self-evident that where there is no ability to purchase manufactured articles these cannot be sold, and consequently must cease to be produced. No government, and especially a government of such limited powers as that of the United States, could have prevented the late revulsion. The whole commercial world seemed fcr years to have been rushing to this catastrophe. The same ruinous consequences would have followed in the United States, whether the dnties upon foreign imports had remained as they were under the tariff of or had been raised to a much higher standard. The tariff of 1857 bad no agency in the result. The general causes existing throughout the world could not have been controlled by the legislation of any particular country. The periodical revulsions which have existed in our past history must continue to return at intervals so long as our present un• HEADS OF INTELLIGENCE. Her Majesty's proclamation has given general satisfaction all throughout India. In Oude the talookdars are tendering their sub mission, and surrendering their forts and arms. The fort of Simree in Oude was taken by Bri gadier Eveleigh, on the 9th, with the loss of only two Europeans killed, and three or four wounded. Lord Clyde is at Purtabgurli, some twenty milba distant from Allahabad. Sir H. Somerset has abandoned his tour of in spection. Sir P. Grant is about to visit the Deccan to in spect the Madras troops on field service. The citizens of Bombay purpose to establish an economic museum and gardens, as an enduring mark of loyalty to our gracious Sovereign. A further improvement has token place in cur import market, and the prices of most descriptions of our staple articles have advanced; money is becoming scarcer; and the rates of freights show signs of a slight improvement. THE PURSUIT OF TANTIA TOPEE. We extract from the Bombay Standard the following interesting account of the pursuit of this rebel, whose course it would appear is nearly run : In our last summary Tantia Topee, Rao Saheb—the arcalled Peisbwa—and the Nawab of Banda, were described 83 being still ►t large and on their road to the lierbuuda, our columns being completely distanced in the pursuit. Since then Central India has ceased to be the sceus of rebel exploits, it having been transferred to the country lying between the Taptee and Nerbudda. One chief of the three, the Nawab of Banda, has already sur rendered, and we expect soon to hear that Tantia Topee and the Rao have followed his example, or have been captured by the detachments in pursuit of them. After the final engagement between the rearguard of the rebels at Ilagrode, in Central India, the rebels turned their faces directly towards the Nerbudde, and, reduced in numbers to about 4,000 men, but still bearing the grandiloquent name of "the army of the Peishwa.' they reacheu the Seria Ghent of the Nerbudda on the :loth of October, at a point fifty miles east of Hosangabad—Kerr, with the Southern Mshratta Horse, at that moment at no great distance from Hosungabad. After a march from Kul- ladghee of 6-50 miles, 'dining which be crossed five large rivers, hundreds of brimful nullahs, toiled painfully throu.;h black soil converted into slime by heavy raine, and only over thirty miles of made road, in thirty-eight days, he crossed the Nerbudda with his force with orders to push on to Bhilsa. and there act as circumstances required. The road from Hosungabad to Bhilsa was a mere footpath on the hill sides, offering considerable difficulty to the advance of cayslry. Kerr's force had hardly concluded the second day's march on the Ist of November when intelligence was received that Tantia Topee had crossed the river. Orders were accordingly issued to turn back ; and at four p.m. on the same day the Southern Mahratta Horse fonnd itself again in the town of Hosungabad. The greatest excitement was visible in the camp awl, city. The troops were retiring into the iutrenciiment ; the citizens shutting up their shops—the whole population in fact, seemed in considerable trepidation at the idea of Tantia 'l'opee being in the vicinity. Kerr resolved to impose upon Tantia by vignious measures, and, starting the same night, rode forty miles to Sehagpore, which by the rapidity of his march was fortunately saved from plunder. Tantia Topee was then only eighteen miles distant to the eastvard. The country into which he h4d 41101 4