The Express.
London, England, 1857-12-21 00:00:00

CONDOM, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER, 21, 1857.

UNITED STATES.

friimdalp bas always Dam highly appreciatod by the govern_
cwt mad people of the United States.
With all other European govenienants, except that of
Spain, one relations are ea cordial ma we could desire.
In the relations with Spain no progress has been
mods towards the settlement of any of the numerous
claims of citizens against Spain, nor redress or ac-
knowledgment fur sundry Insults to America. A
new minister is shortly going to Madrid with special
instructions to seek a speedy and amicable adjust-
ment. The President says the general tone end
temper of tho Spanish government towards the
United States is much to be regretted.
Mention is made of the treaty of friendship and
commerce recently concluded at Constantinople be-
tween the United States and Persia, and an appro-
priation is asked from Congress to cover the expe:ise
of sending a representative to Teheran.
Events in China are reviewed at tome length.
With regard to the nature of Mr. Reed's mission and
its object, the President says :
Whilst our minister has been instructed to occupy a
neutral position in reference to the existing Mathew at
Canton, he will cordielly co-operate with the British
and French ministers In an peaceful measured, to secure, by
treaty stipulations those just ceneemiona to commerce which
the nations of the world have a right to expect, end which
China cannot long be permitted to withhold. From mew-
seam snaked I sandal& as doubt that the three ministers
will me for learroorriona ocemeri to obtain similar trammeled
treaties fur melt of the wren they lepemstest.
The difficulties with Greta& are announced to be
in a fair train of settlement, in a manner just and
honourable to both parties. In view of the obvious
importance to this country of the Isthmus routes,
and their protection from invasion, the President
recommends Congress to pass an set authorieing the
Executive to employ the United States naval and
milita7 fames, if to secure their
neutrality. The Presidenlarea it to be both the
duty and interest of this country to be on the most
friendly terms with the Central American republics,
and denounces in terms of severity those lawless
filibuster expeditions by which those republics are
made to distrust and dislike America, and the
national character is seriously damaged.
Nothing Is better calculated to retard the adventement of
our character ea a nation than the toleration of ouch enter-
pritee in violation of the law of nations. It is one of the
fire ,and highest duties of any independent state, in its
relations with the members of the great tastily of nations, to
restrain Its people from act. of hostile aggression against their
citizens or subjects. The meet eminent writers on
public law du not hesitate to denounce such hostile
seta of robbery and murder. Weak and feeble states
like Ahem of Caine' America may not feel them-
mien able to amen and vindicate their rights. The case
might be far different if expeditiana were eat on foot within
our own territories to nuke private war against a powerful
nation. If such expeditions were fitted out from abroad
against soy portion of our own country, to burn down our
cities, murder and plunder our people, and change our
government, we should call any power on earth to the
strictest account for not preventing such enormities.
Walker's recent departure u leader of another
filibuster expedition, despite the vigilance of the
United States officials, is then alluded to, and the
whole subject submitted to the careful consideration
of Congress, with a view to the adoption of measures
to prevent " our citizens from committing such out-
rages." The refusal of the government of Paraguay to
ratify the treaty with America, and the insults
°Bard to the United States 'leg by order of the
President of Paraguay, are mentioned, together
with a recommendation to Congress to grant the
necessary power to enforce redress if it should be
refused to amicable negotiation.
'l%d Kansas question is discussed at length, and
the legality of the proceedings of the recent Con-
stitutional Convention at Lecompton is recognised.
The Convention, slier an angry end excited debate, finally
determined, by a majority of only two, to submit the gum-
tree of slavery to the people. Though at the last 43 of the
50 delegates present salad their signatures to the conetito-
lion, • large majority of the Convention were in favour of
swab:Aline plaviity in Kans.. They accordingly concerted
ertitle in the constitutionf rthis retread atelier in fonn
to these which lied been adopted by other territorial conven•
lions. In the re Welule, however, providing for the
transition from a tenitonal to a state government, the
question hoe been fairly and explicitly referred to the people
whether they will have a ,eerie ution with or without slavery.
It declares that before the constitution adopted by the Coe-
vendee shall be seat to Congers for admission into the
Umbel ea • ewe an election shall be held to decide this ques-
tion, at which ell the white male inhabitants of the territory,
above the age of 21, en entitled to vote. They are to vote
by ballot, and that the ballot pared at the said election shall
be endorsed " Constitution with Slavery," and " Constitu-
tion with No Slavery." If there be • majority he favour of
the Constitution with Slavery, then it to to be tranemitted to
Congress by the President of the Convention in its original
trot ; on the contrary, if there shall be a majority of Con-
stitution with No Slavery, then the article providing for
slavery shall be stricken from the constitution by the Pre-
sident of the Convention; and it is ezpremly declared, that
no elevery shall exist in the state of Kanto., except that the
right of property in slaves now in the territory shall in no
manner be interfered with; and, in that event, it le made
his ditty to have the constitution thus ratified enanatted to
the Congress of the United States, for the admaaion of the
State into the Union.
At this election every citizen will have an opportunity of
expressing hie opinions by hie vote whether Kamm shall be
raided into the Union with or without slavery, and thus the
exciting question may be peacefully settled in the nay mode
requited the organic. law. The election will be held
under legitimate authority, and if any portion of the inhabi-
tants should refuse to vote, • lair opportunity to do so having
been presented, this will be their own voluntary art, aad
they ions will be responsible for the consequence. Whether
Kansas shall be • free ass slave state meat, under some au-
thonty, be decided by an election, and the question an never
he more clearly or distinctly patented to the people than it
is at the present eminent. Should this opportunity he re-
jected, she may be involved tor yews in demonic discord,
and peesibly in civil wee, before oho can maks op the Issue
now so fortunately tendered, and again reach the point she
ham already attained.
Kansas lola for some yeses occupied too much of the pub-
lie attention. It is high time this ehould be directed to far
more Important objects. When once admitted into the
teion, whether with or without slavery, the excitementbewid her own limits will speedily pee away, and she
will for the first time to left, as she ought to have been long
since, to manage her own affairs in her own way. If her Con-
atitut los, on the subject of slavery. any other subject, be die-
preateg to &majority of the people, no human power an pre-
vent theme from changing kwithin • brief period. Under these
c ileums hams, it may well be questioned whether the pees and
quiet of tier whole country are not of greater Itapertenee than
the more temporary triumph of tither political party in
Kaneda.
Should the constitution without slavery be adopted by the
votes of the majority, the rights of property in slaves now in
the territory are that reserved. The number of these 111
mall, but if it were greater tho provision would be equally
Pat and reasonable. Thee. slave . were brought into the
territory under the constitution of the United States, and are
now the ropily of their Rueter*. This point has at length
been finally deviled by the highest judicial tribunal of the
country, and this upon the plain principle that when the
confederacy of the sovereign states acquire • new territory at
their joint expense, both equality awl justice deemed that the
citizens of one and all of them shall have the right to take
into It whatsoever is reeognieed as property by the common
cunstitutien. To have mtuarnerily coullseatad the property in
slaves already in the territory would have been ea act of
grow injustice, and contrary to the practise of the older states
of the Uglioll which have abolished slavery.
With regard to Brigham Young and his tribe of
rebellious 'Mormons, the President recommends a
decisive course of action:
Without •Interims upon a minute historr of occur-
renege, it is wf dept to say that all the officers of
the United States, judicial and executive, with the
' single exception of two Indian agents, have foaad It neces-
sary foe their own peewee' safety to withdraw from the ter-
ritory, and there no longer remains any government in Utah
but the despotism of Brigham Young.
This being the coadition of affairs in the territory, I could
not mistake the path of deity. As chief edecutive magistrate
I was bound te restore the supremacy of the comfit ution and
laws within Its limits. In order to effect this purpose I
appointed a new governor and other federal °Scent for Utah.
and sent with them a military force for their protection, and
to mid so a posse moieties in came of used in execution of
the laws.
With the religious opinions of the Iderneent, aa long as
they remained mere 01/411i011., however deplorable in them-
selves end revolting to the mend and religious eentimente of
all Christendom, I had no right to interfere. Aerie= alone.
when in violation of the constitution and laws of the United
States, become the legitimate euljecta fir the jurisdiction of
the civil migistrate. My instructions to Governor Cumming