Democratic banner., 1849-12-31

the information / had received should prove cor.
rect, TO vindicate the honor OF the country, and
the rights of every person seeking an asylum on
our soil, to the protection OF our laws. The per
son alleged to have been abducted was promptly
restored, and the circumstances Of the case are
about to undergo Investigation before o judicia
Tribunal. I y ould respectfully suggest, that, a.
though the crime charged 70 have been commit,
ted IN this case, is held odious, as being in con-
fict with our opinions Oh the subject Of national
sovereignty and personal freedom, there is nc
prohibition of il, or punishment for il, provided in
any set of Congress. The expediency Of supply.
ing. this def ct in our criminal code is, therefore,
Recommended to your consideration.
! have purposely avoided any interference in
the wars and contentious which have recently dis.
tracted Europe. During the late conflict between
Austria aud Hungary there seemedto be q pros
pect that the latter might become an independent
nation. However faint that prospect at the time
s3peartd, ! thought It my duty, n accordance with
the general sentiment Of the American people, who
deeply s, mpaihised with the Magyar patriots. to
stand prepared, upon the cont ngency OF the es-
Establishment by her ola permanent government, to
be the first to welcome independent Hungary into
the family Of nations. For this purpose, | inves-
Itedan agent, then in Europe, with power to declare
our Willingness promptly to recognize he, indepen.
ldence, in the event Of her ability to sustain it,
The pawerful Intervention of Russia IN the contest
distinguished the hopes Of the struggling Msgyars;
THE United States did not stsny time interfere in the
contest but the feelings Of the nation were strong
lly sRListed In her cause and by the suilerings OF
unsuccessful effort to be fee.
Our claims against Portugal have been, during
the past year, Prosecuted With renewed vigor, and
it has been my object to employ every effort Of
honoroble diplomacy to procure their adjustment.
Our late Charge d. Affairs at Lisbon, the Hon.
lH.A--. NJ IL ,--l- A. 81 -.-.Ass. k-e
unsuccessful etfoits to settle these unpleasant mat.
teis Of controversy, and TO obtain indemnity for the
wrongs which were the subjects Of complaint
Our present Charge d'Affaires at that post will 81
$50 bring to the prosecution Of these claims ability
and zeal. The revolutionary and distracted con-
dition Of Portugal, in past times, has been repre-.
scented as one Of the leading causes of her delay in
indemuifying our sufferings citizens; but l must
now say, that is a matter Of profound regtet, that
these claims have not been settled. The omission
of Portugal to do justice to these claimants, has
now assumed Q character so grave and seaIous,
that shall shortly make It the subject ofs special
message to Congress, with q view to such ultimate
action as is wisdom and patriotism may suggest.
With Russia, Austria, Prussia, Sweedon, Den.
mark, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Italian
Ststes, we still maintain our accustomed smicable
relations.
During the recent revolutions in the Papal States
our Charge d. Afaires at Rome has been unable
TO present Lis letter of credence, which, indeed, he
was directed by my predecessor to with bold until
be should receive further orders. Such was the
unset led condition Of things in those states, that
it was not deemed convenient to give him any In.
on the subject Of presenting his creden.
|tial letter, different from those with which be had
been furnished by the late Administration, until
the 25ih Of June last-when In consequence of the
want Of accurats information Of the exact state or
things at that distance from US, he was instructed
L. .@~.~.S.A hts un d{.araf,nn IN nsasa0AfnN k;.n
self 70 the then existing Government, IL IN his
judgement sufficiently stable or If not, to wait
further events. Since that period, Rome has un-|
|dergone another revolution, and he sbides the re-
establishment Of a Government sufficiently perma.
|neut to justify him in opening diplomatic inter-
course with it.
With the Republic Of Mexico, it is our poll.
|cy to cultivate the most friendly relations
Since the ratification Of the treaty Of Guadalupe
Hidalgo, nothing has occurred Of q serious char.
acter TO disturb them. A faithful observance
Of the treaty. and a sincere respect for her
rights, cannot fail 10 secure the lasting conf.
dence and friendship of ths. Republic. The
message Of my predecessor 10 ihs House Of
Representatives, Of The Bib Of February last,
communicating, in compliance with q resolution
of that body, a copy Of q paper called q "prOto-
col" signed at Queretsro, ON the 3oth May,
1910 ny TUG SOWWishIoucIb VI tue Ouitou Obet6el
aud the Minister Of Foreign Affairs of the Mex
lean Government, having been a subject of cor
rsspondsnce between the Department oe State
and the Envoy Extraordinary, and the Minis
ter Plenipotentiary Of that Republic, accredited
TO thi. Government, q transcript Of that cores
|pondence 10 herewith submitted. The Com
missionsrs on the part Of the United States for
marking the boundary between the two Repub.
lies, though delayed on reaching San Diego, by
|imperi0us obstacles, arrived at that plscewith-
in . short period after the time required by that
treaty, and was there joined by the COmmis,-
iorers on the part Of Mexico. They entered
upon their duties, and at the date Of the latest
Intelligence from that quarter, some progress
had bsen made in the survey. The expenses
|~incidsut to the organization Of the commission,
and to lis conveyance u the point where its
operations were TO begin, have SO much reduced
the funds appropriated by Congress, that fur
Their sum, to cover The charges which must be
incurred during the present fiscal year will be
necessary. The great length Of frontier along
which the boundary extends, the nature Of The
~sdjacsnt territory, the difficulty of obtaining
supplies, except at or near the extremes of The
lines, render It also Indispensable, that q liberal
provision should be made to meet the necessary
charges during the fiscal year ending on 4th