Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-12-27
MESSAGE


Feilo,o Ciiisens Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives.:
Sixty years have elapsed since the establish
ment of this Government, and the Congress of
the United States again assemblies, to legisate
for an empire Of freemen. The predictions of
evil prophets, who formerly pretended to foretell
the downfall of our institutions, are now remem-
bered only to be derided, and the United States
of America, at this moment, presentto the world
the most stable and permanent Government on
earth.
Such is the result of the labors of those who
have gone before us. Upon Congress will emf
nenly depend the future maintenance of our sys-
ten of free government, and the transmission of
it, unimpaired, to posterity.
We are at peace with all the world, and seek
to maintain our cherished relations of amity with
the rest of mankind. During the past year, we
have been blessed by kind Providence, with
an abundance of the fruits of the earth; and, al
though the destroying angel, for time, visited
extensive portions OF our territory with the rava-
ges of a dreadful pestilence, yet, the Almighty
has at length deigned to stay his hand, and to re-
store the nestimabe blessing of general health
to people who nave acknowledged his power,
deprecated his wrath, and implored his merciful
protection.
While enjoying the benefits of amicable inter
course with foreign nations, we have not been
insensible to the distractions and wars which
have prevailed in other quarters of the world. 1t
is proper theme of thanksgiving to Him who
rules the destnes Of nations that we have been
able to maintain, amidst all these contests, an in
dependent and neutral position towards all bellig
ercnt powers.
Our relations with Great Britain are of the
most friendly character In consequence Of the
recent alteration Of the British navigation acts,
British vessels, from British and other foreign
III l.. A.
day of January next, be admitted to entry in our
ports with cargoes of the growth, manufacture,
or production of any part of the world on the
same terms as to duties, impcs.s, and charges,
as vessels of the United States with their car
goes and our vessels will be admitted to the
slme advantages in British ports, entering there
IL on the same terms as British vessels. Should
no order in council disturb this legislative ar
rangement, the late act Of the British Parliament,
by which Great Britain is brought within the
terms proposed by the act Of Congress of the LIST
of Mlrch, 1917, it is hoped, will be productive of
benefit to both countries.
A slight interruption of diplomatic intercourse.
which occurred between this Government and
France am happy to say, has been terminated,
and our Minister there has been received. 1t is
therefore unnecessary to refer, now, to the cir
cunstances which led to that interruption.
need not express to you the sincere satisfaction
other Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni-
potentiary from sister republic, to which we
have SO long been, and still remain, bound by the
strongest ties of amty
Shortly after had entered upon the discharge
of the Executive duties, / was apprized that n
war-steamer, belonging to the German Empire,
was being fitted out in the harbor of New York,
with the aid of some of our naval officers, rem
dered under the permission of the late Secretary
of 40 WINS Uro ptaU1 I'll.
ring an armistice between that Empire and the
Kingdom of Denmark which had been engaged
IN the Schleswig-Iolstein war. Apprehensive
that this act Of intervention, on our part, might
be viewed as a violation of our neutral obliga-
tons, incurred by the treaty with Denmark, and
of the provisions of the act Of Congress Of the
Goth of April, 1918, directed that no further
aid should be rendered by any agent or officer of
the Navy and instructed the Secretary Of State
to apprze the Minister of the German Empire
accredited to this Government, of my determine
ton to execute the law of the United States, and
to maintain the faith Of treaties with all nations.
The correspondence, which ensued between the
Department of State and the Minister of the
German Empire, is herewith laid before you. The
execution of the law and the observance of the
treaty were deemed by me to be due to the honor
of the country, as well as to the sacred obliga-
tons of the Constitution. | shall not fail to pur-
sue the same course, should similar case arise
with any other nation. Having avowed the opin-
ion on taking the oath of Office that, in disputes
between conflicting foreign governments, it is our
interest, not less than Duty to remain strictly
neutral, l shall not abandon it. You will per-
ceive, from the correspondence submitted to you,
in connection with this subject, that the course
adopted in this case has been properly regarded
by the bellgerent powers interested in the matter.
Although Minister of the United States to
the German Empire was appointed by my prede-
cessor, in August, l648 and has, for long time,
been in attendance, at Frankfort on-the- Maine I;
an although Minister, appointed to represent
tn Empire, was received and accredited here,
yet no such Government as that of the German
Empire has been defintivey constituted Mr.. Do
lion, our representative at Frankfort remained
there several months, IN the expectation that
union of the German States, under one constitu-
n or form of government, might at length, be
or 'nnized. 1t is believed, by those well acquain-
tel with the existing relations between Prussia
and the States Of Germany, that no such union
en- be, permanently, established without her CO.
operation. In the event of the formation ofsuch
union, and the organization of a central power
in Germany, Of which she should form part, it
would become necessary to withdraw our Minis
ter at Berlin but while Prussia exists as an in
dependent kingdom, and diplomatic relations
maintained with her, there can be no necessity
for the continuance of the mission to Frankfort.
have, therefore, recalled Mr.. Donelson, and di-
rected the archives of the legation at Frankfort,
to be transferred to the American legation at
Berlin
Having been apprized that considerable num-
Der of adventures were engaged in fitting out Il
military expedition, within the United States,
against foreign country and believing, from
the best information | could obtain, that it was
destined to invade the island Of Cuba, deemed
it due to the friendly relations existing between
the United States and Spain; to the treaty be-
tween the two nations; to the laws of the Uni
ted States, and, above all, to the American hon
or, to exert the lawful authority of this Govern
ment in suppressing the expedition and prevent
ing the invasion. To this end, issued proc
lamation, enjoining it upon the officers of the
United States civil and military, to use all law
full means within their power. copy of that
proclamation is herewith submitted. The expe-
dition has been suppressed. So long as the act of
Congress Of the 9th of April, 1918, which owes
its existence to the law of nations and to the pol
icy of Washington HIMSELF shall remain on our
statute book, hold it to be the duty of the Exc
cutive faithfully to obey its injunctions.
While this expedition was in progress, was
informed that foreigner, who claimed our pro-
lection, had been clandestineiy, and, as was sup
posed, forcibly, carried off in a vessel from New
Orleans 10 the island of Cuba | Immediately