The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1849-12-29

continuance Of. the mission to Frankfort.
| have therefore recalled Mr.. Donaldson,
and directed the archieves of the legation
at Frankfort to be transferred TO the
American legation at Berlin.
Having been apprised that consider
able number of adventures were engaged
in fitting out military expedition within
the United States against foreign coun-
try and believing, from the best informal
ton | could obtain that it was destined
to invade, the Island of Cuba. I deemed
it due TO the friendly relation existing be-
tween the United States and Spain, to
the treaty between the two nations to
the American honor, to exert the lawful
authority of this government in suppress
ing the expedition and prevent the inva-
sion. To this end [ issued a proclamation,
enioining it upon the officers of the Uni
ted States, civil and military, to use all
the lawful means within their power
A copy ofthat proclamation is herewith
submitted. The expedition has been sup
pressed. So long as the act of Congress
Of the 2Oth of April. 1s48, which owes
its existence to the laws of nations, and
to the policy of Washington himself. shall
/ remain on our statute books, | hold it to
be the duty of the executive faithfully to
iobey its instructions.
While this expedition was in progress,
was informed that foreigner, who
claimed our protection had been clande-
stinely, and as was supposed, forcibly car
ried of in vessel from New Orleans to
the island of Cuba. Immediately caus-
ed such steps to be taken as | thought
necessary. in case the information had
received should prove correct, to vindicate
the honor of the country, A person.seek-
ing an asylum on our soil, is entitled to
the protection of our laws. The person
alleged to have been abducted was
promptly restored, and the circumstances
of the case are now about to undergo an
investigation before Judicial tribunal. l
would respectfully suggest that, although
the crime charged to have been com
mitted in this case, is held odious as being
in conflict with our opinions on the sub
iect of national sovereignty and personal
freedom there is no prohibition of it or
punishment for it, provided in any act of
Congress The expediency OF supplying
this defect in our criminal codr, is there
/ fore recommended to your consideration
1 have scrupulously avoided any inter-
ference in thecontentions which have re-
cently distracted Europe. During the late
conflict between Austria and Hungary,
there seemed to be prospect that the
latter might become an independent. ma
ton However faint that prospect at
the time appeared, | thought it my duty
in accordance with the general sentiment
oft American people. who deeply sym
pathized with the Magyar patriots, to
stand prepared upon the contingency of
the establishment by her ofa permanent
government, to be the first to welcome
Independent Hungary into the family Of
nations. For this purpose | invested an
agent then in Europe, with power TO de-
clare our willingness promptly to recog-
nize her Independence in the event of her
ability tosustainit. The powerful inter
vention of Russia in the contest, t,extinguish-
ed the hopes of the struggling Magyars.
The U. States did not at any time inter-
fere in the contest but the feeling of the
nation were strongly enlisted in the cause,
and By the suffering of brave people,
who had made gallant but unsuccess-
full effort to be free.
Our claims upon Portugal have been
during the past year, prosecuted with re-
newed vigor, and it has been my object to
employ every effort of honorable diploma
| ey to procure their adjustment. Our
charge d'affairs at Lisbon, George W.
Hopkins, made able and energetic but un-
successful efforts to settle these unpleasant
matters of controversy, and to obtain in
demnity for the wrong which were the
subject ofcomplaint. Our present charge
d'affairs at that Court will also bring to
the prosecution of these claims ability
and zeal. The revolutionary and dis
tracted condition of Portugal in past times
has been represented as one of the lead
ing causes of her delay in indemnifying
our suffering citizens, but | must now
say, it is matter of profound regret that
these claims have not yet been settled
The omission of Portugal to do justice to
the American claimants has now as
sumed a character SO grave and serious,
that | shall shortly make it the subject Of
Of special message to Congress, with a
view to such ultimate action as its wisdom
and patriotism may suggest.
With Russia, Austria, Prussia, Sweden,
Denmark, Belgrim, the Netherlands and
the italian States, we still maintain our
accostumed amicable relations. During
the recent revolutions in the Papal States,
our charge d'affairs at Rome had been
unable to present his letters of credence,
which: indeed he was directed by my
predecessor to withhold until he should
receive further orders. Such was the un-
settled condition of things in those states
that it was not deemed expedient to give
him any instruction on the subject Of
presenting his credentials Letters differ
ent from those with which he had been
furnished by the late administration, until
the 20 of June last, when, in consequence
OF the want of accurate information Of the