Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-12-29


tnpd ore'posseesionEin that quarter, paft5cus
Arly vth the Reptblc Of Chill, will become
ItktensSe and muttally advantageous, in pro-
potioH as California and Oregon shall in
cfeaee in populaiion and wealth. II is desi-
nbles therefore, that this Government should
do eseryihing IN its power 10 foster and
strengthen its relations with those States, and
that the spirit Of amiiy between US shonld be
mutual and cordial
lreoopmend the observance Of the sanne
| course towards al other American S,ates.--
The United States stand rs the great Ameri.
can power 10 which, as their natural ally and
friend, they will always be disposed, fret, 10
look Tor meditation and assistance, in The event
OF any collision between them and any Eu.
| iopean nation. As such, we may often kindly
mediate in their behalf, without eniangline
ourselves in foreign wars or unnecessary con.
,rover.ies Whenever the faith of our trea.
ties with any Of them shall require our inter.
ference. we must necessarily inierpose.
A convention has been negotiated with
Brazi providing for The satisfaction Of Amer.
ican claims on that government, and il will
be submitted 10 the Senate. Since the last
session Of Congress, we have received an
Envoy Extra ordinary and Minister Plenipo.
teniiary from that empire, and our relations
with il are founded upon the most amicabe
Understanding.
Your attention is earnestly invited 10 ar
amendment Of our existing laws relating to
the African slave trade, with view 10 the
efectual suppression of that harbarou traffic
II is not 10 be denied that This trade is still
in part. carried on by means of vessels buill
in the United States, and owned or navieatet
by some OF our citizens. The correspondence
between the Department Of State and the
| M r Al Il =.
Rio de Janeiro, which has from time to Time
been laid before Congress, represents that i,
is Il customary device 10 evade the penalties
Of our laws by means Of sea-etiers. Vessel.
sold in Brazil, when provided with such pa.
pers by the Consul, instead Of returning Il
the United States for a new register. pro.
ceed a, once 10 the coast of Africa, for The
purpose of obtaining careoes Of slaves.
Much additional information, of the same
character, has recently been transmitted io
the Department of State. Ii has not beer
considered the policy of our laws TO subject
an American citizen, who, in foreign coun
try, purchases a vessel built in the United
States. TO the Inconvenience of sending he
home for a new register, before permitting
her TO proceed on IA voyage. Any alteration
OF the laws, which might have tendency Il
impede the free transfer of property in YES
sells between our citizens, or the free naviga
lion of those vessels between different part:
Of The world, when employed in lawful com
merce, should be well aud cautiously con
sidered; but trust that your wisdom vii
devise method by which our general policy
in This respect, may be preserved, and al the
same time the abuse OF our flag, by means o
sea-etters, in the manner indicated, may be
prevented.
Having asceriained that there is no pros
pect of the reunion of the five States OF Cen
tral America, which formerly composed the
republic OF that name, we have separated,
negotiated with some of them treaties o
aniiy and commerce, which will be laid be-
fore the Senate ..r
A contract having been concluded will
the State OF Nicaragua, by n company com
posed OF American citizens, foi the purpose
OF constructing ship canal through the ter
riiory OF that Stale, 10 connect the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans, have directed The ne
goliaion of treaty with Nicaragua, pede
ing both governments TO protect those wht
shall engage in and perfect the work. Al
other nalons are invited BY the Stale of Nj
caraeua to enter into the same treaty siipula
TORS with her, and The benefit 10 be lerivec
by each from such an arrangement, will bt
The protection of Ibis great inler-oceanic com
mnncaiion against any power which NIGH
seek TO obslruct II, or 10 monopollze lis ad
vanlages. All Staies entering into such q
treaty, will enjoy the right Of passage througf
The canal on payment OF the same tolls
The work, il constructed under these guar
anlees, will become a bond Of peace, instead
of subject of contention and strife, between
the nations of the earth. Should the eIea
maritime States OF Europe consent 10 this ar
rangement, (and we have no reason TO sup
pose that a proposition 80 fair and honorable
will be opposed by any,) the energies Of lheil
people aud ours will cooperate in promoting
The success of the enterprise. | do not re.
commend any appropriation from the Nationa
treasury Tor this purpose, nor do | believe
that such an appropriation is necessary. Pri-
vaie enterprise, it properly projected, will
complete The work, shonld il prove feasible
The parties who have procured the charter
from Nicaragua, for its construction, desire
no assistance from this Government beyond
It's protection; and they profess that, having
examined The proposed line of conmunica.
tion, they will be ready 10 commence the
undertaking whenever that protection shall
be extended TO them, Should there appear
to be reason, on examining The whole evi-
dence, to entertain serious doubt of The
pracilcabllny of constructing such canal
'i"' u""o' Nouiu oe SPeeuHy soIsed py an
acinal exploration of The ronie. r ..lI - y..l
Should such work be constructed, under
The common protection of all nations for
he equal benefits of all il would be neither
Just or expedieut tha, any great maritime
State should command the communications
The territory through which the carai may
be opened oueht TO be freed from The claims
OF any foreign power. No such power should
occupy position that would enable il here
after 10 exercise SO controlling nm Influence
over the commerce of the world, or TO OBJ
struci highway which ouahtiu be dedica.
ted 10 the common uses of mankind aut
The routes across the Ishmus, at Tehnan.
fepec and Panama, are also worthy of our
! serious consideration. They did not fail TO
engage The attention Of my predereSsor-
The nesoiiaior OF the treaty of Guadaliipe
Hidalgo was instructed TO offer very large
sum OF money for the right of transit across
the ls'h'nns of Tehusn,epeo. 90
The Mexican government did not accede
to The proposition for The purchase of the
right Of way, probably beca,iseit iiadalfeady
conliacied with private individuals for The
construction Of passage from the Guasacu-
alco river to Tehuantepec. | shall not re-