The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-12-02
hose representatives are chosen far sucI


those representatives are chosen far such
shor, periods, :ha, any injurious or obnox-
Iious laws can very soon be repealed. |,
would appear unlikely that any great
numbers should be to"nd ready to rcsis,
the execution Of the law; but it must bc
borne in mind that the country Is eSicn-
! slve-lhal there nay he local interests o,
prcjuciccs, rendering law odious in one
part, which is not so IN another, and that
the ,hongh,lcss aud nconsidcrate, misled
/ by their passions, or their imagina,ions
, may be induced madly to ress, such laws
as they dsapprove. Such persons should
rccollect that without law there can be
no real practical liberty: that when law
Is to be ;ramplcd under foot, tyrrany rules
whether it appears in the form of mill
,arv despotisn, or Of popular violence.
The law is the only sure protection Of the
weak, and the only efficient restraint on the
strong. Where impartaly and faithfully ad-
ministered there are none beneat tn its protection
and none above its control. You gentlemen,
and the country may be assured that TO the ut
most ofmy ability, and the extent Of the power
vested in me, shall at all times and in all plac-
es take care that the laws be faithfully execut.
ed. In the discharge Of this duty solcmnly inn
posed on me by the constitution and my oath of
office, shall shrink from no responsibility, aud
shall endeavor to meet events as they may arise,
with hrmness as we'll as prudence and discre-
ton.
The appointing power is one of the most deli
cate with which the executive is invested. |
regard it as sacred trust to be exercised with
c,la ~, {bo II
happiness of the people. 1t shall be my effort
to elevate the standard Of official employment
by selecting for places ofi'nportance individuals
fitted for the posts to which they are assigned,
by their known integrity talents and virtue. In
SO extensive country, with so great popula-
ton. and where few persons appointed to office
can be known to the appointing power, mistakes
will unavoidably happen and unfortunate ap-
polntmcnts be made, notwithstanding the great
est care in such cases. Neglect Of duty, or
mal'asance in office will no more be tolerated i'll
individuals appointed by myself than in those
appointed by others.
| am happy in being able to say that no unia-
vorablc change in our foreign relations has tax
en- place since the message 1T the opening of the
last session Of Congress. We are at peace with
all nations, and we enjoy in an eminent degree
the blessings Of that peace in a prosperous and
growing commerce, and in all the forms ofam-
cable national intercourse The uncXampled
growth otthe country, the present amount OF its
population and its ample means of self protcc-
ton secure for it the respect Of all nations, while
il is trusted that its character for justice and a
regard for the rights of other states cause that
respect to be readily and respectfully repaid.
a convention was negotiated in April last be-
tween the United States and Great Britain, for
facilitating and protecting the construction Of 4
ship canal between the Atlantic and Pacific o.
ceans and Tor other purposes. This instrument
has since been ratified by the contracting par
ties, the exchange and ratification has been ei
fected, and proclamation thereof has been duly
made. In addition to the stipulalions contained
IN tn Is Convention, two other objects remain to
be accomplished between the contracting pow.
crs, lst, the designation and establishment OF
free port at each end of the canal.
I'd. An arrangement fixing the distance from
the shore within which belligerent maritime
operations shall not be carried on.
On those points there is little doubt that the
two powers wil'come to an understanding. The
company of citizens of the United States which
has accepted from the state of Nicarauga the pri
vilege of constructing ship canal between the
two oceans, through the territory of that state,
have made some progress in their preliminary
arrangements. The treaty between the United
States and Great Britain Of the 9th April last,
aO''c AciellSu W, OclhS lloW oPcldIioH, ~ 10
to be hoped that the guarantees which it offers
will be sufficient to secure the compile
ton Of the work with all practicable cx-
peditioH. 1t is obvious that this result would
be indefinitely postponed if any other than pea
ceful measures, for the purpose Of harmonzlnE
conflicting claims to territory in that quarter
should be adopted. 1t will consequently be nv
endeavor to cause any further negotiations OIL
the part of the government for this purpose, TO
be so conducted as to bring it to u speedy and
successful close.
Some unavoidable delay has occurred, arising
from distance, and the difficulties of intercourse
between this Government and Nicaragua; but
as intelligence has lust been received of the ap.
pointment Of an Envoy Extraordinary and Min
ister Pleni potentiary of the Government to re-
side at Washington, whose arrival may soon be
expected, it is hoped chat no further difficulty
will be experienced in the prompt transaction of
business between the Governments. Citizens
Of the United States have undertaken the con-
nection of the two Oceans, by means of Rail
Road across the Isthmus Of Tehuantepec, under
grants Of the Mexican Government, through
section of that Republic. 1t is understood that
an estimate, from survey, the cost of the COM
munlcation IS in preparation, and there is every
reason to expect that it will be prosecuted with
characteristic energy, especially when that Co
tons with the Government of the United States
as may be necessary to impart feeling of secu-
rity to those who may embark their property in
the enterprise. Negotiations are pending for the
accomplishment Of the object; and the hope is
confidently entertained, that when the Govern
ment of Mexico shall become duly sensible of
the advantages which that country cannot fail to
derive from the work, and learns that the Gov
ernment Of the United States desires that the
right OF sovereignty of Mexico on the Isthmus
shall remain unimpaired, the stpulations refer
red to, will be agreed to with alacrity. By the
last advices from Mexico, it would appear that
that government entertains strong objections to
some Of the stipulations, which the parties con
cerned in the project of the Rail Road deemed
necessary for their protection and security. Fur.
ther consideration, it is to be hoped, or some mo-
dficaton of terms, may yet reconcile the differ
ences existing between the two Governments,
in this respect. Fresh instructions have recent
ly been given to the Minister of the United
States in Mexico, who is prosecuting the sub
ject with prompttude and ability.
Although the negotiations with Portugal for
the payment Of the claims of citizen Of the Unit
ed States against that Government have not vet