The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-03
PRESiDFNTS MESSlGE.

document nor is much comment needed. There
is nothing in it to justify extreme praise or GEN.
sure. Il is respectable message-rcspectable
in style, matter, spirit and dimensions The
view presents of foreign affairs if correct is
encouraging, showing that we are "at peace with
all nations" and, one Of the copies Of said docu
ment Las it, "seek to maintain or cherished rea-
tons If amity with the rest of mankind
Whereby, as the albany A'laS copjectures, is
meant South Carolina and Georgia
The newspapers have been INDUCING in visions
of an approaching conflict between the United
States and Great Britain, growing out Of antago-
nistic claims in Central America. The English
Consul General, Mr.. Chatfeld, has backed the
claim of the fictitious Mosquito King to a portion
of territory commanding the route of the Canal
engaged to be constructed across the lsthmus by
an American company, and laid claim to another
portion of the territory of Nicaragua, as security
for the payment of debts due the citizens of Great
Britain and taken possession of the island of
TOgre, as additional security, after the negotia-
ton, by Mr. Squier American Minister, of
treaty by which said island was to be coded to
this country--all of which acts constitute, in
the Judgment of some of our countrymen, sufii.
cient reasons for resisting her British Majesty
at all hazard and to the last extremity But
the President, despite all this announces in his
message, that "our relations with Great Britain
are of the most friendly character We hope
So 1t would be disgrace for two such nations
to fall to cutting each others throat on account
of the pretensions of his sublime Majesty the
King of hs MOs7a1oest A little discreet diplo-
macy we doubt not will secure cflectually all the
interests Americans have in Central America
We could wish that the President had been
little more explicit in relation to the organization
of Governments i'll California and New Mexico
lie represents the People therein as alone re-
sponsbe for that work without the slightest
alluson to his own action in taking the initiative
in both Territories 1t was due to himself and
to the American People, that he should give full
exposition Of his course in this particular, and
the grounds on which he rested it, The grave
responsibility he had assumed, he should have
been prepared to yindicate, if at all deiensible
One thing we learn from this part of his message
and that is that any bill for the admission of
California and New Mexico as States. will re-
ceive his sanction But we must also direct at
tention to the fact, that he assumes in relation
to all these Territories the same ground taken by
General Cass, and which insured his defeat
"By awaiting their action he says, speaking
of the Territories, all causes of uneasiness may
be avoided and confidence and kind feeling pre-
served. With a.view Of maintaining the harmo-
ny and tranquility so dear to all, we should alb
stain from the Introduction of those exciting TO-
pics Of a sectional character which have hitherto
produced painful apprehensions in the public
mind and repeat the solemn warning of the
first and most illustrious of my predecessors
against furnishing any ground for character.
izng parties by geographical determinations"
This is a recommendation to Congress to alb
stain from the introduction of any question re-
lating to Slavery and to sanction just such action
in regard to it as may be adopted by the people
of the Territories, no mattsr whether lsas shal
allow or eAviude the institution This isthe hrst
authoritative intimation We have had Of the poll
cy of the President.
The recommendation in the Message in rela-
tion TO the Tariff, defines the position of its au-
thor, as a Wing. He is in favor of revision of
the Tariff of substituting specific for al vslorem
duties. and of increasing the taxes on imports
Ii is to be regretted that such a recommendation
should emanate from the Executive at this time.
as it can produce nothing but fruitless contro-
versy, there being majority in both branches
opposed to any change of the existing order of
things.
The President closes his Message with para
graph designed, no doubt, as warning to those
gentlemen who are menacing the Union
"ln my Judgment he says, its dissolution
would lie the greatest Of calamities, and to avert
that should be the study OF every American
Upon its preservation must depend our own hap
piness and that Of countless generations to come.
Whdi,pcr dangers may Ur,Gi'H II, 1 shall stunt IN II
md maintain " N ~ mi,gu'y, 10 The iuH sxtrEt of
the obligations imposed qHi III, porer conferred mon
M byths Cotauwioa'
This meets precisely the threat Of resistance
at all hazards and TO the last extremity We
have little doubt that the General would do his
duty in the contingency indicated When il
shall come to hard knocks, he will be Just the man
for the occasious being little more familiar with
grape and canister than al valorem and specific
duties