Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-03
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.
On our relations ,cith Spain.

| 3
The following message was communicated to
the Senate, on Tuesday, by the President, in
compliance with a resolution Of that body de-
string information as to our relations. with
Spain:
TO the Senate ofMe United States:
| hasten to respond briefly to the resolution
of the Senate of this date, requesting the Presi-
dent to inform the Senate (if in his opinion it
be not incompatible with the public interest)
whether anything has arisen since the date OF
his message to the House of Representatives OF
the fifteenth of March last, concerning our re-
lations with the government of Spain, which, in
his opinion, may dispense with the suggestions
therein contained touching the propriety OF
provisional measures by Congress to meet
any exigency that may arise, in the recess OF
Congress, affecting those relations"
In the message to the House of Representa-
tiyes referred to, availed myself of the occa-
sion to present the following reflections and
suggestions
"In view of the position of the island of
Cuba, its proximity to our coast, the relations
which it must ever bear to our commercial
and other interests, it is vain to expect that a
series of unfriendly acts, infringing our com
mercial rights, and the adoption of a policy
threatening the honor and security of these
States, can long consist with peaceful relations.
In case the measures taken for amicable adj
justment Of our difficulties with Spain should
unfortunately fail, shall not hesitate to use
the authority and means which Congress may
grant to insure the observance of our just
rights, to obtain redress for injuries received,
and to vindicate the honor Of our flag. In an
ticipation of that contingency, which l earnest
ly hope may not arise, | suggest to Congress
the propriety Of adopting such provisional
measures as the exigency may seem to de.
mand.o
The two houses of Congress may have antici
pated that the hope then expressed would be
realized before the period of its adjournment,
and that our relations with Spain would have
assumed satisfactory condition, so as to re-
move past causes of complaint, and afford bet
ter security for tranquility and justice in the
future. But am constrained to say that such
is not the fact. The formal demand for imme-
date reparation in the case of the BLACK War
rior," instead of having been met on the part
of Spain by prompt satisfaction, has only served
to call forth a justification of the local autho-
rites of Cuba, and thus to transfer the respon-
siblity for their acts to the Spanish government
itself.
Meanwhile, information not only reliable in
its nature but of an official Oh aracter, was re
ceived to the effect that preparation was max
ing within the limits of the United States, by
private individuals, under military organization,
for descent upon the island of Cuba, with q
view to wrest that colony from the dominion Of
Spain. International comfy, the obligations
of treaties, and the express provisions of law,
alike required, in my judgment that all the con-
stitutional power of the Executive should be
exerted to prevent the consummation of such q
violation of positive law. and of that good faith
on which mainly the amcable relations OF
neighboring nations must depend. In conform
ity with these convictions of public duty, a
proclamation was issued to warn all persons
not to participate in the contemplated enter
prise, and to invoke the interposition in this
behalf of the proper officers OF the government.
No provocation whatever can justify private
expeditions Of hostility against country at
peace with the United States. The power to
declare war is vested by the Constitution in
Congress; and the experience Of our past his
tory leaves no room to doubt that the wisdom
of this arrangement of constitutional power
will continue to be verified whenever the ma
tional interest and honor shall demand a resort
to ultimate measures of redress. Pending me-
gotiations by the Executive, and before the ac-
tion of Congress, individuals could not be per-
mitted to embarrass the operations of the one
aud usurp the powers of the other of these de.
positaries OF the functions Of government.
have only to add that nothing has arisen
since the date of my former message to " dis.
pense with the suggestions therein contained
touching the propriety of provisional measures
by Congress"
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WASHINGTON, august ], 1854.