New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-09
our Relations with spain

The following is the message sent by the Pre-.
sident in reply to the resolution adopted by the
Senate in regard to our relations with Spain;
To the Senate Of the United States.
hasten to respond briefly to the resolution
Of the Senate Of this date, requiring the Presi,
dent to inform the Senate, if in his opinion II
be not incompatible with the public interest,
whether any thing he's arisen since the date Of
his message to the House of Representatives Of
the 10th of March last, concerning our relations
with the Government of Spain, which in his
opinion may dispense with the suggestions there
in contained, touching the propriety Of proyi-
sional measures by Congress to meet any ext
gency that may arise in the recess Of Congress
affecting those relations:
In the message TO the House Of Representa-.
tives referred to, avail myself of the occasion
to present the following reflections and sugges
tions:
In view Of tie position of the Island of Cuba,
its proximity to our coast, the relations which
it must ever be IT to our commercial and other
interests, it is ain to expect that a series Of
nnfriendly act, infringing our commercial
rights, and the adoption Of policy threatening
the honor and curity of these States, can long
exist with peaceful relations.
" In case the measures taken for the amicable
adjustment of our difficulties with Spain shoulc
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 anticipation
of that contingency, which earnestly hope may
not arrive, suggest to Congress the propriety
of adopting such provisional measures as the
exigency may seem to demand'
The two Houses of Congress may have antic-
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 remove
past causes Of complaint, and afford better Sc
curity for tranquility and justice in the future
am constrained to say that such is not the
fact. The formal demand for immediate re
paration in the case Of the Black Warrior, in
stead OF having been met on the part of Spain
by prompt satisfaction has only served to call
forth justification of the local authorities Of
Cuba, and thus to transfer the responsibility
for their acts to the Spanish Government itself
Meanwhile information not only reliable in its
nature, but of an official character, was received
to the effect that preparation was making within
the limits of the United States, by private indi
viduals, under military organization, for de-
scent upon the Island of Cuba, with o view te
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 constitutional
power of the Executive should be exerted to
prevent the consummation of such violation OF
positive law, and Of that good faith on which
mainly the amicable relations Of neighboring
nations must depend
In conformity with these convictions of public
duty, proclamation was issued to warn ali
persons not to participate in the contemplated
enterprise, and to invoke the interposition in
their behalf of the proper officers of the Govern
ment. No provocation whatever can justify
private exhibitions 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 history
leaves no room to doubt that the wisdom of this
arrangement Of Constitutional will continue to
be verified, whenever the national interest and
honor shall demand a report to ultimate mea-
sures of redress.
Pending negotiations by the Executive, and
before the action of Congress, individuals could
not be permitted to embarrass the operations OF
the one and usurp the powers of the other Of
the depostaries of the functions of Government
I have only to add that nothing has arisen
since the date ofmy former message to dispense
with the suggestion therein contained touching
the propriety of provisional measures by Con,
gress. FRANKLIN PIERCE.
Washington, August 1, 1854