The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-08-09
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT ON
our RELATIONS WITH SPAIN.
Washington, August ], 1854


To the Senate Of the United States:
! hasten to respond briefly 10 the resolution.
OF the Senate Of this date, requiring the Pres
inent to inform the Senate, il, 10 h,s opinian, il
be mt Incompatible with The public insEres',
whether anything has arisen since the date Of
his mt ssage to the House .f Representative.
Of The 9Th of March last, c.nee rning our reia-
ti"ns with the Government Of Spa n, which, in
his opinion. may dispense with the suggestions
therein coniained ID, touching the propriety Of
provisional measures by Congress 10 meet any
rxigencv that may araise in the recess or Con.
eress aHt cling those relatr.ns.
!" the message 70 The House Of Represen-
taiives referred TO. avaiied myself nj iii. cca
sion 10 present the follow ing refle c,ions and
su,grstons 10 view Of the posi,ion of the
Island IF Cnba--i's proximity Ia our coast, the
relations which il must ever bear 10 our com
IN REAL and other inierests--it is vain to expect
that $ ries f unfriendly acts. infringing or
commercial rights and he adoption nf policy
threntnng The honor and security OF these States
can i ny exist WI h peaceful relations In cs.e
the measures taken for The amcable adjustmen 4
ut our difficulties with Spain should unforiunan.
" iai. Shall not hesitate to use the aul hority
and means which Congress may grant to in
sue the OBJ ervance of our Just hts. to Oh.
tam RED ess TOR injuries received, ard to vim.
d'cate the honor of our flag In anticipation
OF Tint Contingency which I earnestly hope NAV
not araIse, suggest 10 Congress the proprie'y
"i adopting such provisional measures az the
exigency may seem 10 demand.
The two Houses OF Congress NAV have A..
ticpatsd that the hope than expressed void le
reallz before the period ofits adjournment, ard
hat our Ieai"ns with Spain would have a..
suhed a satisfactory condi ion, so as to remove
past causes OF complaint, and afford better sc.
curly for tranquility and justice in the future
but an constrained to say, that such 10 not tie
fact The formal demand for immediate rep
araton IN the case Of the " Black Warrior. ~
inst ad Of having been met on the part of Spain
by prompt salts action, has only served to call
forth justification of the local authorities OF
Cuba. and TINS to transfer the responsibility for
their acts to Spain itself. Meanwhile. IN Iorma.s
ton not only reliable in it's nature. but Of an
"ffir'al character, was received To the effect
mat preparation was maE ing within the
limits Of the United Su.tps by private in
d'viduals under, m'litarJ organization for a
descent upon the lsanv Of .uba, with a view
70 wrest that colony from The dominion Of
SPAN. ln'rrnatinn'l comfy, the obligations
of treaties, and the e Apr. IS provisions Of law
alike required by ray judgment, that all the
c"nsil'Hi'onaI rorer oil the executive should
De exerted TO Prevent the consuniDatinh Of
snch vioiatioD. Of positive law. and Of that
good faitb on which mainly the amicable rela-
tons OF ne,gab"ring nations must depend. In
conformity with these convictions Of public
dn'y, proclamation was issued to warn
! oil Persons not to participate in The contem-
plated enterprise, and to invoke the interposi.
lion in this behalf Of the proper officers Of
[ the government No provoca,ion whatever
can justify private expeditions Of hostility
against a country at peace with the United
States. The power to deblare war il vested by
the constitution in Congress and the expert
ence OF our past history leaves no room to doubt
that the wisdom Of this arrangement Of consti-
tu'ional power will continue 10 be verified
| whenever the national interests and honor shall
demand a resort 10 ultimate measures of redress.
Pending negotiations by the xecutive, and be.
fore the action of Congress, individuals could
not be permitted TO embarrass the operations Of
the one and usurp the powers Of the other Of
these repositories Of the functions Of govern.
ment. have only to add, that nothing has
arisen since the date of my former message 10
dispence with the suggestions therein contain
ed touching the property Of provisional meas.
ures by Congress. franklin PIERCE.
Washington, August l, 1854