The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-08-15
WARRINGTON.
Message from the President to the Senate, In re-
gard to our Relations with Spain.

gard to our Relations with spain.
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Aug. 1.
| TIE President transmits the following mess-
age to the Senate of the United States:
"I hasten to respond briefly to the resolu.
lion of tho Senate of this date, requiring the
President to inform the Senate it, in his opin-
ion, it be not incompatible with the public in
tercst whether anything has arisen since the
Date of his message TO the House of Represen-
taiives of the 18th of March last, concerning
our relation 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 roa
cess of Congress affecting those relations.
In tho Message tn the House of Represents
tives referred to, availed myself of the oppor-
tunty to present tho following reflections and
sugg estons. In view of the position of the
Island of Cuba, its proximity to our coast. tho
relations which il must even bear to our COM
mercial and other interests, II Is vain to think
th at series of unfriendly acts infringing our
commercial rights, and the adoption of policy
threatening the honor and security of these
States can long exist with peaceful relations.
In case the measures taken for the amicable
adjustment of our difficulties with Spain sho'd
unfortunately fail, shall not hesitate to use
the authority and means which Congress may
grant 10 insure the observance of our just
rights, to obtain redress for injuries received,
and to vindcate the honor of our flag. In an
ticpation of that contingency which earnest
ly hope may not arise, suggest to Congress
tho propriety Of adopting such provisional
measures as the exigenoy may seem to dc.
mand.
The two Houses of Congress may have an.
ticipated that the hope then expressed would
be realized before tho period of its adjourn.
ment, and that our relations with Spain would
have assumed satisfactory condition, 80 as
TO remove past Causes Of complaint. and afford
better security for tranquility and justice in
the future; but EN- constrained to say that
such is not the fact The formal demand for
immediate reparation in the case of the Black
Warrior, instead 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 of their acts to the Spanish it.
self. Meanwhile, information not only relia-
BILE in it's nature, but Of an official character
was received, to the effect that preparation was
making within the United States, by private
individuals, under a 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 tred-
ties, and the express provisions of law, alike
required in my judgment, that all the consti-
tutional power of the Executive should be ex-
erted to prevent tho consummation OF such q
violation of positive law, and of that good faith
on which mainly the amicable relations OF
neighboring nations must depend. In eonfor-
nifty with these convictions Of public duty,
proclamation was issued to warn all persons
not to participate in the contemplated enter
prise, and to invoke the interposition in its
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 dema nd re-
sort to ultimate measures Of redress. PEN
ding negotiations by the Executive, and before
the action of Congress, individuals could not
DO permitted to embarrass to operations of the
one, and usurp the powers of the other of these
repositories Of the functions of the Govern
ment. have only to add, that nothing has a.
risen since the date Of my former message to
dispense with the suggestions therein contain
cd touching the propriety Of provisional meas
ures by Congress.
FRANKLIN PIERCE,