The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-12
Spain and the United States

The following message was sent to the Sen
ate on Tuesday afternoon, in reply to a rcsolu
ton of inquiry adopted by that body:
10 tho Senate Of the United States: hasten
10 respond briefly to the resolution of the Sen
ate OF this date. requiring the President to in.
form the Senate "i, in his opinion, it be not in.
compatible with the public interest, whe' her
anything has arisen since the date of his mes.
sage to the House of Representatives of the
2oth OF March last concerning our relations
with the government of Spr; which IN his
opinion, may dispense with ugccst;ons
therein contained, touching ,priety of
provisional measures by Cor meet any
exigcncy that may arise in .ss If Con.
gress affecting those relations.
In the message to the House of Representa-.
tives referred to avalcd myself of the oeca
sion to present the following reflections and
suggestions:
I'm view Of the position of the Island of Gu
oa, IT'S proximity to our coast the relations
which 1t must ever bear to our commercial and
other Interests, it is vain to expect that series
OF unfricndly acts infringing or commercial
rights and the adoption of policy threaten
ing the honor and security of these States. can
long exist with peaceful relations.
In case the measures taken for the amica-
BILE adjustment of our difficulties with Spain
should unfortunately fail, shall not hesitate to
'lse 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 Hng In an
ticipation of that contingency. which earnest
ly hope may not arise, I suggest to Congress the
proPriety of adopting such provisional meas
ures rs the exigency may seem to demand"
The two Houses Of Congress may have nntic-
ipated that the hope then expressed would be
realized before the period of it's Adjournment,
and that our relations with Span would have
assumed satisfactory condition, so rs to remove
past causes of complaint and afford better sc.
curity for tranquility and justice III the future
l am constrained to say that such is not the
fact The formal demand for Immediate repa-
ration in the case of the Black Warrior. in
BY sen, SSs ysssasss % to sa'n ea1
forth justification of,ahe local authorities of
Cuba. and thus to traiislS the responsibility for
their acts to the Spanish G ov crnnicnt itself
Meanwhile, informntionsapt only reliable in
its nature. but of an official hnracter was re-,
ceived to the effect that preparation was ma
by private individuals, under military organi
cation, for descent upon the lslan:! of Cuba
with view to wrest that COLONY from the do
minion of Spain. International comfy, the
obligation of treaties, and the express provis-
ions Of law, alike required. in my Judgment,
that all the constitutional power of the Execu-
tive should bo exerted to prevent the consum-
eA1eiou Va bucu NiotuLlOH VI pOSiLtSe INV, ana
Of that good faith on which mainly the,rmica.
bie relations of neighboring nations must de-
pend.
In conformity with the convictions of public
duty, approximation was issued to warn all per-
sons not to participate IN the contemplated en-
terprse and to invoke the interpo.ition in this
behalf of the proper officers of the Govern
ment. No provocation whatever can justify
private expeditions of hostility against a coun-
try at peace with the United States The pow
er 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 na-
tional interest and honor shall demand a resort
to ultimate measures Of redress.
Tending 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 these depositories of the functions of gov
j have only to add, that nothing has arisen
since the date Of my former message to dispens.
with tho suggestions therein contained, touch
ing the propriety of provisional measures by
Congress. $50 FRANKLIN PIERCE.
jWashiagto,s eAugxst Let, 1864.
4, d. .