Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-08-04
BY YESTERDAYS MAILS.
President S Message.


In response to resolution adopted by the
Senate ON Tuesday, calling ON the President to
know whether anything has occurred. in connex-
ION with our Spanish relations, since his message
of the 18th of March, which renders the provis-
lonal measures then suggested by him unneces-
sary at present, he Immediately sent 10 the SEN
ate the following significant message
TO The Seaate ofthe L. 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 ii be
not incompatible with the public INTEREST," wheth-
or anything has arisen since the date of his mes
sage 10 the House of Representatives ct the fif-
teenth of March last, concerning our relations
with the Government of Spain which. in his o.
pinion, may dispense with the suggestions there
IN contained, touching the proprety of 'provis-
ional measures by Congress to meet any eNigen-
cy that may arise, i'll the recess of Congress, af-
fecting those relations'
In the message to the House of Representatives
referred to- | awaited myself of the occasion TO
present the following reflections and sugges-
tons
I'm view of the position of the island of Cuba.
ITS cNlmity to our coast, the relations which il
must ever bear To our commercial and other in
terests 1t Is VAIN 10 expect that series of un-
friendly acts infringing our commercial rights,
and the adoption of policy threatening the hon
or and security of these State-, can long exist
Win ptdctIhl relations IN case the
taken for amicahle adjustment of our difficulties
with Spain should unfortunately fail, | shall not
hesitate to use the authority aud means which
Congress may grant o insure the observance of
our Just rights, to obtain redress for injuries re-
ceyed, and to vindcate the honor of our flag
In anticipation of that contingency which | ear
nestly hope may not arise, suggest to Congress
the propriety of adopting such provisional mea-
sures as the eNgency may seem to demand
The tive hon a "a bou al
pated that the hope then expressed would be rea-
lied before the period of its adjournment, and
that our relations with Spain would have assun-
ed IA satisfactory condition, rs to remove past
causes of complaint, and afford better security
for tranquility aud Justice in the future. But
am constrained To say that such is not the fact.
The formal demand for immediate PREPARATION in
the case of the "Back Warrior" instead of hav-
Ing been met on the part of Spain by prompt sat
lstaotlon, has only served to call forth iustifi-
cation OF the local authorities of Cuba, and thus
TO transfer the responsibility for their acts to the
Spanish government itself
Meanwhile, information not ony 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 midi
vduals, under military organization. for a de
scent upon the island of Cuba, with II view to
wrest that colony from the dominion of Spain
International comfy, the obligations of treaties
and the express provisions of law, alike required,
i'll my judgment, that all the constitutional pow
of the Executive should be exerted to prevent
the contamination of such a violation of positive
law, and OF that good faith which mainly the
amicabe relations OF neighboring nations must
depend
In conformity with these convictions of public
duty, proclamation was issued to warn all per-
sons not to participate in the contemplated en-
terprise, and to invoke the nterpostion in its be-
half of the proper officers ofthe government. No
proyocation whatever can justify private expedi-
tons 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 power will continue to be verified
whenever the national interest and honor shall
demand a resort to ultimate measures of redress.
Pending negotiations by the Executive, and be-
fore the action OF Congress, individuals could not
be permitted to embarrass the operations of the
one and usulp the powers of the other of these
depositares of the functions of government.
have only to add that nothing has arisen since
the date OF my former message to ''dspense
with the suggestions therein contained touching
the propriety of provisional measures by Con-
gress'" FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WASHINGTON, August | 1854.