New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-12-06
THH PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


has not come to hand. The Picayune was
more fortunate. Below We give our readers
heir dispatch;
The message is tame and uninteresting doc
1ment 1t commences with illusions to the past
year as marked one; to the failure of the
crops to some extent; to the prevalence Of dis
ease, which has been unusually severe, and to
the great sacrifice Of human life by casualties.
The state Of the country is described as peaceful
and prosperous; and the President, in this con-
nection, alludes to the policy Of our Govern
ment in avoiding entangling alliances, which
we are enabled to do successfully. being ct 50
great distance from Europe.
The message then goes on to allpde to attempts
which have been made by European powers to
control the direction of our foreign policy.
Some have attempted, it proceeds to state, to
enforce arbitrary regulations; but the United
States would not admit the claim of the soye-
regns Of one continent to legisiate for all others
Our Government leaves trans atlantic nations
to adjust their political systems in their own
way. Our military, in time Of peace, is adapted
only to maintain our exterior defenses, while the
duty of our navy is to protect our citizens
abroad, and the free exercise of our commerce.
Our Government, being pacific in its policy,
shows that it is not disposed to encroach upon
the rights, or in any other way to endanger the
security of other powers.
The growth Of the United States, the Presi-
dent remarks, is the necessary result Of the
exercise Of the sovereign rights belonging to and
exercised by all nations.
The doctrine that free ships make free goods
is laid down and reiterated, the sole exception
acknowledged being that of the case of goods
contraband Of war The President says that he
believes this doctrine to be sound and salutary.
and he then proceeds to state that a proposition
embracing this rule having been submitted to
the other Governments of America and those OF
europe, the Russian Government has already
acknowledged it, None of the other powers
have taken any action in the matter, but it is
understood that the King of Prussia and the
King Of the Two sicilies are willing to adopt it
should the leading powers Of Europe also agree
| to do 90.
The message then states that it has been pro-
posed that it should be acknowledged as a rule
Of international Law, that private property
should be exempt from seizure by public armed
cruisers, and that the practice Of privateerine
be surrendered. To this, it is observed that We
could not agree because our regular navy is SC
disproportionate to the extent Of the commerce
to Be protected The proposal to surrender the
right to employ priyateers, is professedly found
ed on the principle that private property of I'M
offending nom combatants, even though enemies
should be exempt from the rayages OF war. But
the proposed surrender goes but a little way to-
wards carrying out that principle, which equal.
ly requires that such property should not be
seized or molested by national ships of war
Should the leading powers Of Europe concur il
proposing as rule of international law, to ex.
empt private property on the ocean from seizure
by public armed cruisers as well as by priya.
teers, the United States will readily meet then
upon that broad ground
The message next alludes commendingly tt
the reciprocity treaty, and recommends the re-
funding certain duties.
| The next point in the message is the recon-
mendation Of the appointment of a joint Ameri
can and British Commission, for the purpose O
arranging for the sale Of British possessions
adjoining ours, TO the United States, with par
tioular reference to the Territory of Washington
| in which difficulties have already occurred be
tween our citizens and the local authorities
| Certain stipulations of the third and fourth
articles Of the treaty concluded by the United
States and Great Britain in 1916, regarding thu
possessory rights of the Hudson's Bay Compa
by, and the property of the Puget's Sound Ag
ricultural Company have given rise, it is stated
to serious disputes; and it is important to al
concerned that summary means of settling
them should be devised. The President says be
believes that arrangements can be made for the
extinguishment Of the rights in question, as
also of those of the Hudson's Bay Company to
navigate the Columbia.
The late difficulty, with respect to the arrest
Of M. Dillon, the French Consul at San Fran
cisco, is next referrep to, and its satisfactory
settlement announced.
With respect to the right of Mr.. Soule to
pass through France, the message states that
France Withdrew the order for his expulsion
and unequiyocally disavow having denied him
the right of transit, and the President express
es the hope that no unpleasantness will occur
between the two countries, in reference to thu
subject. The correspondence which has takeI
place, in reference to the matter is laid before
Congress.
Affairs, with regard to Spain, the messag,
states, remain unchanged. No proper opportu
nifty had occurred to press negotiations, in ref
erence to our claims on the Spanish Govern
mont, In consequence of the difficulties Whicl
have been TRANSPORTING in that country TIL
President says, however, that he believes tina
the present Government Is favorably incline,
towards q compliance with our just demands
The late Ministry were violently expelled fron
power, and the present incumbents are men
very different views from them in relation t
the administration of internal affairs Their
are serious questions in relation to difficultie
between the Spanish Government and the Uni
ted States, still pending; but there seems goo
ground for expecting that our Minister will fin
fewer obstacles in the way of an adjustment
and making suitable arrangements for reste
ring harmony and preserving peace betwee
the two countries, than he would under the fol
mer Government.
The message then announces that there al
negotiations with Denmark pending, in refer
enoe to the proposition that that country sha
discontinue the levying of the sound dues at E
snere, and suggests modification Of the treat
!, of 1896
Tho prosecution of the Japan expedition to
successful issue is next noticed, and the neg,
tiation of q treaty, by which the inhabitan
II agree to open their ports to US, 10 announced
The difficulties for some time existing hetwes
this country and Mexico, the message state
still remain unadjusted, owing, as in the case
Il Spain, to the disturbed condition of the countr
The undertaking Of tilibustering expeditio,
against the country is denounced, and ii is d
clared that participators in them must be pnl
+ ished. Finally, the commencement of the e
Enlistment OF a new boundary line between Il
! two countries is announced
s The efforts Of our ministers and officers
r open the Amazon to our commerce, it is a.
Q nouneed, have not been successful
Il The message then recommends it as the du
of Government to secure the avenues of Il
!. transit across the Central American Isthmus
The question at issue with Great Britain
reference to Central America, it is stated, st
: remained unsettled, serious misunderstandil
: having arisen, it is said, as to the import of Il
Clayton Bnlwer treaty. The message here int
dentally nsrrates the circumstance Of the Gre
!, town difficulty. 1t fully sustains Mr.. Borlal
TO and the bombardment of the place, on t
ground that Greytown was only piratical I