Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-12-13

o'"Oess WITHOUT resort on our part TO our I
marine, the means Of our enemy
10 lnnlct INJURY upon our m would
De ten1old greater than ours to retallate.-
we could not extrlcate our country from this
unequal condition, with such an enemy, I'M
less we at once depan from our present
peaceful policy, and become a great naval
power. Nor would tbs country be better
situated, in wal with ono of the secondary
naval powers. Though the naval disparity
would be less, the greater extent, and more
exposed condition of our wide spread COM
merce, would give any of them q like adyan-
tage over US.
The proposition to enter into engagements
to forego resort to privateers in case thiscoun-
try should be forced into war with a great ma
val power, is not entitled to more favorable
consideration than would be a proposition, to
agree not to accept the services of volunteers
for operations on land. When the honor or
the rights OF our country require it to assume
a hostile attitude, it confidently relies opont the
patriotism OF its citizens, not ordinarily devoted
to the military profession, to augment the ar
my and the navy, so as to make them fully
adequate to the emergency which calls them to
action.
The proposal to surrender the right to employ
privateets is professedly founded upon the
principle, that private property of un~offending
non combattants, though enemies, should be
exempt from the rayages of war but the pro-
posed surrender goes but little way in carry
ing out that pinciple, which equality requires
that such priv se properly SHOULD not be seized
or molested by national ships Of war. Should
the leading powers of Europe concur in pro-
posing, as a rule of International law, to ex-
empt private property, upon the ocean,, from
seizure by public armed c~ruizers, as well as
by privateers, the United States will readily
meet them upon that broad ground.
The President then refers to the ratification
of the treaty in relation to the British North
American Coast Fisheries st the contested
boundary line of the territory Of Washington
adjoining the British possessions on the Pacific,
and recommends the appointment Of a Com
mission to run and establish a liRe.
He next refers to France, rs follows
France was the early and efficient ally ofthe
the United States in their struggle for indie,
pence. From that time, to the present. with
occasional neutrality-suspicious., cordial relations
of friendship have existed between the govern
ments and people of the two countries. The
kindly sentiments, cherished alike by bOtn nj
tons, have led to extensive soeia! and com
mercial intercourse, which, ] trust, will not b,
interrupted or checked by any casual event O
an apparently unsatisfactory character. Th'
French consul at San Francisco was. not lon.
since, brought intstlle United States distric
court at that place, by compulsory process, a
a witness in favor OF another foreign consul. il
violation, as the French government onceives
ofnis privileges under our consular c0nventio
with France.
There being nothing in the transaction
which could imply any disrespect to France Q
--.L .-~l.-AS. l, L.. --I
/ hope will be satisfactory. Subsequently
misunderstanding arose on the subject Of til
French government having, as it appeared
abruptly excluded the American minister I
Spain from passing through France, on his wa
: from London to Madrid. But that covers
= ment has unequiyocalIy disavowed any desie
t to deny the right of transit to the minister
!, the United States; and, after explanations
this effect, lie has resumed his journey, ar
actually returned through France to Spain.
/ herewith lay before Congress the correspol
!, dence on this subject between our envoy
/ Paris, and the minister of foreign relations
| the French government.
The position of our affairs with Spain T
mains as at the close of your last session. ]
e ternal agitation, SsSat1Ing very n---ly-4l
character OF political revolution, has recent
n conyuIsed that country. The late ministe
1 WGIC NEtlCHttI CApChId " pO"C u 4tlI III
d of very different views in relation 10 its intern
v affairs, have succeeded. Since this chang
there has beenno propitious opportunity to
n sumo, and press on, negotiations for the adju'
ment of serions questions of difficulty betwe
{ the Spanish government and the Uuited Stat
d There is reason to believe that our minist
will find the present government more favoI
le bly, inclined than the preceding to comply W
our Just demands, and to make suitable
re rangements for restoring harmony, and prese
ing peace, between the two countries.
a. Reference is then made to our relations W
he Denmark and other minor powers. The CIR
town affair is referred to at length.
He then passes to our domestic relation, a
le refers to the financial condition of the count
q. The large amount Of money in the treasl
evidently disturbs his equanimity and he
o, nounces his determination to direct that
lg surplus revenue be- applied to the reduction
the public debt. ]Rsnews his
ne ton for a reduction of the duties on imports
r. The army is next referred to, and he
or lieves that an increase of our military force
demanded, and thinks that four new regimen
70 two of infantry and two of mounted men, v
OF be sufficient to meet the present exigency
an The expense, he thinks, will be comparatiy
light. With an increase of the army, he
10 commendS certain measures of reform in
OF organization and arrangement, for the purp
of rendering it less deficient in the simple
u and symmetry SO essential to its harmonic
81 action.
&c The Navy is then touched upon, and
recommends to the favorable consideration
" Congress the recommendation of the Secret
~ of the Navy having reference to more am
provision for the discipline and general
GU 80 - 4,o obopaofar fa. nar,, oaI
the reorganization and gradual increase of
nd navy. He refers to our present extens
80 coast. both Cd the Atlantic and Pacific oces
and suggests. hat in limiting the force Of
~ navy this shoald not be overlooked. The a
~ mentation ofshe navy has not kept pace '
the duties properly and proftably assigned
Of it in time OF pace, and it is inadequate for
ac. large field of is operations, not merely in
or present but still more in the progressively
ma creasing exigeHcies of the wealth and CONNIE
are of the U. STATED He cordially approves Of
ity proposed apprenticeship system for our nat
ant al vessel, recommended by the Secretary of
The Navy.
nv The message recommends additional
~islation in reference to the protection of
led on board of OCEAN steamers and other vess
to The report Of the Postmaster GeDerf
raj referred to, and the expenditure for the
the ending June, 50, 1854, including one l
dred and thirty three thousand four hund
of and eighty three dollars of balance due
ct foreign Offices, is shown to be eight mil
ar seven hundred and ten thousand nine |
ori- dred and seven dollars. The gross rece
E