The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-08-10
MrsaAar raor rHr p@nRsIprsr 70 zee

MESSAGE FROM II EhEslpANf IL 1hA
SENArE,rS REGARD TO DUR RELATIONS WITH
SrAIE.- Washington, August 1.-The Pres
ident transmits the following message 70
the Senate Of the United States:
81 hasten to respond briefly to the reso-
luton Of the Senate Of this date requiring
the President to inform the Senate, ifin
his opinion, it be not incompatible with
the public interest, whether anything has
arisen since the date of his message to the
House Of Representatives OF the 10Th OF
March last, concerning our relations with
tie government Of Spain, which, IN his O.
pinion, may dispense with the suggestions
therein contained touching the propriety OF
provisional measures by Congress to meet
any e~xigency that may arise in the recess
of Congress affecting those relations.
"In the message to the House of Rep
resentatives referred to, l awaited myself OF
the OCCASION topresent the following refiec-
TORS and suggestions: In view ofthe pc
sition Of the Island of Cuba, its proximity
to our coast, the relations which it must
ever bear to our commercial and other in
forests, it is vain to expect that a series oil
unfriendly acts, infringing our commercial
rights, and the adoption of a policy threat
ening the honor and securityofthese States,
can long exist with peaceful relations. In
case the measure taken for the amicable ad-
iustment Of our difficulties with Spain
should unfortunately fail, | shall not hest
tate to use the authority and means which
Congress may grant. to insure the observ-
ance of our just rights, TO obtain redress
for injuries received, and to vindicate the
honor of our flag. In anticipation Of thai
contingency, which / earnestly hope may
not arise, ! suggest to Congress the propri'
oty of adopting such provisional measures
as the exigency may seem to demand.
The two Houses of Congress may have
anticipated that the hope then expressed
would be realized before the period ofit'
adjournment, and that our relations with
Spain would have assumed a satisfactory
condition, and oferd better security fol
tranquility and justice in the future; but
am constrained to say hat such is not the
fact. The formal demand for immediate
reparation in the case of the Black Var
riOr, instead of having been met on the
part Of Spain by prompt satisfaction has
only servedto call forth a justification o.
the local authorities of Cuba, and thus tc
transfer the responsibility for their acts t
theSpanish governmentit itself Meanwhile, in
formation not only reliable in its nature, bu
ofan official character was received, to thu
effect that preparation was making with
in the limits Of the United States,b by pri'
vate individuals, under a military organ
~iza!ion, for a descent upon the Island o
Cuba, with a view to wrest that Colony
from the dominion Of Spain. Information
al comfy, the obligations Of treaties, anc
the express provisions oflaw, alike requir
ed, in my judgment, that all the consti
t~utional power Of the Executive should b.
exerted to prevent the consummation Of sucf
n violation ofpositive law, and of that gooC
faith on which mainly theIamicable relations
Of neighboring nations must depend. II
conformity with these convictions Of pub
lie duty, a proclamation was issued tC
warn all persons not to participate in the
contemplated enterprise, and to invoke the
~interposition in this behalf of the proper
officers Of the Government. No provoca
ton whatever can justify private expedi
tons of hostility against a country at peace
with the United States. The power ode
clare war, is vested by the constitution il
Congress, and the experience of our pas
history leaves no room to doubt that the
wisdom of this arrangement of constitu'
tional power will continue to be verified
whenever the National interest and honol
shall demand a resort TO ultimate measures
of redress. Pending negotiations by the
Executive, and before the action of Congress
individuals could not be permitted to EN-
barrass the operations of the one, and u
surp the powers Of the other Of these de
positories Of the functions Of Government
| have only to add, that nothing has ariser
since the date ofmy former message todis
pense with the suggestions therein contain.
ed, touching the propriety of provisional
measures by Congress.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.