The Empire County argus., 1855-01-06

PRESIDENTS MEssAGE.-This document has rea-
ched u.s. and we should lay it before our readers
entire had we room. 1t is straight forward pa
per and devoid of blood and thunder, not word
of flibuserism in it. It is noticeable for what
it does not say than for what is expressed. Not
a word about Cuba, the Sandwich Islands, the
ministerial Congress at Ostend, the Nebraska Bill,
the Missouri Compromise line, or the recent excite
ment of the country. Foreign relations are dispo-
sed of in short hand, and Soule with daah of the
pen The destruction of Greytown is defended at
length, and the President thinks the heterogeneous
population of this Bamboo town received no
punishment than they deserved. The President is
not inclined to interfere in any of the contests
of other nations, but is disposed to let them
fight on their own hook Of our foreign commerce
he says
'.Our foreign commerce has reached magnitude
and extent nearly equal to that of the first mari
time power of the earth and exceeding that OF any
other Over this great interest in which not only
our merchants, but all classes of citizens at least
indirectly concerned it is the duty OF the Tx
ecutive and Legislative branches of the government
to exercise careful supervision and adopt proper
measures for its protection.
Long experience has shown that in general when
the principal powers of Europe are engaged in war,
the rights of neutral nations are endangered This
consideration led in the progress OF the war OF our
independence to the formation of the celebrated
confederacy of armed neutrality primary object
of which was to assert the doctrine that free ships
make free goods except in the of articles con-
traband of war, doctrine which from the COM
mencement of our national being has been cher
ished idea of the statesmen of this country.
At one period or another every maritime power
has by solemn treaty stipulation recognized
that principle, ard it might have been hoped that
it would come to be universally received and re-
spected as a rule of international law. But the re-
fusal of one power prevented this, and in the next
great which ensued that of the French revo
lution it failed to be respected by the beligerent
States of Europe. Notwithstanding that, the prin-
ciple is generally admitted to be sound and salu
tary one--so much so that at the commencement
of the existing war in Europe, Great Britain and
France announced their purpose to observe it for
the present, not, however, as recognized lnterna-
tional right but mere concession for the time
being The cooperation, however, of these two
powerful maritime nations in the interests OF neu-
tral rights, appeared to me to afford an occasion
inviting and justfyng on the part of the United
States, renewed effort to make the doctrine in
question principle of international law, by means
of special conventions between the several powers
of Europe and America Accordingly proposition
embracing not only the rule that free ships make
free goods, except contraband articles, but also the
less contested that neutral property other than
contraband, though on board enemy's ships, shall
be exempt from confscation, has been submitted
by this government to those Of Europe and 'Ameri
ca. Russia acted promptly in this matter, and a
convention was concluded between that country and
the U. S. providing for the observance of the prin-
ciples announced not only as between themselves
but also as between them and all other latons
which shall enter like sipulations."
About prvateers the President says:
"The proposition to enter. into engagements to
forego resort to prvateers in case this country
should be forced into war with great naval pow
er is not entitled to more favorable consideration
than would be proposition to agree not accept
the services of volunteers for operations on land
When the honor or the rights of our country re-
quire it to assume a hostile attitude, it confidently
relies upon the patriotism of its citizens not ordina
rily devoted to the military profession to augment
the army and navy so as to make them fully ade
quate to the emergency which calls them into ac-
ton. The proposal to surrender the right to en-
poy privatecrs, is prolessedly founded upon the
principle that private property of unofending non
combatants, though enemies, should be exempt from
the ravages of war; but the proposed surrender
goes but little way in carrying out that principle,
which equally requires that such private property
should not be seized or molested by national ships
of war Should the leading powers of Europe con-
cur in proposing as rule of international law to
SAoHIV Pifito PiOpcity uI'oH ohO oooah iiohi ooiH
ure by public armed cruisers, well as by priva-
tcers. the United States will readily meet them upon
that broad ground
Our relations with France and Spain are discus
sed as follows:
France was the carly and efficient ally of the
United States in their struggle for independence
From that time to the present, with occasional
slight interruptions, cordial relations of friendship
have existed between the government and people
of the two countries. The kindly sentiments cher
shed alike by both nations, have led to extensive
social and commercial intercourse which | trust
will not be interrupted checked by any casual
event of an apparently unsatisfactory character
The French Consul at San Francisco was not
long since brought into the United States District
Court, at that place, by compulsory process.
witness in favor of another foreign Consul, in vio
laton as the French Government conceives of his
privileges under our Consular Convention with
France.
There being nothing in the transaction which
could imply any disrespect to France or its Consul
such explanations have been made as | hope will
be satisfactory. Subsequently, a misunderstanding
arose on the subject of the French Government
hacing, it appeared abruptly excluded the Amer
lean Minister to Spain from passing through France,
from London to Madrid. But that Government
has unequivocally disavowed any design to deny
the right of transit to the Minister of the United
States and after explanations to this effect, he has
resumed his journey and actually returned through
France to Spain. 1 herewith lay before Congress
the correspondence on this subject between
A. &c DALI