The Shasta courier., 1855-01-06
THE SHASTA C0UR1 E R
SYNOPSIS Of the pre.ident,. Message.


! Synopsis Of the Presidents Message. {
We are indebted to Adams 6, Co.'s Express
| for copy of the New York Tribune Of Dec. 5th,
containing President Pierees second annual
message to the 33d Congress; also for copy OF
the Sacramento Union, Extra, containing the
same document; both of which were delivered
at this Office early on the morning OF tuesday
last, having been expressed through number
| of hours in advance of the arrival of the stage
| While no one will claim that this message is
an extraordinary document in point OF ability.
yet it will be be generally acknowledged to pos
many similar documents that have heretofore
emanated from the Presidential chair.
1t occupies six closely printed columns in t'a'
Tribune, and hence is altogether too lengthy to
be published entire in the Courier. We are
therefore constrained to give a synopsis of the
more important facts and opinions contained
therein.
| The President, while giving the assurance to
foreign governments, that our policy continues
to be to avoid mingling in disputes between
other nations. holds the broad American doc
| trine, that we will not permit any of the Euro
pean Powers to supervise and in certain re-
spects, to direct our foreign relations" privi-
| lege that England and France have each mani
tested a disposition to exercise. He declares
! that in adjusting the balance of power among
| themselves, they will not be permitted to take
us into account, and constrain US to conform our
conduct to their views.
| In vindicating our territorial extension, he
makes home thrust that will be felt by even
the dull and blunted sensibilites of English
men:
| Some European powers have regarded with
disguieting concern the territorial expansion OF
| the United States This rapid growth has re-
| suited from the legitimate exercise OF sovereig gn
rights, belonging alike to all nations and by ma
i ny literally exercised. Under such circum-
stancesit could hardly have been expected that
| those among them which have within compar-
| atively recent period subdued and absorbed an
| cient kingdoms. planted their standards on eve
! ry continent, and now possess or claim the con-
troll of the islands OF every ocean as their appro-
/ pirate domain, would look with upfriendly SEN
timents upon the acquisitions OF this country, M
every instance honOrably obtained, or would
/ feel themselves justified in imputing our ad-
vancement to a spirit of aggression or passion
FOR political predominance.
| Our foreign commerce is represented to have
reached magnitude and extent nearly equal to
that of the first maritime power of the EARTH and
exceeding that of any other.
| The proposition that free ships, in time Of
war, make free goods, except contraband arti-
cles, has been submitted by our government to
those of Europe and America. As yet Russia
and the two Siclies are the only European ma
| tions that have acceded to it.
The President declined the proposition to
forego resort to privateers" in the event that
this country should be forced into war. He
| says:
"The proposal to surrender the right to en-
! ploy privaeers, is professedlv founded upon the
| principle that private property of unoffending
non-combaiants, though enemies, should be ex-
empt 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 mo-
Tested by national ships of war. Should the
leading powers OF Europe concur in proposing
as rule of international law TO exempt private
property upon the ocean from seizure by public
United States will readily meet them upon that
broad ground
The Reciprocity Treaty opens to COM
merce the free navigation of the river st. Law
renee, and to our fishermen unmolested access
to the shores and bays from which they had
been previously excluded on the coasts of her
North American provinces, in return for which
| l-,J d. ol,c of ,l,,tx,
into the ports of the United States of fish caught
on the same coast by British fishermen.
The importance of providing for the settle
ment of disputes relative to the boundary of
Washington Territory, adjoining the British
possessions, is urged upon Congress.
Our differences with France have been salts
factorily adjusted.
Our relations with Spain remain as they were
at the close of the last session. The late minis
ters having been violently expelled from power,
and men of very different views IN relation to its
internal affairs placed in their stead, there is
reason to believe that our Minister will find the
present Government more favorably inclined
than the preceding to comply with our just de-
mands, and to make suitable arrangements for
restoring harmony and preserving peace be-
tween the two countries.
Every effort has been made to preserve friend
ly relations with Mexico, and to cause its rights
and territories to be respected by our citizens.
In pursuance of this solemn duty, due that gov
ernment, the President has spared no means to
defeat all filibustering. aud bring to punishment
| all fllibusters.
The message contains very elaborate and
satisfactory defence of the destruction Of Grey
town. The administration has received vast
amount of abuse in consequence of this act, and
several foreign governments have intimated dis
satisfaction on account thereof. But for these
reasons the large space devoted to this question
would have been inexcusable. We presume
| there will he but few persons found hereafter f.,