Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-05-16
Message from the President.

government, such as they know Mr.. Fillmore's
would be.
Message from the President.
The President transmitted yesterday to both
Houses of Congress, a message on Central Amer-
can affairs and the riot at Panama, OF which we
give the following synopsis:
"The narrow Isthmus which connects the con-
tinent Of North and South America by the facil-
ties that it affords for easy transit between the At
lantic and Pacific oceans, have rendered the coun-
tries Of Central America objects of special conside-
ration to all commercial nations and this has been
greatly augmented in modern times by reason of
changes in our commercial relations, produced by
the general rise of steam as the motive power to
us, account of it's geographical position and our
political interests American State, of primary
magnitude; that Isthmus is of peculiar Importance,
lust as the Isthmus of Suez is, for corresponding
reasons, to the commercial Powers Of Europe; but
above all, the importance to the United States OF
securing free transit across the American Isthmus
has become of paramount interest since the settle
ment of the Territories of Oregon and Washington,
and the accession of California Impelled by these
considerations the United States took steps, at an
early day, to assure suitable means of commercial
transit, by canal, railway or otherwise across the
Isthmus.
'After speaking Of the treaty with New Granada,
securing the rlg0t Htu Tue
endeavor to obtain from Mexico Cessation Of the
right of way at the northern extremity Of the 18TH
mus by Tehauntepec the President speaks Of the
importance of the narrowest point of the Isthmus
for transit, and the paramount interest of the
United States in the security and protection Of the
projected lines Of travel. He then adverts to the
fact, that although this government has been asked
to extend its protecting power and avail itself of
such advan ages as that protection would secure,
"a NJ srrats aud
respect for the rights and interests of others as
well as our own in regard to all the Central Ameri
can States.
He refers briefly to the possession taken by
Great Britain of the harbor OF San Juan del Norte,
almost Immediately after the treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo, and Of she effect produced upon Nicara-
gun by that act and adverts to the unsettled con-
dition Of the Spanish American republics and of
the solicitude and regret inspired on the part Of
this country.
!, "Their violent revolutions and the wars by
which they have been continually agitated, have
made them comparatively powerleas. Unable to
afford due protection to foreign interests within
their territory, or defend their own soil against ag-
gressors, foreign or domestic, the burden Of this
State of things has consequently been cast upon
the foreign States associated in close relations Of
commercial intercourse
"The President, in speaking of Mexico, shows
had occasion to resort to their military power to
enforce the rights of their citizens against the
States Of independent Spanish America. He like
wise alludes to the fact that although it would be
as easy for the United States to absorb new terri
tory from Central America as it is for European
States to do this in Asia or Africa, yet we have
abstaned from it in obedience to considerations OF
right not less than Of policy he affirms that he
has never failed to discharge the dutiesrwhich he
~, hp,aolf IN hiu and foreign
powers; and that he has never failed sternly to
exert all the authority vessed in him to rcpress UNI
lawful enterprises because they in violation Of
the law Of the land which the constitution requires
him to execute faithfully, because they are con-
trary to the policy of this government and because,
to permit them would be departure from good
faith to the American republics in amity with us.
Among the American republics to which modern
events have impaired most prominence, is that of
Nicaragua, on account Of its transit route and
otherwise"
The President adverts to the fact that in their
struggles and troubles, neither bsing strong
enough to overcome the other, one Of the parties
(Castillians) invited the assistance of small body
Of citizens Of the United States, whose presence
apparently put end to the struggle, and restored
quiet by placing at the head Of the government a
distinguished individual, by birth citizen Of the
Republic D. Patricia Rivas, as its provisional pre-
sident.
The message then speaks Of the established
policy of the United States in relation to the re-
cogniton Of foreign ministers. The following are
the principles set forth:
ave recognise all governments without ques-
ton OF their source or organization or Of the means
Of which the governing powers at ain their power,
provided there be government de facto accepted
by the people Of the country. We do not 60 be-
hind the fact of foreign government exercising
the actual power to investigate questions of legit
macy; we do not inquire into the causes which
may have led to change Of government To us
it ia Indifferent whether successful revolution has
been aided by foreign Intervention or not; whether
instruction has overthrow existing governments
and another has been established in its place, ac
cordng to pre-existing forms, or in a manner
adapted for the occasion by those whom we may
find in the actual possession Of power"
All these matters are left TO the people and pub
lie authorities Of the countries respectively. During
the sixty-seven years Of our existence under the
present constitution, we have had occasion to re-
cognise governments de facto founded either by
domestic revolution or by military invasion from
abroad In many Of the governments OF Europe
The principle Is vastly more important as applca-
BILE TO the Central American States, where revolu-
tons are constantly occurring. If therefore, when
the minister from Nicaragua presented himself
some months SINCE bearing the commission of
President Rivas, the facts which are now present
ed had existed, he must have been received. Va
r.ous objections to him were stated. Another min
ster has presented himself and been received salts
factory evidence appearing that he represents the
government de facto, and, 80 far such exists,
the government de jeTs Of that republic. Numer-
Gus considerations Of interest to this country are
added to enforce the propriety Of this reception.
The message states that special commissioner
has been despatched to Panama TO investigate the
facts Of the late occurrence in that quarter, and
suggests that some measures for security Of transit