The true Democrat., 1856-12-16
,rts of Panama and Aspinwall. But the

M .he law has not been put m force, yet the right
 70 onfcrce it is still asserted, and may at any
 ,n,e he acted on by the government of that
 republic.
 acted law during the last year. which levies
 tax of more than three dollars on every
 a of mail matter transported across the
 fsthmus. The sum thus required to be paid
 is'.,',N .ha roails of the United States would be
 on ,wo millions of dollars annually, in ad-
 n;t;on in the large sum payable by contract to
 .h, parama Railroad Company. If the only
 :.o,;o, to this exaction were the exhorbitall-
 ;.s amount, it could not be submitted to
 t6e United States.
 The imposition of it, however, would obvi-
 nslv contravene our treaty with New Grana-
 5a and infringe the contract of that republic
 srith the Panama Railroad Company. The law
 nrovding for this tax was, by it's terms to talk Effect on the first of September last, but the local authorities on the lsthmus have been in auced to suspend it's execution, and to await Further instructions on the subject froffl the go- wemment of the republic. am not yet ad wis. ed of the determination of that government. III measure so extraordinary in its character, bnd so clearly contrary to the treaty stpula- < tons, and the contract rights of the Panama Railroad Company, composed mostly of Anie Ecan citizens, should be persisted in, it will be the duty of the United States to resist its X Execution.
 M 1 regret exceedingly that occasion exists to Invite your attention to subject of still graver Import in our relations with the republic of New Granada. On the 18th day of April last riotous assemblage of the inhabitants of Panama committed a violent and outrages at Jack on the premises of the Railroad Company, tb o,l,
 bear the same, involving the death of several ctzens of the United States, the pillage of many others, and the destruction of d large amount of property belonging to the Railroad ! Company. 1 caused full investigation of that #event to be made, and the result shows sats- factory that complete responsibility for what { occurred attaches to the government of New Granada. l have, therefore, demanded of that government that the perpetrators of the wrongs in question should be punished; that provision Should be made for the families of the citizens of the United States who were killed, with full sindemnty for the property pillaged or de- stroyed.
 The present condition of the Isthmus of Pa hama, so far as regards the security of per- bons and property passing over it, requires se- nous consideration. Recent incidents tend to Bhow that the local authorities cannot be relied en to maintain the public peace of Panama, and there IS just ground for apprehension that a portion of the inhabitants are meditatng fur ther outages, without adequate measures for the security and protection of persons or pro- perty having been taken either by the State of Panama, or by the general government of New Granada. Under the suaranties of treaty, ci- tZens of the United States have, by the out lay of several millions of dollars constructed . railroad across the isthmus, and 1t has become the main route between our Atlantic and Paci- 6c possessions, over which multitudcs of our citizens and a vast amount of property are con- Hantly passing--to the security and protection of all which, and the continuance of the public Advantages involved, it is impossible for the Government of the United States to be indife- rent.
 have deemed the danger of the recurrence of scenes of lawless violence in this quarter so Imminent to make it my duty to station parC of our naval force in the h rbors of Pa mama and Aspinwal in order to protect the persons and property of the citizens of the United States in those ports, and to issue to them safe passage across the lsthmus. And 1t would, in my judgment, be unwise to withdraw tn naval force now m these ports, until, by the spontaneous action of the republic of New Granada, or otherwise, some adequate arrange menl shall have been made for the eprotection and security of line of inter oceanic commu- nication so important at this time, not only to the United States, but to all other maritime States both of Europe and America.
 Meanwhile, negotiations have been instituted by means of special commission, to obtain from New Granada full indemnity for injuries Sustained by our citizens on the lsthmus, and Satisfactory security for the general interests of the United States.
 In addressing to you my last annual message, the occasion seems to me an appropriate oneto express my congratulations In view of the peace, greatness, and felicity which the United States now possess and enjoy.
 # To point you to the state of the various de- partments of the government, and of all the great branches of the public service, civil and nilitary, in order to speak of the intelligence and the integrity which pervadcs the whole, swould be to indicate but imperfectly the ad- Administrative condition of the country, aud the benefts of that on the general welfare. Nor xould it suffice to say that the nation is actual E N at peace at nome and abroad, that its indus ti;l interests are prosperous; that the canvass Of its mariners whten every sea, and the blow oi its husbandmen is marching steadily onward to the boodess conquest of the continent; that citieS and populative States are sprngng up, as ii by entertainment, from the bosom of our &rn wilds, and that the courageous energy of our people is making of these United States ae e great republic of the world. These results 1ave not been attained without passing through fials and perils, by experience of which, and Mus only, nations can harden into manhood. M Our forefathefs were trained to the wisdom which conceived and the courage which achiev- a independence, by the circumstances which mrrounded them, and they were thus made capa-' De of the creation ofthe republic. It tdevolved on the next generation to consolidate the work of the revolution, to deliver the country entirely fpm the influences of conflicting transatlantic mrtialites or antiquities, which attached to our oeonsl and revolutionary history, and to orga nke the practical operation of the constltu- 6onal and legal institutions of the Union. To Il of this generation, remains the not less mo- ne task of maintaining and extending the power M the United States We have, at length, hoached that stage of the national career, in (which the dangers to be encountered, and the exertions to be made, are the incidents, not of Weakness, but of strength. In our foreign re- htions we have to temper our power to the less happy condition of other republics in America,
 Dd to place ourselves in the calmness and con- aious dignity of right by the side of the great 0t and wealthiest of the empires of Europe ID our domestic relations, we have to guard aeainst the shock of the discontents, the am- 6tious. the interests, and the exuberent, and .fAetefore, sometimes irregular impulses Of bpinion or of action, which are the natural Roduct of the present political elevation, the Kli-reliance and the restless spirit of enterprise 6 the people of the United States
 M shall prepare to surrender the Executive lust to my successor, and retire to private life sith sentiments of profound gratitude to the
 bod providence which, during the period of my
 Administration, has vouchsafed to carry the
 buntry through many difficulties. domestic
 nd foreign, and to enable me to contemplate De spectacle of amicable and respectful rea- &pns between ours and all other governments,
 Dd the establishment of constitutional order
 bd tranquility throughout :he Union.
 # FRANKLIN PIERCE.