The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-04

bringing his slaves into them to ship for
Southern markets, and to keep them as his
servents, or lease them on hire, 30 longas he
docs not make that free State his permanent
home.
As it is impossible for us to give the mes
sage this week, we annex the synopsis of it
given by the Telegraph on Tuesday morning.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.
HOUSE. In'the House this morning Sgd
ncy Webster, private Secretary of the Pres
idcnt, entered announcing written mes1ge.
Great excitement ensued.
Mr.. Clingman moved it be read
Mr.. Morgan called for the yeas and nays,
and several members struggled fierccly to get
the floor. .....
| In the House after very animating de-
bate and much confusion, IL was decided by
81 against log that the message should not
be read, and the whole subject was laid on
the table. Adjourned till Wednesday.
SENATE. A message from the President
was read. He states that his convictions of
duty will not permit him any longer to de-
lay giving to Congress information on the
state of the Union, and Recommending such
measures as he finds necessary or cxpcdient.
In the Senate after the reading of the
message, debate sprang up on the Central
American question, in which Clayton, Sew
ard, Weller, Cas-, and Others, PARTICIPATED
the ground taken by the President being
generally endorsed.
Adjourned till Thursday.
ABsTRicr OF THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The President commences by giving his
tory of Central American affairs in particu-
lar. He also refers to the recent troubles in
Kansas, and says her people must be pro-
tcctcd in the exercise Of their rights and will
not permit interference on the part Of the
people of other States, and cOmmends the
subject to the early attention of Congress.
He eulogizes popular sovereignty, gives a
history of the formation of the Union, and
expatiates on State rights with particular
reference to slavery and the Fugitive Slave
law. The President regards the agitation
of slavery as dangerous to the durability Of
the Union, and regrets to sec the States dis
regard their constitutional of obligations and
refuse to obey the laws of Congress. He
denies that the South has obtained advantage
over the north in the federal government,
and proceeds to refer 10 the ordinance Of
ll7S7 and the acquisition of Louisiana, and
illustrates the balence of power between free
dom and slavery. lie comes down to the
annexation of Texas, the repeal of the Mis-,
souri, Compromise and argues that the South
has got no more than belongs to her. He
gives an elaborate defence of the principles
of the Nebraska bill, and Indignantly denies
that il is a breach of faith.
The President refers to grave questions
pending with some powers, the most impor-
tant of which is that with Great Britain,
arising out of the Nicaragua question. 1t
was the understanding with the United States
in making the treaty, all the present states of
the former Central American Republic would
thenceforth enjoy complete independence.
Also that contracting parties engaged equal
ly and to some extent for the present and
future, that il either of them had any claim
or right in Central America, such claims
was unrcservcdly relinquished, the stipula-
lions of the Convention being that no dOmin-
ion thereafter would be exercised in any part
of Central America by Great Britain or the
United States. This government consented
to these restrictions in regard to region of
country wherein we had specific and peculiar
interests, only upon the conviction that like
restrictions were in same sense obligatory on
the government of Great Britain. But for
this understanding Of the treaty, it would
never have been concluded by the United
States. Great Britain 80 constructs the Con-
yention as to maintain unchanged, all her
previous pretentions over the Mosquito coast.
These prctentions are founded on the assump-
ton of political relations between Great
Britain and the remnant Of Indians on that
coast, entered into when the whole country
was colonial possession of Spain. IL can
not be successfully controversial that, by the
laws of both Europe and America, no posi- |
bic act of such Indians or of their prcdecess- |
ors, could confer on Great Britain any polit-
ical rights.
1t however become apparent that Great
Britain still continued in exercise of large
authority over all that part of Central Amer
lea, commonly called the Mosquito Coast,
covering the entire length of Nicaragua and
part of Costa Rica. This act of Great Brit
ain being contrary to our treaties with Cen
trail America, Us understood by this govern
ment, have been made subject of negotiation
through the American minister in London. |
Great Britain has by these repeated and sue
cessiye treaties, renounced all prctentions of
her own and recognized the full and sovcr-
eign rights of Spain in most unequivocal
terms. Great Britain now reasserts her right |
10 this extent of the Gulf Coast on the East
ern Coast of Nicaragua. The Interference |
of Great Britain, though cxerted once in form
of military occupation of the port Of San
Juan del Nortc, now presents u claim of
right of protcctonte over the Mosquito In
dams. After stating that recruiting stations
had been established in the United States by |
completely of the British civil and military
officers, he says these considerations, and the
fact that cause of complaint was not mere
casual occurrence, but n deliberate design
conducted by responsible public functionar-
les, impelled me to present the case to the
British Government. The subject is still
under discussion, and the result Of which
will be communicated in due time.
OF the international difficulty in regard to
the late recruiting by Great Britain he says
the Evolutionary policy of the United States
is not to interfere with belligercnts. Such
being the public rights of the United States,
no solicitude was felt until Parliament pass
ed an act to provide for the enlistment of
foreign legion. Ii was matter of surprise,
therefore, to find persons engaged in the
limited States in this business. The ordina-
nv steps were Immediately taken to arrest
and punish the parties concerned. The
matter acquires additional importance by a
disclosure of the fact, that these enlistments
were prosecuted upon a plan devised by Off
cial authority.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.
HousK. In the House this morning, Mr..
Giddings moved to correct the journal OF
Mondays proceedings, in effect denying that
tho Presidents Message was received by the