The American patriot., 1856-01-12
The Presidents Message.

taken the starch out of this document, and the
substance oft has been made known to our
readers some days ago. 1t is necessary, how
evsr to publish it entire, as well for the 'conve
nience of reference, as being historical epit-
ONE Of the condition of the country, both in its
foreign and domestic relations.
A portion of our peoplc-and they are not
small in number-will not read the message,
as they will no other newspaper article Of such
inordnate length, simply because it will occu-
py too much time to do so. For their conve-
nience we will extract the essence, and give it
to them in concentrated form.
Aftera very brief reference to the tranquil.
ty, peace and prosperity enjoyed by the coun-
try, he proceeds toreview our foreign relations
beginning with Central America.-The diver
sity of Interpretation of the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty threatens to complicate the difficulties
between Great Britain and this country more
than is desirable By that treaty it was stipu-
lated that neither party twill ever occupy, er
fortify, orcoloniz re, Or assume, or exercise any
dominion over Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Mos
quito Coast, or any port of Central America"
This clause our Government intcrprets into
REIMBURSEMENT by Great Britain of all claim of
all claim of right in Central America, exec pit a
qualified possession Of the Belize Honduras,
for the purpose of cutting mahogany and dye
woods the United States also agreeing that no
dominion thereafter should be exercised by
them in any part of Central America. Such
restrictions being understood to be equally and
reciprocally binding. But Great Britain so in
terprets the convention as to maintain unchan-
gcd all her previous prctensio"s over the Mos
quito Coast These pretensions are founded
on the assumption of ofpolitcal relations between
Great Britain and the remnant of Indians on
that coast, entered into at tho time when the
whole country was in the colonial possession
ofSrain.
The President meets the arguments of the
British government in support of their erparte
construction Of the treaty boldly and ably.
The case, as stated by the message, is clear
and strong one against England. The mes
sage says that the last communication from
the English government declares that it sees
no reason why conciatory spirit may not
enable the two governments to overcome all
obstacles to satisfactory adjustment of the
subject. While the President ayows the hope
that such may be the result, he expresses the
apprehension that future efforts are not likely
to be attended with better success than past
ones.
The recruiting business is next referred to.
and more made of than it deserves, consid.
ering that Great Britain has already disavowed
any intention of interfering with our munici
pal laws.
The Sound Dues are next introduced. We
should not sublnit to those tolls, because they
in effect, recognize the right Of Denmark to
treat as closed sea, one of the great maritime
highways Of nature. 1t is more advisable to
compensate her literally for all improvements
Of the navigation of the Sound or Belts
All past difficulties with other foreign ma
tons are either settled or in train Of settle
nent, and our relations with them are of the
most friendly kind.
The receipts during the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1885, We're 500, ,oo3, $50; the expen-
dtures for the same period, exclusive of pay
ments on account of the public debt, $685.
S93. The amount expended in redeeming the
public debt, including premium and interest,
was 50, ,52S. The balance in the Treasury
on the lst July, 1855, was S1S,93l ,9T6. The
receipts for the first quarter subsequently and
the estimated receipts for the remainder of the
year, amount to $67, 7,9lS,73l, which, inclusive
Of the balance in the Treasury, will give as the
available resources of the current fiscal year.
the sum Of $50, ,S56,7 100 The expenses of the
of the current fiscal year are estimated at ST.
! 226,S SAG, inclusive of the three millions due
Mexico, and SI,I50,ooO appropriated on ac-
| count of the debt due to Texas, leaving an es
timated balance in the Treasury on the lst of
July, 1906, of Sl5,623,s9 II. The public
d BIT is reduced to less than $40 600, 900. The
excess of expenditures over receipts in the Post
Office has been S2.626,206. The amount of
public land sod and otherwise disposed Of, ex-
ceeds 2+,5oo,ooo acres Welding the sum Of
81, ,4s5 $50.