Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-01-18
Notes and Reflections on the
Presidents Message.


dressed to Congress, but which has not yet
been received by the principal branch Of
that body, is certainly the most remarkable
document ever issued by President Of the
United States. It is remarkable for It's falls
ifoatons Of history for the novelty and alb
surdi,y Of some Of It's doctrines for It's dem
neogism for It's subserviency TO slayocraIi'
sectionalism; for is contempt TO the senii
pent Of Freedom and thereby 10 the sent
nent Of vust majority Of the American
people; and for It's neglect to rebuke The
grossest outrsges ever committed upon The
most sacred rights Of freemen. Our read
crs have had the document long enough tc
understand it, and now we propose to give
few occasional notes and reflections loi
their consideration.
.4nnsraiion Of Central .4neriea and opening
il 10 Slavery
The beginning and the end Of the mrs
cage, when considered together, suggest o
future policy Of the government the most
magnificent in scope, and the most appalling
in character, Of any ever before officially an
nounced. In the beginning Of the message,
the way lie prepared for the absorption Of
Central America by the Federal Govern
ment; and in the end, we learn that it is not
within the power Of that Government to
control the question Of slavery within this
vast territory, which it may thus bring into
the Union. In a word, the true policy Of
the Government, dimly foreshadowed in the
message, is to absorb Central America, and
to leave it entirely open, so far as the Fed
ernl Government is concerned, for the intro
duction Of slavery; thus revealing to our
vision, as possible future event, the admis-
sion Of lot of new slave states, and the es.
adjustment Of slave representation rs
the dominant political power IN the country :
We say this is the policy dimiy foreshadow-
ed. II is dmly foreshaduwed ns 10 the an
nexaiion Of Central America; not dimlv rs
to the principle on which it shall be annex
ed, If annexed at oil. On that point the
message is clear and explicit: the exclusion
OF slavery by Congress in new territories
being declared aud treated as unconsiiui on
a. We will therefore notice now the first
point only. BY the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
OF 1850, Great Britain and the United States
mutually agreed that neither will ever occu-
Ply, fortify, colonize, assume or exercise any
dominion over Nicaragua, Costa RIGA, the
Mosquito coast, or any part of Central A.
merica. Great Britain now insists that this
stipulation was prospective only and there
fore that she has the right to retain certain
privileges which she processes to have held
previous to the treaty of 1850. This con-
struclion the President denies, and we have
no doubt rightfully. Thus far oil is well
and the President undoubtedly will be sus.
taineG by all parties. But phat is the poiiea
indicated by The President, in case his ireail
shall be dbrogaied, either formally, by both
Governments, or in fact, by either party p
This is the important point and we call at.
,enlion TO the language of the President, as
follows.
THIS government, recognizing the obi
cations OF The treaty, hns Of course desiyed to
see It executed in good faith by both parties
and 10 the discussion, therefore, has not look.
I'd 10 rights, tchich ace might assert, indepen.
dent Of The treaty. IN consideration OF our re.
ogrdphlcdf position, and Of other circumsian.
ces, uh'ch create for MS relations 10 The Cen.
tral american states, different from those 81
any other government of Europe" Pierce.
Message.
There are, then, rights of the United
States, Independent of he ttcaty,"-that
Is, which will exist il the treaty is abrogat.
ed and these rights grow out of sour geo.
graphical position" and "other circumstances
trhich create for us relations 10 The Contra
.qmeriean states, different from those Of an,
government Of Europe" Now whotare these
rights independent of the treaty Who
rights grow out Of our geographical posi-
tom" What are these pecuiiar relations tim
pertain TO the United States, and not 10 an,
European Government? We answer, b,
recalling 10 mind the ground on which
JoHN c. CALHOUN, rs Secretary of State
placed the annexation of Texas:
" 1t is with still deeper conc ern the presi
dent regards the ayowal of Lord Aberdeer
Of The desire of Great Britain to see slavery
abolished In Texas II Inns con,
firmed his previous Impressions as 10 the pol.
icy OF Great. Britain m reference 10 Teyas
and made 1t his duty to examine with much
care and solicitude what would be lis oiTer,
on the prosperity and safety of the limited
States, should she succeed IN her endeavors
The investigation has resulted IN the settled
conviction that 1t would be difficult for Tex
as, 10 her actual condition, 10 resist what
she Great Bri,nin) desires,n fthat is the aha.
lltlon of slavery, " and that, If Texas could
not resist the object of her desire. wonld
endanger both the safety aud prosperity of
the Union. Under this conviction IL Is fell
to be the imperlous duty of the Federal Gov
eminent, the common representative and pro-
tecior OF the states of this Union, TO adopt
IN self defence, the most eiIectual measures
TO defeat IT. e. Cdlhoun's letter N 1fr
Pcekenham, April 10, 1874.
Such was the Interpretation which ,ba
Government OF the United States made of
the "righs belonging to the United States
independent Of treaties, and growing out of
the geographical position" and peculiar
"relations " OF Texas to the United States !.
aud less than one year thereafter, to wit, on
the ID Of March, ls45, Mr.. Calhoun sent bis
despatch to Mr.. Donelson, for the ANsExA-
TIoN OF TEXAS.
This fright Independent of treaties,o to
which the President dimly alludes, we have
thus clearly and explicitly shown to be moth
ing less than ANNEXATION. Such was the
Official declaration of Mr.. Calhoun ~ such
the official Interpretation by the United
States Government in 1916. Now Central
America bears very nearly the same relation.
geographically aud alphabetically, to the
United States, that Texns did in Isi4.-
Central America now lies upon our immedi.