M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-01-10
l'1s PRESIDENTS s
HESS A G h..
Gentlemen ofthe Senate and z
Hoasc of Repre- esentatives;

States provides that Congress shall as
semble annually on the first Monday OF
December, and it has been usual for
the President 10 make no communlca-
tion Of a public character to the Seu-
ate and House OF Representatives un-
I'll advised of their readinesst to receive
it. I have deierred;to this usage un>
Ill the close Of the first month OF the
session, but my convictions OF duty
winhot permit me longer to postpone
the discharge OF the obligation enjoln-
ed by the Consultation upon the Presi-
dent so giyeto Congress information
Of the state Of the Upjon, and receom-
mend 10 their confederation such meas,
meJ as. he shall judge necessary and
exbedient.s s9ae' s fg II
LISA matter Of congra.ulation that
the Republic is tranquility advancing
csteer of prosperity. aud peace.
ForElsa RELLTIoks--CEETRAL AMER
fofefNaw saIcA.R -3laH lg.l
Whilstlre relations Of amity continue
10 exist betweenihe United States and
all foreign powers, with sone of them
grave questions are dependingi which
may require the consideration OF Con-
gress.
Of such questions the most impor-
,.nt Is that which has arisen out OF the
neGo,is,;.,rs with Great Britain, in
reference to Cenlra, America. /, !.
BY Convention concm, "
tweenl the two governments on the lsIn
OF April, 1850, both parties convenan>
ted, that "nei!her viii! ever" occupy,
OF forify, or co!onize, or assume, or
exercise any dominion over, Nicara-
que. Costa Rica, the Mosquito Coast,
or any pan OF Central America"
1t was the uudoubted understanding
OF The United States, in making this
treaty, thpt all the present States OF the
former Republic OF Central America,
and the entire territory of each, would
hencelorth enjoy complets independ-
cnce; and that both contracting parties
engaged equally, and TO the same ex-
tent, for ihe present and for the future;
that if either then had any claim oi
right in Central America, such claim ,
and all occupation or authority under
il, were unreseryedly relinquished by
sig ssfpustioN cf the eousend0a; and
that no dominion was hereafter to be
exercised or assumed in any part o.
Central America, by Great Britain OF
the United States.
This government consented to rec
triclions in regard to region OF the
country, wherein we had specific anc
peculiar interests, only upon the con
viclion that tue like restrictions were
in the same sense obligatory on GreaI
Britain. But iorthis understanding o
the force and effect Of the convention
il would never have been concladed b.
us.
So cleer was the understanding o.
the part OF the Uuiled States, that il
correspondence contemporaneous wit!
the ratification OF the convention,
was distinctly expressed, that the mt
tual covenants OF non. occupation wer
not intended TO apply to the British es
tablishment at the Balize. This qua
ilication is TO be ascrbsd to the fac
that in virtue OF successive treatlc
with previous sovereigns OF the cour
try, Great Britain had obtained cor
cession Of the right to cut mahogan
or dye-woods at the Balize, but wit
positive exclusion OF all domain
sovereignty; and thus it confirms tf
natural construction and understoo
'- import of the treaty as to all the rest
the region 10 which the stipulation
applied. '.'* H'.
II however, became apparent, at Q
early day after entering upon the dl
charge OF my present functions, :b,
Great Britain sill continued in 4
exercise or assertion OF large an ,hori
in all that part OF Central iimeri
commonly called the Musquito Goa
and coyeringthe entire lengila of
State oil Nicaragua, and pal.t of Co
.'' Rica; that she regarded thS Balize
ni her absolute domain, and was gradu
Iy extending its limits ~ the 3exper
aa1 OF the State oi Hondusas; and that S
had formally colonized "a consideral
aio insular group kno'6n as the Bay
lands, and belopgiDg OF light, Il
State. ~ ks12y1 n8 io Cgi.
'2 19 All ,hese acts or pretensions of Gre
Britain being contrary to the rights
14 the State of Central America, and
tie manifest tenor OF her stipulaiio
with the United States, as undersIo
e by this government, have been ma
G. the subject of negotiation through
el American Minister in London.
rad transmit herewith the instructions
-bssl him on the subject, and the .correspt
ASA dence between him. and the Brit
i5ia Secretary forF oreign Affairs,by viii
5ai; you will perceive that the two COVE
70 .menls differ widely and irreconcilal
.a. asto the construction of the, cony,
Z lion. and ITS effect on their respect
taoiG relations to Cehtfsl America. IA i,
Great Britain so copstlues the @,
ils.givehtion, as 10 maintsin unchanged