Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-12-12
exis&ening impartial dynasty still continues. and
Il Il difficult 70 anticipate what will b ~ rsu


Under these circumstances, / have deemed it
TO appoint distinguished citizen Of
Pennsyl vsnia Envoy Extraordinary and MiLis-
er PIenipotentiary 70 proceed to China and
avail himself Of any opportunities which may
offer, TO effect changes in the existing treaty,
favorable to American commerce He left the
United States for the place Of his destination
10 July last, in the steamer Minnesota. Special
Ministers to China have also been appointed
by the governments Of Great Britain and
France.
Whilst our minister has been instructed to
occupy a neutral position in refernce to the ex
listing hostilities ut Canton, he will cordially
co operate with the British and French minis
tiers in all peaceful measures &c secure. by trea-
ty stipulations. those just concessions to com
meree which the nations Of the world have q
right to expect and which China cannot long
be permitted to withhold. From assurances re
ceived entertain no doubt that the three min
listers will act in harmonious concert to obtain
similar commercial treaties for each Of the pow
ers they represent.
We cannot fail to feel a deep interest in all
that concerns the welfare Of the Independent
republics on our own continent, as well as Of
the empire Of Brazil.
NEW GRENADA
Our difficulties with New Grenada, which a
short time since bore SD threatening an aspect,
are, it is to be hoped, in fair train of settle
ment in manner just and honorable to both
parties.
CENTRAL AMERICA
The Isthmus Of Central America, including
that Of Panama, is the great highway between
the Atlantic and Pacific, over which a large
portion Of the commerce Of the world is des-
tined to pass. The United States are more
deeply interested than any other nation in pre-
serving the freedom and security of all the
communications across this isthmus 1t is our
duty, ther efore to take care that they shall not
be Interrupted either by lnvasious from ON
own country or by war between the indepenl
ent States of Central America. Under ouI
treaty with New Grenada Of the 18th Decein
Der, 1916, we are bound to guarantee the neu
tralty of the Isthmus of Panama, through
which the Panama railroad passes, AS well a.
the rights of sovereignty and property which
New Grenada has and possesses over the saiC
Territory" This obligation is founded upol
equivalents granted by the treaty to the gov
eminent and people Of the United States.
Under these circumstances, recommend Il
Congress the passage Of an act authorizing Tia,
President, in case Of necessity, TO employ TIN
land and naval forces Of the United Sietes t,
carry iuto effect this guarantee OF neutralt,
Ond protection. | also recommend similar leg
islation for the security Of any other rout
across the sthmus in which we may acquire a
interest 10y treaty.
FILLIBULTERs.
With the Independent republics on this con
tinent it is both our duty and our interest I
cultivate the most friendly relations. We ca
| never feel Indifferent to their fate, and must IL
ways rejoice IN their prosperity Unfortunate
ly both for them and for us, our example an
advice have lost much of their influence in cor
sequence Of the lawless expeditions which hav
been fitted out against some of them With
| the limits of our coun ry. Nothing is bette
calculated to retard our steady material rre
gress, or impair our character rs a nation, tina
| the federation of such enterprises in violatio
| of the law Of nations.
1t is one of the first and Highest duties Of an
| independent state, in its relations with til
members of the great family of nations, to re
| strain its people from acts of hostile aggres>io
against their citizens or subjects. The mos
ointment writers Oh public law do not hesiat
to denounce such hostile acts as robbery an
murder.
Weak and feeble States, like those of Centrs
sert and vindicate their rights The case woul
be far different if expeditions We're set on foo
| within our own Territories TO make private wa
against a powerful nation. 1fsuch expedition
were fitted out from broad against any lei
ton Of our own country, to burn down our a,
les, murder aud plumber our people, and usurI
our government, we should call any power ol
earth to the strictest account for not prevent
ing such enormities
Ever since the administration of Gen. "a
Washington. acts of Congress have been ii
force to punish severly the crime of setting 81
foot a military expedition within the limits o
the United States, to proceed from theme
against the nation or state with whom we are IA
peace The present neutrality ac. of April 10th
1918, is but little more than collection Of IRE
existing laws. Under this act the President i
empowered to employ the land and naval force
and the militia for the purpose of prevenlin!
the carrying on Of any such expedition or en-
terprise from the territories and Jurisdiction q
the United States and the collectors Of Gus
toms are authorized and required to detain an,
vessel in port where there is reason to bclev
she is about to take part in such lawless enter
prise.
When it wa. first rendered probable that al
attempt would be made to get up another IN
rotary Of State issued Instructions to the mar
shals and district attorneys, which were di, ect
ed by the Secretaries of War and the Navy t.
the appropriate army and navy officers requir
ing them to be vigilant and to use their best
exertions in carrying into effect the act of ISIS
Notwithstanding these precautions, the expeli
ton has escaped from our shores. Such enter
prises can do no possible good to the country
but have already inflicted much injury, boil
on its interests and its character.
They have prevented peaceful emigration
from the United States to the States Of Contra
America which cannot fail to prove highly
beneficial to all parties concerned. In pecu-
mary point of view alone, our citizens mus
have sustained heavy losses from the seizeurt
and closing of the transit route by the San
Jurn between the two oceans
The leader of the recent expedition was ar
rested at New Orleans, but was discharged on
giving bail for his appearance in the insufficient
sum OF two thousand dollars.
commend the whole subject to the serious
attention Of Congress, believing that cur duty
and our interest, rs well rs our national char
acter, require that we should adopt such
measures as will be effectual in restraining our
citizens from committing such outrages
PARAGUAY.
regret to inform you t!at the President OF
Paraguay has refused to ratify the treaty be-
tween the United States and that State, as
amended by the Senate, the signature Of which
was mentioned in the message Of my predeces-
sor to Congress at the opening Of its session in
December 1856. The reasons assigned foa this
refusal appear in the correspondence herewith
submitted
1t being desirable to ascertain the fitness of
the River IapatA and its tributaries for navi-