The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-12-23


/ regret to infrom you that the Pres
ident Of Paraguay has refused to ratify
the treaty between the United States and
that State as amended by the Senate, the
signature Of which was mentioned in the
message of my predecessor to Congress
at the opening of its session in December,
1858. q The reasons assigned for this re-
fusal will sppesr in the correspondence
herewith submitted. iiim 523as5es =
1t being desirable to ascertain the fit.
ness of the river La Plata and its tribu-
taries for navigation by steam, the United
States steamer Water Witch was sent
thither for that purpose in 1853 This
enterprise was successfully csrried on un.
til February 1855, when, whilst in the
peaceful prosecution of her voyage up the
Parama river, the steamer was fred upon
by Paraguayan fort The FIRE was re-
turned; but as the Water Witch was of
small force, and not designed for offensive
operations, she retired from the conflict.
The pretext upon which the attack was
made was decree of the President of
Paraguay of October 1864. prohibiting
foreign vessels-of-war from navigating the
rivers of that State
As Paraguay, however, was the owner
of but one bank of the river of that name
the other belonging to Oorrientes, State
of the Argentine Confederation, the right
Of its government to expect such q decree
would be obeyed cannot be acknowledged
But the Water Witch was not properly.
speaking, 3. vessel-of-war She was
small steamer engaged in scientific en-
terpriss intended for tho advantage of
commercial States generally. Under
these circumstances. am constrained to
consider the. attack upon her as unjusti-
fable, and as calling for satisfaction from
the Paraguayan government
Citizens of the United States, alse, who
were established il business in Paraguay,
have had their property seized and taken
from them, and have otherwise been trea-
ted by the authorities in an insulting
and arbitrary manner, which requires re-
dress. ,.s..s-5.
A demand for these purposes will be
] made in firm but conciliatory spirit.
This will be more probably be granted if
the Executive shall have authority to use
other means in the event of refusal. -
This is accordingly recommended. A.,
u n 1t is unnecessary to state in detail the
alarming condition. of the Territory oi
Kansas at the time of my Inauguration.
4 The opposition parties then stood in
! hostile array against each other, and any
} accident have .rclighted the flames .ol
civil war. Besides, at this critical mo.
mcnt, Kansas was left without govern
$ or by the resignation of Gov. .Geary. ,3I
On the 18th of February previous, the
territorial Legislature had passed a law
: providing for the, election of delegates or
o the third Monday. of June to a .conven-
$ ton to meet the first Monday ofSsptem
J Der, fer the purpose of framing consti
n tatlon preparatoryto admission into th,
J, Union. This law was in the main fair anG
Il just; and it is to be regretted that all tn,
n qualified electors had not registered them
!. selves and voted under its provisions
]. At thetime ofthe elections for delegates
n an extensive organization existed in tn
If Territory, whose avowed object it was,
l. need be, to pnt down the lawful govern
J. ment by force, and to establish govern
e ment of their ewn under the so-calle
It Topeka constitutions The persons at
1t tached uthis revolutionary organizatio
t. abstained from taking any part in tn
is election. .ss8s 46 eo
y The act of the territorial legislator
d had omitted to provide for submitting t
u the people the constitution which migt
;. ;. be framed by the convention; and in Ii
6 excited state ,of public feeling throughor
= Kansas an apprehension extensively pr,
u vailed that design existed to force upo
le them constitution innrelationI to SLAYER
lsiagainst their will. aiIn this emergency
= became my duty Is itrnwas my unique
le ttionable right havingin view the gsunio
p} of all good citizens in7support of the te
~ terial laws, to oexpress an opinionlto otl
~ true construction of the provisions conce
t. ming slavery contained in the organ
G. act of Congress of the so of Ma
p 1884, go tsa sqs9 .affiia Ae :
lg Congress declared it TO be "the trr
st intent and meaning ofthis act not to le,
o. islate slavery into any Territory or Stat
n nor to exclude it therefrom, but to lea,
On the people thoreof perfectly free to for
r. and regulate their domestic institution
ne in their own way" Under lit Kansi
cn ewhen admitted asa State, !" was to ID
" received INTO the Union, with. or witho
slavery, IS their constitution may pr
o. scribe at the time of their admission.n
'es Did Congress mean by this langua
y. that the delegates elected to frame . co
y. stitution should have authority finally
Q. decide the question of slavery, or d
ed they intend by leaving tito the peoI
ng that the people of Kansas themsely
'e- should decide the question by a dire
votef On this subjectI confess hi
on never entertained . serious doubt, an
is therefore. in ray Instructions Govern
lee Walker of 2Ssh of March last mere
nd said that when s'a constitution shall
]. submitted to the people Of the Terrific
n u L.. a..