The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-12-18


ing our citizens from committing such out
RACES.
regret to inform you that the President
OF Paraguay has refused to rrtify 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 oil
its session in December, 1858. The reasons
assigned for this refusal will appear in the
correspondence herewith submitted.
1t baing desirable to ascertain the fitness
Of the river La Plata and its tributaries for
navigation by steam, the United States steam
er Waterwitch was sent thither for that pur-
pose in 1853. This enterprise was success
fully carried on until FEBRUARY, 1885, when,
whilst in the peaceful prosecution OF her
voyage up the Parana river, the steamer was
| fired upon by Paraguayan fort. The fire
was returned; 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
decree of the President of Paraguay OF
October, 1854, 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 Corrientes, State OF the
Argentine Confederation, the right OF its
Government TO expect that such decree
would be obeyed cannot be acknowledged
But the Waterwitch was not, properly speak
ing, vessel of-war. She was n small steam
er engaged in scientific enterprise intended
| for the advantage of commercial States gen.
orally. Under these circumstances | am con-
strained to consider tho attack upon her us
unjustiiable, and as calling for satisfaction
from the Paraguayan Government.
Citizens of the United States, also, who
were established 10 business in Paraguay,
have had their property seized and taken from
them, and have otherwise been treated by
the authorities in an insulting and arbitrary
manner, which requires redress.
A demand for these purposes will be made
in firm but conciIiatory spirit. This will
the more probably be granted if the Execu-
tive shall have authority TO use other means
in the event of refusal. This is according
" recommended.
II is unnecessary to state in detail the aar-
ming condition of the Territory of Kansas at
the time of my Inauguration. The opposing
parties then stood in hostile array against
each other, and any accident might have re-
lighted the flames of civil war. Besides, at
this critical moment, Kansas was left without
a Governor by ihe resignation OF Governor
Geary.
On the 18th of FEBRUARY previous the Ter
ri.orial Legislature had passed law provi-
ding for the election of delegates on the
third Monday of June to Convention to
meet on the first Monday of September, for
the purpose of framing constitution pre-
paratory to admission into the Union. This
law was in the main fair and just; and it is
to be regretted that all the qualified electors
had not registered themselves and voted I'M
der its provisions.
At the tune of the election for delegates,
an extensive organization existed in the
Territory, whose avowed object it was, if
need be, to put down The lawful government
Of their own under the so-called Topeka con-
stituton. The persons attached TO this rev.
dictionary organization abstained from taking
any part in the election.
The act of the Territorial Legislature had
omitted to provide for submitting to the
people the constitution winch might be franz
ed by the Convention; and in the excited
state of public feeling throughout Kansas an
apprehension extensively prevailed that de-
sign existed to force upon them constitution
in relation to slavery against their will. In
this emergency it became my duty, rs it was
my unquestionable right, having in view the
union Of all good citizens in support OF the
Territorial laws, to express an opinion on
the true construction of the provisions con-
corning slavery contained in the organic act
of Congress Of the 30th May, 1854. Con-
gress declared it to be "the true intent and
meaning of this act not to legislate slavery
into any Territory or State, nor to exclude 1t
therefrom, but to leave the people thereof
perfectly free TO form and regulate their do
nestle institutions in their own way" I'm.
der it Kansas, "when admitted as State,
was to "be received into the Union, with or
without slavery, as their constitution may
prescribe at the time of their admission"
Did Congress mean by this language that
the delegates elected 10 frame a constitution
should have authority finally to decide the
question of slavery, or did they intend by
leaving it to the people that the people oil
Kansas themselves should decide this ques.
lion by direct vote! On this subject con-
TESS had never entertained serious doubt
and therefore, in my instructions to Governor
Walker of the 2Sth March last, merely said
that when "a constitution shall be submitted
TO the people Of the Territory, they must be
protected in the exercise OF their right oil
voting for or against that instrument, and
the fair expression of the popular VIII must
not be interrupted by fraud or violence.
In expressing this opinion it was far from
my intention to interfere with the decision
of the people Of Kansas, either for or agans
slavery. From this have always carefully
abstained. Entrusted with the duty OF IT,
king scare that the laws be faithfully execu'
ted" my only desire was that tine people o
Kansas should furnish to Congress the evl
dcnce required by the organic act, whethe
for or against slavery; ana in this manne
smooth their passage into the Union. 10
emerging from tho condition of Territorial
dependence into that Of sovereign State, !
was their Duty in my opinion, to make know
their will by the votes of the majority, on thu
direct question whether this important do
nestle institution should or not continue to
exist Indeed, this was the only possibl,
mode IN which their will could be aulhenti
cally ascertained.
The election of delegates to convention
must necessarily take place in separate dis
tricts. From this cause it may readily hap
, pen, as has often been the case, that ma
jority of the people of State or Territor.
are on one side of question, whilst ma
jority of the representatives from the severa
districts into which it is divided may be upol
the other side. This arises from the fac
| that in some districts delegates may be cleo