Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-12-13


tee of neutrality and protection. also recommend
similar legislation for the security Of any other
route across The isthmus in which we may acquire
an interest by treaty.
With the independent republics on this continent
it is both duty and interest TO cultivate the
most friendly relations We can never feel indiffer-
ent to their fate and must always r,joice in their
prosperity. Unfortunately, both fer them aad fer
u.s. our example and advice have lost much Of their
influence in consequence Of the lsEless expeditions
which have been lifted out against some of them
within the limits of country. Nothing is better
calculated to retard steady material progress, or
impair character nation than the liberation
Of such enterprises in violation of the Law Of ma
tions. ref III
It Is one Of the first and highest duties Of any in
dependent State in its relations with the members of
the great family Of nations, to restrain its people
from acts of hostile aggression against their citizens
or subjsc's. The most eminent writer's on public
law do hesitate to denounee such hostile acts as
robbery and murder
Weak and feeble States, like those of Central
America may not feel themselves able to assert and
vindicate their rights The would be far differ
ent If expeditions set on foot within our own
territories to make private against apoWerful
nation. If such expeditions were fitted out from
abroad against any portion Of our own country, to
| burn down Cities murder and plumber our people,
and usurp our government, we should call any pow
earth to the srictest account for not prevent
ing such enormities. t-
| Ever since the administration Of Gen. Washing.
ton, acts OF Congress have been in force to punish
severely the crime of setting on foot military ex
petition within the limits OF the United States, &c
proceed from thence against nation State with
whom we are at peace. The presentneurality act Of
April 20, 1915 is but little more than collection Of
pre- existing laws. Under this act the President is
empowered TO employ the land and naval forces and
the militia er the purpose Of preventing the carry
ing on of any such expedition enterprise from the
territories and jurisdiction of the United States,
and the collectors of customs are authorized and re
auired TO deiain any vessel in port when there is
reason 20 believe she is about to take part in such
lawless enterprises. ' e. "a sL-
When it was first rendered probable that an at.
tempt would be made to get up another unlawful ex
petition against Nicaragua, the Secretary of State
issued instructions to the marshals and district at
| to1neys which were directed by the Secretaries Of
War and the Navy to the appropriate ARMY and navy
officers requiring them to be Vigilnt, and to use The
best exertoHs in carrying into effect the provisions
the act of 1878 Notwithstanding these precautions
| the expedition has escaped from our shores. Sucl
enterprises can do ne possible good to the country
but have already inflicted much injury both on it,
interests and its character. They have prevented
peaceable emigration from the United States to the
States of Central America, which could not fail tC
be highly beneficial all the parties concerned. In
a pecuniary point of view alone, our citizens have
sustained heavy losses from the seizure and closing
of the transit route by the San Juan between the
| two oceans.
The leader of the recent expedition was arrested
at New Orleans, but was discharged on giving bal
for his appear in the insufficient sum of 81 600
Icommend the whole subject to the serious atten.
ton of Congress, believing that duty and our in
terest as well national character, require that
We should adopt suchsme will be efectual in
preventing our citizens from committing such out
RACES. ---.-- ,vr
/ regret to inform you that the President of Para
quay has refused to ratify the treaty between the
United States and that State as amended by the Sen
ate, the signature Of which was mentioned in the
message of my predecessor to Congress at the open
ing of its session in December, 1858. The reasons
assigned for this refusal viii appear in the CORES
pondence here with submitted.
1t being desirable to ascertain the fitness Of the
river La Plata and its tributaries for navigation by
steam, the United States steamer Water Witch was
sent thither for that purpose in 1858. This enter
prise was successfully carried on until February,
1855, when, whilst in the peaceful prosecution of
her voyage up the Parana river, the steamer was
fred upon by Parsgusyan fort. The fire was re-
turned, but the Water Witch was Of small force,
and not designed for offensive operations, she re
tired from the conflict. The pretext upon which
the attack was made was decree Of the President Of
Paraguay of October, 1854, prohibiting foreign Ves
sells of 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, 8 State of the Argentine Confeders
ton the right of its government TO expect that such
a decree would be obeyed cannot be acknowledged
But the Water Witch was not, properly speaking, a
vessel of war. She was a small steamer engaged in
scientific enterprise intended for the advantage Of
commercial States generally. Under these eircum-
stances am constrained to consider the attack upon
her unjustifabe, and as calling for satisfaction
from the Paraguayan Government.
Of m ITuif ad al In
tablished in business in Paraguay, have had their
property seized and taken from them, and have
otherwise been treated by the authorities in an in
sulting and arbitrary manner, which requires re-
dress. .t --' ---"
A demand for these purposes will be made in a
firm but conoiliatory spirit This will the more
probably be granted if the Executive shall have
thOrity other means in the event of refusal.
This is accordingly recommended.
1t is unnecessary to state in detail the alarming
condition If the Territory of Kansas at the time Of
my Inauguration. The opposing parties then stood
in hostile array against each other and any acct
dent nigh have relighted the flames of civil war.
Besides, at this critical moment, Kansas was left
without a governor by the resignation Of Governor
Geary.
On the 18th of February previous, the Territorial
Legislature had passed law providing for the cleo
ton Of delegates on the Sd Monday Of June, to
convention TO meet on the LIST Monday of Septem-
Der, 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
GREETED that all the qualified electors had not regis
tered themselves and voted under its provisions.
At the time of the election for delegate', an ex-
tensive organization existed in the srrtory whose
ayoWed object it was, if need be, to put down the
lawful government by force, and to establish a gov
eminent of their own, under the so-called Topeka
Constitution. The persons attached to this revolu-
tionary organization, sbstained from taking any
part IN the election.
The act of the Territorial Legislature had omit
ted to provide for submitting to the people the con-
stitution, which might be framed by the conyen-
ton; and in the excited state of public feeling
throughout Kansas, an apprehension extensively
prevailed. that design existed, to force upon them
constitution in relation to slavery, against their
will In this emergency it became my duty, as 1t
was my unquestionable right, having, in view the
union of all good citizens in support of the terrific
rial laws, to express an opinion on the true con-
struetiOn Of the provisions concerning slavery con-
tanned in the organic act of Congress of the Goth
May, 1854 Congress declared it to be " the true
intent and meaning of this act not to legslate slave
ry into any Territory or State, nor to exclude it
therefrom but leave the people thereof perfectly
free form and regulate their domestic institutions
in their own way" Under it Kansas, "when ad-
mtted as State" was TO "be received into the
Union, with or without slavery, as their constitu-
ton may prescribe at the time Of their admission.
Dld Congress mean by TINS language, that the
delegates elected to frame constitution, should
have authority finally TO decide the question of slave
ry, did they intend by leaving it to the people,
that the people of themselves should decide
the question by direct vote? On this subject, /
confess had never entertained serious doubt, and
therefore, in my instructions to Gov. Walker Of the
18th March last, merely said that when ga con-
siution shall be submitted to the people Of the Ter
ritOry, they must be protected in the exercise of
their right of voting for against that instrument
and the fair expression of the popular will, must
not be interrupted by fraud or violence"
In expressing this opinion it was far from my in
tentiOn to Interfere with the decision of the people
of Kansas, either for against slavery. From this
have always carefully abstained. Intrusted with
the duty of taking scare that the laws be faithfully
executed, my only desire was that the people Of
Kansas should furnish to Congress the evidence re
quired by the organic act, whether for or against
slavery; and IN this manner smooth their passage
into the Union In emerging from the condition of
territorial dependence into that of sovereign State
it was their duty, in my opinion, to make known 1
their will by the votes OF the majority on the direct
question whether this important domestic institu-
ton should or should continue 10 exist Indeed,
this the only possible mode in which their will
could be automatically ascertained
oil IF Of I