The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-10
NO. ST..

ur-ventlEg SUCH enOrmItle5.
Ever since the Administration of General
Washington, acts of Congress have been in
force to puniah severely the crime of setting on
foot military expedition within the limits of
The United States, to proceed from thence
against nation or State with whom we are at
pace. TIE present neutrality act of A pril 10Th,
1873 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, "ior the purpose of preventing
the carrying on OF any such expedition or en-
te7prse from the territories and jurisdiction of
the United States" end the collectors of GUS
toms are authorized and required to detain any
vessel in port, when there is reason to believe
she is about to take part in such lawless
enterprises
When it was first rendered probable that an
at.eups would be made to get up another
lawful expedition against Nicaragua, the Sec
rotary Of Safe Issued Instructions TO the Mar
nails aud District Attorneys, which were direct
ID IL the Secretaries Of War and the Navy to
the appropriate army and navy officers, requi-
ry them 10 be vigilant, and to use their best ex.
ertions in carrying into effect the provisions of
the act of 1918. Notwithstanding these precau-
tons, tie expedition has escaped from our
chores Such enterprises can do no possible
coed 10 the country, but have already inflicted
acter IGey have prevented peaceful emigra-
ton from the United States to the States of
Central America, which could not fail to prove
Lich!y ben, fetal TO all the parties concerned
10 a pecIDlary point of view alone, our citizens
have sustained heavy losses from the seizure
I'D closing ii the transit route by the San
Juan between the two oceans
Tie leader OF, the recent expedition was ar
rested at New Orleans, but was discharged, on
irving bail for his appearance 10 the insuffici
.sGm of two thousand dollars.
| commend the whole subject to the serious
attention OF Congress- believing that our duty
aud cur interest, rs we'll as our national char
ac'er require that We should adopt such meas.
ares as will be ttisctual IN restraining our citi
zens from committing such outrages.
[ r greet 10 inform you that the President of
Paraguay has refused TO ratify the treaty between
the Uni ed S a es and that State, as amended nv
the Senate, the signature Of which was men
toned III the message Of my predecessor to
Congress, at the opening of its session in De-
cembeT, 1888. Tie reasons assigned for this re-
iusal will appear in the correspondence herewith
submitted.
1t beu-g desirable to ascertain the fitness of
the river la Plata and ts tributaries fer nayi
CATION 10y cam, the United States steamer
Water Witch was sent thither for that purpose
~ 1888. This enterprise IVES successfully car
ried on until February, 1855, when, whilst in
lre peaceful prosecution of her voyage up the
Parana river, the steamer was fred upon by q
PayagGayan fort. The fire was returned: but
as the Water Witch was of small force, and not
designed for offensive operations, she retired
ifCn the conflict. Tie pretext upon which the
attack was made was decree of the President
OF Paraguay, OF October, 1854, prohibiting for
elgn vessels OF war from navigating the rivers
OF inat State. AS Paraguay, however, was The
owner of but one bank OF the river of that name
the other belonging to Cocrientes, State ofthe
Argentine Confederation, the right of its Gov.
eminent TO expect that such decree would be
o5eyed cannot be acknowledged. But the
WAFER witch was not, properly speaking,
vessel Ct wa. She was a small steamer, en-
gagged in q scientific enterprise intended for the
advantage OF commercial States generally. I'm
der these circumstances, l am constrained to
consider the attack upon her as unjustifsble,
and as calling fcr satisfaction from the Para
guGyan Government.
Citizens OF tie United States, also, Who were
established in business in Paraguay, have had
their property seized and taken from them and
have otherwise been treated by the authorities
in an insultiHg and arbitrary manner, which re-
qlires redress.
A demand for these purposes will be made in
iirm but conciatory spirit. This will the
more probably be granted, if the Executive shall
have AL hcri'y to use other means in the event
OF a refusal. This is accordingly recommended.
L. l. unnecessary 70 state in detail the alarm
ing condition of the Territory of Kansas at the
time of my inauguration. The opposing par
ties then stood in hostile array against each
other, and any accident might have relighted
the flames Of civil war. Besides, at this criti-
cal moment, Kansas was left without q Govern
or, by The resignation of Gov. Geary.
On the 18th Of February previous, the Ter
r!tori2l Legislature had passed law providing
for the election OF delegates On the third Mon
day Of June, to = Convention to meet on the
first Monday of September, fer the purpose of
framing Constitution. preparatory to admis-
sion into the Union. This law was in the main
lair and Just, and it is to be regretted that all
the qualified electors had not registered them
s-.ves, and voted under its provisions.
A. tie time 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 by force, and to
establish Government of their own, under the
50 called Topeka Constitution. The persons
attached to this revolutionary organization alb
stained from taking any part in the election.
The act Of the Territorial Legislature had
omitted to provide for submitting to the people
The Constitution which might be framed by the
Convention; and IN the excited state of public
feeling throughout Kansas, an apprehension
extensively prevailed, that design existed to
force upon them a Constitution in relation to
Slavery against their will. In this emergency,
II became my cuty, as i was my unquestiona-
bic tight, having In view the union of all good
citizers IN support Of the Territorial laws to
express2 an opinion or the true construction of
The provisions concerning Slavery contained in
the organic act Of Congress of the 30th May,
1884. Congress declared it to be the true in
ten, Gnd meaning of this act. not to legislate
Slavery into any Territory or State, nor to ex-
cude it Iherelrom but to leave the people thereof
perfectly free to form AID regulate their domes-
TIC institutions IN their own wav." Under it,
Kansas, "wheu admitted as State" was to
"be received into the Union, with or without
Slavery, IS Their Constitution may prescribe at
the time of their admission"
DID Congress mean by this language that
the delegates elected to frame a Constitution
should h we authority finally to decide the ques-
ton OF Slavery, or did they intend, by leaving
/ 10 The psbple, that the people Of Kansas
themselves should decide this question by q
erect vote? On this subject, | confess had
never entertained serious doubt, and there
lore, IN my Instructions to Governor Walker Of
TIE 2Sh March last, merely said, that when
"aCousuu.ion shall be submitted to the people
OF the Territory, they must be protected in the
exercise Of their right OF voting for or against
Inst Instrument, and the fair expression of the
popular will must rot be interrupted by fraud
or violence"
In expressing this opinion, it was far from
my Intention 10 interfere with the decision o.
the people Of Kansas, either for or against Sla