True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-12-16
P RREMDENT7s MESSAGE
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hsurp cur government, we should call any
power on earth to the strictest account for
not preventing such enormities.
Ever since the Administration Of Gen.
sral Washington, acts of Congress have
been ID force to punish severely the crime
OF setting on foota military expedition
within the limits of the United States, to
proceed from thence against nation or
State with whom we are at peace. The
present neutrality act of April 10th, 1918,
is butlittle more than collection OF pre-
existing laws. Under this act the Presl-
dent is empowered to employ the land and
naval force and militia I" for the purpose OF
preventing the carrying en- of any such ex'
pedition or enterprise from the territories
and jurisdiction of the United States" and
the collectors of customs 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 attempt would be made to get up anoth-
er unlawful expedition against Nicaragua,
the Secretary of State issued instructions
to the marshals and district attorneys,which
were directed by the Secretaries Of War
and the Navy to the appropriate army and
havy offers, requiring them to be vigilant,
aud to use their best exertious in carrying
into effect the provisions Of the act of 1878.
Notwithstanding these precautions, the
expedition has escaped from our shores -
Such enterprises can do no possible good
to the country, but have already inflicted
much injury both en- its interests and its
character. They have prevented peaceful
emigration from the United States to the
States of Central America, which could moi
fail to prove highly beneficial to all 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 San Juan between the two
oceans.
The leader of the recent expedition was
arrested at New Orleans, but was dscharg'
cd ou giving bail for his appearance in the
insufficient sum of two thousand dollars.
1 commend the whole subject to the Sc
rious attention of Congress, believing that
our duty and interest, as we'll as our ua.
tional character, require that we should
adopt such measures as will be effectual IL
restraining our citizens from committing
such outrages.
I regret to inform you that the Presi
dent Of Paraguay has refused to ratify the
treaty between the United States ard tina
State, as amended by the Senate, the sig
nature Of which was mentioned in the
message of my predecessor to Congress, a
the opening of the session in December
1858. The reasons assigned for this re
fusal will appear in the correspondence
herewith submitted.
1t being desirable to ascertain the ftnes:
of the river La Plata, and its tributarie;
for navigation by steam, the United State:
steamer !" Water Witch" was sent thither
for that purpose, in 1858. This enterprise
was successfully carried Oh until February
1855, when, whilst in the peaceful prose.
cution of her voyage up the Parma river
the steamer was fired upon by Paraguay
ayan 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, was a
decree of the Prcsident of Paraguay, of
October, 1854, prohibiting foreign vessels
of war, from navigating the rivers of that
StOte. AS Paraguay, however, was the
owner of but one bank Of the river Of that
name, the other belonging to Corrientes, a
State of the Argentine Confederation, the
right of its government to expect that such
decree would be obGyed, cannot be ac'
knowledged. But the "Water Witch "
was not, properly speaking vessel, ,of'war.
She was a small steamer, engaged in sci.
eutifc enterprise intended for the advantage
of commercial States generally. Under
these circumstances, am constrained to
consider'the attack upon. her as unjustifa
bic, and as calling for satisfaction from the
Paraguayan government.
Citizens Of the United States, also who
were established in business in Paraguay,
have bad their property seized and taken
from them, and have otherwise been treated
by the authorities in an Insulting and arti
trary manner, which requires redress.
A demand for these purposes. will be
made in firm tut conciliatory spirit
This will the rore probably be granted il
the Executive shall have authority to use
other means in the event Of a refusal.-
This is accordingly recommended.
1t Is unnecessary to state in detail tht
alarming condition of the Territory o
Kansas at the..timc of my Inauguration
The opposing parties then stood in hostil
array against each other, and any acciden
might have relighted the flames Of civi
war. Besides, at this critical moment
Kansas was left without governor, by tn
resignation of Gov. Geary.
On the 10Th of February previous, th
territorial legislature had passed law pro
viding for the election Of delegates on tn
third Monday of June, to conve tion t
meet on the first Monday of Septemoer,fo 10
the purpose Of framinga constitution pre-
paratory to admission into the Union. Thi
law was in the main fair and just; and it i
to be regretted that all the qualified elec
tors had not registered themselves and vO
ted under its provisions.
At the time Of the election for delegates
an extensive organization existed in th
Territory, whose avOwed object it was,
need be, to put down the lawful goVernmer
by force, and to establish government
their own, under the so called Topel
Constitution. The persons attached to tn
r,l,,;onorr oroonization abstained fro