Weekly flag of the Union. (Jackson, Miss.) 185?-18??, 1857-12-23
Nk1e IA

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berry and murder.
n Weak md feeble States. ike those of Cen
tral America, may NOT fssl themselyes able
TO assert and vindicatc their rightas TIC
case would be far different if expeditions were
set on foot within our own territories to make
private war against a powerful nation. II
such expeditions were fitted out from abroad
against any portion Of our own country, burn
down cities, murder and plunder our people.
and usurp our government we should call
Fany power on earth to the strictest account
for not preventing such enormities.
+ Ever since the administration Of Gen.
Washington, acts of Congress haye been in
force to punish severely the crime Of setting
ON foot a 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
26, 1878, is but little more than q collection
of pre-existiDg laws Under this act the
President is empowered to employ the land
and naval forces and the militia "for the pur-
pose of preventing the carrying on of any
such expedition or enterprise from the terri
tories 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 another
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 navy off,
GERS, requiring them to be vigilant and to use
their best exertions in carrying into effect the
provisions of 1918. Notwithstanding these
precautions, the expedition has escaped from
our shores. Such enterprises can do no pos
slble good to the country but have already in
iicted much injury both on its interests and
its character. They have prevented peacea-
bic emigration from the United States to the
States of Central America, which could not
fail to be highly beneficial to all the parties
concerned In pecuniary point of view
aione, 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 ar
rested at New Orleans, but was discharged on
giving bail for his appearance in the INSULT
client sum OF two thousand dollars.
+ | commend tho whole subject to the seri-
Gus attention of Congress, believing that our
duty and our interest, as well as our national
character, require that we should adopt such
measures as will be effcctual III restraining our
citizens from committing such outrages
regret to inform you that the President
of Paraguay has refused to ratify the treaty
eetween the United States and that State as
amended by the Senate, the signature of which
was mentioned in the message of my prede-
cessor to Congress at the opening of its ses-
sion in December 1868 The reason assigned
for their refusal will appear in the correSpon-
lence herewith submitted.
II being desirous to ascertain the fitness of
The river In Plata and its tributaries for navi-
cation by steam the steamer Water Witch
vas sent thither for that purpose in 1853.
This enterprise was successfully carries on
ntil February, 1855, when, whilst in the
peaceful prosecution of her voyage up the PA
anna river, the steamer was fired upon frofQa
earagrav8i T. Ehe ise was return5l
,ils sis liz sTsss9f Witch was OF small folfe,
ia not iesigued ol~-SI0Gcs5ive operations, khe
.etired from the conflict The pretext j BON
Thieh the attack was made was decree q the
President of Paraguay, Of October, 1854 ero-
Iibiting foreign vessels of war from navigating
he rivers of that State. As Paraguay, how
ver was the owner of but one bank of the
iver of that name, the other belonging to
1orientcs a State of the Argentine Confede-
alton. the right Of its government to expect
lat such decree would be obeyed cannot
9 acknowledged. But the Water Witch
ras not properly speaking, vessel of war.
he was small steamer engaged ina scien
fc enterprise, intended for the advantage of
States generally. Under these
| am constrained to consider
le attack upon her as unjustifable, and call
lg for satisfaction from the Paraguayan gov
rnment.
Citizens of the United States, also, who
ere established in business in Paraguay, have
Ill their property seized and taken from them
ID have otherwise been treated by the au-
lcrities in an insulting and arbitrary man
er, which requires redress
A demand for these purposes will be made
a firm but conciliatory spirit. This will
e more probably be granted if the Execu-
We shall have authority to use other means
the event of a refusal This is according
recommended.
Il is unnecessary 10 state in detail the alarm
2 condition of the Territory of Kansas at
e time of my Inauguration. The opposing
rites then stood in hostile array against each
her, and any accident might have re-lighted
g flames of civilwar. Besides, at this criti-
| moment, Kansas was left without Gov
nor by the resignation of Gov Geary.
On the 9th of February previous, the terri
rial legislature had passed law providing
r the election Of delegates on the third Mon
y of June, to convention to meet on the
ssioaday in September. for the purpose of
N into the Union. This law was in the
nm fair and just /; and it is to be regretted
at all the qualified electors had not regis
red themselves and voted under its provi-
ons.
At the time Of the election for delegates,
extensive organization existed in the terri
", whose avowed object it was, if need be.
put down the lawful government by force, !
d to establish o government Of their own
der the so-calIed Topeka constitution. The
rsons attached to this revolutionary organi-
ion abstained from taking any part in the
.ction.
The act of the territorial legislature had
lifted to provide for submitting to the peo-
the constitution which might be framed by
sconyention /; and in the excited state fpub.
feeling throughout Kansas. an apprehen-
q extensively prevailed that design exis-
to force upon them constitution in rela-
n to slavery against their viii. Inthis emer-
ney it became my duty, as it was my un-
estionable right. having in view the union
81 good citizens in support Of the terrific
llaw. toexpress an opinion on the true con-
uetion Of the provisions concerning slavery.