The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-03
NEW YEARS DAY AT THE EXECUTIVE MANSION


The diplomatic corps, in the official costumes of the
courts which they represent, presented to the
President at III o'clock by Gen. Casa, Secretary of
State After them came the justices of the Supreme
Court with the officers Of the army, the navy. and
the marine corps now in the city, in full uniform.
At IL o'clock the main entrance to the mansion
thrown open to the public, and thousands, from
all sections of this country, and from other lands,
passed through the apartments. Each visitor in
who for two hours exchanged the salutations Of the
season with dis fellow-citizens with that dignity and
unaffected cordially for which he is so distn-
guished. .tH
THE ADMINISTRATION, GEN. WALKER, AND
7gg q, COMMODORE PAULDING
There can be little doubt, think, Of the policy
which the administration will pursue in regard to the
recent occurrences in Central America. The annual
message defined the Presidents position the whole
subject of Central American affairs freely and
clearly and its declarations received so emphatic and
universal an endorsement from the country, that a
republication of the paragraphs of the message would
seem all that was necessary to define the policy
VI Tic diu 10 cApEeSb bcutiHcuto
OF the people Of the Union on the subject The para
graphs were as follows: . ete-
The Isthmus of Central America, including that of
Panama. is the great highway between the Atlantic and
Pacific which large portion of the commerce of
the world is destined to pass The United States
deeply interested than any other nation in preserv
ing the freedom and security of all the communications
this isthmus 1t is duty therefore, to take
care that they shall been interrupted either by nva
sons from country by wars between the indie
pendent States of Central America. Under treaty
with New Granada of the 18th December, 1885, are
bound to guaranty the neutrality of the Isthmus of Pan
anna through which the Panama railroad passes las
well the rights of sovereignty and property which New
Granada has and possesses the said territory This
obligation is founded upon equivalents granted by the
treaty to the and people of the United States
Under these circumstances, recommend to Congress
the passage of act authorizing the President in Of
necessity TO employ the land and naval forces of the
United States to carry into effect this guarantee of
traty and protection. also recommend similar lcgsa
ton for the security of any other route the sthmus
in which may acquire AN interest by treaty.
90 With the independent republics this continent 1t
both duty and interest to cultivate the most
friendly relations We feel indifferent to their
fate and must always rejoice in their prosperity Unfor
tunatey both for them and for us, example and adj
vice have lost much of their influence in consequence of
the awless expeditions which have been fitted out against
some Of them within the limits of country. Nothing
better calculated to eta steady material progress
or impair character nation than the federation Of
such enterprises in violation of the law of nations
1T is of the first and highest duties OF any indie
pendent 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 subjects The
most eminent writers public law do not hesitate to de-
nounce such hostile acts robbery and murder
Weak aud feeble States like those of Central Amer
c may feel themselves able to assert and vindcate
their rights The would be far different if oxped
tions set foot within own territories to make
private against powerful nation II such exped
tons were fitted from abroad against any portion of
our country, to burn down our cities murder and
plumber people and usurp government, should
call any power earth to the srctest account for not
preventing such enormites. hi H4a
q Ever since the administration OF General Washing
ton acts OF Congress have been in force TO punish
verey the crime of setting foot military expedition
within the limits of the United States to proceed from
thence against nation State with whom we are at
peace. The present neutrality act of April TO- 1875 is
but little more than collection of pre-existing laws
Under this act the President il empowered to employ the
land and naval forces and the militia for the purpose
Of preventing the carrying of such expedition OF
enterprise from the territories and jurisdiction OF the
United States and the collectors OF customs are au
thozed required to detan any vessel In port when
there TO believe she about to take part in such
lawless enterprises.
When It first rendered probable that attempt
would be made to get up another unlawful expedition
against Nicaragua the Secretary Of State issued nstruc
tons to the arshals and district attorneys which
directed by the Secretaries of War and the Navy to the
appropriate army and navy officers requiring them to be
giant and to use their best exertions in CARRYING into
effect the provisions of the of 1913 Notwithstand
ing these precautions the expedition has escaped from
shores Such enterprises do possible good to
the country but have already inflicted much injury both
on its interests and its character They have prevented
peaceful emigration from the United States to the States
of Central America which could not fail to prove highly
beneficial to all the parties concerned In pecuniary
point of view alone citizens have sustained heavy
losses from the seizure and closing of the transit route by
the San Juan between the two oceans.
of tho tied at
New Orleans, but discharged giving bail for his
appearance in the insufficient of two thousand dollars
81 commend the whole subject to the serious attention
of Congress- believing that duty and our interest
well as national character, require that should
adopt such will be efectual in restraining
our citizens from committing such outrages."
Declarations like these need Interpretation.
They suit the present exgency of affairs, well
they did those which existed at the time they were
written. Fillibustering expeditions earnestly
deprecated in the general and in the particular and
the frowns of the country invoked upon them.
They are reprobated clearly unlawful wrong in
trnsically, and dsgraceful to the character of the
country They are deplorod as impeding the admin
istration in its legitimate prosecution of our inter-
csts in Central America bringing disaster to the
very objects their conductors profess to have in
view; as tending to prejudice American interests and
blast American prospects in those regions irretriev
ably and hopelessly.
The message represents the administration seek