The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-12-09
The Presidents Message.


The Presidents Message.
-a- .z WASHINGTON, Dee. 6.
The President, in his Annual Message,
opens by congratulating the country on the
contrast of the agitation which existed in
Kansas year ago, with the peace and quiet
which now prevails. He refers to the Le--
compton Constitution, and re-afirms his po-
sition on that subject and thinks that if
Kansas had been admitted with that Consti-
tuition, the same quiet would have been Sc
cured at an earlier day. Being perfectly
willing to acquiesce in any other Constitu-
tional mode of settlement, he signed the
English bill, and probably, when Kansas
again applies for admission she will have the
population required by that bill. He goes at
length into the subject, and recommends the
passage of general law, so that no new
State shall be admitted, unless she has a
population sufficient to entitle her to one
Representative. He congratulates Congress
on the settlement of the Utah affair without
the effusion of blood. He compliments the
officers of the army there, and expresses sat
isfaction with the course of Gov. Cummings,
and honorably mentions Col. Lane. He
refers to the importance of the treaties re-
Gently negotiated with China and Japan,
and thinks the result in the former case JUS
tilted our neutrality.
He congratulates the country on the
abandonment of the right of search by
Great Britain; and in reference to Central
America, says that negotiations are still
progressing, and lie has not yet abandoned
the hope of success. He refers to what
was stated at the last session of Congress in
that connection, and that his views on the
subject of the Isthmus routes accord with
the policy heretofore announced by Mr.. Cass.
His only desire is to keep the routes open,
and he desires no other nations to enjoy,
but will not consent that they he closed by
the imbecility of nations which reside near
there. He regrets that the Nicaraguan
route has been closed.
He speaks of the necessity of enforcing
our claims against Costa RIGA and Nicara-
qua He speaks of Mexico as in a condi-
ton of civil war with scarcely any hope
OF restoration to permanent government.
He refers to the cause which led to a rup-
ture of the diplomatic relations there and
/ speaks well of Mr.. Forsyth's efforts. If not
for the hope of obtaining justice from the
Liberal party, which now appears to be APP
! preaching to power, he would recommend
the taking possession of portion of Mexi-
co sufficient to indemnify us for all our
claims and grievances. In the North of
Mexico, bordering our Territories, there are
other considerations which claim attention.
! We are interested in the peace of the neigh
boring lawless Indians who enter our set
! Elements in Arizona, and there seems no
other way that this difficulty can be removed
than in establishing military posts in Sono-
"a and Chihuahua. He recommends that
this be done, regarding Mexico as in state
of imbecility and anarchy.
AS to Spain, he refers to the cause which
delayed the appointment of a successor to
| Mr.. Dodge, and says that Mr.. Preston will
go out with powers to settle the difficulties
with that country, if possible. He says that
| Cuba ought to belong to us, and recon-
mends that steps be taken for its purchase.
| As we acquire all new territory by honora-
| BILE negotiations, this should not be an ex-
ception. He reaffirms his former opinions
in favor of specific duties on certain articles
and submits the whole tariff question to Con-
gress.
He calls attention to the Pacific Railroad
and refers to the overland mails as showing
the practicability of the route. Among other
subjects, he reiterates the recommendation
to establish a Territorial Government in
Arizona.
On the subject of the tariff, the President
says: When Congress metin December last
the business of the country had Just beer
, crushed by one of those periodical revul
sions which are the inevitable consequence,
of our unsound and extravagant system o
bank credits and inflated currency. Wit
} all the elements of national wealth in album
dance, our manufactures were suspended
our useful public and private enterprise
were arrested and thousands of laborer
! were deprived of employment and reduces
, to want, and universal distress preyaile
t among the commercial, manufacturing an
mechanical classes. Our manufacturers ev
erywhere suffered severely, not because G
! the recent reduction of the tariff of dutie
f on imports, but because there was no dc
E mand at any price for their productions
The people were obliged to restrict then
selves in their purchases to articles of prim
i necessity. In the general prostration c
/ business, the iron manufacturers in ditferer
1 States probably suffered more than an
! other class, and much restitution was tn
inevitable consequence. Among the nun
Der of workmen who had been in this use
: full branch of our industry, there could be n
t supply where there was no demand.
q To present an example, there could be n
demand for railroad iron after our munif
Il cent system of railroads, extending its benz
d fits to every portion of the Union, had bee
e brought to dead pause. The same const
/ queues have resulted from similar causes
many other branches of useful manufactt
{ ries. No government, and especially go
+ eminent of such limited powers as that
It the United States, could have prevented Il
~ late revulsion. The whole commercial wor
!, seemed to have been rushing to this cata
~ trophe The same ruinous consequence,
N would have followed in the United State
er whether the duties upon foreign impor
a. had remained as they were under the tar
q OF ls46, or had been raised to a much higl
- er standard.
le The tariff of 1857 has no agency in IL
T, result; the general causes existing througl
"a out the world could not have been controllt
by the legislation of any particular countr
y but the effects of the revulsion are no
80 slowly, but surely, passing away. The e
f. ergy and enterprise of our citizens with OF