Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-12-15
ABSTRACT OF THE PRESIDENTS
MESSAGE.


the country on the con
'rast Of the agitation which existed in
Kansas a year ago with The peace and
quiet which now prevails. He refers to
the Lecompton Constitution and re afirms
his position on that subject. .-anl thinks
that ii Kansas had b-en admitted with i
that Constitution the same qriet would
have been secured at an earlier day, be-
ing bring perfectly willing to acquiesce
in any other constitutional mode OF set
tlrment. He signed Mr.. English's bill.
aud probably whea Kansas again applies
for admission she will have the popuia-
ticn required BY that bill He goes at
length lnto the subject. and recommends
the passage of general law so that no
new State shall be admitted unless she |
has a population sufficient to eniitle her
to one representative. He congratulates
Cnngress on the setllen ent Of the Utah
affair without the eifusion of blood. He
compliments the officers Of the army
there, and expresses satisfaction with the
course of Gov. Cumnings,-anl honor
ably mentions Col kane.
He refers TO the Importance of the
treaties recently negotiated with China
and Japan. and thinks the result in the
former case justified our neutral policy
lie congra,ul,tes the country on the
ablndanmenI of the righ. OF search by
Great Britain. and in reference to Central
America says that negotiations are still
progressing. and he has not yet abandon
ed the hope Of success.
He refers 10 what was stated at the
last session OF Congress in that connec-
ton. and that his views on the subject
of the IsIhmus routes accord with tue pol
icy heretofore announced by Mr.. Cass
His only desire is to keep the routes open,
and he desires no other privileges for the
United States than we expect other na-
tions 20 enjoy. but will not consent that
they be closed by the imbeeility OF ma
lions which reside near there. lie re-
greIs that the Nicaragua route has been
closed. He speaks OF the necessity oi
enforcing our claims against Costa Rica
and Nicaragua. He speaks Of Nj x'co
as in condition OF civil war, TiIh
scarcely any hope Of res oration 10 per-
manent government. He refers 10 the
causes which led 10 a rupture Of The d.
plomatic relations there. He speaks well
of Mr.. Forsyth's efforts. il only for the
hope Of obtairing justice from the Liber
ais, which it now appears are approach
Jog 10 power. lie would recommend
The taking possession of portion of Mex
leo. sufficient TO indemnify us for al our
claims and grievances, in the north ct
Mexico, bordering on our territory =
There are other considerations which
claim attention: We are interested in the
peace of that neighborhood. Lawless
Indians enter our settlements in Arize
MIA, and there seems no other wav that
this difficulty can be removed than in es
lablishing military posts in Sonora and
| chihuahua. He recommends that this
be done, regarding Mexico as in state
Of imbecilIty and anarchy. As to Spain.
he refers 10 the causes which DELAYED
the appointment of a successor 10 Mr.
Dodge, and says that Mr.. Preston vii.
go GU. with powers to settle The diffical-
ties with Spain, if possible. He says
that Cuba ought 10 belong to Us, ard re-
commends that steps be taken for its pur-
chase. As We acquire all new territory
by honorable negotiation, this should
not be an exception.
| He re affiTms his former opinions in
favor OF specific duties On certain arti-
cles, and submits the whole tariff ques
ton 10 Congress. lie calls attention to
the Pacific Railroad. and refers to the
overland mails as showing the practica
bility of the route. Among. other sub
| jeets he reiieraies the recommendation
to establish territorial government for
Arizonia.
Ga the subject of the tariff. the Pre-
sident says: When Congress met in De
cember last, the business of the country
had Just been crushed by one of those
periodical levulsions which are the inev-
liable consequence Of our own unsound
and exirava2ant system of bank credits
and inflated currency. With all the ele-
ments Of natural wealth in abundance,
our manufactures were suspended; cur
useful public and private enterprises were
arrested. and thousands of laborers we're
deprived of employ ment and reduced to
want. Universal distress prevailed
among the manufacturing and mechan
ical classes. Our manufacturers every
where suffered severely. not because Of
recent reduction in the tariff of duties on
imports. but because there was no de
mand at any price for their productions
The people were obliged To restrict them
selves. in their purchases. to articles Of
prime necessity.
In the general pros;ratiou of business,
| the iron manufacturers in different States
probably suffered more than any other
class, and much destitution was the in
evitable consequence. Among the great
number of woibmen who had been en-
ployed in this useful branch of our indus
try, there could be no supply where there
was no demand. To present an exam
Pile: there could be no demand for rail-
road iron after cur munifieent system Of
railroads, extending its benefits to every
portion of The Union, had been brought
to dead pause. The same consequent
ces have resulted from similar causes 10
many. No government. and especially
government of such limited powers as
that of the United States, could have
prevented the late reyulsion. The whole
commercial world seemed Tor years TO
have been rushing 10 this catastrophe
The same ruineus consequences would
have followed in The United States
whether the duties upon foreign imports
had remained as they were under the
tariff o. 1876 or bad been raised to a
much higher standard. The tariff of
1897 had M agency in the result The