The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-09
THE MESSAGE.


We lay the Presidents Message before our
readers, to the exclusion Of almost everything
else. 1t is one of the longest documents of its
kind which has ever issued from the Executive
department, and our readers will applaud the
motion of Mr.. Morgan, TO refer it TO the Com
mittee Mileage.
The President opens with review of his
unfortunate, not to say disgraceful Kansas
policy; and reiterates the stale misrepresenta-
tons by which his predecessor and himself
have heretofore vainly essayed to whitewash
nsurpatiOn and crime. We have no room this
week for comment.
The President narrates the chief events of
the Utah campaign; congratulates the country
upon the successful negotiations with China
and Japan; and announces the satisfactory
solution of the difficulty with England in re-
gard TO the right of search Differences ari.
sing under the Clayton and Buwer treaty still
remain to be settled, but particulars are with
held while the negotiation is pending
The President presents fearful array of
complaints against Spain, and one might have
supposed that were the most aggrieved PEG
pie on earth, until the conclusion is arrived at
that the sum total is 1928, 635.54l The Presi
dent finds no remedy for our griefs but in the
annexation of Cuba to the United States. Our
virtuous Chief Magistrate is also deeply con
cerned about the wicked slave trade which
Cuba carries on with the coast of Africa. and
this is another reason for annexation or pur.
chase. He therefore modestly calls upon Con
gvess, not for the hundreds of millions which
the island will cost, but for a doucear to be
given to the Spanish Government in advance
of the ratification of the treaty-in other words,
for corruption fund with which to bride the
Spanish officials to betray their nation.
The President rakes up the Amistad case
and again recommends an appropriation to
pay the piratical Spaniards for their slaves-a
clear proof of his adherence ofthe slave trade
But in this instance his principal argument for
the recognition of piracy is, that it will conciH
ate the Spanish officials, and predispose them
to sell Cuba
The President is greatly shocked at the an
archy which reigns in Mexico, and our Dr. San
grade unhesitatingly recommends depletion. a,
the only remedy for the " sick man. He COOL,
proposes to take possession of Chihuahua and
Sonora, and calls upon Congress for the mean.
of occupying them by military force The
President attempts to justify this tyrannical pro
ceeding, ON the fimsy ground that the savag,
inhabitants of those Mexican provinces may oh
struct the passage of the mails over the recent
lylestablished overland route to the Pacific
No Asiatic or European conqueror ever inva
ded province of a weak neighbor on pre-
text more false, insufficient, and contemplate
But our limits viii not permit us to common
further at present.
In the same spirit of lawless aggression, tn
President calls upon Congress for authority I
invade New Granada, Nicaragua, and Mexico
whenever he may decide that protection t
the transit routes requires it.
The President presents gloomy picture 0
the national finances. When he came int
Office, the Treasury was Overlooking. Som
FORTY millions were on hand, and the Government
was embarrassed with the surplus. But at tn
end of eighteen months the case is quite differ
eut. The forty million surplus is gone, AM
other forty millions in Treasury notes ant
loans are nearly gone. In a word, the Govern
ment owes $64 200, 600, and the debt is accu
mulating by millions annually. in this strait