Smyrna times., 1858-12-16
The Message and the Press.

Inc New ork City Press put IN circulation
at least 100000 copies of the Presidents Mes
sage. 1t is received by the editors according
to their views Of the topics discussed. No one
questions tie ability Of the President. Some
OF these comments are highly interesting. con.
sldcring their source. Thus, for example, the
New York Journal Of Commerce says of Slave
Property:
"Upon the point referred to in the second
paragraph Of the Message, relative to the right
of American citizens III any of the Territories
TO take and hold whatever is held as property
under the laws of any of the States under the
guardianship of the Federal Constitution" we
suppose there may be an issue raised, if by that
language the President designs to convey the
idea that Congress is bound, in the absence Of
Territorial legislation, to protect and watch
over slave property until the admission Of the
State. A large portion Of The Democratic
party will not probably sustain such position,
which indeed may not be the proper construc.
tion of the sentiment intended to be conveyed.
We reserve all discussion on this point"
So of Cuba, it is said:
Precisely what is 10 be done if Spain re-
fuses to sell, we are not informed, hut we are
LETT to the inference that although it would be
contrary to our policy TO acquire territory
otherwise than by purchase, our claims upon
Spain are OF nature TO warrant US IN taking
possession of Cuba as security for the lqulda-
ton. This, however, az we have said, is in
ference only, aud we cannot regard the Pres-
dent as fairly committed to such measure
The necessity of ii speedy settlement of our diff
terences with Spain is, however, urged with
emphasis. To our Judgment, the strongest
point made in behalf of the acquisition OF Cuba,
is that respecting the embarrassment it causes
in suppresslng the slave trade"
Ga Central America and the Clayton Bulwer
Treaty, the Journal thinks that nothing short
of an abrogation of the treaty" will put things
in train of settlement
On the admission of new States, the New
York Courier says:
"The President very properly, we think, re-
cOmmends The passage of a general law lnhlbl-
ting the admission OF every new State until its
population should reach the ratio required tor
Representative in Congress, but very improper
| ly, we think, insists upon the application OF
such a rule to Kansas; it would virtually be
punishment of that State for not accepting the
Lecompton Constitution, which we subject 10
no such restriction"
OF our Foreign Relations it is said
"An excellent spirit is shown towards Eng
land, and hope is expressed that the last re-
naming dispute between the two countries,
springIng out Of the different construction Of
the Clayton and Buwer Treaty, may be salts
factorIly adjusted. But towards Spain and
Mexico different disposition is manifest"
THE rRIBuNE's COMMENTS.
The several positions Of the President on the
affairs of Kansas are contrOverted under thirteen
heads.
OfSpain, it is said in another article:
Spain is bulied as though we were on the
eve of demOliShng her, and string of grev-
ances paraded as if she had been our malignant
enemy and spoer for years. Yet the Presl.
dent, we think, does not really mean war
though he uses many expressions which seem
to US needlessy offensive and irritating. Tt
assert that "Cuba is a constant source of ln-
Jury and annoyance to the American People v
to twt Spain with her infamy in Keeping III
, the African Slave Trade, though this is twlt
ting on facts) TO complain that she does nO
change her fundamental law so rs to make Gu
ba, at least with regard TO us, no longer q
colony but an Independent country; and tc
wind up By an assertion that we can never be
on good terms with the Court of Madrid
"whle the existing Colonial Government OveI
the island shall remain IN its present cOndI.
; tiOn," seems to US like any thing rather than
civilized diplomacy. Unless Spain be indeed
the basest of Christian nations, this is no way
to the acquisition of her " ever faithful" island
unless by the sword But TO wind up this IT,
rade with grave proposition that money (whIcl
we have not to spare) shall be placed IN the
Presidents hands to enable him to acquire Gu
ha, is little less than telling the world that oul
9 L...l. -, l.,
) and Ministry into selling us the Gem of the
; Antilles; but if the President does mean this
why blurt it out to all mankind!
The New York Post pitches into the Mes
sage, without mercy, and expresses the hope
h that Congress will treat it as it deserves. The
; "military pro,ectorate scheme" it looks uPor
; ; as nothing buta new plan for the annexation
: and extension of slavery.
; THE AMIsTAD CASE.
r The Washington correspondent of the sam
:" paper asks:
i "Shal the United States pay for the Amis
! tad negroes! This is the question which Mr.
:, Mason, of Virginia, has seen fit 10 agitate in lh
= Senate, and, on his motion, Tuesdey has bee
= specially assigned to consider the resolution
covering that question"
The New York Commercial has certainly
). very decided opinion upon the subject. Th
II editor tells us
u alt is emphatically a mischievous document
1t and in almost every sense is unworthy OF tn
J. Executive OF powerful natiUn."
Per contra, the New York Day Book says:
II Like all the State papers prepared b
i. President Buchanan, it bears the impress
~. II =, 81 InI nFnP r Of IN
q man."
Nv LONDON LABOR AND THE LONDON Rich IA
IL. q d..