The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-12-15


the demand for slaves continues in Cuba,
wars will be waged among the petty and
barbarous chiefs in Africa, for the purpose
Of seizing subjects to supply this trade.
In such a condition of affairs, it is impos-
sible that the light Of civilization and
religion can ever penetrate these dark
ahodes.
He urges the impstonce of the acqui.
sition Of Cuba by honorable negotiation,
in accordance with the course our govern
ment has ever pursued. lie expresses a
hope that Congress will intrust him with
meaps Of closing and fastening a bargain
with Spain without referring it to the Sem
ate.
He goes into a lengthy narration of the
present condition of Mexico and our rea-
tons with it, and especially the pecuniary
sufferings of our citizens in that country,
which receive no redress and have little
prospect of any, and expresses an opinion
that it may be necessary to take possession
of some Of its unsettled territory, to be
held in pledge for the performance of its
duty.
He then approaches Mexico from an
other direction The Mexican States of
chihuahua and Sonora, on eur southern
border, are wholly ungoverned and subject
to the predatory excursions Of various In
dian tribes, and which roam into our ad-
joining territory creating well grounded
apprehension that our important postal
communication, recently established with
the Pacific coast may be broken up. In
this view he urges the establishment Of n
protectorate over those States.
He passes to that part of Central Amer
lea through which the Transit Routes pass
Shows the very great interest the whole
commercial world has in these, and lays
it down that the right of transit is nearly
the same as though an arm of the sea con-
nected the two oceans there, and urges
that it is the duty and the right of COM
mercial nations, particularly the United
States, to the uninterrupted passage of these
routes, and that stipulation to that effect
should be embodied in treaties with those
States, and recommends that the Presi-
dent be empowered to use the land and
naval forces to prevent the obstruction of
the routes.
He recites what has been done to bring
the Republic of Paragua to a settlement
Of the claims of our citizens and to obtain
just satisfaction for the attack upon the
Water Witch and expects that at worst
naval rendezvous at Buenos Ayres will
be sufficient.
He gives brief history of the financial
revulsions of the past year and an opinion
that the cause was world wids,-that nc
tariff, or any legislation of any particula,
country could have avoided it.
The periodical revulsions which have
existed in our past history must continue
to return at intervals so long as oul pres
ent unbounded system of banks credit.
shall prevail They will, however, prob
ably be the less severe in future; because
it is not to be expected, at least for MANY
years to come, that the commercial nations
Of Europe, with whose interests our OWL
are so materially involved, will expose
themselves to similar calamities. But
this subject was treated so much at large
in my last annual message that l shall
not now pursue it further. Still, I re.
spectfully renew the recommendation in
favor of the passage of a uniform bankrupt
law, applicable to banking institutions
This is all the direct power over the sub.
ject which, l be ievs, the federal govern.
ment possesses. Such law would miti.
gate, thong it might not prevent the evil.
The instinct fsefpreservation might pro.
duce a wholesome restraint upon their
banking business. if they knew,in advance
that suspension of specie payments would
inevitably produce their civil death.
In connection with this he refers to the
revenue, from imports, as insufficient to
support the government and advises to in.
crease our imports until our revenue shall
equal our expenditures.
In regard to the mode of assessing and
collecting duties under a strictly revenus
tariff. have long entertained and often
expressed the opinion, that sound policy
requires that this should be done by spe-
| cifc duties, in cases to which these can
be properly applied.
The estimated expenses of the year
ending June 80 1867 are about S74, 00O,-
900; the estimated receipts So, 100000
In addition to this the Post Master Cen
eral will require nearly four millions.
l invite Congress to institute rigid
scrutiny to ascertain whether the expenses
in all the departments cannot be still fur
ther reduced and promise them all the
aid in my power in pursuing the investi-
cation.
The Post Office Department occupies