New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-19

TO Congress the passage of 81 70. suthorizea tns
Presdent under such restrictions az they may o.
proper, to employ the land and paws forces OF ~
United States in preventing the transit from being
obstruoted or closed by assss violence, and in pro.
teotng the lives and property of American citizens
travelling tbereupon, requiring at the same time that
these forces shs be withdrawn the moment the DAT
ger shall have passed away. Without SUCH pro.
vision, citizens will be constantly exposed t, in
reference in their progress and TO axess violence.
similar necessity Exists for the passage Of such
act for the protection Of the Panama and Tehuantepec
routes.
Another subject, equally important, commanded the
attention Of the Senate at the last session Of Congress
The republics south Of the United States this
tinent have, unfortunately, been in state Of revou
ton and civil war ever soce they achieved their inde
pendence. As che or other party has prevailed and
obtained possession Of their ports open TO foreign
commerce, they have seized and confscated American
vessels and their cargoes in arbitrary and lawless
manner, and e1acted money from American citizens
by forced loans and other violent procesdngs to ems
bic them to carry on bostites. Tee Executive Gov
ernments Of Great Britain, France and other countries
possessing the war-makiDg power, can promptly EN-
poy the necessary means to enforce immediate re-
dress for smsr outrages upon their subjects Not 80
toe Executive Government of the United States. II
the President orders vessel Of war TO any Of these
ports TO demand prompt redress for ourages com
mitted the offending parties are well aware that, in
Gaze Of refusal, the commander could 40 no mere
then demonstrate. He can rseort to no hostile act
The question must then be referred to diplomacy, aud
Thus American citizens deprived Of the same
protection under the flag OF their country which the
subjects Of other nations enjoy.
The remedy for this state of things can only be sup
piled by Congress, since the Constitution has conffed
to that body alone the power to make war. Without
the authority Of Congress the President cannot wfuy
direct any force however near may be to the scene
Of efficiently TO enter the Territory Of Mexico. Ncsrs
gua New GRANADA for the purpose of defending the
persons and property Of American citizens, even
though they may be violently asssed while passing IL
peaceful transit over the Tehuanepec, Nicaragua, or
Panama routes. He cannot, without transcendng his
constitutional power direct gun TO be fred iGto
port or land seaman marine 70 protect the lives OF
counymen shore, or to obtain redress for re-
cent outrage on theTPropery Ire 5andliti whiGa IN
ing TO belong 10 other othe hostile parties might
make a sudden descent on Vera Cruz or the Tehusn-
tepec route, and be would have no power TO employ
the force on spboard in the vicinity for their relief
either to prevent the plumber Of merchants the
destruction OF the transit In reference TO countries
where the local authorities are strong enough to en-
force the laws, the difficulties here indicated can sell
dom happen; but where this s not the case and the
local authorities do not possess the physical power,
even if they possess the will to protect our citizens
within their limits, recent experience has shown that
the American Executive should itself, be authorized
TO render this protection. Such grant Of authority
thus limited in its extent could in Just be
gerded a transfer Of the rmakipg power to the
Executive, but only as an appropriate exercise OF
that power by the body to whom it exclusively be.
longs. The riot in Panama in 1856, in which great
number of citizens lost their lives, furnishes
pointed illustration of the necessity which may arise
for the exortion of this authority.
therefore earnestly recommend to Congress, on
whom the responsibility exclusively rests, to pass
law before their adjournment comforting on the Pres
dent the power to protect the lives and property of
American citizens in the which have ind-
Gated der such restrictions and conditions as they
may deem advisable The knowledge that such Law
exists would Of SELF 90 far to prevent the outrages
which it is intended to redress and render the employ
ment of force unnecessary. Without this, the Pres-
dent of the United States may be placed in painful
the present disturbed condition of Mexico and
more of the other Republics south Of US, no person
can oresee what occurrences may take place before
that period.