The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-02-25
VOLUME X. NO, 8.
The Presidents Special Message.

To The Senate and House of ReprcSen-
totlves The brief period which remains
OF your present session, and the great ur-
gency and importance Of the legislative
action before termination for the p1otcc-
tion Of American citizens and their prop
eriy, while in transit across the lsthmus
routes between our Atlantic and PaC &c
possessions, render i! my duty again TO
recall this subject to your notice. have
heretofore presented it in my annual Mes.
sagrs, bo,h of Dece mber 81 and SO, 10
which beg leave to refer. In the latter
| stated that the Executive Government
OF dis county. in It's intercourse with for
rlgn nations, is limited to the employment
ot diplomacy alone. When this fails, it
can proceed no further.
1t cannot legidmalcly resort 10 force
without the direct authority of Congress,
except IN resisting and repclIing hostile
attacks. Ii would have no authority to
enter the territories OF Nicaragua, even to
preven! the destruction OF the transit, and
protect the lives and property Of our own
"iuzeDs on lh-lr passages. lis true, that
on sudden emergency OF this character.
the President would direct any armed
force in the vi unity to march to their re-
net but in doing this, be would act upon
ms own responsibility.
Under these circumstances I earnestly
recommend to Congress the passage Of an
act sulhorzi zing the President under such
Instructions as they may deem proper, TO
employ the land and naval forces of the
United S,nlcs in preventing he transit from
being obsruc,ed or closed by lawlcss yio.
lcnce, and in projecting the lives md
properly ot American citizens, travelling
lhcrcupun, requiring, at the same time,
that these Iorc.s shall be Withdrawn the
moment danger shall have pussed away.
Without such provision, our citizens
VIII be constantly exposed to interference
IN Their progress, and 10 lawlrss violence.
a similar necessity exists for the passage
OF such AN act Tor the protection Of the
Panama and Tehauntcpcc route. Another
subject cqually important commanded the
attention uI the Senate duIIng the last
session OF Congress. The republics south
OF the United States on this continent have
unfortunately been frequently in u stat"
ol revolution aud uiyll war, ever since
they achieved their independence.
As one or the other party has prevailed
and obtained possession oi the ports open
TO foreign commerce, they have seized
ard conhscated American vessels and their
cargous in an arbitrary and lawlcss man.
ncr, and eXaCled money from American
citizens by forced loans aud other violent
proceedings. American citizens are de-
prived OF protection under the illg Of
their country, which the subjects Of other
nations enjoy. The remedy tor this state
OF things can only be supplied by Con.
grcss, since the constitution has confded
10 that body alone the power to make war.
Without the authority of Congress the
Executive cannot lawfully direct any force,
however near il may be TO the seat Of diff
Guilty, to enter the territory Of Mexico,
Nicaragua, or New Granada, fer the pur-
pose OF defending the persons or property
OF American cIuzens, even Though they
may be violently assailed whilst passing
in peaceiu, transit over he TehaGntcpcc,
Nicdraguan, or the Panama Territories, to
cary ON hosliIllcs.
The executive goevrnment Of Great
Britain, France and other countries, pos
sessing the war making power can prompt
ly employ the necessary means to enforce
in,n,tiaIa redress for similar ouiraprs
unno ,heir subjects. Not so with the ex,
rcpriye Government Of the United States
Ii the President orders a vessel OF wal
TO npy Of these ports to demand promp
redress for outragcs committed, the offend
inc parries are well aware that in case o
refusal the commander could do no more
than demonstrate he can resort TO NJ
Lc.,ila art Thc ou.stion mnsl then b,
referred TO Diplomacy. and in many case.
.,i.nn.i. r.dr.ss can never b. obtained
~. cornot wilhou. Ianscendiup hi
conslirn,ionI mower, direc. a yun to b,
frn.I inIn l,r or l,nd a seaman or ma
rInn nnro,rct lLr lives OF our countr, me,
an .hn,,.' ~ ~ nh,,in r.Lr,s. lor A rycen,
onr,n.,. an tn,ir nrou,~,v.
o"I'no v" 'n'" p'"p', ; - o,r ,o;-hbor