The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-28
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1889

space at our command, and portion of that |
which belongs to our advertisers, to the PRgs1 |
DENTS Message and the Report of the Secretary of
the Treasury. These, in view of the general in
terest which attaches to Them we publish in full |
Of the other Reports and documents accompany. |
ing the Message, we shall hereafter give an alb |
stract. The propriety the PRESIDENTS course in
sending in the Message, without waiting LONGER |
FOR an organization oil the House, we presume, will |
be questioned by none. Because the members Of
the House choose to spend their time and the MOO
PIES money in futile attempts to elect a Sneaker
that isno reason why the Senate should not nro.
coed with the consideration of the public business
This however, the Senate could not well do nm
I'll the Message ana accompanying reports were laid
before IT. and was the duty of the PRESIDENT
no longer 10 withhold. He had waited reasonable
lime for the House TO organize, and he was under no
obligation to do more. AS it is, the delay and
uncertainty attending the delivery of the MESSAGE
have gone far to weaken public interest in its con-
tents NO Message was probably ever looked for
with less anxiety, and none, we are free to add.
was ever less calculated to excite interest
mat 1t does not present one salient point for
criticism or attack, may be, perhaps its greatest
recommendation. That portion of it which is new
recommends nothing which can be considered OBJ
jectonable, and the rest oft which is but rene
tition Of the views and arguments of last years
Message, has already been so thoroughly dis
cussed that it is scarcely likely to provoke con-
troversy anew. Every one should read it
for himself but for the benefit of those who
may not have the time or inclination to undertake
Its perusal, we present a synopsis of its contents
The Message begins, as usual with an express
sion OF gratitude to the Almighty Power, which has
bestowed upon us such varied and numerous
blessings throughout the past year Notwith-
standing our dement's, the President is firmly
persuaded that we have enjoyed the special protec
ton of Divine Providence ever since our origin as
nation, and piously prays that we may ever he
under the Divine guidance and protection.
Brief alluson is made to the outbreak at Har-
per's Ferry; which the PRESIDENT regards as
pregnant with ''solemn warning to us all TO
'beware of the approach of danger" He enter
tains no apprehension of an open war on the part
of the North to abolish Slavery, but implores his
fellow-countrymen to cultivate feelings of mutual
'forbearance and good wl,'' and ''allay the
demon spirit Of sectional hatred and strife -
This advice" he adds proceeds from the
'heart of an old public functionary, whose service
commenced in the last generation, among the
'wise and conservative statesmen of that day. now
NEARLY all passed away, and whose first and
"dearest earthly wish is TO leave his country
'tranquil, prosperous, united and powerful"
The PRESIDENTS satisfied that the present agita-
ton upon the Slavery Question, will eventually
subsde, and give place to other and less threaten
ing controversies. Public opinion, he says, in
this country, is all powerful, and when it reaches
a dangerous excess upon any question, the good
sense Of the people will apply corrective and
bring ii back within safe limits
The PRESIDENT congratulates the country upon
the final settlement by the Supreme Court of the
UNITED STATES, Of the question of Slavery in the
Territories. The right has been established of
every citizen to take his property of any
kind, including slaves into the Territories and
have it protected there under the Federal Consti-
tuition. Neither Congress nor Territorial Legis-
lature, nor any human power has any authority
TO annul or impair this vested right.
The legislation of the Government in reference
10 the African Slave Trade is next passed under
review, for the purpose of demonstrating that the
hS pussy ipl It's SUPPRESSION are HOT lnCOQSlSt-
ent with the Constitution. The cargo landed by
the yacht Panisrer is believed TO be the only case
of direct importation of slaves into the UNITED
STATES since the year 1905 The president re-
grets that the proceedings instituted against the
parties engaged in that ''unlawful enterprise" have
not been attended with rs much success as their
crimes deserved.
The policy ofre-opening the Slave Trade is next
deliberately considered. The effects of such mea-
upon the interests of the master, and upon
the condition of the native-born slave, are sepa-
ratey discussed, and ascertaned to be equally in
furious. The effect upon unhappy Africa" is
also adverted to, and presented as an additional
argument why "a Christian and moral nation''
should not reopen the traffic.
The PRESIDENT takes credit for the success which
has attended Mr.. WARDS mission to China. The
refusal of the Georgia plenipotentiary to submit
to the ''humiliating ceremonies required by the
'ehqnette OF this strange people, on approaching
their sovereign" is highly approved. We are
assured that the Chinese authorities "appear to
have acted in good faith and in a friendly spirit
towards the UNITED STATES, although it is conceded
that it has been latter their own peculiar fashion,
'the ancient customs OF an empire dating back for
thousands of years" The supplemental conven-
tions--for the adjustment and satisfaction of the
claims of our citizens, and for the regulation o.
the tariff on imports and exports of transit
duties, and the trade of our merchants with China
the PRESIDENT proposes to treat, without further
ceremony, as binding engagements from their
date on both parties.
The amicable adjustment of our difficulties with
Paraguay is the next subject of congratulation
Our Commissioner is complimented for his prompt
dispatch Of the business confded to his hands
and the Navy Department for the promptness
efficiency and economy with which the Paraguay
expedition of nineteen armed vessels, great and
;'sma carrying 200 guns and $500 men, al
''under the command Of the veteran and gallant
'SHUBRICK' '-was fitted for sea. The subsequent
purchase of the secondhand coasters chartered fol
the use OF this expedition is affirmed to have beer
bargain, and the effect produced by their ap.
pearance in the 'far-distant waters of La Plata, u
to have been most ''happy."
Our relations with Spain are declared to be in
the same unsettled condition as at the date of the
last annual Message, and the opinions of thc
PRESIDENT, in relation to the acquisition of Cuba
to be unchanged. The recommendation in favor o.
paying the AMsTAD claim is renewed upon
grounds ofjustice and expediency.
The difficulties with Great Britain, arising Out
of the CLAYToN-BULwER treaty, remain in statu.
quo and those growing out of the occupation Of
the Island of San Juan by General HARVEY, have
lost their threatening aspect. The PREsIDENT's
statement of the affair is made as favorable to
HARVEY as possible, due allowance being made for
the information under which ''the gallant
General acted, and for his motives which are as
sumed to have been altogether pacific Credit is
given 10 the English Admiral and Colonial au-
thortes for their moderation and forbearance, and
to Lieutenant General SCoTT for the successful &C.
complishment of his mission
The state of affairs in Mexico is announced to be
without change, at least, for the better A briei
narrative is given Of events in that country, since
the fight of CONoNFoRT, and dismal picture pre-
scented Oft present condition. The propriety Of
the recognition of the JUAREz Government by Mr.
McLANE is rather taken for granted than estab-
lished by any process of reasoning show facts;
and application is made to Congress for permission
to use the military and naval forces Of the UNITED
STATES for the purpose of obtaining indemnity for