American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1859-02-24


Sc g. This Act shall take effect aud be
il force from aud after the LIST day Of a,
priI. 1859.
The Presidents Special Message,
WAsuIGroN. Feb. l8.-The President
to day transmitted message to Con. ross.
as follows:
To the senUtc and House dfRepresentatlyes:
The Lrief period which remains Of your
present session, and the great urgency
aud importance of the legislative action
before its termination for ths protection OF
American citizens an1 their property,
while in transits across the Isthmus routes
between our AlllaStic and Pacific possess
ious' render it my duty to recall this sub
Ject to our notice. have. therefore pres.
t 1t in my Annual Message 9th of De-
cember 81 and SO, to which | beg leave
to refer. Ia the later | stated that the
Executive Government of this country, in
its intercourses with fareigu nations, is
limited 10 the employment Of diplomatic
alone. When this fails it can proceed no
further.
1t cannot legitmatsly resort to force
without the direct authority Of Congress,
except in resisting and repeating hostile
attacks. 1t would have no auth rity 10
enter the territories of Nicaragua, even to
prevent the destruction Of the transit, and
protect the lives and property of our own
citizens on their passage. 1t is true that
on sudden emsrg4noy of this character.
the President would direct any armed
force in the vicinity to march to their
relief; butte do this. he would act upon
his own responsibility.
Under these circumstances earnestly
recomeud to Congress the passage Of an
act authorizing the President under such
instructions as they may deem proper, to
employ the land and naval forces of the
United States in preventing the transit
from being bst.ucted or closed by law less
violence, and in protecting the property
and lives Of American citizens; travelling
thereupon, requiring at the sams time,
that these forces shall oe Withdrawn the
moment danger shall have passed away.
Without such PROVISION, our citizens
will be exposed TO interference 10 their
progress, and tolswless violence. A sim .
liar necessity exists for the passage of such
an act for the protection of Panama and
Tehuantepec route. Another subject e.
quhlly important commanded the attention
OF the Senate during the last session OF
Congress. The republics south Of the
United States on this continent have un-
fortunately been frequently in a state OF
revolution and civil war, ever since they
achieved their independence.
AS one or the other party has prevailed
aud obtained possession of the port opened
to foreign commerce, they have seizad and
confscated American vessels and their
cargoes in an arbitrary and lawless man
ner, and exlcted money from American
citizens by forced loans and other violent
proceedings. American citizens are de.
prived of protection under the fllg oftheil
own county, which the subject of Other
nations erjoy. The remedy f1r this state
Of things can only be supplied BY C5ngres,
since the Constitution has oonfded 10 tha
body alone the power to maks war.
Without the authority OF Congress th,
Executive cannot lawfully direct any orc,
however near it may be to the seat of DIFF
HcuIIy, to enter tho territory of NJ xico
Nicargua, or New Granada, for the pur
pose Of defending the person or propert,
,, Of American citizens, even though the,
may be viobEtly assail-d while passing il
peaceful transit over the Tehuqntepec
Nicaraguan. or Panama Territories to car
ry on hostiilies.
II the President orders a vessel oil
war to any Of these ports to demand prom
redress for ontages committed. the offend
ing parties are we'll aware that in case G
refusal the comman der could do no NOR
than demonstrates; Ire can resort TO no hos
, tile act. The question must the be refer
: cd to diplomacy, and in in many cases al
eqaate redress oan never be obtained.
lie cannot without trasending his con
stilutional power, direct gun to fired int
a fort, or land seamen or marine 10 pro
tect the lives Of our countrymen OH shor
or obtain redress for recent outrage o
their property.
, The banditti which infcst our neighbor
t ing republic Of Mexico, always oaimin
TO one or the other Of the hostile parties
8 might make sudden descent on Ver
0 Cruz or Tehuatepec route, and he woul
r have no power to imploy the forces o
ship board in the vicinity for their reli,
It either to prevent the plumber Of our mel
0 chasts or the destruction Of the transit.
:, In reference to countries where the Il
cel authorities are strong enough to ell
force the laws, the difficulty here indicate
+ sold EN- happens, but where this is n,
;, the case, and the local authorities do nc
It possess the physical power, even if the
Il possess the will to protect our citizer
within their limits
r. Recent experience has shown that tl
American Executive should himself
i authorized to render this protection. Sue
Q u grant of authority. thus limited in its el
v tent, cnuld in no just sense be regarje
!. as q transfer TO the war making power
the Executive, but cn asan appropriate e,
erise Of that power in the body to who
;. it exclusively belongs. The riot at Pan
o ma in 1855. in which great numbers
It our citizens lost their lives. furnishes
a pointed illustration Of this necessity,
a re- The Washington correspondent
the Philadelphia North american. deni
q the frequent newspaper reports that Il
!. health OF Gen. Cass is giving away. |
eoys bis al 4 vataron. atIands 90 his DuI