The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-02-24
FROM WASHINGTON!
THE PRESIDENTS SPECIAL MESSAGE
MEXICO AND
Central America!
IMPORTANT MOVEMENT

buc Urei pcrlu WHICH Iemai01 OF your
present session, and the great urgency ard
importance Of legislative action before its
termination, for the protection Of American
citizens and their property, whilst 10 transit
across the Isthmus between our Atlantic
and Pacific prosecutions, render It my duty to
recall this subject to your notice. I have
heretofore presented il In my annual mes.
sages Of December. 1857 and 1858, 70 which
] beg leave 10 refer. In the latter | stated
that the Executive Government of this
country, in its intercourse with foreign M.
tons, 10 limited 10 the employment Of di.
plomacy alone--where this fails II can pro.
coed no farther II cansot Iegitimately 10
sort 10 force without the direct authority
OF Congress, except 10 resisting and repell.
ing hostile attacks.
II would have no authority 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 passages. II Is true that on sud.
den emergency Of this character, the Presi.
dent would direct any armed force in the
vicinity to march 10 their relief, bat In do.
ing this be would be acting upon bis indiyid.
ual responsibility. Under these circumstan.
ces | earnestly recommend 10 Congress the
passage OF an act authorizing the President,
under such restrictions o. they may deem
proper, TO employ the land and naval forces
OF the United States 10 preventing the tran.
sit from being DISTRACTED or closed by law
less violence, and in protecting the lives and
property OF American citizens travelling
thercupon requiring at the same time, that
these forces shall b. withdrawn the moment
the danger shall have passed away. With.
out such provision, our citizens will be
constantly exposed TO interference In their
progress by lawless violence. A similar ne.
cessity exists for the passage OF such an act
for the protection Of the Panama and Te.
huantepec routes.
Another subject equally important de-
mands the attention Of the senate, at this,
and the last session of Congress. The re.
publics south OF the United States, on this
continent, have unfortunately been In st te
ofrevolution and civil war ever since thew
achieved their independence As one or an.
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 an
arbitrary and lawless manner, and exacted
from the American citizens by forced loans
and other violent proceedings to enable
them to carry on hostilities The Executive
Governments Of Great Britain, France, and
other countries possessing the war making
power. can promptly employ the necessary
means to enforce immediate redress for simi-
lar outrages upon their subjects. Not 80
the Executive Government Of the United
States. 1.-THE President orders o vessel OF
war to any OF these ports TO demand prompt
redress Tor the outrages committed. the of.
lending parties are well aware that the
commander could do no more than remon.
strate. lie can resort to no hostile act ::
the question then must be referred to diplo.
macy. and in many cases adequate redress
can never be obtained. The American citi-
zens are deprived Of the same protection un-
der the flag OF their own country, which the
subjects OF other nations enjoy The remedy
for this state OF things can only be supplied
by Congress, since the Constitution has
conided TO that body alone the power 10
make war. Without the authority of Con.
gress, the President cannot lawfully direct
any force. however near it may be TO the
scene Of difficulty, to enter the Territory Of
Mexico, or Nicaragua, or New Granada
Tor the purpose of defending the persons or
property OF American citizens, even though
they may be violently assailed willis, passi60
in peaceful transit over the Tehauntepec
Nicaragua or Panama routes He cannot
without transcendiug his constitutional
power direct gun To be fired into a port,
or land seaman or marine to protect the
lives OF our countrymen on shore.
or To obtain redress for recent outrage ON
their property. The banditti which insst
our neighboring Republics Of Mexico, al.
ways claiming to belong TO one or the other
hostile parties might make sudden desoen,
upon Vera Cruz or the rehuantepec route.
and he would have no power 10 emplov a
force on shipboari in the vicinity for their
rlief, either to prevent the pander of our
merchants or the destruction OF the transit
In reference to countries where the local
authorities are strong enough 10 enforce
laws, tho difficulties here indicated can spl.
dom occur, but where this Is not the ease
aud the local authorities do not Possess the
will 10 protect our citizens within their Inn.
its. rco,n, experience has shown that the
Executive should itself b. authorized to rem.
der this protection. Such a grant of
authority thus limited in its extent could in
no just sense be regarded a. transfer Of
the var making power To the Executive
but only As An appropriate exercise Of that
power by the body 10 whom il exclusively
b,longs. The riot in Panama in ls56. in
which great number Of our citiaus los,
their lives furnishes pointed Illustration OF
the Necessity which may arise Tor the exer.
cis Of authority. therefore earnestly re-.
ommcnd TO Congress. "a whom the r,spou.
'ib.hiy exclusively rests, to pas law before
they adjournment couferring on the Prsi
dent the Po~er 10 protect the lives aud
property Of American citikens in the cssrs
which | have Indicated. under such r>tric>
tioss and eooditons ~ they may drsm al
'lsAbss. The knowhaise thA, such q law
at 81