Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-03-03
special Message from the President.

6peclal message 1rOm the freSlCenC.
OUR RELATIONS WITH MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA.
WASHINGTON, Feb. le. The President to day
transmitted a message to Congress, as follows:
To the Senate and House of Representatives.:
The brief period which remains of your pres
ept session, and the great urgency and import
ance of legislative action before its termination,
far the protection of American citizens and
their property, whilst in transit across the
Isthmus between our Atlantic and Pacific pos
sessions, render it my duty again to call this
subject to your notice.
have heretofore presented it in my annual
messages, both of December 1857, and Deem
Der, 1853, to which beg leave to refer In
the latter state that the executive government
of this country, in its intercourse with foreign
nations, is limited to the employment of dplo
macy alone. Where this fails, it can proceed
no further. 1t cannot lcgitimately resort to
force, without the direct authority of Congress,
except in resisting and rpelling hostile attacks.
1t would have no authority to enter the terri
tories Of Nicaragua, even to prevent the dcs-
truction of the Transit, and protect the lives
and property OF our own citizens on their pass
ages. 1t is true that on sudden emergency of
this character, the President would direct an
armed force in the vicinity to march to their
relief; but, in doing this, he would act upon
his own responsibility. Under these clrcum-
stances, earnestly recommend to Congress the
passage of I'm act authorizing the President,
under such restrictions as they may deem prop
er, to employ the land and naval forces of the
United States in preventing the Transit from
being Distracted or closed by lawless violence,
and in protecting the lives and property of
American citizens travelling thereupon, requir-
ing, at the same time that these forces shall
have passed away. Without such a provision,
our citizens will be constantly exposed to inter-
ence in their progress and,to lawless violence
and similar necessity exists for the passage of
such an act for the protection of the Panama
and Tehuantepec routes.
Another subject, equally important, command
ed the attention of the Senate at the last session
of Congress Tho Republics south of the
United States on this Continent, have, unfor-
tunately, been in u state Of revolution and civil
war ever since they achieved their independence.
As one or the other party has prevailed. and
obtained possession of their ports open to for
eign commerce, they have seized and confsca-
ted American vessels and their cargoes in an
arbitrary and lawless manner, and exacted
money from American citizens by forced loans,
and other violent proceedings, to enable them
to carry on hustilities. The executive govern
ment Of Great Britain, France and other coun-
tries possessing the war-making power can
promptly employ the necessary means to enforce
immediate redress for similar outrages upon
their subjects Not SO with the executive gov
ernment of the United States. If the President
orders a vessel of war to any of these ports to
demand prompt redress for outrages committed,
the offending parties are we'll aware that in case
Of refusal, the commander could do no more
than to demonstrate; he can resort to no hostile
act. rhe question must then be referred to di-
pomacy, and in many cases adequate redress
can never be obtained.
Thus American citizens are 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
confded to that body alone power to make war.
Without the authority of Congress, the Presi-
dent cannot lawfully direct any force, however
near it may be to the scene of difficulty, to en-
ter the territory Of Mexico, Nicaragua or New
Granada, for the purpose of defending the per
sons and property of American citizens, even
though they may be violently assailod, whilst
passing in peaceful transit over the Tehuantepcc
Nicaragua or Panama routes. He cannot, with.
out transcendlng his constitutional power, di
rect a gun to be fred into Tort, or land sea
man or marine to protect the lives of our coun
trymen on shore, or to obtain redress for a re
cent outrage on their property.
The bandtt which infests our neighborng
Republic of Mexico, always claiming to belong
to one or other of the hostile parties might
make sudden descent on Vera Cruz, or the 'l'e-
huantepec Route, and he would have no power
to employ the force on shipboard in the vicinity
for their relief, either to prevent the plumber Of
our merchants or the destruction Of the transit
In reference to countries where the local author
tiles are strong enough to enforce the laws, the
difficulties here indicated can seldom happen
but where this is not the case, and the loca
authorities do not possess the physical power
even if they possess the will, to protect our cit
zens within their limits, recent experience has
shown that the American Executive should it,
self be authorized to render this protection -
Such grant of authority thus limited in it,
extent, could, in no just sense, be regarded as 6
transfer OF the war-maklng to the Executive
but only as an appropriate exercise of that pow
er by the body to whom it exclusively belongs
The riot in Panama, in 1856, in which q great
number of our citizens lost their lives, furnishes
pointed illustration of the necessity which
may arise for the excrtion of this authority
| therefore earnestly recommend to Congress
on whom the responsibility exclusively rests, tt
pass law before their adjournment conferrin,
on the President the power to protect the live
and property of American citizens in the case
which have indicated, under such restriction
and conditions as they may deem advisable. Th
knowledge that such a law exists would Of itsel
90 tar to prevent the outragcs which it is in
tended to redress, and render the eulploymen
OF force unnecessary. Without this, the Pres
ident OF the United States may be placed in
painful position before the meeting Of tho mex
Congress. In the present disturbed conditio
OF Mexico and one or more of tho other reput
lies south of us, no person can foresee what ot
currences may take place before that period
In case of emergency, our citizens, seeing tina
they do not enjoy the same protection with tn
subjects Of European governments, will hay
just cause to complain.
On the other hand, should the executive il
terpose, and especially should the result pro,
disastrous, and valuable lives be lost he migl
subject himself to severe censure for having a
sumed power not confded to him by the Coz
stitution. 1t is to guard against this contii
gency that now appeal to Congress.
Having thus recommended to Congress u mea
urc which deem necessary and expedient f
the interest and honor of the country, lea
the whole subject to their wisdom and discretion
(Signed) JAMES BUCHANAN.
Dated at Washington, Feb. Is, 1859.