The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-12-28
rnE PRESIDENTS arEssAeE.

w ASh1N0lONt |cC. a.
The Presidents Message has been sent to
Congress,
The President after expressing gratitude to
the Almighty for blessings received throughout
the year refers to the recent bloody occurrence
at Harpers Ferry. These events bad and cruel
in themselves, derived their chief Importance
from the apprehensions that they are but the
symptoms Of an incurable disease in the public
mind, which may break in still more dangerous
outbreaks and terminate at last in open war by
the North to abolish Slavery; while he himself
entertained no such apprehensions, they ought
to afford solemn warning to US all all, to be-
ware Of the approach eff danger.
He says, let me implore my countrymen
North and South to cultivate their ancient feel
ings of mutual forbearance and good will tow
ards each other, and strive to allay the demon
spirit of sectional hatred and strife now alive in
the land. This advice proceeds from the heart
of an old public functionary, whose service COM
menced in the last generation of the wise and
conservative statesmen of that day, but he in
dulges no bloody forebodings. He thinks the
affair of Harper's Ferry will be the means of
allaying the existing excitement and prevent
ing further outbreak.
He cordially congratulates Congress on the f.
nal settlement by the Supreme Court of the ques-
ton of slavery in the Territories. The right has
been established of every citizen to take his prop
erty of every kind including slaves into the terri
tories which belong equally to the whole confed-
eracy, and to have it protected there under the
federal constitution. Neither Congress nor the
territorial legislature, nor any human power has
auy power to annul or impair this vested right.
Thus has the state ST territory during the inter-
mediate period from its first settlement until it
becomes State, been irrevocably fixed by the
final decision of the Supreme Court of the United
States
He then describes the mode Of admission of Terrific
l Sfafa inffn Tninn he
or vithou slavery their Constitution may prescribe
This principle has been recognized in form by the
almost unanimous vote Of both Houses of the last Con-
All lawful means at his command had been employed
and will continue to be employed against the slave trade
history proves that the fathers Of the Republic in
the advance OF all other nations condemned the slave
trade
| Ratfcations Of the Chinese Treaty have been ex-
changed. Two supplemental conventions are, however,
pending re ang 10 the rights Of americans In China
Our difficulties with Paraguay satisfactorily ad-
Our relations with France, Russa, and all the Cont
| cd, continue to be most friendly.
The President recommends that appropriation be made
/ to meet the demands OF the Amistad claimants.
bis opinion in favor of the acquisition of cuba by fr
means remains unchanged; and therefore he again in.
vites the Serious attention Of Congress to this important
| subject.
He had good 70 believe until recently that he
would have been able to announce difficulties with
Great Bri ain finally adjusted in manner honoraby
satisfactory both parties. From causes, however
which Great Britain had not anticipated, she had moi
yet completed the treaty arrangements with Honduras
and Nicaragua in pursuance Of the understanding Of the
two governments. It is nevertheless confidently ex
pected that this will shortly be accomplished.
In relation to San Juan be entertained doubt Of the
validity OF the Iille He was happy to site that what
was left Gen SEQ ts discretion could have been
placed in better hands Gen. Scott has successfully
complished his mission, and there was no longer any
apprehend the collision Of the respective forces
dEg e I condition
affairs in Mexico. He speaks the subject at length
Outrages Of the worst description he says commit
form Of injury which has not been suffered by our c
zens there during few years past We nominally
at peace with Mexico but lar as the interest Of oui
commerce and our citizens there in any private capac
ty, concerned, might as well be at Mr. Nc.
Lane in August last wrote Il hope the President viii
Mexico with military forces at the call Of the Constu
tional authorities"
the op non and feels bound TO announce this con
clusion to Congress He thinks the treaty with
Nicaragua cannot fail to be satisfactory. He recon-
mendsa law authorizing the employment of naval
the purpose protecting Americans passing by
the Panama. Nicaragua and Tehuantepec route.
He refers to the failure OF The Post Office Appropria
on and recommends the passage Of bill at the earliest
possible day pay the amount due the contractors with
interest and also to make necessary appropriations fol
the Post Office Department for the current year.
In conclusion he recommends to the just hberality
Congress the local interests of the D:stctof Columbia
The Secretary Of the Treasury does not doubt that the
actual receipts Of the Treasury for the present and
fiscal years will be fully equal to the estimates of the ap
DrODfiatOnS made at the present session.
the contained in the estimates is believed thai
they can be with the ordinary and extraordinary
receipts already provided by law the estimated balance
that will be In the Treasury the 90t of
only S80o00 and leaves more in for additional ap
preparations If therefore, the appropriations should
ceed the estimates Congress should determine pro
vide within this period for payment of any portion
the public debt twill become necessary to make provi
sions for such contingencies II additional demands ar
created upon the Treasury by legislation.
Tne Department advocates various reforms-trust
Congress will either give It's express sanction tn
| Ito hntyv ~
leans by voting necessary appropriation will ndcat
for the department such Of administration
shall it ia closing with Of the propo
sails which have been received and are now held unde
advisemt Mt.
The Secretary of the Navy in speaking Of the sue
cessfu termination of the Paraguay expedition says tn
cost Of maintaining the purchased vessels in
mission is not much greater than that Of maintaining
single steam frgate, and that their acquisition enable
the Department to adopt for the suppre
Of the African slave trade. Since the commencement
of the present Administration 20 vessels hay
been added to the navy he therefore his
nendaon to still further increase the navy; instead
pcrpetuatng the old vesse or expendng millions 70
e construction Of few large ships it is earnestly
commended that We prosecute with vigor the line Q
policy which has been adopted by Congress. and add
much larger number Of steamships, which can be main
tanned At comparatively small 1t is source
extreme regret and modification that we now a
times, obliged to sit by passvey and in foreig
countries American citizens imprisoned plundered an
murdered, because the executive has not the means
crease in the maritime medical and purser's depart
ment and narates the operations OF the various squad
= rons during ihe past year.
: The Department in MAY last made conditional con
tract with the Chirique Improvement company and Am
brose W. Thompson, for the purpose of securing YER
valuable transit depot and navy station and coal priv
leges in the province Of Ch1que harbor the Allan
and another the Pacific side 1t for Congress
q make appropriation Of $4,000.
8 The Secretary Of War says Of the Army :-Nearl
1880 and not than 900 available for active
vice, in the field, scattered an area OF thre
millions of square miles. He hopes make such altera
tions In the disposition of troops next season, Wi
prevent any repetition of ourages in future south
ern and Mexican border. He recommends the enlist
q ment of for mounted corps for months begin
ming in May; in actual battle with the Indians success
Is more owing to individual prowess skill in arms, IN
Y horsemanship than discipline; in point of economy
great advantages the country. He recommend
pro, for retiring disabled and ipfrm officers
" meat for increasing the efficiency Of the army.
1t is not deemed advisable to proceed to manufactur
rihed cannon beyond those required for experiments
purposes speaks avoraby Of breechloading arms say
it does not appear necessary TO request consderabl
appropriation Tor additional masonry work for forihca
tions In such not strong enough to offer good de
fence against shipping, when emergency arises
ut small expense by earhen batteries proper
combined with them for mutual support, and Of suc
extent as to give an aggregate armament Of sucisn
power.
The army in Utah remains Inactive, and stands in a,
of IN tha an