, 1859-01-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Etlloss Oitissns Of he Senate and

House Of Representatives.
When VIC compare the condition Of the country
ct the present day with what it was one year
ago, at The meeting Of Congress, we have much
reason for gratitude to that Almighty Providence
which has never filled to interpose for our relief
ct ths1Ost critical periods Of our history.
Whilst Congress possess the undoubted power
of admitting a new State into the Union, how.
ever small may be the number of its inhabitants,
yet this power ought not, in my opinion, TO be
exercised before the population shall amount to
the ratio required by tho act for the admission
Of Kansas Had this been previously the rule,
the country would have escaped all the evils and
mislortunes 10 which Il has been exposed by the
Kansas question.
OF course, it would be unjust to give this rule
retrospective application, and exclude State
which, acting upon the past practice Of the gov.
ernment has already formed its constitution,
elected its legislature and other officers, and is
now prepared to enter the Union.
The rule ought to be adopted, whether we
consider its bearing on the people Of the Terrific.
Ties or upon the people Of existing States. Many
Of the serious dissensions which have prevailed
In Congress and throughout the country, would
have been sv0ided, had this rule been established
Ct an earlier period Of the government
Immediately upon the formation Of a new Ter.
Siiofy, people from different States and from for.
sgn countries rush into It, for the laudable pur.
pose Of improving their condition. Their FIRST
duty 10 themselves Is 10 open and cultivate
farms, 10 construct roads, to establish schools /;
10 erect places Of religious worship, and to devote
their energies generally to reclaim the wilderness
and 10 lay the foundations Of aourishing and
prosperous commonwealth. IT. by this incipient
condition. with q population Of few thousand,
they should prematnrely enter the Union, they
are oppressed BY the burden Of State taxation,
and the means necessary for the improvement Of
The Territory and the advancement Of their own
interests are thus diverted to very different pur-
peee&
The federal government has ever been a liberal
parent 10 the Territories, and generous contri-
butor 10 the useful enterprises Of the early set
dorA II has paid the expenses Of the govern
nsnts and legislative assemblies out Of the COM
mon treasury, and thus relieved them from a
heavy charge Under these circumstances, no.
thing cnn be better calculated 10 retard their ina.
teri1l progress than to divert them from theii
usolnl employments, BY prematurely exciting
angry poliiical contest among themselves, for thS
benclf d nspiring leaders II Is surely no hard
ship lor embryo governors, senator's, and mem
beTs Of Congress, to wait until the number o.
Inhabitants shall equal those Of single congress
aio=Al diAificL They surely ought not to be
permitted 10 rush into the Union with a popula.
ton less than one-haif Of several Of the large
counties 10 the interior Of some Of the States
This was the condition Of Kansas when Il made
application 10 be admitted under the Topeka con
sfifuiion. Besides, h requires some time TO ren.
Or he n11s Of population collected In q new
Ilrilpfy, q al homogeneous and 10 unite them
q anything Ike fixed policy. Establish the
rule. and ~ VII look forward 70 Ii and govern
thsnsslses accordingly.
sFo lh1su fsasons, I earnestly recommend the
passage of geneFaln act, which shall provide that
upon The application Of territorial legislature,
dochrinr their belief that The Territory contains
nnnmbcI 81 Inhabitants, which, in State, would
onIII8 them to elect member Of Congress, 1t
ahal b the duty Of the President TO cause a
census Of he Inhabitants 10 be taken, and, n
f1und mNeient. then, By the terms Of this act,
tonuIhorizl them toproeeed Sin their own way
. fIam1 State consultation preparatory 10 ad-
NILSSON into the Union. also recommend that
an appropriation may Be made, TO enable the
lIs1'tsnt p ipkp : sensm ef the people Of Kan
Tan happy to inform YOU, that the Governor
1ndolher civil officers Of Utah are now perform
ls th.lI pppcprhle functions without resist
nnco. The authority Of the constitution and the
nU have been fully restored, and peace prevails
taiDuseout ths Territory.
I k,po occasion. also. 70 conrratulate YOU on
fho r1luli or our ncr0fnfions with China.
1on u1ro informed BY my last annual mes
uEa fh1i our minister bad been instructed to
oc1rrT = neutral position in the hostilities con-
dleled 6y 0reat Britain and France against
Chm. He was, however, at the same time, d.
Tecled 10 co-opernte cordially with the British
and French ministers, 10 all peaceful measures
% secure by treaty those Just concessions to
flc'u commerce, which the nations Of the
word had . night 10 demand. Il was impos-
uibls 81 ne 70 proceed further than this, Of my
cTn authority, without usurping the war-mak
~ power which, under the constitution, be-
l11El ezclnllrlly to Congress-
I'm and exleut Of our grievances, l did not be-
lllp thlT were o. such pressing and aggFava-
ID character IS would have justified Congress
n docIaring war against the Chinese empire,
without 1r6t making smother earnest attempt to
u.iplt thgn By peaceful negotiation. was the
mU1 lnll'n1d 70 this opinion because Of the
nl11n chnslis1ment which had then but recent
y 1e1n Indicted upon the Chinese BY our SQUAD
ron N ne capture and destruction Of the Bar.
rlr foTiH 70 aTongs an ale ed insult to our Gag
Ih1 event has proved the wisdom Of our nerl-
fu'i|E Or minister has executed bis instruc-
0U1 uiIh eminent skin and ability In coniunc-
tt1 with he Russian plenipoientiary, he has
rrnc.lhI|y but alectnallY co-operatsd with the
El1lil1 and French plenipotenihFie8S end each
q t1e h1r powers has concluded separate
uMIy With China, q highly satisfactory char
aclcf. Ihs treaty concluded BY our ow5 pleni