Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1859-12-31
The Presidents Message.
THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
THE HOIJSE STILL UNORGAEIZED.

read, The Senate was CROWDED W1CI spectators. luuAJ
OF tie members Of the House were present.
The following is a synopsis OF the message
The President, after expressing gratitude to the Al.
mighty for the blessings With which the country had
been favored throughout the year, r.fers to the re-
cent bloody occurrences at Hhrpcr's Ferry. Inc
President says that these events. bad and cruel as
they are in Themselves, derive their chief Importance
from the apprehension that they are but symptoms
of an incurable disease in the public mind, which
NAV break out still more dangerously, and cause out
rares far more serious, which will finally terminate
in an open declaration OF war by the North to abolish
slavery III the South. |
The President said that while he himself entertain
en- no such apprehension, these occurrences ought to
afford n solemn warning to us all to beware OF ap-
preaching danger.
;. Let ne, - says the President, O %inorlore my coun-
trymen, both Ncrt, and South, to cultivate the an
Gent feeling Of material forbearance aud good will
towards each other. aud strive to allay rather than
excite the demon spirit of sectional hatred and strife,
which is now alive throughout the land.
This advice proceeds from the heart Of an old
public funct,pnary, whose service commenced during
the last generation among the wise and conservative
statesmen of that day.
But | indulge in no gloomy forebodings,a and am
of opinion that a thorough investigation Of the affair
will be the means OF allaying the existing excitement,
ture."
The President cordially congratulates Congress on
the final settlement by the Supreme Court of the
question of sla avery in the Territories where the right
las been established that every citizen may take his
property. nfany description, including slaves, in a
Territory belonging equally to the whole contederacy,
| anu nave IL plOlSCtcu tHSIc ulIutl tlG ASACidl onHt
tuition.
Neither Congress nor the territorial legislature.
nor any human power has any power t" annul or
impair this vested right. Thus has the status Of a
territory during the intermediate period from its first
settlement until it becomes a State been irreyocably
fixed by the final decision o: the Supreme Court.
The President then describes the mode of admission
of a territory as a State into the Union. he says it
NAV be admitted with Or without slavery, as the
Constitution Of the state or territory may prescribe.
This principle has been recognized by an almost
,p,ninOuS vote of both Houses of CONGRESS during
the last session.
In relation to the slave trade, the President says
that he has used and shall continue to use all lawful
means at his command TO suppress it. Our history,
he continues, proves that the fathers of this Repub-
lie, in advance of all other nations, condemned the
slave trade.
The President announced that the Chinese treaty
had been finally concluded and ratiticatious exchan-
ccd. Two supplental conventions are, however, pen
; ding-one in relation to the rights Of Americans in
China, and another in relation to the duties on Amer
lean goods in transit across any portion of the Chi
nese territory.
having been satisfactorily adjusted.
Our relations with France. Russia, and all tie Con
tinental powers of Europe, with the exception, per
haps, of Spain, continue to be of a most friendly
character.
The President recommended to Congress that an
appropriation be made to meet the claims Of those
who suffered by the ;Armistead affair. The settle
, ment of these claims, the President thinks, would
render our relations with Spain more cordial, and ia
] c~i]itate the acquisition Of Cuba by fir purchase-his
opinion upon which subject remained unchanged
= He, therefore, again invites the serious attention of
. Congress to this important subject.
The President says that there was good reason
until quite recently to believe that in his present
message to Congress he would be able to announce
> that all our difficulties with Great Britain, arising
from the Clayton Bulwer treaty, had been finally
adjusted IN a manner honorable and satisfactory to
both parties. From causes, however, which Great
Britai in had not anticipa ted, she had not been able
to conclude her treaty arrangement with Honduras
and Nicaragua in pursuance to previous understand
: ings between Great Britain and the two Govern
ments.
The President, nevertheless, confidently expects
h that this would shortly be accomplished, and that
all matters of dispute between the British Govern.
e mept and our own in relation to the Cha ton Bulwer
treaty, would soon be happily settled.
In r. lation to the San Juan affair, the President
entertains no doubt Of the validity of our title to the
Island, and announces that he is happy to state that
l. what he left to Gen. SCOTS discretion could not
- have been placed in better hands.
Hc states that there is no further reason to appre-
n bend 4 collision among the respective forces.
The President enters now upon Mexican affairs.
He says, during the tendency of the negotiations
if with Mexico, he regrets to say that the Mexicans'
affairs have long been unimproved. He speaks AT
u length upon that subject. and treats vigorously upon
IS the numerous outrages of the worst description com.
mitted upon persons and property, ard of every
e form ofiniuuty SUI Trred by our citizens during the
4 pa t few years. He says that we have been nomi
u nally at peace with Mexico, but as far as the inter
is ests of our commerce and citizens there il private
capacity are concerned. we might as WILL have been
at war. Mr.. McIane. during the month of August.
g wrote the following letter - ho pc that the lresi
dent will feel authorized TO ask of Congress power tc
enter Mexico with military forces at the call Of the
constitutional authorities, in order to protect oul
citizens and our treaty rights. and that unless such
)r power is conferred upon the President, great evils
-, must undoubtedly cnsue, etc.
u The President adds, in relation to that letter, tina
'. he has been reluctantly led to the same opinion, ant
; that he feels bound to announce this opinion to thu
l. Congress He says that it is a question Which ha
=, relation to the future as we'll as the present aat
=" past and that the aid which Mexico requires, am
which the interests of all commercial nations re
quire that she should have, belongs to this Govern
- m"nt to render, not only by virtne Of our %neigbbor
~ hood to Mexico. but by virtue also Of our estab
70 Iisiled policy, which is inconsistent with any inter
venlon by European powers IN the domestic con
>: Germs of that Republic.
For reasons stated, the President recommends til
express passage Of a law authorizing h1m to emplo.
J such Il military force to enter Mexico, for the pUr
n pose of obtaining indemnity tor the past and sccurit
for the future. Should volunteers be selected 70
:; this service, the President is of opinion that sucI
: force could easily be raised in this country anon
Is those who sympathizel with our suffering fellow
IT. citizens in Mexico, and with the unhappy conditiv
IL OF the country. such acccsslons to the forces of tn
Liberal Government would enable it soon to reac
the Capital.
ne The President also recommends the establishment
- of military posts along theM e>ican frontier on til
boundary line of Sonora and Chihuahua, for the pr'
lection of the lives and properties of American cit
n zens against The depreciation Of the Indians. He ais
:, recommended the establishment OF a Territorial Go,
ernment for Arizona.
e Upon the subject OF Central American affairs til
cb President is of opinion that the provisions of III
~ treaty recently concluded with Nicaragua cannt
IS fail to be satisfactory to all parties concerned. Il
49, recommends a law authorizing the employment
"a an adequate naval force for the purpose of protec
n ing American citizens passing over the 1sthmuses
Panama. Tehauntepec and Nicaragua. He recon
en- mends that authority be given to the President
Mt employ the naval forces for the purpose of protectin
American commerce against seizure and coniscatic
" Mexico and Spanish American States,
AZ The President refers to the failure Of the Pos
= Office Appropriation Bill, and earnestly recommend
t. the passage of a bill at the earliest day, to provo
for the payment o. all amounts due mail contra
1t, tors, with the interests which have accrued sim
such amounts were due aleo to make the necessal