The constitutional union., 1860-12-21

acts, as paIpable aad alarming infactions of the Constitution.
 In pointing out the peaceful and constitu- tional remedies, and he referred to none others to which the States were authorized to resort on such occasions, he concludes by saying that the Legislatures of the States might have made direct representation to Con- gress, with view to obtain resembling of the two offensive acts. or they might have represented 10 the;r respective Senators in Congress their wish that two-thirJs thereof would propose any explanatory amendment to the Constitution; or tw0-tLirds of them selves if such had been their opton might by an application to Congress have obtained Convention for the same object. This is the very course which earnestly recommend n order to obtain an explanatory amendment Of the Constitution On the subject of slavery. This might originate with Congress or the State Legislatures. as may be deemed most advisable to attain the object The eXpiana- tory amendment might be confined to the final settlement of the true constructions of the Constitution on those special points: First. an express recognition oI the right of property in slaves in States where 1t now c.- ists or may hercai.ercEisl Second the dutg of protecting this right in all the common terri tories throughout their territorial exist ence, and unti they shall be admitted as States into the Union. with or with out slavery, as their Constitutions may prescribe Third, like recognition of the right of the master to have his slave, who has escaped from one State to another re- stored and delivered I'D to him; and If the validity Of the Fugitive Slave Law enacted for this purpose together with a declaration that all State laws impairing CT decreasing this right arc violations ot the Constitution. and consequently uu.I ali yold T. may 5e u5- iected that this construction ot the Don~eiau- ton has already been settled by the supreme lJar. oI the United States and what more ought to be reaarelt The answer is that very large proportion ot the re.a." oG the JniJeu States still doubt the correctness ot
 this decision. and never wifi cease from ag.ta- ton and admit io binding force until clearly established by the people of the several States in their s0yerc 'gu character.
 Such an explanatory amendment would 1t is believed, forever terminate the existing dis sensions. and restore peace and harmony among the States l. ought not to be doubted that such an appeal to the arbitrament estab- L-hed by the Constitution itself would be re- ceiyeI with favor by all fife States ot thcf Con- leJardcv. Tn any event. it ought to lc tried in q spirit of coucilati0n before any of these States shall separate themselves from tho Cuion.
 FOREIGN RELATIONS.
 The President announces. under the above head. that the rel, ,tions between this Govern ment Great Britain, France, Russia Austria China, Japan Baa.I New Granada. Costa Eic1, and Nicaragua ac cf a friendly char acter.
 Our relations with Spain are now of moro complicated though less dangerous character than they have been 13g many years Our citizens have long held and continue to hold numerous claims against the Spanish Govern mcnt These had been abyur@e for a series of years by our successive diplomatic rcrrcseu- tatlAs at Madrid; but without obtaining redress. The Spanish Government finally agreed to institute a joint commissioner for the adjustment of these ciaims and on the 9th day of March, 1880. concluded ccnvcn- tion for that purpose Nith our present H.ni-- ter at Madrid. Under this Convention, what have been Joamiua,eI the Cuban claims. amounting to Si-e.G55 54, .u which more than one hundred oi our i-.l.w-g.,.zaas a.a interested. were recognized. and ,.- r..a-L -L Government agreed t5 Iao one hundred tua-- sand dollars ul t.s amount W.eiG three months following the exchange ci r.t.iesr.aas. The payment of the remaining a- G35 U was to await tha decision ot t.o Conn. i--.au- CTS for Ct against tLo AILls.-sl c5a.fa lut in
 any event t.c balance Was b De paid ra ,he claimants either ag ~p-.u CT the United States. The t-eua j have every reason u know are h.-h.y factory to tAe holders of the Cuban claims Indeed. they have made a formal offer. authorizing the ~4tc Depart Mea5 tJ settle these claims. and tJ deduct ,le amount for the Aunistcad claim from the sums which they are entitled t5 receive from Spain This offer, of course c4Uo. De accepted. All other claims of citizens oi the United States against Spain, or of subjects of the Queen ot SIaln against the tH.ed S.a.ce, including the -Arm.-tead claim, were lv the Convention referred t9 a Board of Commissioners in the usual form. Neither gAc validity of. t.o Ar- u4istead claim. .nor any other claim against either party, with the single exception of tLe Cuban claims, Was recognized by the Couyoa- gion. laleal the Spanish Government did n5. insist that the validity If tae Auuis.cal e.a.m should be Ulus recognized. n0twi-b- ..a.au- a payment had been recommended b Congress y two of my rreieae-,ors. as well as y -.s l. and aa anI 9riaJon l.r ,aat lurI.e Dad passed t4e Senate of t.a tA..aI S-s. Iasg were Content t--. j.,
 aaai 0c .ya..-. if ca. Board tol. e4.n- nation and decision, like other claims. Both Governments were ay1aa. I1a alcllyeIg. |. la.- the amounts awarded t. ,1c several claimants q. such times and p.aoe as may be H4e3 l,y and according to the tenor ot said awards. and transmitted this convention to the Senate for their Constitutional action on the 3d of l.sy. ISJv, and on the 2IlA of the succacd- ing June, they determined that they would not advise and consent t0 its ratification Thoe proceedings placed our relations with Spain m an awkward aud embarrassing posi- tion. It is more than probable that the final 4u az.mcLt of these clalms will deyolve upon my successor. l rcitcrate the recommcnda- ton contained in my Annual Message of De- cembor, lSjS, and repeat that of December 1859, in favor of the acquisition of Cuba from Spain by fair purchase.
 t4r. r..-r -,+l, .-