The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-01-06
The Presidents Message.
srxr To CONGRESS On TUESDAY. DECEMBER q.
Abstract.

Abstract.
The President. after expressing his graft
tud. to the Almighty for his blessings thro'-
out the year, alluded to The recent occurren-
ces at Harper's Ferry. These events. bad
and cruel in lhemsel, es. deri, ed their impor-
tance from the apprehension that they are
but symptoms of an incurable disease in the
public mind. which may break out IN still
more dangerous outrages and terminate al
last in open war to abolish slavery. While
he himself entertained no such apprehension.
these events ought to atforl solemn warn
ing to us all :" beware of danger. The Pres
ident says: LET ME imp'ore my country
men North and South to cultivate their a;s-
cient feelings Of mutual forbearance and good
will towards each other. and strive to ALA.
the spirit Of sectional hatred and s,,ife now
alive in the land" This advice proceeds from.
the heart of an old public fanclionary whost
services commenced In the last generation o:
the wise conservative statesmen of the DAY !:
but he INDUCES no gloomy forebodinss. He
thinks the affair al Harpers Ferry will lie
the means of allaying the existing excitement
and preventing further outbreaks.
He cordially consratulateS Congress or
the final settlement by the supreme court of
the question of slavery in the terrtores.-
The ri.h, has been established of every MAJ.
to take his property of every kind. includi' (
slaves, into The territories which belong
equally to the whole confederacy. and have
it pro. ected there under the federal constitu-
ton. Neither Congress nor the territorial
legislature nor any human power has any
power to annul or impair this vested right
Thus has the statutes of a territory during
the intermediate period from its first settle
ment until it becomes state been irrevocG-
hly fixed by the final decision of the supreme
court of the United States. He then de-
scribes the mode of admission OF a terri,or.
as a State into the Union. 1t may he admit
ted, he says. with or without slavery as the
local constitution may prescribe. This prin-
ciple has been recognized in some form OF
another by the almost unanimous vote of both
Houses of the last Congress.
! Concerning the slave trade, Mr.. Buchanan
/ SAYS that all lawful means at his command
have been employed and will continue to be
emplo. ed for lis suppression. Our hi>tor,
proves that the fathers of the republic. in ad
vance of all other nations, condemned the
slave trade.
Ratification. of the Chinese treaty have
been exchanged. Two supplemental conven-
tions are. however. pending. relative to the
rights of Americans in China, and to transit
duties.
Our relations with Paraguay are sa.isfac-
Il
Russia, and all the continental governments
OF Europe (>pain perhaps excer,et) contin-
ue to he most friendly. The President rec
ommendS that an appropri 'ti"n he made Ia
meet the demands of the Amistad claimants
His opinion in favor of the acquisition OF
Cuba bv fair means remains unchanged
therefore, he again invites tn. serious attrn-
ton of Congress to this important subject.
The President had good reason TO believ,
until recently tha, he would have been abl.
10 announce our difficulties with Great Brit
ain as finally adjusted. in manner honora
be and satisfactory to both parties. From
causes. however. which Great Britain had nor
anticipated she has not Yet completed III.
Central American treaty and the arrange
meuts with Honduras and Nicaragua. in pu,
suance of the understanding of the two GOV
ernm.nts. 1t is nevertheless confidently ex
pected that this will shortly be accomplished
In relation TO San Juan he entertans II,
tnuh, o! the validity of our title. He Wi
h ppv TO state that what was left 10 Gen
Scots discretion could not ht placed in b. I
ter hands. lie (Gen. Scott has successful,
l accomplished his mission and there was n,
, longer auy reason to apprehend the colli>io,
!, of the res pec,i,e forces during the pendenc,
of negotiations.
y He speaks with regret of the unimprove,
:, condition of affairs in Mexico. a,.d treats o
n the subject at length. Ouirases of the wor>
=, description. he says. are being committed o.
persons and property. and there is >carce
any form of injury which has not been suffer
ed b, our citizens there during a few year,
e We are nomina!ly at peace with Mexico. b..
t as far as the interests of our commerce O
our citizens there in any private Capacity ar
J, concerned. we might as well he at war. MI
|" NcLane, our minister to Mexico. in Angus
last wrote II hope the President will ft.
a authorized to ask from Congress for pow.
=. to enter Mexico with military forces at III
call of the constitutional authorities. in or,t
to protect our citizens and treaty rights
Unless such power is conferred upon him il
}" evils must increase etc. The Presidei
adds IL have been reluctantly ied To ill
;. same opinion, and feel bound to announc
this conclusion to Congress. This is a que>ti,.
which relates to the future as we'll as the pa,
J. and present" The prcs;le", declares tn;
! the interests of all commercial countries r,
ouire that Mexico should he in the hands o
i the constitutional or liberal government a.,
'r we are called upon to render this aid not or
r " by virtue of our neighborhood to Mcxic
\, but also by virtue of our established polio
which is inconsistent with the interventiu
- of anv European power in the domestic Coz
C. Germs of that republic. For the reasons st
IL ted, the President recommends the EXPIRE
r. passage of law authorizing him to em2lt
such military force TO enter Mexico f,r ii
purpose of obtaining indemnity for the f
tr ture Should volunteers be selected, such
s. force could be easily raised in this count
among those who sympathze with the SUITE
a ings of our fellow citizens in Mexico a,
-, with the unhappy condition of that counir
Such AN accession to the forces of the cons
tutional government would enable it soon
n reach the capital.
* He recommends the establishment of mi
~ iary posts across the Mexican lines of Son
~ IA and Chihuahua. and the protection of t
IT. lives aud property Of Americans against
I'm dian depredations. He also recommends 4
establishment Of a temporal government
Arizona.
He thinks the provisions of the rece
et treaty with Nicaragua cannot fail to he sat
ii, factory. He recommends law authorizil
the employment of naval force for the p,
pose OF protecting Americans passing by 4
rk Panama. Nicaragua aud lehauntepec roui,