The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-14
This il the verv course which | earnestly re.

This is the very course which l earnestly re.
commend, in order to obtain an explanatory
amendment of the constitution on the subject
of slavery. This might originate with Con-
deemed most advisable to attain the object.
The explanatory amendment might be con-
| fined to the final settlement OF the true con-
struction of the Constitution on three specific
| points First, an express recognition of the
right of property in slaves in the States where
it now exists, or may hereafter exist. Second,
the duty Of protecting this right in all the com.
mon territories throughout their territorial ex.
istence, and until they shall be admitted as
States into the Union, with or without slavery,
as their Constitutions may prescribe. Third,
q like recognition of the right Of the master to
his slave, who has escaped from one State to
another, to be restored and delivered up to
him; and the validity OF the Fugitive slave
| law, enacted for this purpose, together with
declaration that all State laws impairing or
decreasing this right, are violations of the
| Constitution, and consequently null and void.
| It may be objected that this construction of
the constitution has already been settled by
the Supreme Court of the United States, and
what more ought to be required? The answer
| is, that a very large proportion of the people
of the United States still cootrovert the cor.
rectness OF this decision, and never will cease
| from agitation, and admit it's binding force I'M.
| til clearly established by the people of the
several States in their sovereign character.
Such an explanation would, it is believed, for.
ever terminate the existing dissensions, and
| restore peace and harmony among the States
1t ought not to be doubted that such an appeal
to the arbitrament established by the Consti.
tuition itself, would be received with favor by
| all the States of the Confederacy. In any
event, it ought to be tried in spirit of con.
ciliation, before any of these States shall sep.
arate themselves from the Union.
When entered upon the duties of the Presi.
dental Office, the aspect, neither of our eign
nor domestic affairs was at all satisfactory
We were involved in dangerous complications
with several nations, and two of our territories
were in state of revolution against our Gov.
eminent; q restoration of the African slave
trade had numerous and powerful advocates );
unlawful mutiny expeditions were cOuutenanc.
| ed by many of our citizens, and were suffered,
| in defiance of the efforts of our Government, to
escape from our shores for the purpose of max
| ing war upon the unoffendiug people of neigh.
boring Republics, with whom we were at
| peace.
In addition to these and other difficulties, we
experienced a revulsi0n in monetary affairs,
| soon after my advent, proving of unexampled
severity and of ruin0us consequences to the
country. When we take a retrospect of what
was then our condition, and contrast this with
it's material prosperity at the time of the late
Presidential election, we have abundant rea
son to return our grateful thanks to that merci
full Providence, which has never fOrsaken US
as nation, in all our trials.
AUSTRIA, &c.
With the Empire of Austria and the re-
naming continental powers of Europe, in
Guiding that of the Sultan, our relations
continue to be of the most friendly char
acter.
CHINA.
The friendly and peaceful policy pursued
by the Government of the United States
towards the Empire of China, has produced
the most satisfactory results. The treaty
of Tient-sin, of the 18th of June, 1858, has
been faithfully observed by the Chinese au-
thorities. The convention of the 9Th No
vember, 1858, supplementary to this treaty
for the adjustment and satisfaction of the
claims of our citizens in China, referred to
in my last annual message, has already
been carried into effect, SO far as this was
| practicable.
Under this convention, the sum of &c.,
600 taels, equal to about 100000, was
stipulated to be paid in satisfaction of the
claims of American citizens out of the one
| fiftieth of the receipts for tonnage import
and export duties of American vessels, at
the ports of Canton, Shanghai and Fuchou;
| in full liquidation of all claims of Ameri-
can citizens at the various ports, to this
date. Debentures for this amount, to wit :
800, 900 taels for Canton, 100, 900 for Shang-
hal and 100, 900 for Fuchou, were delivered
according to the terms of the convention,
by the respective Chinese collectors of the
customs of those ports to the agents selec-
ted by our Minister to receive the same.
| Since that time the claims of our citizens
have been adjusted by the Board of Com
missioners appointed for that purpose I'M
| der the act of March Sd, 1859; and their
awards, which proved satisfactory to the
claimants. have been approved by our Min
lister in the aggregate, they amount to the
sum of s49S, 694 Is.
The claimants have already received a
| large proportion of the sums awarded to
them, out of the fund provided, and it is
confidently expected that the remainder
will, ere long, be entirely paid. After the
awards shall have been satisfied, there will
remain surplus of more than $500, 900 at
the disposition of Congress. As this will
in equity belong to the Chinese govern
ment, would not justice require its appro-
priation to some benevolent object, in
which the Chinese may be specially inter
ested?
Our Minister to China, in obedience to his
instructions, has remained perfectly neutral
in the war between Great Britain and France
and the Chinese Empire, although, in con-
junction with the Russian Minister, he was
ever ready and willing, had the opportuni-
ty offered, to employ his good offices in re-
storing peace between the parties. 1t is
but an act Of simple justice, both to our
present Minister and his predecessor, tie
state that they have both proved fully
equal to the delicate, trying and responsible
positions in which they have on different
occasions been placed.
The rati6cations of the treaty with Japan,
concluded at Yedo on the 29th of July
1858, were exchanged at Washington on the
22d Of May last, and the treaty itself was
proclaimed on the succeeding day. There
is good reason to expect that under its pro-
lection and influence, our trade and inter-
course with that distant and interesting
people will rapidly increase. The ratifca-
lions of the treaty were exchanged with
unusual solemnity, For this purpose the
Tycoon had accredited three of his most
distinguished stersPlenipotentiary who
were received and treated with marked dis
tinction and kindness, both by the Govern
ment and people of the United States.-
There is every reason to believe that they
returned to their native land. entirely sat-
isfied with their VISIT and inspired by the
most friendly feelings for our country. Let
us ardently hope, in the language of the
treaty itself, that there shall henceforward
| he nerpetual neace and friendship between