The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-01-11
SYNOPSIS CT TEE PRESIDENTS
pNS~asIs.
WAsu1xGroH, DEC. 81. 1859

Iiyered Ia CONGRESS. The President, al
fer expressing gratitude Ia the Almighty
for blessing receive throughout the year,
refer, To the recent bloody oc urcnce at
Harpcr's Ferry. These events, bad and
cruel in their nature. derived their Chief
importance from a;.prchensions that they
are but symptoms Of an incurable disease
in the public mind, which may break out
in still moro dangerous ou;rages. ald ter
inmate ut last IN open war between Nor'h
and South to abolish Slavery. " lille
he. himself entertains no such apprehen-
sions, they ought to afford 81 solemn warll-
ing 10 us all To beware of the approach
Of danger. lie says, let me impore my
eountrymen, North and South, to cu'tl-
Nnte their rnciont feelings of mutual for
bearance and oeoi will towards each 9th
or, and strive to aIIar the DEVON spirit OF
sectional hatred and strife now alive IN
the land. This advice proceeds from The
heart of an oil public functionary, whose
service commenced in the last generation
of the wise and conservative statesmen OF
that dsv, hut he INDUCES in no bloody
forebodinos. He thinks tho affair ut
Harper's Ferry will be the means of al
LAYING the existing excitement and pre-
venting further outbreaks.
lie cordially conglatulatcs Congress
on the final settlement 10y tho Supreme
Court on the question of slavery III Tie
Territories. The right has been cstaU-
lishsd of every citizen to take his prol"r-
tv of every kind. including slaves, iato
Territories which belong equally to tie
whole Confeleracs, and to have 1t PRO-
,.tected there, under the Territorial Legs
lature: nor hrs anv human power the
right to annuI or impair this vested right.
Thus the state of Territory, during tue
intermediate period from its settlement
until it becomes State, has been irrevo-
cablv fixed by the final decision of the
Supreme Court Of the United States.
He then describes the mode Of adnl;s-
sion of territory rs a State into the
Union. Ii NAV be admitted with or
without slavery as their constitution may
provide. his principal has been recog-
nizcd in some form, by aim ST a unnDl-
nous vote OF both Houses of the Legisla-
turo.
THE SLAVE TRADE.
All lawful means at his command has
been employed and will continue to be
employed against the slave trade. Our
history proves that the fathers Of the Re
public, in advance of I'll other nations,
condemned the slave trade.
THE CHINESE TREATY.
Ratifcations Of the Chinese treaty have
beou exchanged Negotiations are, how
ever pending, relative TO rights OF Amerl-
cans IN China and transit duties.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our difficulties with Paraguay are sat
isfactoriiy adjusted. Our relations with
Franco. Russia, and all the continental
Government, of Europe, Spain perhaps
excepted, continue TO DO most friendly
The President recommends that all ap-
propriation be made TO meet the demands
Cf the Anistcd claimants.
His opinion in favor Of the nquisition
cfCuba Toy fair means, remains unclang
ed and therefore he invites the scriuu
attention of Congress 10 his important:
subject.
GREAT BRITAIN.
He had reasons to believe, until recent
u, that he wou.d have been able to an
,,ouncc that our difficulties with Great
Britain as fairly adjusted, in n measure
houorabIv satisfactory to both parties,
from causes, however, which Great Brit
ain had not anticipated, she Lad not
vet completed her treaty.
Arrangements with Honduras and
Nicaragua, in pursuance of tho uudcr
standing of the two governments. 1t is
nevertheless, contidentially expected that
this will shortly he accomplished.
In relation to San Juan he entertained
no doubt of tue validity of our title. He
was happy to state that what was left to
General SCOTS discretion coul' not have
been lett to better hands. Gen Scott
has Successfully ace mpIished his mission
apprehend the collision of the respective
forces during the pen,ianey of ncgotia-
tons.
He speaks at l.ngth with regard to
the uniInproved condition Of affairs in
Mexico
Ournges of the worst description, he
SAYS. are occurring Ia persons and prop
-erty, aud there is scarcely any form Of
injury, which has not been endure by
your citizens there during f:w years
past. We are nominally at peace with
Mexico. but so far rs the interests Of our
commerce or our citizens in any private
capacity are concerned, NE might as wei
be at war. Mr.. McLane. in August last
wrote: | hope the President will feel au-
thorized. to ask from Congress fulI power
TO cutter Mexico with military forces, at
tho call Of the constitutional authority, to
protect our citizens. Unless such power
is conferred upon him, the insults must
increase, etc.
The President Ids: / have been reluct-
antlT -cd'to the conclusion and | fc, |
bound to announce this conclusion to
Congress, thsis question which relates
.. IL E,4,,r, % ,,.aU ~ r., tho ,,ast N, I