The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1860-01-07

rus HOUSE STILL. usoRoAxlzsp.

ThE HOUSE STILL. U~SORdANI1kp
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.--The Senate met to-
lay at the usual hour. After the usual pre-
iminary proceedings, the Presidents Message
received and read. The Senate was
with spectators, many Of the members
Of the House being present.
The following is = synopsis of the Message
The President, after expressing gratitude TO
the Almighty for the blessings with which the
country had been favored throughout the year,
refers 10 the recent bloody occurrence ut flar
per'ss Ferry. The President says that these
events, bad and cruel as they are in them
selves, derive their chief importance from the
apprehension that they are but symptoms Of
an incurable disease in the public mind which
break out still more dangerously and
cause onirages far more serious, which will
finally terminate in an open declaration OF war
by the N orth to abolish slavery III the South
Tho. President said that while he himself en-
tertained no such apprehension, these occur
rences ought to afford a solemn warning to Us
ali to beware of approaching danger.
. Let me- : says The President, 9 implore my
countryme,. both North and South, to culti-
vate The ancient feeling Of mutual forbearance
and good will towards each other, and strive
to allay, rather than excite the demon spirit OF
section hatred and strife which is now alive
Throughout the land.
" This advice proceeds from the heart OF an
old public ~functiopary, whose services com
menced during the last generation, among the
wise ard conservative statesmen OF that day.
But / indulge in no gloomy forebodings. and
nm Of opinion that a thorough investigation
of the affair will be the means Of alfaying the
excitement and preventing oil further out
breaksFof like nature
The President cordially cofgratulates Con
gress on The final settlement by the Supreme
Conrt Of the question Of slavery in the Terri
tories, where The right has been established
that every citizen may take his property, Of
any description, including slaves, into . Terri
tory belonging equally to the whole cnnfedera-
cy, and have it protected there under the
Federal Constitution. !.
] Neither Congress nor The Territorial Legis-
sslaturc4 nor any hntnai, power, has any power
to annal Of impair this vested rigit.--'Thas
has The status Of u Territory, during the in
ternediate period from its first settlement unit
|it becomes q State, been irfevpcably fixed b1
the final decision Of tie Supreme Court.
The President then describes the mode 0
admission of . Territorysas d State in TIN
Union. He says II may be admitted with 0,
Without slavery, Is the Constitution Of til,
State Of Territory mag prescribe. This prin
[cirle has been recognized BY an almost mani
mous vote Of both Houses Of Congress during
The Int session.
III relation to Tia slave trnde, the presiden
says that he lias rsed and shall continue to us,
alI lawful means AZ Ills command to suppress
its Cur history, NE continues, proves that Til
flshers of this Republic, in advance Of al
other nations, condemned the slaye trade.
The President announced that the Chimes
frsaty had beensffnaly concluded and ratifca
items exchanged.
81 suppleuaental conventions are, however
peHding-unN iii relation to the rights d
Anericanssin China, and another in relation
to HE dnfiss on American goods ia transi
acfoss am portion Of The Chinese territory,
The Paraguay difficulty is briefly referredt
q having been satisfactorily adjusted.
Our relations with France, Russia, and a
theaSNcontiDe,tat powers of Europe, with th
exemption. perhaps. Of Spain, continue to b
EoDf the most friendly character.
The President neconunends to Congress thu
an appropriation BIZ made To meet The claim
#of those who suffered by the Armistead atai:ail
HI settlement of these claims the Presitler
thinks would render onr relations with Spai
more cnrdial. and facilitate the acquisition (
Cuba BY fair purchase-his opinion apo
which sabject remained unchanged, He Their
tore invites The serious attention of CoBgre.
To this important subject.
RsI4Arloxs WITH 1RRAf sRrrX1x.
The President says TINT there was goo
reason until quite recently, n believe that
his present message to Congress. be would /
able 10 announce that all oafs difficulties WI,
Great Britain, arising from The EIaytcn-Bn
Eer treaty, had been finally adjusted In
manner honorable aud satisfactory to hoi
parties.
From carses. however, which Great Britaj
Iifad not anticipated, she had mt yet been ab
j Id complete her treaty arrangements vii
Honduras, and Nicaragua, in pursuance
previous understanding between Great Bri:a
and The two Governments.
The President, nevertheless, confidently
u poets that this would shortly W accompftsne
and that Nil matters Of diapstte bel ween i
British Government aud onr own, iii relatitt
10 the Clayton.Rulwcr treaty, would soon
happily settlsd.
In relation to The San Juan affair, The III
! sident entertsins no doubt Of the validity
onr title to file island, and announces that
happy 10 state that what he left to- Lien
q General SCOTS discretion could not bare be,
I plscel ia better hands.
HE states That there IS no further rcaso,
~apprehend = collision among tue respecti
forces. The President enters now npon Mes
can affairs. He says during The tendency
the negotiations with Mexico, he regrets
I say. that the Mexican affairs have long lie,
uDlMproyed. He speaks 1t length upon iii
subject, and treats vigorously upon the il
!. merols onsrsges Of the worst d~cscriptiiooI
committed upon persons and property, and
: every form DC injury scarcely ever suffered [
! our citizens there. During The lew past yea
] He Gays that we have been notninaily ut pea
with Mexico bit as far as the Interest OF d
commerce and citiseps there III private capa,
j Is concerned. We might as we'll have been
war. Mr.. McIane, during the month Of IA
gust, wrotefthe following letter : / hope III
Tho President will feel authorized ID ask i
Congress p&sersto enter Mexico with militia
1forcess II The caltsof the constitutional autho,
lies Hi order Id protect opr citizens audi
treaty rights, and that unless such power.
! Conferred npotl The President, great evils mi,
i undoubtedly e,lsue, ate.
The President adds, in relation To- that Ii
tel, that he has been reluctantly led to d
q On 1A# nnih;on md that bo fapts hanad 4as.