Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-12-06

property in slaves in the States where 1t now
exists or may hereafter exist
The duty of protecting this right in all
the common territories throughout their ter
ritorial existence, and until they shall be ad-
mitted as States into the Union, with or with
out slavery, as their constitutions may pre-
scribe
A like recognition of the right of the
master to have his slave, who has escaped from
one State TO another, restored and delivered
up to him, and of the validity of the fugitive
slave law enacted fer this purpose, together
with declaration that all State laws impairing
or defeating this right are violations of the
Constitution, and are consequently null and
void.
1t 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 very large proportion of the people of
the United States still contest the correctness of
this decision, and never will cease from aeita
ton and admit its binding force until clearly
established by the people OF the several States
in their sovereign character. Such an explana-
tory amendment would, it is believed forever
terminate the existing dissensions aud restore
peace and harmony among the States
1t ought not to be doubted that such an ap-
peal to the arbitrayment established by the
Constitution itself would be received with favor
by all the States of the Confederacy. In any
event it ought to be tried in a spirit of coucl-
liation before any of those States shall separate
themselves from the Union.
When l entered upon the duties of the Presi
Dental office, the aspect OF neither our for
elgn nor domestic affairs at all satisfactory.
We were involved in dangerous complications
with several nations, and two of our Territories
were in state of revolution against the Govern
ment.
restoration of the African slave trade had
numerous and powerful advocates. Unlawful
| military expeditions were countenanced by
many of our citizens, and were suffered, in de-
| fiance of the efforts of the Government to es
| cape from our shores, for the purpose of max
| Ing war upon the unoffendng people of neigh
| boring republics with whom we were at peace
In addition to these and other difficulties we
experienced a revulsion in monetary affairs,
! soon after my advent to power, of uneXampled
| severity and of ruinous consequences TO all the
great interests of the country When we take
a retrospect of what was then our condition,
and contrast this with its material prosperity at
| the time of the late Presidential election we
have abundant reason 20 return our grateful
thanks to that merciful Providence which has
never forsaken US as a nation in all our past
trials.
OUR FOREIGN RELATION.
GREAT BRITAIN
Our relations with Great Britain are of the
most friendly character Since the commence
ment of my administration, the two dangerous
questions, arising from the Clayton and Bulwer
treaty and from the right of search claimed by
the British government hove been amably
and honorably adjusted
The discordant construction of the ayton
and BuIwer treaty between the two govern
ments, which at different periods of the discus
sion, bore threatening aspect, have resulted
| in final settlement entirely satisfactory to this
Government. In my annual message inform
ed Congress that the British government with
the republics of Honduras and Nicaragua, in
pursuance of the understanding between the
/, two governments. 1t is nevertheless confident
ly expected that this good work will ere be ac-
complished' This confident expectation has
siBce been fulfilled. Her Britanic Majesty con-
cluded treaty with Honduras ON the oath No
vember, 1859, and with Nicaragua on the 26th
, August, 1860, reliuquishing the Mosquito pro-
tsctorate. Besides, by the former. the Bay
Islands are recognized as part of the republic
of Hondur 1t may be observed that the
stipulations of these treaties conform in every
> | important particular to the amendments adopt
ed by the Senate of the United States to the
treaty concluded at London on the 10Th of
Oetober, 1856, between the two governments.
1t will be recollected that this treaty was reject.
ed by the British government because of it's OBJ
lection to the just and important amendment
of the Senate to the article relating to Ruatan
and the other islands in the Bay of Honduras
lt must be source of sincere satisfaction to
all classes of our fellow-cti2ens, and especially
to those engaged in foreign commerce, that the
claim on the part of Great Britain, forcby to
visit and search American merchant vessels on
the his gh seas in time of peace, has been aban-
doned. This was by far the most dangerous
question to the peace of the two countries which
has existed since the war of 1872. Whilst
it remained open, they might at any moment
have been precipitated into a war. This was
rendered manifest by the exasperated state of
public feeling throughout our entire country,
! produced by the forcible search of American
merchant vessels by British cruisers on the
coast of Cuba, in the spring of 1858. The Anne
, rican people hailed with general acclaim the
. orders of the Secretary of the Navy to our
naval force in the Gulf of Mexico, 'to protect
all vessels of the United States on the high
, seas from search or detention by the vessels of
war of any other nation
These orders might have produced an mme-
diate collision between the naval forces of the
two countries This was most fortunately pre-.
vented by an appeal to the justice of Great
Britain and to the law of nations as expounded
by her own most eminent jurists.
The only question of any importance which
still remains open is the disputed title between
the two governments to the island of San Juan,
in the vicinity of Washington Territory. As
this question is still under negotiation, it is not
deemed advisable at the present moment to
make any other allusion to the subject
The recent visit of the Prince of Wales in
private character, to the people of this country,
has proved to be most auspcious event. In
its consequences, it cannot fail to increase the
kindred aud kindly feelings which trust may
ever actuate the government and people of
both countries in their political and social in
tercourse with each other.
FRANCE.
With France, our ancient and powerful ally
our relations continue to be of the most friend-8
ly character. decision has recently been
made by French judicial tribunal, with the
appreciation of the Imperial Government,
which cannot fail to foster the sentim It's of
mutual regard that have so long existed be-
tween the two countries Under the French
law no person can serve in the armies OF Franco
IL bo i, o;+;