Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-16
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the CONGRESS of the United States.

President of the United States. His dis
tinguished public services, his complete integ-
rity and devotion to every duty, and his per-
sonal virtues will find honorable record in his
countrys history.
Ample and repeated proofs of the esteem
and confidence in which he was held by his
fellow countrymen were manifested by his
election to offices of the most important trust
and highest dignity; and at length, full of
years and honors he has been laid at rest
amid universal sorrow and benediction.
The constitution which requires those
chosen to legislate for the people to annually
meet in the discharge of their solemn trust
also requires the President to give to Con-
gross information of the state of the Union,
and recommend to their consideration such
measures as he shall deem necessary and ex-
pedient. At the threshold of compliance
with these constitutional directions, it is well
for us to bear in mind that our usefulness to
the peoples interests will be promoted by a
constant appreciation of the scope and char
acter of our respective duties as they relate
to Federal legislation. While the Executive
may recommend such measures as he shall
deem expedient, the responsibility for legisla-
tive action must and should rest upon those
selected by the people to make their laws.
Contemplation of the grave and responsible
functions assigned to the respective branches
of the government under the Constitution
will disclose the partitions of power between
our respective departments and their neces-
sary independence, and also the need for the
exercise of all the power intrusted to each, in
that spirit of comfy and cooperation which
is essential to the proper fulfilment of the pa
trTOlc obligations which rest upon us as
faithful servants of the people. The Jealous
Watchtulness OF our constituencies, great and
small, supplements their suffrages, and be-
fore the tribunal they establish, every pub
lie servant should be Judged.
1t is gratifying to announce that the rela-
lions III the United States with all foreign
powSrs continue to be friendly Our position
aftfr nearly century of successful constitu-
tl1ilal government, maintenance of good faith
IMall our engagements, the avoidance of COM
4 pications with other nations and our consist
mt and amlcable attitude toward the strong
and weak alike, furnish proof of a political
disposition which renders professions of good
will unnecessary. There are no questions Of
difficulty pending with any foreign govern
ment
Early in March last war broke out in Cen
trail America, caused by the attempt of Guate-
mala to consolidate the several States into a
single government In these contests he
tween our neighboring states the United
States forbore TO interfere actively. but lent
the aid of their friendly offices in depreciation
OF war and to promote peace and concord
among the belllgerents, and by such counsel
contributed Importantly to the restoration of
tranquility in that locality
Elnergencles growing out of civil war in
the United States of Colombia demanded of
the government at the beginning of this adj
mln1stratlon the employment of armed force
TO fulfil Its guarantees under the thirty-fifth
artlcle OF the treaty of 1916, in order to keen
the transit open across the Isthmus of Pana-
ma. Deslrous of exercising only the powers
expressly reserved to us by the treaty. and
mindful of the rights of Colombia, the forces
sent to the Isthmus were instructed to confine
tnelr action to positively and efficaciouslyn
preventing the transit and its accessories
from being INTERRUPTED or embarrassed, y
The execution of this delicate and RESPONSE
pie task necessarily involved police control
where the local authority was temporarily
Powerless, but always in aid of the sovereignty
OF Colombia. The prompt and successful full
niment OF its duty by this government was
nlghly appreciated by the government of Co.
lombia, and has been followed by expressions
OF It's satisfaction. High praise is due to the
oIncers and men engaged in this service. The
restoration OF peace on the isthmus by the re-
establishment of the constituted government
there being accomplished, the forces of the
United States were withdrawn.
Pend1ng these occurrences a. ouestiop Of
much Importance was presented bv DEGREES of
tne colombian government, proclaiming the
closure OF certain ports then in the hands of
the insurgents, and declaring vessels held by
1Ae revoiutlonists to be piratical and liable to
capture by any power. To neither of these
propositions could the United States assent.
An effective closure of ports not in the nos.
session of the government, but held bv hos
tiIe partsans, could not be recognized;
neither could the vessels of insurgents
against the legitimate sovereignty be
deemed hostes humani generis within the pre-
cepts OF international law, whatever might
De me definition and penalty of their acts
under the municipal law of the State against
whose authority they were in revolt. The
denial by this government of the Colombian
propositions did not, however, imply the adj
MISSION OF belligerent status on the part of
the insurgents. The Colombian government
mas expressed its willingness to negotiate con-
vent1ons for the adjustment by arbitration of
claims by foreign citizens arising out of the
aesCruction OF the city of Aspinwall by the
nsurrectionary forces.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
The interest of the United States in a nrac-
ucal transit for ships across the strip of land
separating the Atlantic from the Pacific
mas been repeatedly manifested during the
last half century. My immediate predecessor
caused to be negotiated with Nicaragua a
treaty for the construction, by and at the sole
cost OF the United States, of canal through
Nlcaraguan territory, and laid it before the
Senate. Pending the action of that body
thereon, withdrew the treaty for re-exam-
NATION. Attentive consideration of its pro-
Visions leads me to withholdsit from re-sub-
mission to the Senate.
Maintaining, as do, the tenets of a line of
precedents from Washington's day, which
prescribe entangling alliances with foreign
states, do not favor policy of acquisition
OF new and distant territory, or the incor-
porat1on of remote interests with our own.
The laws OF progress are vital and organic,
and we must be conscious of that irresistible
tide of commercial expansion which, as the
concomitant of our active civilization. day
by day is being urged onward by those in
creasing facilities of production, transporta-
ton, and communication to which steam and
electricity have given birth; but our duty in
the present instructs us to address ourselves
mainly to the development of the
vast resources of the great area committed
to our charge, and to the cultivation of the
arts OF peace within our borders. though
jealousy alert in preventing the American
hemisphere from being involved in the politi-
cal problems and complications of distant
governments. Therefore I am unable to re-
commend propositions involving paramount
privileges of ownership or right outside of