THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.—"DIFFICULTY" WITH ENGLAND.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 622, 31 March 1852, Page 3

THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.—"DIFFICULTY" WITH ENGLAND.

By the way of San Francisco we (Sydney Morning Herald) have received New York journals to the Gtli of December. The Message of the President was delivered before Congress on the 2nd of December. Contrary to the expectations of the democratic party, it sounds no notes of war, but commences with congratulating 1 the Senate and the House of Representatives upon the States of the Union being "at peace with all the world." At great length the President then details the origin and the melancholy and illegal result of the ill-fated Cuban expedition, and submits to Congress all the corrrespondence which has taken place between the Government of the States and that of Spain in relation to that unhappy transaction. Whilst sympathy is expressed for the prisoner still in the power of the Spanish authorities at Cuba, for whose release it is promised no proper effort Avill bo spared, the President adverts with great indignation to the fact that a peculiar criminality in the invasion of Cuba was its having its origin in motives of cupidity. And ho denounces in the most unqualified terms the conduct of the mob who, at New Orleans, assailed the office of Her Catholic Majesty's Consul, destroyed his property, carried off and tore to pieces the Spanish flag, and compelled himself to flee. To the state of the laws in regard to Foreign Ambassadors, Ministers, and Consuls, the President announces his intention to invite the early attention of Congress. The interposition of Great Britain and France in the matter of the Cuban affair is adverted to briefly and temperately, and copies of the Correspondence in relation thereto submitted to Congress. Attention is again invited to the question of reciprocal trade between the United States and Canada and other British possessions on the frontier ; and also to an expressed desire on the part of the British Government that a part of the boundary line between Oregon and the British possessions should be authoritatively marked out. The correspondence between the Turkish Government and that of the States in respect to Governor Kossuth, is briefly adverted to. A hope is expressed that the differences between the French Republic and that of the Sandwich j Islands, may be peaceably and durably adjusted. Regret is expressed at the internal dissensions in the republic of Mexico, and announces that orders had been issued for the purpose of proventing citizens of the States from engaging in any hostile expedition against Mexico. The steps which have been already initiated in order to effect the great work of connecting the two oceans by means of a railroad across | the isthmus of r f ehuantepec, are described in detail. The partial accomplishment of an intcroceanic communication from the month of St. John to the Pacific, and the advanced state of the works on the railroad across the isthmus and Panama, are favourably mentioned. The conclusion of peace in the island of St. Domingo is announced. The fact that the office of Commissioner to China remains unfulfilled, is especially recommended to the attention of Congress. The state of the national finances is then set forth, and congratulations offered upon its prosperous condition. The relations between the States and Texas are referred to at considerable length. Congress is informed that suitable measures have been adopted for commencing the survey of the public roads in California. Mention is made of certain difficulties which have occurred in organizing the territorial governments of New Mexico and Utah. The expediency of establishing an Agricultur.il Bureau is again brought under the notice of Congress, - An improved system of granting bounty lands to persons engaged in the military service of the country is recommended. The present condition of the aboriginal tribes is the next topic. The proceedings of the joint communication for running and marking the boundary line between the States and Mexico are described. To the returns of the various officers engaged in the census, attention is requested, and various local matter^ are referred to in detail.

The San Francisco Herald contains some correspondence and extracts in regard to an alleged " British outrage on the American ilag," which we give entire :—: — " Our Now York correspondent gives the following important information : — You will receive by tho mail which leaver heic this afternoon, the pailiculaiM of u giuvj oulr.ige that wuj jji,'J-

petrated recently on tho steam-ship Promt theus, at San Juan cle Nicaragua, by an English vessel of war. By an arrangement concluded by Captain Vanderbilt', his vessels were to be exempt from all port charges at San Juan. That place being claimed as part of the Mosquito tmitory, the British authoritiob there, in violation oi their treaty stipulations with the United States demurred to Captain Vanelerbilt's arrangements -with the Nicaraguan Government, and demanded poit dues from the -Prometheus. This was refused, and that vessel .steamed up and was proceeding on her couise, when she was overhauled by a British vessel of war, which fired several sliots over and near her. The Prometheus hove to, but thi-, did not satisfy the insolent British authorities, who, on boaiding her, insisted on the fires of the Piometheus being put out. This was done, and the poit dues were paid under piotest. What makes this the more glaring is the fact that by the treaty entered into by the United States and Great Britain, the latter agreed to withdraw, and long since ought to have withdrawn, from the Mosquito territory. The public are highly incensed at this insult to the Amciiean flag, and I am happy to say that two of our vessels of war have been sent to San Juan to provide against a repetition of such outi.ige. In the meantime Congress will take the matter in hand. If I am not much mistaken this outrage will lead to some difficulty between the United States and England, unless the latter denounces the act, and makes some adequate apology." The following important article on this subject appears in the Courier and Enquirer of Oth December. " The Attack oton the Prometheus. — By special telegraph from our Washington correspondent, we learn that the American mail steamer Atlantic, which was to sail to-day al noon, will be briefly detained by an arrangement with the State Department to receive the mail from Washington despatched yesterday afternoon. Mr. Webster has written to despatch to Mr. Lawrence, our Minister at the Court of St. James, requiring him to ascertain immediately from Lord Palmerston whether the outrage upon the Prometheus was authorised by standing or special instruction, or whether it will be disavowed by the British Government. This communication expressly states, that the outrage is regarded as a direct violation of the first article of the treaty of April, 1800. Immediate action is insisted upon towards the settlement of these difficulties, either by the return of Mr. Bulwer, or by the appointment of some other person with sufficient authority. The tone of this official paper is high, just, and American. Private letters have also been written, instructing Mr. Law rence in tho most urgent terms to proceed firmly and promptly. Within half an hour after the receipt of the intelligence of the outrage, Mr. Webster addressed a letter to the President, recommending the employment of a competent military armament to protect our commerce and vindicate our national rights. Vessels of war have been ordered to Cnagres, San Juan, and San Sceur. The delay in regard to the execution of the Bulwer and Clayton treaty has been produced by the domestic difficulties in Central America. Sr. Marcoletta, who came to Washington charged to make a general adjustment, and with sufficient powers," as was supposed, now finds himself without responsible authority to negotiate on behalf of Nicaragua or Central America. This is the great difficulty. The new affair of the Prometheus will compel some positive arrangement between England and the United States." The following is the first article of the Bulwer and Clayton treaty, alluded to in the above despatch : " Article 1. The governments of the United States and Great Britain hereby declare that neither the one nor the other will ever obtain or maintain for itself any exclusive control over the said ship canal ; agreeing that neither will ever erect or maintain fortifications commanding the same in the vicinity thereof, or occupy or fortify, or colonize, or assume or exercise any dominion over Nicaragua, Co^ta R'ci, the Mosquito coast, or any pait of Central America ; nor will cither make use of any protection which either affords or may afford, or any alliance which either has or may have to or with any State or people, lor the purpose of erecting or maintaining any such fortifications, or of occupying, fortifying or colonizing Nicaragua, Costu Rica, the Mosquito coast, or any part of Central America, or of assuming or exercising- dominion over tho same ; nor will the United States or Great Britain take advantage of any intimacy, or use any alliance, connexion or iniluence that either may possess with any State or Government through whose tcnitoiy the said canal ma)' pass, for the purpose of acquiring or holding, directly or indirectly, for the citizens or subjects of the one, any rights or advantages in regard to commeiee or navigation through the said canal, which shall not be offered on the same terms to the citizens or subjects oi the other." Governor Bigler delivered his inaugural address befoie both Houses of the Califoini.m Legislature on the 7th of January. We shall give a nummary of it to-morrow. The arrival and reception of Kossuth at New York occupies the whole of the columns of the New York papers that we have received. The Americans declared, that England's welcome to the Magyar should be far surpassed by that of the Western World. Our Atlantic friends have, at all events, done all in their power to keep their promise.