I am convinced that it is ours by the treaty fairly and impartially construed.

There is but one mode left of settling the dispute, and that is by submitting it to the arbitration of some friendly and impartial power.

After due deliberation, Congress, on the 2d of June, 1858, authorized the President 'to adopt such measures and use such force as in his judgment may be necessary and advisable' in the premises.

The principle of the liability of Paraguay having been established by the highest political acts of the United States and that Republic in their sovereign capacity.

A demand for these purposes will be made in a firm but conciliatory spirit.

Governments may be, and doubtless often have been, wrong in going to war to enforce claims.

It does not appear to me to be competent for commissioners authorized to ascertain the indemnity for the injury to go behind their authority and decide upon the original merits of the claim for which the war was made.

an extraordinary occasion requires the Senate of the United States to convene for the transaction of business at the Capitol, in the city of Washington, on the 4th day of March next, at 12 o'clock at noon on that day, of which all who shall at that time be entitled to act as members of that body are hereby required to take notice.

I deemed it a duty to transmit to Congress with my message of the 8th of January the correspondence which occurred in December last between the \commissioners\" of South Carolina and myself.

He was, however, induced by the interposition of Hon. Jefferson Davis and nine other Senators from the seceded and seceding States not to deliver it on the day appointed.

Their letter to him urging this delay bears date January 15, and was the commencement of a correspondence.