The Press.
London, England, 1856-12-20 00:00:00

TURKEY AND THE EAST.

The official list of the Ministry, as it npw stands,
is as follows
Redschid Pacha, Grand Vizier.
Arif Effendi, Sheikh ul Islam.
Mehmed Ali Pacha, Minister of Marine.
Mehmed Pacha President of the Tanzimat
Council.
Itiza Pacha, Seraskier.
Ahmed Fethi Pacha, Grand Master of Artillery.
Ali Ghalib Pacha, Minister of the Mint and Private
Treasury.
Chefik Pacha, President of the Council of State.
Ethem Pacha, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Safeti Paella, Minister of Commerce.
Muchtar Pacha, Minister of Finance.
Hassib Pacha, Minister of the Erkas or Pious Foun•
dations.
Izzet Pacha, Minister of Police.
Safet Effendi, Mustachar of the Grand Vizier, and
Minister of the Interior.
Besid, thi • the regular Ministry, there are six
.. _ •

111 Mac Locawccia 1.1. G aa.U. I.IIC U[11.1511 provinces
and a courteous deference for her political situaiion ;on Besides this, the regular Nfinistry, there are six in America.
the other hand, on the contrary, lamentable obstinacy, an
The exports of domestic articles to those provinces during
exaggerated susceptibility, ands complete indifference W members of the Ministerial Council without port-
folios, These are : Raout Paths, .tali Puha, Ulm- he last year amounted to more than twenty-two millions
her conneeb.

1208

of dollars, exceeding those of the preceding year by nearly
seven millions of dollars ; and the imports therefrom
during the same period amounted to more than twenty one
millions—an increase of biz millions upon those of the
previous year. The improved condition of this branch of
our commerce is mainly attributable to the above-mentioned

treaty.
On the question of maritime law, relating to the
abolition of privateering raised at the Paris Con-
ferences, the President observes :

It was doubtless intended to imply approval of the prin.
ciple that private property upon the ocean, although it
might belong to the citizens of a belligerent State, should
be exempted from capture ; and had that proposition been
so framed as to give full effect to the principle, it would
have received my ready assent on behalf of the United
States. lint the measure proposed is inadequate to that
purpose. It is true that if adopted, private property upon
the ocean would be withdrawn from one mode of plunder,
but left exposed, meanwhile, to another mode, which could
be used with increased effectiveness. The aggressive ca-
pacity of great naval powers would be thereby augmented,
while the defensive ability of others would be reduced.
Though the surrender of the means of prosecuting hostili-
ties by employing privateers, as proposed by the Conference
of Pat* is mutual in terms, yet, in practical effect, it would
be the relinquishment of a right of little value to one class
of States, but of essential importance to another and a far
larger class. It ought oot to have been anticipated that a
measure, so inadequate to the accomplishment of the pro-
posed object, and so unequal in its operation, would receive
the assent of all maritime powers. Private property would
be still left to the depredations of the public armed crosiers.
I have expressed a readiness on the part of this Govern-
ment to accede to all the principles contained in the decla-
ration of the Conference of Paris, provided that relating to
the abandonment of privateering can be so amended as to
effect the object for which, as is presumed, it was intended,
the immunity of private property on the ocean from hostile
capture. To effect this object, it is proposed to add to the
declaration that " privateering is and remains abolished,"
the following amendment:—
And that the private property of subjects and citizens of a
belligerent on the high seas shall be exempt from seizure by the
public armed vessels of the other behigereut, except It be
contraband.

This amendment has been presented not only to the powers
which have asked our asasent to the declaration to abolish
privateeriug, but to all other maritime States. Thus far it
has not been rejected by any, and is favorably entertained
by all which have made any communication in reply.
he Several of the Governments, regarding with favour the
proposition of the United States, have delayed definitive
action upon it, only for the purpose of consulting with
others—parties to the Conference of Paris. I have the
satisfaction of stating, however, that the Emperor of Russia
has entirely and explicity approved of that modification,
and will co-operate in endeavouring to obtain the assent of
other powers ; and that assurances of a similar purport
have been received in relation to the disposition of the
Emperor of the French.

Certain disagreements with Mexico and Granada,
the unsatisfactory condition of Nicaragua, and the
lawless state of Panama, are remarked upon as
attracting the serious attention of the United States'
Government, and the President shortly concludes
his Message in the following terms :--

We have at length reached that stage of the national
career, in which the dangers to be encountered, and the
exertions to be made, are the incidents, not of weakness,
but ot strength. in our foreign relations we have to &item-
per our power :o the less happy condition of other republics
in America, and to place ourselves in the calmness and
conscious dignity of right by the side of the greatest and
wealthiest of the empires of Europe. In our domestic
relations we have to guard Against the shock of the discon-
tents, the ambitious, the interests, and the exuberant, and
therefore sometimes it regular impulses of opinion, or of
action, which are the natural product of the present political
elevation, the self-reliance, and the restless spirit ot enter-
prise of the people of the United States.

The more important State papers, the Reports of
the Secretaries of State, were presented next day.
Those of the Secretaries of the Navy and War pre•
sent some features of interest.

The Secretary of the Navy recommends the in-
crease of the Pacific squadron specially, and the
increase of the navy generally. It " affords h►m
pleasure to state that three of the new steam frigates
are afloat, and that the performance of the Merrimac
has impressed favorably the severest architectural
critics "

The introduction 'of these magnificent vessels, consti-
tutes an era in the history of the United States' navy, and
while they may well stimulate the energy and valour of its
officers, they also will excite emotions of a just national
pride in the bosom of every American beholder.

He repeats his recommendation of last year, to
build additional sloops of war, capable, from their
stead draught of water, of entering such ports as
New Orleanm, Savannah, and Charlestown, as well as
New York and 89.t0n. A formidable battery of
from five to twenty guns would render them very
effective. They could annoy the enemy at sea,
and penetrate and defend harbour-3 along the
coast, inaccessible to the larger class of heavier
draught.

The Secretary of War puts the authorised strength
of the United States' army at 17,894. The actual
strength on the Ist of July was 15,562. The sea-
coast fortifications are progressing, but there is much
yet to be done before many of the most important

THE PRESS.

will be efficient. The fortifications for harbour
defence are held to be most efficient, and reference is
made to the failure of formidable naval armaments
against fortified places in the Black Sea and the
Baltic, as showing conclusively that properly-con.
structed fortifications are a sure reliance against
the most powa:ul fleets. The ret,ort urges the
importance of completing the fortifications in
progress, and of making liberal appropriations for
new ones. Time is necessary to make them efficient,
and it ought to be done while the country is in a
state of peace, because ii cannot be done hastily
except at increased expense, and then not reliably.
He asks a law for liberal appropriations for
armaments for new forts, improvements in small
arms, and the accumulation of supplies of am-
munition.