The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-16 00:00:00

ful seamen on t

went, and permitting them to re-enlist after a p _ _
absence of a few months, without cessation of pay, is
highly beneficial in its influence. The apprentice system
recently adopted is evidently destined to inc,)rporate into
the service a large number of our countrymen hitherto so
difficult to procure.
Several hundred American boys are now on a three
years' cruise in our national vessels, and will return well
trained seamen. In the ordnance department there is a
decided and gratifying indication of progress creditable to
it and to the country. The suggestion of the Secretary of
the Navy, in regard to further improvement in that branch
of the service, I commend to your favourable action.

The new frigates ordered by Congress are now afloat,
two of them in active service. Tiny are superior models
of naval architecture, an.l with their formidable battery
add largely to public strength are security.

I concur in the views expressed by the'S.cretary of the
Department in favour of a still further increase of our
naval force.

The report of the Secretary of the Interior presents
facts and views in relation to internal affairs over which
the supervision of his department extends, of much
interest and importance. . _ _

The aggregate sales of the public lands, during the last
fiscal year, amount to nine million two hundred and twenty
seven thousand eight hundred and seveniy-eight acres ; for
which has been received the sum of eight millions eight
hundred and twenty-one thousand four hundred and fourteen
dollars.

During the same period there have been located with
military scrip and land warrants, and for other purposes,
thirty million, one hundred thousand two hundred and thirty
acres, thus making a total aggregate of thirty-nine million
three hundred and twenty-eight thousand one hundred and
eight acres.

On the 30th of September last, surveys had been made of
16,873,699 acres, a large portion of which is ready for mar-
ket.

The suggestions in this report in regard to the complicaz
tion and progressive expansion of the business of the difp.
ferent bureaux of the department ; to the pension system ;
to the colonization of Indian tribes, and the recommends:
lions in relation to various improvements in the District of
Columbia, are especially commended to your consideration.
The report of the postm ister general presents fully the
condition cf that dep trtment of the government. Its
expenditures for the last fiscal year, were ten millions four
hundred and seven thousand eight hundred and sixtyseight
dollars ; and its gross receipts seven million six hundred and
twenty thousand and eight hundred and one dollars —mak-
ing an excess of expenditure over receipts of two million
seven hundred and eighty-seven thousand and forty-six
dollars.

The deficiency of this department is thus seven hundre d
and forty four thousand dollars greater than for the year
ending June 30, 1853. Of this deficiency, three hundred
and thirty thousand dollars is to be attributed to the addii
tional compensation allowed postmasters by the act of
Congress of June 22, 1854.
The mail facdities in every part of the country have been
very much increased in that period, and the large addition
of railroad service, amounting to seven thousand nine
hundred and eight miles, has added largely to the cost of
transportation.

The inconsiderable augmentation in the income of the
post office department under the reduced rates of postage,
and its increasing expenditures, must, for tha present, make
it dependent to some extent upon the treasury for support.
The recommendations cif the Postmaster General, in
relation to the abolition of the franking privilege, and his
views on the establishment of rnail steamship lines, deserve the
consideration of Congress. I also call the special attention
of Congress to the statement of the Postmaster General
respecting the sums now paid for the transportation of mails
to the Panama Railroad Company, and commend to their
early and favourable consideration the suggestions of that
officer in relation to new contracts for mail transportation
upon that route, and also upon the Tehuantapec and Nica-
ragua routes.

•
The Unite.l States continue in the enjoyment of amicable
relations with all foreign powers.
• When my last annual message was transmitted to Con-
gress, two subjects of controversy, one relating to the
enlistment of soldiers in this country for foreign service, and
the other to Central America, threatened to disturb good
understanding between the United States and Great
Britain. Of the progress and termination of the former
question you were informed at the time, and the other is
now in the way of satisfactory adjustment.
The object of the convention between the United States
and Great Britain of the 19th of April, 1850, was to secure,
for the benefit of all nations, the neutrality and the common
use of any transit way, or interoceanic communication,

itcross the isthmus of Panama, wb
within the limits of Central Amer

subsequen

trol over territori

C 0291011 0

by an a,

mental ar

or near t

Tonal treaty, w.l

vention will bavc

The treaty between
of the sth of June, 18

of doll

ht'of Di

Vell lIT

is mainty atttibut

Provision
comm

a to d

common rig

States and the British Prcivit

This commission has beeti em

refroro,

mmerce

treaty., for

a part of two sessions,

but without much progress in ac-ompliihing the object for
which it was instituted, in consequence of a serious difference
of opinion between the commissioners, not only as to the
precise point where the rivers terminate, but in man}

These diffic

. _. .
The efforts perseveringly prosecuted since the commence-
ment of my administration, to relieve our trade to the Baltic
from the exaction of sound dues by Denmark; hive not yet
been attended with success.

Other governments have also sought to obtain a like
relief to their commerce, and Denmark was then induced to
propose an arrangement to all-the European powers inter-
ested in the subject; and the manner in which her proposis
tion was received, warranting her to believe.that a satisfac-
tory arrangement with them could soon be concluded, she
made a strong appeal to thi4 government for temporary
suspension-Of definite action on its part, in consideration of
the embarrassment which might result to European nego-
ciations by an immediate adjustment of the question with
the United States.

This request has been acceded to, upon the condition that
the sums co:lected after the 16'1 of .Tunelast, ani until the
16.11 of June next, fropa vessels and cargoes belonging to

our merchants,' are to be considered as paid under protest
and subject to future' adjustment. There. is reason to
believe that an arranzement between Denmark and the
maritime Powers of t triope,on the subject, will soon. be
concluded, and that the pending negOcittion with; the
United States may then be resumed and tertninated in a
satisfactory manner. .

With Spain' no new difficulties bave arisen, nor has
much progress been made in the adjustment of pending

NTociations entered into for the purpose of relieving our
commercial intercourse with the- Island of Cuba of some of
its burdens, and provid. -rieedv settlement

g for the mor

of local disputes. grom
yet been attended wi.t

ng out of that

any result

Soon after the commencement of the late war in Europe,
this government 'submitted to the consideration_ of all
maritime nations two principles for the security of neutral
commerce ; one, that the neutral flag should cover

enemies' goods,

xcept articles c

the other, that neutral property

of belligerents should fie exempt from condemnation, with
thU exception of contraband articles: These were not
presented as new rules of international law ; having been
generally claimed by nentra's, though not always admitted
by belligerents.
One of the parties to the war—Russia—as well as several

neutral powers, promptly acceded, to these proposit:
And the two other principal belligerents, Great Britain
France, having consented to observe ihem for ti

Occasion, a fa-iourable opportunity seemed to to. presented
for obtaining a general recognition of them both in Europe
and AmFrica.

But Great Britain and France, in, common with most of
the States of Europe, white forbearing 'to reject, did not
affirmatively act upon the overtures of the United States.
While the question was in this position, the represents.

aent had sub

sideration of maritime powors, and adding thereto the
following propositions :—" Privateering is aad remains
abolished," and " blockades, in order to be binding, must

be effective; that is tosiy, maintained

really, to prevent access to the coast
to the declaration thus compsed
which had already been proposed b

le enemy;" and
r points. two of

. .
Government has peen invittd to acee le by all the powers
represented at Paris except Gre tt Britain and Turkey:
To the last of the two adoitional propositions--that in
relation to blockades—there cmn certainly b 3 no objection.
It is merely the definition of what shall constitute the
effectual investment of a blockaied place, a definition for
which this government has always contended, claiming
indemnity for losses where a practical violation of the rule
thus defined has been injurious to oar commerce. As to
the remaining article of the declaration of the conference, of
Paris, " that privateeriug is and remains abolished"—l
certainly cannot ascribe to the powers represented in the
conference of Paris, any bnt liberal and philanthropic views
in the a tempt to change the unquestionable rule of mari-
time law in rsgard to privateering.

Their proposition was doubtless intended to imply appro-
val of the principle that private property upon the ocean,
although it might belong to the citizens of a belligerent
state, should be exempted from capture : and bad the pro-
position been so framed as to give full effect to the principle,
it would have received my ready assent on behalf of the
United Slates. But 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 capacity 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 hos-
tilities by employing privateers, as proposed by the confer-
ence of Paris, 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 not to have been anticipated
that a measure, so inadequate to the accomplishment of the
proposed object, and so unequal in its operation, would
receive the assent of all maritime powers. Private property
would be still left to the depradations of the public armed
cruisers.

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 belligerent, except it be contraband."
This amendment has been presented not only to the
powers which hive asked our assent to the declaration to
abolish privateeriog, but to all other maritime states. Thus
far it has not been rejected by any, and is favourably enter-
tained by all which have made any communication in reply.
Several of the governments, regarding with favour the pro.
proposition of the United States, have delayed definite action
upon it, only for the purpose of ccnsulting with others,
parties to the conference of Paris.
I have the satisfaction of stating, hoymver, that the Em-
peror of Russia has entirely and explicitly approved of that
modification, and will co-operate in endeavouring to obtain
the assent of other powers ;. and that assurances
in of a simi-
lar purport have been received rel
tion of the Eiiperor of the French.
The present aspect of this important subject allows us to
cherish the hope that a principle so humane in its character,
so just and equal in its operation, so essential to the pros-
perity of commercial nations, and so consonant to the senti-
ments of this enlightened period of the world, will command
the approbation of all maritime powers, and thus be incor-
porated into the code of international law.
11Iy views on the suTet are more fully set forth in the
reply of the Secretary of State, a copy of -which is herewith
transmitted, to the communications on the subject made to
this government, especially to the communication of France.
The government of the United States has at all times
regarded with friendly interest the other States of America,
formerly, like this county, European colonies, and
dependent members of the great family of nations
But the unsettled condition of some of them, distracted

disposi

now in