The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-29 00:00:00

the earth, without our consent. We claim to have
a voice in all amendments or alterations of that
code ; and when we are given to understand, as in
this instance, by a foreign Government, that its
treaties with other nations cannot be executed
without the establishment and enforcement of
new principles of maritime police, to be applied without.
our consent, we must employ a language neither of equi-
vocal import, nor susceptible of misconstruction. Ameri-
can citizens prosecuting a lawful commerce in the African
seas, under the flag of their country, are not responsible
for the abuse or unlawful use of that flag by others ; nor
can they rightfully on account of any such alleged
abuses, be interrupted, molested, or detained while on
the ocean ; and if thus molested and detained while pur-
suing honest voyages in the usual way, and violating no
law themselves, they are unquestionably entitled to indem-
nity. This Government has manifested its repugnance to
the slave-trade in a manner which cannot be misunder-
stood. By its fundamental law it prescribed limits in
point of time to its continuance ; and against its own
citizens, who might so far forget te rights of humanity
as to engage in that wicked traffic, it has long since
by its municipal laws, denounced the most condign pu-
nishment. Many of the States composing this Union
had made appeals to the civilised world for its suppres-
sion, long before the inJral sense of other nations had be-
come shocked by the iniquities of the traffic. Whether
this Government should now enter into treaties con-
taining mutual stipulations upon this subject, is a
question for its mature deliberation. Certain it is,
that if the right to detain American ships on the
high seas can be justified on the plea of a necessity for
such detention, arising out of the existence of treaties
between other nations, the same plea may be extended
and enlarged by the new stipulations of new treaties, to
which the United States may not be a party. This Go-
vernment will not cease to urge upon that of Great Bri-
tain, full and ample remuneration for all losses, whether
arising from detention or otherwise, to which American
citizens have heretofore been, or may hereafter be,
subjected, by the exercise of rights which this Go-
vernment cannot recognise as legitimate and proper.
Nor will I indulge a doubt but that the sense
of justice of Great Britain will constrain her to make
retribution for any wrong, or loss, which any American
citizen, engaged in the prosecution of lawful commerce,
may have experienced at the hand of its cruisers, or
other public authorities. This Government, at the same
time, will relax no effort to prevent its citizens, if there
be any so disposed, from prosecuting a traffic so revolt-
ing to the feelings of humanity. It seeks to do no more
than to protect the fair and honest trader from molesta-
tion and injury ; but while the enterprising mariner,
engaged, in the pursuit of an honourable trade, is en-
titled to its protection, it will visit with condign punish-
ment others of an opposite character.
I invite your attention to existing laws for the suppres-
sion of the African slave trade, and recommend all such
alterations as may give to them greater force and effi-
cacy. That the American flag is grossly abused by the
abandoned and profligate of other nations, is but too
probable. Congress has not long since had this subject
under its consideration, and its importance well justifies
renewed and anxious attention.
I also communicate herewith the copy of a corres-
pondence between Mr. Stevenson and Lord Palmerston,
upon the subject so interesting to several of the Southern
• States, of the rice duties, which resulted honourably to
the justice of Great Britain, and advantageously to the
United States.
At the opening of the last annual session the Presi-
dent informed Congress of the progress which had then
been made in negotiating a convention between this Go•
vernment and that of England, with a view to the final
settlement of the question of the boundary between the ter-
ritorial limits of the two countries, I regret to say that little
further advancement of the object has been accomplished
since last year ; but this is owing to circumstances
no way indicative of any abatement of the desire of both
parties to hasten the negotiation to its conclusion, and
to settle the question in dispute, as early as possible. In
the course of the session, it is my hope to be able to an-
nounce some further degree of progress, towards the ac-
complishment of this highly desirable end.
The Commission appointed by this Government for the
exploration and survey of the line of boundary separat-
ing the States of Maine and New Hampshire from the
conterminous British provinces, is, it is believed, about to
close its field labours, and is expected soon to report the
results of its examinations to the department of State.
The Report, when received, will be laid before Congress.
The failure on the part of Spain to pay, with punc-
tuality, the interest due under the Convention of 1834,
for the settlement of claims between the two countries,
has made it the duty of the ExecutiVe to call the par-
ticular attention of that Government to the subject. A
disposition has been manifested by it, which is believed
to be entirely sincere, to fulfil its obligations in this re-
spect, so soon as its internal condition and the state of

its finances will permit. An arrangement is in progress,
from the result of which, it is trusted that those of our
citizens who have claims under the Convention, will, at
no distant day, receive the stipulated payments.
A Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with Belgium
was concluded and signed at Washington on the 29th
March, 1840. and was duly sanctioned by the Senate of
the United States. The Treaty was ratified by his Bel-
gian Majesty, but did not receive the approbation of the
Belgian Chambers within the time limited by its terms,
and has, therefore, become void.
This occurrence assumes the graver aspect from the
consideration that, in 1833, a Treaty negotiated between
the two Governments, and ratified on the part of the
United States, failed to be ratified on the part of Bel-
gium. The Representative of that Government, at
Washington, informs the Department of State that he
has been instructed to
.give explanations of the causes
which occasioned delay in the approval of the late Treaty
by the Legislature, and to express the regret of the
King at the occurrence.

The Joint Commission under the Convention with
Texas, to ascertain the boundary between the two coun-
tries, has concluded its labours, but the final Report of
the Commissioner of the United States has not yet been
received. It is understood, however, that the meridian
line, as traced by the Commission, lies somewhat further
to the East than the position hitherto generally assigned
to it, and, consequently, includes in Texas some part of
the territory which had been considered as belonging to
the States of Louisiana and Arkansas.
The United States cannot but take a deep interest in
whatever relates to this young, but growing Republic.
Settled principally by emigrants from the United
States, we have the happiness to know, that the
great principles of civil liberty are there destined
to flourish, under wise institutions and wholesome

laws ; and that, through its example, another evi-
dence is to be afforded of the capacity of popu-
lar institutions, to advance the prosperity, happiness,
and permanent glory of the human race. The great
truth, that Government was made for the people, and
not the people for Government, has already been estab-
lished in the practice and by the example of these United
States ; and we can do no other than contemplate its
further exemplification by a sister Republic with the
deepest interest.
Our relations with the independent States of this
hemisphere, formerly under the dominion of Spain,
have not undergone any material change within the
past year. The incessant sanguinary conflicts in,
or between those countries, are to be greatly deplor-
ed, as necessarily tending to disable them from per-
forming their duties as members of the community
of nations, and rising to the destiny which the posi-
tion and natural resources of many of them might lead
them justly to anticipate, as constantly giving occasion
also directly or indirectly, for complaints on the part of
our citizens who resort thither for purposes of commer-
cial intercourse, and as retarding reparation for wrongs
already committed, some of which are by no means of
recent date.
The failure of the Congress of Ecuador to hold a ses-
sion at the time appointed for that purpose, in January
last, will probably render abortive a treaty of commerce
with that Republic, which was signed at Quito on the
13th of June, 1839, and had been duly ratified on our
part, but which required the approbation of that body,
prior to its ratification by the Ecuadorian Executive.
A Convention which has been concluded with the
Republic of Peru, providing for the settlement of cer-
tain claims of citizens of the United States upon the
Government of that Republic, will be duly submitted to
the Senate. .

1 Tae claims of our citizens against the Brazilian Go-
vernment, originating .from captures and other causes,
are. still unsatisfied. The United States have, however,
so uniformly shown a disposition to cultivate relations of
amity with that Empire, that it is hoped the unequivccal
tokens of the same spirit towards us, which an adjust-
ment of the affairs referred to would afford, will be given
without further avoidable delay.
The war with the Indian tribes on the Peninsula of
Florida has, during the last summer and fall, been
• , with . . . .
summer cam-
paign was resolved upon as the best mode of bringingbeprose-
to a close. Our brave officers and
en-
gaged in that service, have suffermedento‘ivho have
toils and privations,
.
and exhibited an energy, which, despite of the
have won for them unfading laurels. I_
in any othervar, would
sickness incident to the
the fastnesses of the Indians, brake„ up
climate,
their encamp-
they have penetrated
Numbers have
' ments, and harassed them uneeasiti,lum)
b.ers have surren-
dered, captured, and still (A-mater
to
dered, and have been transported join their brethren
on the lands elsewhere allottedisto them by the Govern-
entertained that, under
inent,—and a strong
al,i,eapet
officer at the head of the
the conduct of the ghafit n
troublesome and expensive
troops in Florida,a i
speedy termination. With all the
war is destined
tribes,to
we are enjoying the blessings of
other Indian
ditty,is well as our best interests, prompt
Peace. Our
all our intercourse with them, fidelitj
us to observe, in
in fulfilling our engagements, the practice of strict jus-
tice,
as well as the constant exercise of acts of benevo-
lence and kindness. These are the great instruments of
' a 112
vi - tion, and through the use of them alone can the
;:iit,l'oored child of the forest be induced to listen to its
teitchitigs'
The Secretary of State, on whom the acts of Congress
h e,&volved the duty of directing the proceedings for
- aev taking the sixth census, or enumeration of the inha-
tt. ts of the United States, will report to the two
bitatx. • ,le progress of that work. The enumeration
Houses t... -,.s been completed, awl exhibits a grand
of persons 1..... -1 ; making an increase over the census
total of 1.7.,069,4,. :nhabitants; and showing a gain ih
of 1830 of 4,202,646 , ^ent. for the last ten years.
a ratio exceeding 32/ por , --tary of th. Treasury, you
From the report of the f31)41.,