The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-16 00:00:00

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vourable opportunity seemed to be presented 4jr obtaitting
a general recognition of them both in Europa' axict*tneraca.
lint Great Britain and France, iu common ielarinosteof
the States 'of Europe, while forbearing to reject,' au tot -
affirmatively act upon the overtures of the United State!.
While the question was in this position, the repleientaa
lives of Russia, France, Great Britain, Austria, Prussia,
Sardinia, and Turkey, assembled at Paris, took into con-
sideration the subject of maritime rights, and put forth a
declaration containing the two principles which this Go-
verumeet had submitted. nearly two years before, to the
consideration of the maritime Powers, and adding thereto
the following propositions :—" Privateering is and remains
abolished," and "Blockades, in order to be binding, must
be effective—that is to say, maintained by a force suffi-
cient nosily to prevent access to the coast of the enemy,"
and to the declaration thus composed of four points, two
of wirich had already been proposed by the United States,
this Gevernment has been invited to accede by all the
Powers represented at Paris, except Great Britain and
Tut key.
To the last of the two additional propositions—that in
relation to the blockades—there can certainly be no objec-
tion. It is merely the definition of what shall constitute
the effectual investment of a blockaded place, a definition
for which this Government has always contended, claim-
ing indemnity for losses where a practical violation of the
rule thus defined has been injurious to our commerce, As
to the remaining article of the declaration of the Confer-
ence of Paris, " That privateering is and remains abo-
lished," I certainly cannot ascribe to the Powers repre-
sented in the Conference of Paris any but liberal and phi-
lanthropic views in the attempt to change the unquestion-
able rule of maritime law in regard to privateering.
Their proposition was, doubtless, intended to imply ap-
proval of the principle that private property upon the
asto
give full effect to the
ocean, although it might belong to the citizens of a belli-
gerent State, should be exempte from capture • and had
principle, that
it proposition
w ou
would
haveen s s
received framed
my ready assent on behalf
of the United States. But the measure proposed is inade-
quate to that purpose, It is true that if adopted private
property upon the ocean would be withdrawn from nue
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 hosti-
lities by employing privateers, as proposed by the Confer-
ence of Paris, it is mutual in terms, yet iu 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 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 re-
ceive the :agent of all maritime powers. Private property
would be still left to the depredations 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 at 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 hos-
tile capture.
To effect this object, it is proposed to add to the declara-
tion 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 vessele of the
other belligerent, except it be contraband." This amend-
ment has been presented not only to the Powers which have
asked our alsont to the declaration to abolish privateering,
but to all other maritime States. Thus far it has not been
rejected by any, and is favourably entertained by all which
have made any communication in reply.
Several of the Governments, regarding with favour the
proposition of the United States, have delayed definite
action upon it only for the purpose of consulting others,
parties to the Conference of Paris. I have the satisfaction
of stating, however, that the Emperor of Russia has en-
tirely and explicitly 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.

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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 operations, so °auntie] to the
prosperity of commercial nations, and so consonant to the
sentiments of this enlightened period of the world, will
command the approbation of all maritime Poe ers, and thus
be incorporated into the code of international law.
My views on the subject 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
to this Government, especially to the communication of
France.

MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA.
The Government of the United States has at all times
rag trded with friendly interest the other States of America,
formerly, like this country, European colonies, and now
independent members of the great family of nations. But
the unsettled condition of some of them, distracted by fre-
quent revolutions, and thus incapable of regular and firm
internal administration, has tended to embarrass occasion-
ally our public intercourse, by reason of wrongs which oar
citizens suffer at their bands, and which they are slow to
redress.

Unfortunately it is against the Republic of Mexico, with
which it is our special desire to maintain a good under-
standing, that such complaints are most numerous; and
although earnestly urged upon its attention, they have not
as yet received the consideration which this Government
had a right to expect. While reparation for lowa injuries
has been withheld others have been added. The political
condition of that country, however, has been such as to de-
mand forbearance on the part of the United States. I
shall continue my efforts to procure for the wrongs of our
citizens that redress which is indispensable to the conti-
nued friendly association of tho two republics.
The peculiar condition of affairs of Nicaragua in the
early part of the present year rendered it important that
this Government should have diplomatic relations with
that State. Through its territory has been opened one of
the principal thoroughfares across the isthmus connecting
North and South America, on whicha vast amount of pro-
perty was transported, and to which our citizens resorted
in great numbers in passing between the Atlantic and Paci-
fic, coasts of the United States. The protection of both re-
quired that the existing power in that State should bore-
gal ded as a responsible Government, and its Minister was
accordingly received. But he remained here only a short
tine.

Soon thereafter the political affairs of Nicaragua under-
went unfavourable change, and became involved in much
uncertainty and confusion. Diplomatic representatives
from two contending parties have been recently sent to
this Government ; but, with the imperfect information
possessed, it was not possible to decide which was the
Government de facto ; and awaiting further developments
I have refused to receive either.

Questions of the most serious nature are pending be-
tween the United States and the Republic of New Gra-
nada. The Government of that Republic undertook, a
year since, to impose tonnage on foreign vessels in her
ports, but the purpose was resisted by this Government,
as being contrary to existing treaty stipulation with the
United States, and to rights conferred by charter upon
the Panama Railroad Company, and was accordingly
relinquished at that time, it being admitted that our
vessels were entitled to be exempt from tonnage duty
in the free ports of Panama and Aspinwall. But the
purpose has been recently revived, oa the part of New
Granada, by the enactment of a law to subject vessels
visiting her ports to the tonnage duty of 40 cents per
ton; and, although the law has not been put in force,
yet the right to enforce it is still asserted, and may at any
time be acted on by the Government of that Republic.
The Congress of New Granada has also enacted a law,
during the last year, which levies a tax of more then $3 on
every pound of mail transported across the isthmus.
The sum thus required to be paid en the mails of the
United States would be nearly $2,000,000 annually, in
addition to the large sum payable bycontract to the Panama
Railroad Company. If the only objection to this exaction
were the exorbitancy of its amount, it could not Le sub-
mitted to by the United States.
The imposition of it, however, would obviously contra-
vene our treaty with New Granada, and infringe the con-
tract of the Republic with the Panama Railroad Company.
The law for providing for this tax was, by its terms, s 1,0
take effect on the let Sept. last, but the local authorities
on the isthmus have been induced to suspend its execution,
and to await further instructions on the subject from the
Government of the Republic. I am not yet advised of the
determination of that Government. If a measure so extra-
ordinary contraryto
in its character, and so clearly
rc a Rail-
road citizens,
speculcaotimonpsanayn,deottohenoceoendtraincoteritlgyhtosf ofAthe
American e Panama
should be persisted in, it will be the duty of the United
States to resist its execution.
I regret exceedingly that occasion exists to
i
attention to a subject of still graver import in
ounrvir
t
RepublicofNewoGf
the inhabitants of Panama Granada, On the eela yt
ioounrs
b 'lsth April
last witha
theriotousassemblage
committed a violent and outra
'thus of the railroad company, and the attack on the pre-
persons in or near the same, in passengers and other
citizens of the United States volving the death of several
and the destruction of a large
amount of property belong-
I caused full investigationY
the result shows of that event to be made,
and
satisfactorilycomplete responsibility
for what occurred attaches to
that
Government of New
Granada. I have thereforees to the
that the perpetrators demanded of that
should
of the wrongs in question
be punished ; that d be made for the
s of
families of citizen
the Unitedprovisionshoul
States who were killed,
with full indemnity owr &nitro ed.
The present for the property pillaged
.Y
Condition of the Isthmus of Panama, in so
far as regards the secuetof ersons and property passing
over it, requires seriousl consideration. Recent incidents
tend to show that the local authorities cannot be relied on
to maintain the public peace of Panama, and there is just
ground for apprehension that a portion of the inhabitants
are meditating further outrages, without adequate mea-
sures for the security end protection of persons or propert
having 6 been taken either by the State of Panama or by
the general Government of New Granada.
Under the guarantees of treaty, citizens of the United
States have, by the outlay of several millions of dollar%
constructed a railroad across the isthmus, and it has be-
come the main route between our Atlantic and Pacific pos-
sessions, over which multitudes of our citizens and a vast
amount of property are constantly passing—to the security
and protection of all which, and the continuance of the
public advantages involved, it is impossible for tug Govern.
ment of the United States to be indifferent.
I have ceeuaed the danger of the recurrence of scenes of
lawless violence iu this quarter so imminent as to make it
my duty to station a part of our naval force in the Ear:
boors of Panama and Aspinwall, in order to protect the
persons and property of the citizens of the United States
in those ports, and to insure to them safe passage across
the isthmus. And it would, in my judgment, be unwise
to withdraw the naval force now in those ports until, by
the spontaneous action of the Republic of NewGrened e
or otherwise, some adequate arrangement shall have been
11°
ave been
made for the protection and security of a linens
of 4 i
.ere
oceanic communication se important at this time,
the United States only, but to all oth • not to
other maritime States
both of Europe and America.
Meanwhile negotiations have been instituted,v mesas
from of a special commission, to obtain f Now by Granada fall
indemnity for injuries sustained by our citizens on the
isthmus, and satisfactory security for °
of the United States,
the general interests
In addressing to you my last annual Message, the omis-
sion seems to me an appropriate
one to express my congra-
tulations in view of the peace,
the United States no greatness, and felicity which
w possess and enjoy.
To point you to the state of • departments of
the various
the Government, and of all the great branches of the public
service, civil and speakof the
military,
in order to
intelli-
gence and the integrity l
whid pervades the whole, would be
y
to indicate but imperfectly the e administrative condition of
the country and the beneficial effects of that on the general
welfare. Nor would it suffice to say that the nation was
actually at peace at horns and abroad ; that its industrial
interests are prosperous ; that the canvass of its mariners
whitens every sea, and the plough of its husbandman is