The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-21 00:00:00

such an appropriation to the favourable cons idera-

tion of Congress.
PERSIA.
A treaty of friendship and commerce was tOli•
eluded at Constantinople on the 30th Dec., 1856,
between the United States and Persia, the ratifica-
tions of which were exchanged at Constantinople
on the 30th of June, 1857, and the treaty was pro-
claimed by the President on the 18th of August,
1857. This treaty, it is believed, will prove bene-
ficial to American commerce. The Shah has mani-
fested an earnest disposition to cultivate friendly
relations with our country, and has expressed a
strong wish that we should be represented at Tehe-
ran by a minister plenipotentiary, and I recommend
that an appropriation be made for the purpose.
CHINA.
Recent occurrences in China have been un-
favourable to a revision of a treaty with that em-
pire of July 3, 1844, with a view to the security
and extension of our commerce. The 24th article
of this treaty stipulated for a revision of it in case
experience should prove this to be requisite, in
which case the two magistrates will at the expira-
tion of twelve years from the date of the said con-
vention treat amicably concerning the same by
means of suitable persons appointed to conduct
such negotiations. These twelve years expired on
July 3, 1856 ; but long before that period it was
ascertained that important changes in the treaty
were necessary, and several fruitless attempts were
made by the commissioner of the United States to
effect those changes. Another effort was about to
be made for the same purpose by our commissioner,
in conjunction with the ministers of England and
France ; but this was suspended by the occurrence
of hostilities in the Canton river between Great
Britain and the Chinese empire. These hostilities
have necessarily interrupted the trade of whole
nations with Canton, which is now in a state of
blockade, and have occasioned a serious loss of life
and property. Meanwhile the insurrection within
the empire against the existing imperial dynasty
still continues, and it is difficult to anticipate the
result.
-Gluier these circumstances, I have deemed it ad-
visable to appoint a distinguished citizen of Penn-
sylvania Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni-
potentiary to proceed to China, and to avail
himself of any opportunities which may offer to
effect changes in the existing treaty favourable to
American commerce. He left the United States for
the place of his destination in July last, in the war
steamer Minnesota. Special ministers to China
have also been appointed by the Governments of
Great Britain and France.
Whilst our minister has been instructed to oc-
cupy a neutral position in reference to the existing
hostilities at Canton, he will cordially co-operate'
with the British and French ministers in all peace-
ful measures, to secure by treaty stipulations those
just concessions to commerce which the nations of
the world have a right to expect, and which China
cannot long be permitted.,to withhold. From assur-
ances received I entertain no doubt that the three
ministers will act in harmonious concert to obtain
similar commercial treaties for each of the powers
they represent.
DIFFICULTIES WITH GRANADA.
We cannot fail to feel a deep interest in all that
concerns the welfare of the independent republics
on our own continent, as well as of the empire of
Brazil. Our difficulties with New Granada, which a
short time since bore so threatening an aspect, are,
it is to be hoped, iu a fair train of settlement in a
manner just and honourable to both parties. The
Isthmus of Central America, including that of
Panama, is the highway between the Atlantic and
Pacific, over which a large portion of the commerce
of the world is destined to pass, and the United
States are more nearly interested than any other
nation in preserving the freedom and security of all
the communications across this isthmus. It is our
duty, therefore, to take care that they shall not be
interrupted, either by invasions from our own coun-
try or by wars between the independent States of
Central America.
Under our treaty with New Granada, of the 12th
December, 1846, we are bound to guarantee the
neutrality of the isthmus of Panama, through
which the Panama Railroad passes, as well as the
rights of sovereignty and property which New Gra-
nada has and possesses over the said territory. The
obligation is founded upon equivalents granted by
the treaty to the government and people of the
United States. Under these circumstances, I
recommend to Congress the passage of an act autho-
rising the President in case of ne'iessity to employ
the land and naval forces of the United States to
carry into effect this guarantee of neutrality and
protection. I also recommend similar legislation
for the security of any other route across the Isthmus
in which we may acquire an interest by treaty.
FILLIBUSTERS' EXPEDITION.

With the independentrepublics on this continent,
it is both our duty v.ua OUr iu.torcct to cultivate the
most friendly relations. ,We can never Joel indif-
ferent to their fate, and must always rejoice in their
prosperity. Unfortunately, both for them and for
us, our example and advice have lost much of their
influence in consequence of the lawless expeditious
which have been fitted out against some of them
within the limits of our country.
Nothing is better calculated to retard the ad-
vancement of our character as a nation than the
toleration of such enterprises in violation of the law
of nations. It is one of the first and highest duties
of any independent state, in its relations with the
members of the great family of nations, to restrain
its people from acts of hostile aggression againet their
citizens or subjects. The most eminent writers on
public law do not hesitate to denounce such hostile
acts of robbery and murder. Weak and feeble
states, like those of Central America, may not feel
themselves able to assert and vindicate their sights.
The case might be different if expeditions were set
on foot within our own territories to make private
war against a powerful nation. If such expeditions
were fitted out from abroad against any portion of
our own country, to burn down our cities, murder
and plunder our people, and change our govern-
ment, we should call any power on earth to the
strictest account for not preventing such enormite=.
Ever since the administration of General Wash-
ington acts of Congress have been in force to punish
severely the crime of setting on foot a military ex-
pedition within the limits of the United States, to
proceed from thence against a nation or state with
whom we are at peace. The present Neutrality
Act of April 28, 1818, is but little more than a
collection of pre-existing laws. Under this act the
President is empowered to employ the land and
naval force, and the militia, for the purpose of
preventing the carrying on of any such expedition
or enterprise from the territories and jurisdiction of
the United States, and the collectors of customs are
authorised and required to detain any vessel in port
when there is reason to believe she is about to take
part in such lawless enterprises.
When it was at first rendered probable that an
attempt would be made to get up another unlawful
expedition against Nicaragua, the Secret iry of
State issued instructions to the marshals and dis-
trict attorneys, which were written and directed by
Secretaries of War and the Navy to the appropriate
army and navy officers, requiring them to be vigi-
lant and to use their best exertions in carrying into
effect the provisions of the act 1818,- Notwith-
standing these precautions, the expedition has
escaped from our shores.
Such enterprises can do no possible gool to the
country, but have already inflicted much injury
both on its interests and its character. They have
prevented peaceful emigration from the United
States to the state' of Central America, which could
not fail to prove highly beneficial to all the parties
concerned. In a pecuniary point of view alone our
citizens have sustained heavy losses from the seizure
and closing of the transit route by the San Juxn
between the two oceans. The leader of the recent
expedition was arrested at New Orleans, but was
discharged on giving bail for his appearance in the
insufficient sum of 2,000 dots.
I commend the whole subject to the serious at -
' tention of Congress, believing that our duty and
our inter/at, as well as our national character re-
quire that we should adopt such measures as will be
effectual in:restraining our citizens from committing
such outrages.