The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-24 00:00:00

TUE PRUSSIAN TREATY.

- -
A question has lately arisen under the tenth article of
the subsisting treaty between the United States and
Prussia. By this article, the Consuls of the two coun-
tries have the right to sit as judges and arbitrators " in
such differences as may arise between the captains and
crews of the vessels belonging to the nation whose inte-
rests are committed to their charge, without the interfe-
rence of the local authorities, unless the conduct of the
4,
crews or of the captain should disturb the order or
tranquillity of the country ; or the said Consuls should
require their assistance to cause their decisions to bo
carried into effect or supported."
The Prussian Consul at
but New
applied to Mr. Justice Story to carry into effect a deci-
sliounssmiaandeshbipy
Bhiomrubsiestaw; between the captain and crew of the
i
tha
Bedford,
requestwas in June,
refused
on
8 4
the ground that, without previous legislation by Con-
gress, the judiciary did not possess the power to give
effect to this article of the treaty. The Prussian Go-
vernment, through their Minister here, have complained
of this violation of the treaty, and have asked the Go-
vernment of the United States to adopt the necessary
measures to prevent similar violence hereafter. Good
faith to Prussia, as well as to other nations with
whom we have similar treaty stipulations, requires
that these should be faithfully observed. I have deemed
it proper, therefore, to lay
.thesubjeet before Congress,
and to recommend such legislation as may be necessary
to give effect to these treaty obligations.
SPANISH (NAVIGATION) TREATY.

By virtue of an arrangement made between the
Spanish Government and that of the United States, in
December, 1831, American vessels, since the 29th of
April, 1832, have been admitted to entry in the ports
of Spain, including those of the Balearic and Canary
Islands, on payment of the same tonnage duty of five
cents per ton, as though they had been Spanish vessels ;
ldiscriminating duty
and this, whether our vessels arrive in Spain directly
from the United States, or indirectly from any other
country. When Congress, by the Act of July 13, 1828,
gave effect to this arrangement between the two
eSgpGo-
vernments, they confined the reduction of tonnage duty
mpearienly, ' la to
vin
"coming from a port in
Sto remain
against such vessels coming from a port in any other
country. It is manifestly unjust that, whilst Aenerican
vessels, arriving in the ports of Spain from other ,coun-
tries, pay no more duty than Spanish vessels, Sp iinlsh
Spanish
former ves vessels
vessels arriving in the ports of the United States Crom
other countries should be subjected to heavy discrimi-
nating tonnage duties. This is neither equality nor
reciprocity, and is in violation of the arrangement
concluded in December, 1831, between the two
countries. The Spanish Government have made re-
petited and earnest remonstrances against this inequality,
and the favourable attention of Congress has been se-
veral times involved to the subject by my predecessors.
I recommend as an act of justice to Spain that this in-
equality be removed by Congress, and that the discri-
ten-lilting duties which have been levied under the Act
of the 13th July, 1832, on Spanish vessels coming to the
United States from any other foreign country, be re-
funded. This recommendation dues not embrace Spa-
nish vessels arriving in the United States from Cuba