Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-12-14

vi the subjects recommended to the
of congress at their last
session, some we're then de6nitively ac-
ted upon. Others left unfinished, but
partially matured, win fecur to your
without needing renewal Of
notice from me. The purpose of this
communication will be, TO present to
your view the general aspect of our
public affairs at this moment. and the
measures which have been taken to car
ry into effect the intentions of the legis-
lature as signifed by the laws then and
enacted.
la our intercourse with the other ma
lions of the earth, we have still the
happiness of enjoying peace and good
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, however, in
several important instances, by COLI
sions Of interest, and by unsatis6ed
claims of justice, to the settlement of
which. the constitutional interposition
OF the legislative authority may become
ultimately Indispensable.
BY the decease of the emperor Alex
anGer ofRussia, which occurred cotem-
poraneously with the commencement Of
the last session of congress, the United
States have been deprived Of long tri-
ed, steady, and faithful friend. Born
to the inheritance of, absolute power,
and trained IN the school Of adversely,
from which no power on earth, however
absolute, is exempt, that monarch, from
his youth, had been taught TO feel the
force and value of pubic opinion, and
70 be sensible that the interest OF his
own government would best be prompt
ed by frank and friendly intercourse
with this republic, as those of his peo-
pie would be advancedby liberal com
mercial intercourse with our country.
A candid and confidential interchange
of sentiments between him and the gov
eminent of the United States, upon The
affairs of Southern AEnerica, took place
at a period not long proceeding his dc
mise, and contributed to fix that course
ofpolicy which left to the other govern
ments Of Europe no alternative but that
OF sooner or later recognizing the inde-
pendence Of our southern neighbors, OF
which the example had, by the United
States, already been set The ordina
ry diplomatic communications between
his successor, the emperor Nicholas,
and the United States, have suffered
some interruption by the illness, depar-
ture, and subsequent decease OF his
minister residing here, who enjoyed, as
he merited, the entire confidence of his
new sovereign, as he had eminently res
ponded to that Of his predecessor. But
we have had the most satisfactory as
surances, that the sentiments OF the
reigning emperor towards the United
States, are altogether conformable to
those which had so long and constantly
animated his imperial brother; and We
have REASON to hope that they will serve
TO cement that harmony and good un-
derstsnding between the two nations,
which, founded in congenial interests,
cannot but result in the Advancement OF
the welfare and prosperity OF both.
Our relations Of commerce and navi-
CATION with France ere. by the opera
lion oftbe convention of cath June, 1922,
with that nation, in state of gradual
and progressive improvement. Con
Vlnced by all our experience, no less
than by the principles OF fair and liber-
al reciprocity which tie United States
have constantly rendered TO all the ma
tons of the earth, as the rule of COM
mercial intercourse, which they would
universally prefer, that fair and equal
competition is most conducive to the
interests of both parties, the United
States, in the negotiation of that con-
ventiou, earnestly contended for a
mutual remuneration of discriminating
duties and charges in The ports of the
two countries. Unable to obtain the
immediate recognition of this principle
in its full extent, after reducing the du-
ties of discrimination, so far as it was
found attainable, it was agreed that, at
the expiration af two years from the LIST
of October, 1922, when the convention
was to 60 into effect unless notice of
six months on either side should be Civ
en- to the other, that the convention it.
self must terminate, those duties should
be reduced by one fourth; and that THIS
reduction should be yearly repeated un-
ill all discrimination SHOULD cease while
the convention itself should continue in
force. By the effect Of this stipulation
three fourths of the discriminating du-
ties which had been levied by each par
| ty upon the vessels of the other in itf
| :. L., L. l.. Il