The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-12-16

characterized those before announccd.l
Recent events have doubtless served to
delay the decision, but our Minister at
the court of the distinguished arbitrator
has been assured that it will be made
within the time contemplated by the trea-
ty.
am particularly gratiied in being a
bic to state that decidedly favorable,
and as hope lasting change has been
effc cted in our relations with the neigh |
boring republic of Mexico. The unfortu-
nate & unfounded suspicious in regard to
our disposition, which it became my pain
full duty to advert to on a iofmer occasion,
have been / believe, entirely removed:
and the Government of Mexico has been
made to understand the real character of
the wishes and views of this in regard to
that country. The consequence is, the
establishment of friendship and mutual
confidence. Such are the assurances
which l have received, and / see no
cause to doubt their sincerity.
had reason to expect the conclusion
of "a commercial treaty with Mexico in
season for communication On the present
occasion. Circumstances which are not
explained, but which: am persuaded,
are not the result OF an indisposition on
her part to enter into it, have produced
the delay. sof ss
There was reason to fear, in the colirsei
of the last summer, that the harmony
our relations might be disturbed by the
! acts of certain claimants, under the lex
lean grants, of territory which has hith-
erto been under our jurisdiction. The
cooperation of the represc ntatve. of
] Mexico near this Government, was asked
on the occasion ,and was readily afforded.
Instructions and advice have been given
to the Governor of Arkansas and the
officers in command in the adjoining
Mexican State, by which, it is hoped
the quiet of that frontier will be preserv-
J ed, until final settlement of the dividing
line shall have removed all ground of con-
troversy.
The exchange of ratiications of the
treaty concluded last year with Austria
} has not yet taken place. delay has
been occasioned by the non-arrival OF
the ratification of that Government with
/ in the time prescribed by the treaty.
Renewed authority has been asked for
by the representative of Austria; and,
in the mean time, the rapidly increasing
r trade and navigation between the two
+ countries have been placed upon the
: most liberal footing of our navigation
, acts.
Several alleged depredations have
= been recently committed on our COM
1 merce by the national vessels of Portu-
: gal. They have been made the sub
ject of immediate remonstrance and re-
: clamation. L am not yet possessed OF
sufficient information to express defini-
tive opinion Of their character, but ex-
pcct soon to receive it. No proper
means shall be omitted to obtain foi ou,
! citizens all the redress to which they
may appear to be entitled.
Almost at the moment of the adjourn
ment of your last session, two bills, the
one entitled "An act for making appro-
priation for building lighthouses, light
boats, beacons, and monuments, placing
buoys, and for improving harbors and
directing surveys" and the other, Gan
act to authorize subscription for stock
: In the Louisville and Portland Canal
Company, were submitted for my approx
al. 1t was not possible, within the time
allowed me, before the close of the ses-
sion to give these bills the consideration
which was due to their character and
, importance; and l was compelled to re-
tain them for that purpose. | now avail
myself of this early opportunity to return
them to the Houses in which they re-
spectively originated, with the reasons
which, after mature deliberation, com
pei me to withhold my approval.
The practice of defraying, out of the
treasury ofthc United States, the expen-
ses incurred by the establishment and sup
port of lighthouses, beacons, buoys and
public piers, within the bays, inlets, har-
bors and ports Of the United States, to
render the navigation thereof safe and
easy, is coeval with the adoption of the
constitution, and has been continued with
out interruption or dispute.
As our foreign commerce increased,
and was extended into the interior of the
country by the establishments OF ports of
entry and delivery upon our navigable
rivers, the sphere of those expenditures
received corresponding enlargement.
Lighthouses, beacons, buoys, public.
piers, and the removal of sand-bars,
; sawyers, and other partial or temporary
impediments in the navigable rivers and
harbors which were embraced in the
revenue districts from time to time estab-
llshed by law, were authorised upon the
fsnn IL A Al