Litchfield enquirer., 1842-12-15

on the voyage, and consequent interruption to the trade. 1t was regarded as the right of search. presented only in new form, and expressed in different words; and there. fore felt it to be my duty distinctly to de- clare, in my annual message to Congress. that no such concession could be made. and that the United States had both the will and the ability to enforce their own laws, ard to protect their flag from being used for purposes wholly forbidden hY those laws, and obnoxious 10 the moral cenA sure of the world.
 Taking the message as his letter of ina our then Minister at Paris felt himself required to assume the same ground in remonstrance which he felt it his duty to present to NJ. GuiZot. and through him fo the King of the French, against what was then called the Quintuple treaty and hia condNct in this respect met with the appro> patton of this government. In close con. formity with these views, the eighth article of the treaty was framed, which provides that teach nation shall keep afloat in the African seas, force not legs than eighty guns, to act separately and apart, under in. ments, and for the enforcement of their re. spective laws and obligations" From thia it will be seen that the ground assumed in the message has been fully mainta ained, at the same time that the stipulations of ths Treaty of Gheni are to be carried out in good faith by the two countries, and that all pretencc is removed for interference with our commerce for any purpose whatever by q foreign government.
 While, therefore, the United States hava been standing up for the freedom of the seas, they have not thought proper to make that pretext for avoiding fulflment of their treaty stipulations, or ground for giving countenance to trade reprobated by our laws. A similar arrangement by the other great powers could not fail to sweep from the ocean the slave trade, with. out the interpolation of any new principle into the maritime code. We may be per. mittcd to hope that the example thus set
 will be followed by one, if not all of them.
 We thereby also afford suitable protection
 to the fair trader in those seas; thus fulfilling at the same time the dictates of sound
 policy, and complying with the claims of justice and humanity. "
 It would have furnished additional ca,,sa for congratulation if the Treaty could have embraced all subjects calculated in future to lead to misunderstanding between the two governments. The territory of the United States, commonly called the Oregon Territo. ", lying on the Pacific Ocean, north of tho 49d degree of latitude, to portion of which Great Britain lays claim, begins to attract the attention of our fellow citizens, ana the tide of population which has reclaimed what was so lately an unbroken wilderness, in more contiguous regions, is preparing to flow over these vast districts, which stretch from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. In advance of the requirements of individu. al rights to these lands, sound policy dictates that every effort should be resorted to by the two governments, to settle their respective claims.
 It became manifest at an early hour of the late negotiations, that any attempt for
 the time being satisfactorily to determine those rights. wonld lead to a protracted dis cussion, which might embrace in its failure other more pressing matters, and the Execu. the advantages of az honorable adjustment Of other difficulties of great magnitude and importance, because this, not so immediate. Iy pressing, stood in the way. Although the difficulty referred to may not for several years to come involve the peace of the two countries. yet shall not delay to urge on Great Britain the importance of its early settlement. Nor will other matters of com. mercial importance to the two countries be overlooked; and have good reason to be. lieve that it will comport with the policy of
 England. as it does with that of the United
 States. to siege upon this moment. when most of the causes of irritation have passed away, to cement the peace and unity of tho two countries by wisely removing all grounds of probable future collision.
 With the other powers of Europe our re- latjons continue on the most amicable foot. ing. Treaties now existing with them should be rigidly observed. and every oppor. tunity, compatible with the interests of the United States should be seized upon to en. large the basis of commercial intercourse. Peace with all the world is the true founda- ton of our policy. which can only be Hens dered permanent by the practice of equal and impartial justice to all. Our great dee sire should be to enter only into that rivalry which looks to the general good in the culii. vaiion of the sciences, the enlargement of the field for the exercise of the mechanical arts, and the spread of commerce--that great ci. vilizer ito every land and sun. Carefully abstaining from interference in all questions exclusively referring themselves to the poli- tical interests of Europe, we may be permit. ted to hope an equal exemption from the in- reference of European Governmeuts,in what relates to the states of the American continent.
 On the 23d of April last, the commissions CTS on the part of the US. under the conven. tion with the Mexican Republic, of the llth of April 1889. made to the proper depart- mcnt final report in relation to the pro- ceedings of the commission. From this is appears that, the total amount awarded to the claimants by the commissioners and the umpire appointed under that convention, was two millions twenty-six thousand and dollars,an sixty-eight cents. The arbtrcr having considered that his functions were required by the convention to terminate at the same time with those of tha