Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-12-15

the will and the ability to enforce their
own laws, and to protect their flag from
being used for purposes wholly forbidden
by those laws, and obnoxious to the moral
censure OF the world. Taking the Message
as bis Letter of Instructions, our then MIN
lister, at Paris, felt himself required to as
sumo the same ground in remonstrance
which he felt it to be his duty TO present
to NJ. Guizot, and through him TO the King
ofthe French, against what has been called
the Quintuple treaty; and his conduct, in
this respect met with the approval of this
Government. In close conformity with
these views, the Sth Article OF the Treaty
was framed, which provides thas leach
nation shall keep aloat in the African seas
force not less than so guns, to act sepa-
rately and apart, under instructions from
their respective Governments, and for
the enforcement Of their respective laws
and obligations.
From this it will be seen, that the ground
assumed in The Message, has been fully
maintained, atthe same time that the stipu-
lations of the treaty of Client are TO be
carried out in good faith by the two coun-
tries, and that all pretence is removed for
interference with our commerce for any
purpose by Foreign Government While,
therefore, the u States have been standing
up for the freedom of the seas, they have
not thought proper to make that pretext
for avoiding faithful fulfilment of their
Treaty pulations, 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, without the
Interpolation of any new principle into the
maritime code. We may be permitted TO
hope, that the example thus set, will be
followed by some, 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.
1t would have furnished additional cause
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
Territory, lying ont the Pacific ocean, north
Of the 42d degree of latitude, to portion
of which Great Britain lays claim, begins
to attract the attention of our fellow clti-
zens, andthe tide of population which has
reclaimed what wasso lately an unbroken
wilderness in more contiguous regions, is
preparing 10 flow over those vast districts
which stretch from the Rocky Mountains
to the Pacific Ocean. In advance of the
requirement Of individual rights to these
lands, sound policy dictates that every
effort should be resorted to by the two
Governments, 10 settle their respective
claims. 1t became manifest, at an early
hour of the late negotiations, that any
attempt for the time being satisfactorily to
determine those rights, would lead TO a
protracted discussion, which might en-
brace in its failure other more pressing
matters, and the Executive did not regard
ii as proper to waive all the advantages of
an honorable adjustment of other difficult
ties of great magnitude and importance,
because this, not so Immediately pressing,
stood in the way. Although the difficulty
referred to, may not for several years to
come involve the peace of the two coun-
tries, yet shall not delay 10 urge on Great
Britain the importance of its early settle
ments Nor will other matters of CONNER
cal importance to the two countries be
overlooked and | have good reason to
believe that it will comport with the policy
of England, as it does with that of the
United States, 10 seize upon this moment,
when most of the causes of irritation have
passed away, to cement the peace and
unity of the two countries by wisely re-
moving all grounds of probable future col
lison.
With the other powers of Europe our
relations continue on the most amlcable
footing. Treaties now existing with them,
should be rigdly observed, and every
opportunity, compatible with the interests
of the United States, should be seized upon
to enlarge the basis Of commercial inter-
course. Peace with all the world is the
true foundation of our policy, which can
only be rendered permanent by the prac-
tice of equal and impartial justice to all.
Our great desire should be, to enter only
into that rivalry which looks to the general
good, in the cultivation of the sciences,
the enlargement of the field for the exer-
else of the mechanical arts, and the spread
of commerce (the great civilizer) TO every
land and sea. Carefully abstaining from
interference in all questions exclusively
referring themselves to the political inle-
rests of Europe, We may be permitted TO
hope an equal exemption from the inter
ference ofEuropean Governments, IN what
relates to the States Of the American Con-
| tinent.
On the Odd of April last, the commits
sioners on the part Of the United States,
under the convention with the Mexican
Republic, of the lth Of April, 1889, made
to the proper department final report IN
relation to the proceedings Of the commits.
sion. From this it 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 seventv-nlne dot
lars and sixty-eight cents. The arblter
having considered that his functions were
required by the convention TO terminate at
the same time with those of the commits