Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-12-14

| full indemnification will be allowed for all
damages sustained by the detention of the
vesseI--and in the case of the Douglass
her Majesty's Government has expressed
| its determination to make indemnifcatlon
Strong hopes are therefore entertained,
that most, ifnot all of these cases will be
speedily adjusted No new cases have
arisen since the ratification Of the Treaty
of Washington; and, il is confidently an
iicipated, that the slave trade, under the
operation Of the eighth article Of that trea-
ty, will be altogether suppressed.
The occasional interruption experience
ed by our fellow citizens engaged in The
fisheries on the neighboring coast of Nova
Scotia, has not failed TO claim the atien-
ton of the Executive. Representations
upon this subject have been made, but as
yet no defnitive answer to those represen-
tations has been received from the British
Government.
Two other subjects of comparatively
minor importance, but nevertheless of too
much consequence to be neglected, remain
still TO be adjusted between the two coun-
tries. By the treaty between the United
States and Great Britain, of July, 1915, il
is provided that no higher duties shall be
levied in either country on articles import
ed from the other than on the same arti-
Gle from any other place. In 1896, rough
rice, by act of Parliament, was admitted
from the coast of Africa into Great Britain
on the payment of duty of one penny a
quarter, while the same article from all
other countries, including the U. States,
was subjected to the payment of a duty of
twenty shillings quarter. Our Minister
at London has from time TO time brought
this subject TO the consideration of the
British Government, but so far without
success. He is instructed to renew his
representations upon it.
Some years since claim was preferred
against the British Government on the part
of certain American merchants, for the re-
turn of export duties paid by them on ship
ments of woolen goods TO the U. States
after the duty on similar articles exported
to other countries had been repealed, and
consequently in contravention Of the COM
mercial convention between the two ma
tions securing TO us equality in such cases.
The principle on which the claim rests has
long since been virtually admitted by
Great Britain, but obstacles have from time
to time interposed, so that large portion
of the amount claimed has not yet been
refunded. Our Minister is now engaged
in the prosecution of the claim, and can
not but persuade myself that the British
Government will no longer delay its adj
justment.
1 am happy 10 be able TO say that moth
ing has occurred to disturb in any degree
the relations of amity which exist between
the United States and France, Austria and
Russia, as we'll as with the other powers
Of Europe, since the adjournment of Con-
gress. Spain has been agitated with in
ternal commissions for many years, from
which it is to be hoped she is destined
speedily to recover-when, under more
liberal system of commercial policy on her
part, our trade with her may again fill IFS
old and so far as her continental possessions
are concerned, its almost forsaken chan
nels, thereby adding to the mutual pros
perity of the two countries.
The Germanic Association of Customs
and Commerce, which, since ITS establish
ment in 1893, has been steadily growing
in power and importance, and consists at
this time of more than twenty German
States, and embraces population Of 81
O00, 900 of people, united for all the pur-
poses of commercial intercourse with each
other and with foreign states, offers TO the
latter the most valuable exchanges on prin-
ciples more liberal than are offered in the
fiscal system of any other European pow
er. From its origin, the importance of the
German Union has never been lost sight
of by the United States. The industry,
morality, and other valuable qualities of
the German nation, have always been well
known and appreciated. On this subject
| invite the atteation Of Congress 10 the
report of the Secretary of State, from
which il will be seen that while our cotton
is admitted free of duty, and the duty on
rice has been much reduced, which has
already led 10 greatly increased oonsump-
ton, strong disposition has been recently
evinced by that great body to reduce, up
on certain conditions their present duty
upon tobacco. This being the first intima-
ton of concession on this interesting
subject ever made by an European power
l cannot but regard it as well calculated
to remove the only impediment which has
so far existed to the most liberal CONNER
cial intercourse between us and them
In this view, our Minister at Berlin, who
has heretofore industriously pursued the
subject, has been instructed to enter upon
the negotiation of a commercial treaty,
which, while it will open new advantages
to the agricultural interests Of the United
States, and a more free and expanded 6eid
for commercial operations, will affect inju-
rously no existing interest of the Union.
Should the negotiation be crowned with
success, the results will be communicated
to both Houses of Congress.
communicate herewith certain de-
spatches received from our Minister at
Mexico, and also correspondence which
has recently occurred between the Envoy
from that Republic and the Secretary OF
State. 1t must be regarded as not little
extraordinary that the Government of Mex
leo, in anticipation of public discussion
which it has been pleased TO infer from
ne wSnaner notifications as likely TO take