The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1843-12-22


government, new republics are destined
to spring up, at no distant day, on the
shores of the Pacific. similar i'll policy
ana IN feeling to those existing on this
side Of the Rocky Mountains, and giving
wider and more extensive spread 10 the
principles of civil and religious liberty.
am happy to inform you that the cas-
es which have arisen, from time to time,
of the detention of American vessels by
| British cruisers on the coast OF Africa,
under pretence of being engaged in the
slave trade, have been placed IN fair
train of adjustment. In the case of the
William d Francis, full satisfaction
will be allowed. In the case of the W
girls Seamew, the British government ad,
mits that satisfaction is due. In the case of
the Jones, the sum accrung from the sale
Of that vessel and cargo will be paid to
the owners-which | cannot but natter
myself that full indemnifcation will be
allowed for all damages sustained by the
! detention Of the yessel-and in the case OF
the Douglass, her Maesty's government
has expressed It's de erminatlon TO make
naturalization. Strong hopes are there
fore entertained, That most, if not all Of
these cases will be speedily adjusted. No
new cases have arisen since the rallica-
ton Of the treaty of Washington and it
is confidently anticipated, that the slave
trade, under the operation Of the eighth
article OF that treaty, will be altogether
suppressed.
The occasional interruption experience
ed by our fellow cilzens engaged in the
ishries on the neighboring cnasl Of Nova
Scotia, has not failed To claim the alten.
lion of the executive. Representations
upon this subject have been made, but as
yet no deiiuItive answer to those repre-
sensations has been received from the
British Government.
Two other subjects of comparatively
minor Importance, bat nevertheless of too
mach consequence to be neglected, re-
man sllll to be nd busted between the two
countries. BY the treaty between the
United States and Great Britain, Of July,
1915, it is provided that no higher duties
shall be levied in either country on arti-
Giles imported from the other, than on the
same articles imported from any other
place. In 1896, rough rice, by act of
parliament, was admitted from the coast
Of Africa INTO Great Britain on the pay
ment Of a duty Of one peny quarter,
while the same articles from all other
countries, including the United States.
were subject to the payment of a daly of
twen,y shdings a quarter. Our minister
at London has from time to time brought
this subject to the consideration of the
BRUSH government, but so far without
success. He is instructed to renew his
representations upon IT,
Some years s,rcc claim was prefer
red agains the British government on the
part OF certain Ame,lcan merchants. for
the return of export duties paid by them
on shipments OF woollen good to the Uni
ted States, alter the duty on similar arti
Cles exported To other countries had been
repealed, and consequently IN conlraven-
ton OF the commercial convention be-
tween tue two nations securing 10 US
equality in such cases. The principle
On which the claim rests has long since
hecn virtually admitted by Great Britain,
but obstacles to a settlement have from
time 10 time been interpOsed. so that a
large portion of the amount claimed has
not yet been refunded. Our minister is
now engaged in the prosecution OF the
claim and cannot bat persuade myself
that the British government will no
longer delay its adjustment.
am happy to be able to say that no.
thing has occurred to disturb in any de-
gree the relations of amity which exist
between the United States and France,
Austria and Russia, as well as with the
other powers of Europe, since the adj
journmenl of congress.--Spain has been
agilaled with internal commissions Tor ma.
ny years, from the effects of which it is TO
be hoped she is destined speedily to reco-
ver--when on a more liberal system of
commercial policy on her part, our trade
with her may again I'll its old and so far
as her continental possessions are con-
cerned, It's almost forsakens channels,
thereby adding to the mutual prosperity
OF the two countries.
The Germanic Association of Customs
and Commerce, which since its establish
men, in 1893, has been steadily growing
in power and importance. and consists at
this time Of more than twenty German
states, and embraces population oi
27,000.0O Of people united for all the
purposes of commercial intercourse with