American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper., 1844-12-04

constantly advancing in the road of science and
Improvement; while France, guided by the
councils of her wise sovereign pursues course
calculated to consolidate the general peace
Spain has obtained breathing spell of some
duration from the internal conyulsions which
have through so many years, mared her pros
! pcrlty; while Austria, the Netherlands, Prussia,
Belgium and the other powers of Europe, reap
a rich harvest of blessings from the prevailing
peace.
informed the two Houses of Congress in
my message of December last, that instruc-
tons had been given to MIR. Wheaton, our
Minister at Berlin, to negotiate a treaty with
the Germanic States composing the Zoll We
ren, if it could be done-stipulatng, as far as
1t was practicable TO accomplish it, or q reduC-
tion of the heavy and onerous duties levied on
our tobacco, and their leading articles of agr-
cultural production; and yielding in return, On
our part, reduction Of duties on such articles
the production of their industry, as should not
come into competition, or but limited one,
with articles the product of our manufacturing
industry. The Executive, in giving such in
structions considered itself as acting in strict
conformity with the wishes of Congress- as
made known through several measures which
it had adopted; all directed to the accomush-
mcnt Of this important result. The treaty was,
therefore, negotiated; by which essential reduc-
! tlons were secured in the duties levied by the
| Zoll Fereln, on tobacco, rico and lard, accom-
panied by stipulation for the admission of
raw cotton free of duty. In exchange for
which highly important concessions, reduC-
| ton Of duties, imposed by the laws of the Uni
ted States on a variety OF articles most Of
which were admittcdlIee Of duty under the act
of Congress commonly known as the Compro-
I l,,tE Nf
in the United States, was stipulated for on our
! part. This treaty was communicated to the
! Senate at an early day of its last session, but
not acted upon until near its close; when, for
the want, as | am bound to presume, of full
time to consider it, 1t was laid upon the table.
! This procedure had the effect of virtually
rejecting it, in consequence of a stipulation
contained i'll the treaty, that its ratfcatons
should be exchanged on or before a day which
has already passed. The Executive, acting
upon the fair inference that the Senate did not
intend It's absolute rejection, gave instruction to
our Minister at Berlin TO reopen the negocla-
ton, so far as to obtain an extension of time
for the exchange of ratiiications | regret,
however to say that his efforts in this respect
/ have been unsuccessful. am nevertheless rot
without hope that the great advantages which
were intended to be secured by the treaty,
may not be realized.
| am happy to inform you that Belgium has,
by an ''arete royale,n issued in July last, ASST
inflated the flag of the United States 10 her
own, so far as the direct trade between the two
countries is concerned. This measure will
prove Of great service to our shipping Interest,"
! the trade having heretofore been carried on
chiefly in foreign bottoms. | flatter myself
that she will speedily resort TO modification
] I,fH Hnr. 80 tI,n nlNno In
which would decidedly benefit the agriculture
tual advantage of both countries.
No defnitivo intelligence has yet been re-
ceived from our Munster, of the conclusion Of
a treaty with the Chinese Empires but enough
is known to induce the strongest hopes that
! the mission will be crowned with success.
| With Brazil our relations continue on the
most friendly footing. The commercial inter-
course between that growing Empire and the
United States, is becoming daily of greater inn
portance to both; and it is the interest of both
that the firmest relations of amity and good
will should continue to be cultivated between
them.
The Republic of New Grenada still with
holds, Notwithstanding the most persevering
efforts have been employed by our Charge
d'Afares, Mr.. Blackford, to produce differ
ent result, indemnity in the case of the brig
"Morris." And the Congress of Venezuela
although an arrangement has been effected be-
tween our Minister and the Minister Of Fo-
reign Affairs of that Government, for the pay
ment of $4,000, i'll discharge of its liabilities
in the same case, has altogether neglected to
make provision for its payment. 1t is to be
hoped that sense of justice will soon induce
a settlement of these claims
n,,. La Nj
has returned to the United States, without hay
ing effected an adjustment in the second claim
of the Macedonian, which is delayed on
grounds altogether frivolous and untenable.-
Mr.. Pendeton's successor has been directed to
urge the claim in the strongest terms, and, in
the event of failure to obtain permanent
adjustment, to report the fact to the Execu-
tive at as early day as possible, so that the
whole matter may be communicated to Con-
gress.
At your last session, submitted to the at
tention of Congress, the Convention with the
Republic of Peru, of the l7th of March, ls4l,
providing for the adjustment of the claims of
citizens Of the United States against that Re-
public; but no defnitive action was taken up
on the subject. | again invite to it your atten-
ton and prompt action.
In my last Annual Message, felt it to be
my duty to make known to Congress, In
terms both plain and emphatic, my opinion
in regard to The war which has so long exist
ed between Mexico and Texas, which since
the battle Of San Jacinto, has consisted alto
gether of predatory ncursions, attended by
circumstances revolving to humanity. | re-
peat now, what then said, that, after eight
years of feeble and inefectnal efforts TO re-
cover Texas, it was time that the war should
have ceased. The United States had a di- |
rect interest in the question. The contigui-
ty of the two nations to our territory was but
too well calcnaled 10 involve nur neace -