The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-12-13

claim on this continent a like exemption from,
| European Interference. The nations of America
are equally sovereign and independent with those /,
OF Europe. They possess the same rights, inde-,
pendent Of all foreign interpositioD, 10 make war,s
| to conclude peace, and to regulate their in;eFnsl
affairs. The Jeople of the United States capnot,i
therefore, view with Indifference attempts Of Euro-7
peaa powers to interfere with the independent acc
tof NJ HE nations on this continent. The Ameri-i
car system OF sor ernment is entirely different lrous
that Europe. Jealousy amoag the different SOW
ereigns OF Europe, lest any one OF them might be-a
come too powerful for the rest has caused them
anxiousy desire the establishment of what they
| term the ''baaDce OF power y 1t cannot be per-
mitted to have any application on the North Amer,
can continent, and tally to the United States.
We must ever maintain the prinele, that the peo-,
pie of this continent alone have the right to decide
their destiny. Should any portion Of them,s
constituting an independent state propose to unite
themselves with our cGpfederscy, this will be q
question for them aud Us 10 determine without any
| foreign nterpoaiii0D, We CanDeper consent that
European Powers shall interfere to prevent such a.
union, because It might disturb the ''baIance of,
power which they may desire to maintain upon
this continent. Near quarter of century ago the
principle distinctly announced to the world, in
the annual message ofone of my predecessors, that
"lhe American continents, by the free and indepen-
dent condition which they have assumed and main
tained henceforth not to be considered as sub
jects for future colonization by any European pow.
er." THIS principle will apply with greatly in
creased force should any European power attempt
to establish any new colony in North AmeIica.-
In the existing circumstances Of the world, the
present is deemed proper occasion to reterate and
reafirm the principle avnwed by Mr.. Monroe, and
to state my cordial concurrence in its wisdom and
sound policy, The reasserton of this principle,
especially in reference to North America, is at this
day but the promulgation of policy which no
European power should cherish the disposition to
resist. Existing rights Of every European nation
should be respected but it is due alike to safe
ty and Interests that the efficient protec ton of
our laws should be extended over our whole ter
rItorial limits and that il should be distinctly an
nounced to the world settled policy, that no
future European colony or dominion, shall, with
our consent, be planted established on any part
Of the north American con tinent
| A question has recently arisen under the tenth
article of the subsstlng treaty between the United
States and Prussia. BY this article, the consuls of
the two countries have the right to sit as Judges
aud arbitrators such differences as may arise
between the captains and crews of the vessels be-
longing to the nation whose interests committed
TO their charge; without the interference of the To-
cal authorities, unless the conduct of the crews or
of the captain should disturb the order or tranquil
ity of the country, or the said consuls should re-
qure their assistance to cause their decisions to be
carried into effect supported"
The PrussIan consul at New Bedford, in June,
1874, applied to Mr.. Justice Story to carry into
effect decision made by him between the captain
and crew of the Prussian ship Borussa; but the re-
quest refused on the ground that, without pre-
vous legislation by Congress. the judiciary did not
possess the power to give effect to this article of
the treaty. The Prussian government, through
their minister here, have complained Of this VIOLA,
ton OF the treaty, and have asked the government
of the United States to adopt the necessary meas
ures to prevent similar violations hereafter. Good
e., roll
whom we have similar treaty stipulatons, requires,
that these should be faithfully observed. | have
deemed it proper, therefore, TO lay the subject be-
fore Congress, and to recommend snch legisla-'
ton as may be necessary to give effect to these
treaty obligations. s'--
| By virtue of an arrangement made between tho
Spanish Government and that Of the United States,p
| in December, 1881, American vessels, since the
twenty yninth of April, 1882, have been admitted to
entry in the ports of Spain, including those ofthe
Balearic and Canary islands, On payment of the
same tonnage duty OF five cents per ton, as though
they had been Spanish vessels; and this, wefher
vessels arrive in Spain directly from the United
States, indirectly from any other country
When Congress, by the act of the thirteenth of
July, 1882, gave effect to this arrangement be-
tween the two governments, they confined the
reduction of tonnage duty merely to Spanish ves-
sells ''comlng from port in Spain" leaving the
former discriminating duty to remain against such
vessels coming from port in any other country.
1t is manifesty unjust that, whilst American ves-
ses, arriving in the ports OF Spain from other coun-
tries, pay no duty than Spanish vessels, Span
sh vessels arriving in the ports of the United
States from other countries should be subjected
to heavy discriminating tonnage duties. This No.
neither equalitynor reciprocity, and is in violation
Of the arrangement concluded in December, 1881,
between the two countries. The Spanish geverh-
ment have made repeated and earnest remonstran-
,l,;s tbof
ton OF Congress has been several times invoked to
the subject by my predecessors. recommend, a.
an act of Justice to Spain, that this inequality be
removed by Congress, and that the discriminating
duties which have been levied under the act Of the
thirteenth of July, 1882, on Spanish vessels COM
ing to the United States from any other foreign
country, be refunded. This recommendation does
not embrace Spanish vessels arriving in the United
States from Cuba and Porto Rico, which will still
remain subject to the provisions OF the act Of Juno
thirteth, 1881, concernicg tonnage duty such
vessels. 1888. t.aG
BY the act ofthe fourteenth Of July, 1882, coffee
was exempted from duty altogether. This ex-
empton was universal, without reference to the
country where it was produced, or the NATIONAL
character Of the vessel in which 1t was imported.
By the tariff act Of the thrtieth OF August, ls42.
this exemption from duty was restricted TO coffee
imported in American vessels from the place oft
production; whilst coffee imported under all other
circumstances was subjected to duty OF twenty
per cent, dd raiorem. Under this act and our
existing treaty with the King of the Netherlands
Java coffee imported from the European ports Of
that kingdom into the United States, whethe. in
Dutch or American vessels, now pays this rate of
duty The government OF the Netherlands COM
plains that such discriminating duty shoald haye
been imposed coffee, the production OF one of
its olonies, and which is chiefly brought from
Java to the ports of that kingdom. and exported
from thence to foreign countries. Our trade with
the Netherlands is highly beneficial to both copn-,
tries, and our relations with them have ever been
OF the most friendly character Under all the Cir
cumstances Of the case, recommend that this dis
elimination should be abolished, and that the coffee
OF Java imported from the Netherlands be placed
upon the same footing with that imported dire tly