Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-12-16

pa tAVHt. 1HCOllN cIIeUCeS nave area
dy resulted from the omission of Con-
5ress to leeislate upon the subject,
md still greater are apprehended.-
The British authorities in China have
'lready complained that this govern.
nent has not provided for the punish
aent of crimes, or the enforcement OF
contracts against American citizens IN
that country, whilst their govern
ment has established tribunals by
which an American citizen can recov-
er debts due from British subjects.
Accustomed as the Chinese are to
summary justice, they could not be
made to comprehend why criminals
who are citizens of the United States
should escape with IMMUNITY, in viola
zion oftrea'y obligations, whilst the
punishment ola Chinese, who had
committed any crime against an Amer
lean citizen, would be vigorously ex-
acted. Indeed, the consequences
might be fatal to American citizens in
China, should fragrant crime be COM
miited by any one of them upon Chi
nese, anu should trial and punishment
not follow according to the requisi-
tons of the treaty. This might dis
turb, if not destroy, our friendly rela-
tons with tina, empire, and cause an
interruption of our valuable COM
meree.
Our treaties with the Sublime Porte,
Tripoli, Tunis, Morocco, and Muscat,
also require the Legislation of Congress
to carry them into execution, though
The necessity for immediate action
may not be SO urgent as in regard to
China.
The Secretary of State has submit
ted an estimate to defray the expense
of opening diplomatic relations with
the Papal States. The interesting po-
,Iitical events now in progress in these
States, as we'll as just regard 10 our
commercial interests, have in my opin-
ion, rendered such a measure highly
expedient.
Estimates have also been submitted
for the outfits and salaries of charges
d'affaires to the republics of Bolivia,
Guatemala, and Ecuador. The mani
fest Importance of cultivating the most
friendly relations with all the indepen-
dent States upon this continent has in
duced me to recommend appropria.
tons necessary for the maintenance
of these missions.
| recommend to Congress that an
appropriation be made, to be paid to
the Spanish government for the pur-
pose of distribution among the claim
ants in "the Amistad case" ! enter.
tain the conviction that this is due to
Spain under the treaty of the twentieth
of October. 1875; and, moreover, that,
from the earnest manner in which tie
claim continues to be urged, so long
as it shall remain unsettled, it will be a
source of irritation and discord be.
tween the two countries, which may
prove highly prejudicial to the interests
of the United States. Good policy, mo
less than faithful compliance with
our treaty obligations, requires tina,
the inconsiderabIe appropriation de.
manded should be made.
A detailed statement of the condi-
ton Of the finances will be presented
in the annual report oc the Secretary
of the Treasury. The imports for the
last 6scal-year, ending on the thirtie,h
Of June, 1847, were of the value O.
one hundred and forty-sx million FIVE
hundred and forty-6ve thousand sis
hundred and thirty-eight dollars; o
which the amount exported was eigh
million eleven thousand one hundred
and ifty-eight dollars, leaving one hun
dred and thirty-eight million FIVE hun
dred and ,hirty-four thousand four hun
dred and eighty dollars in the country
for domestic use. The value of tht
exports for the same period was one
hundred and ffty-eight million 81,
hundred and forty-eight thousand sin
hundred and twenty-five dollars; o
which one hundred and City million
six hundred and thirty-seven thousand
four hundred and sixty-fou: dollars
consisted of domesti, productions, arc
eight million eleven thousand one
hundred and ffty-eight dollars of for.
eign articles.
!! The receipts into the treasury fol
the same period amounted 10 twenty
six million three hundred and forty-slx
thousand seven hundred and ninety
dollars and thirty-seyen cents, of which
there was derived from customs TWEEN
|ty-three million seven hundred and for
ty-seven thousand eight hundred and
sixty-faur dollars and sixty-six cents;
from sales of public lands, two million
four hundred and n;nety-eight thou
sand three hundred and thirty-fve dol
lars and twenty cents; and from Incl