Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-09-12
Our Relation with Parinsnl.

As we have already stated, Portugal has agreed
to settle all the claims the United States has pre-
erred against her, account of spoliations during
our last war with Great Britain with the exception
Of those for the General Armstrong. Ofthe claims
so settled, some were for outrages Of the most fla
grant character. To say nothing Of the claims for
the brig Magoon and the ship Col. Blum, those Of
the Miles and Of the James Hall were as gross vo-
lations Of the law OF nations as could possibly be
conceived. In the case Of the James Hall, the Por-
tuguese authorities deliberately robbed the shin of
all her species and in that Of the Miles, they took
about three thousand barrels Of which they dis
posed Of for the benefit Of Portuguese ships. The
Philadelphia North American gives q historical
retrospect of these various claims, with some of
their attendant incidents, from which we quote -
Louisville JoHrual.
The claims for which our government made de-
mands on Portugal, arose, az the lawyers say, er
deicfo. They were t0rts-positive wrongs-and
insults to the flag of the republic, and as SUCH ap-
propriae subjects Of demand by the law of nations
The case of the Levant was recently presented to
the State Department by Commodore Stewart, but
too late to be embraced in the demand made in June
last in Lisbon. It will be remembered that in
1914, the Constitution frgate went into Porto Praya
and was fired upon by the Portuguese batteries.-
Shortly AFTER she fought her celebrated battle with
the Cyane and Levant, in which both the British
ships were taken. The Levant was sent into Porto
Praya as prize, where the Portuguese Governor.
who had fired on the Constitution, suffered British
squadron to enter the harbor and Ie-capture her,
under the very guns of his fort. Mr. Madison sub
mitted this outrage to Congress, which passed a
resolution declaring the liability of Portugal for the
loss; but the afterwards suffered to sleep
without redress.
Mr. Clay left the court of Donna Maria in the flag
ship OF Commodore Morgan, which was directed to
enter the Tagus to receive him. His departure,
we apprehend, from such information as we have
been able to obtain, less directly or exclusive
ly owing to the refusal Of the Portuguese govern
ment to settle the claims than to his having been
twice treated with studied ndgnity at roy levee
or drawing room. to which he fol mally invited
by the Queen,her Majesty having there passed him,
in marked way, without recognition. Mr. CLAY
called the attention of Count Togal to this disre-
spect, but without succeeding in procuring any ex-
planasion. This occurrence took place after Pres.
idept Taylnrss annual had heen J.t
Lisbon; and Mr. Clay advised his government of
the facts. Gen. Taylor Immediately ordered de-
mand Of a settlement Of the claims in able
time to be made, and directed Mr. Clay, if the de-
mand was not complied WITH to take his passports
and leave the Tagus in a ship Of war. Our diplo-
matte relations thus interrupted. will, it is presnm-
ed, be speedily resumed on Mr. Fillmore,s accept.
ing the proposition made by Portugal, which, az
we have intima,ed, not received in this coun-
try until after Gen. Taylors death and the conse-
quent dissolution Of his administration.