The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-23

privateer hred the frs shot. thus constituting her
The aggressor, and the voator Of the neutrality OF
tho port Of q friendly nation.
Negotiations went on for many years; but Por-
tngal refused to make reparstion. and in 1874, Mr.
Upshur, the Secretary of State at Washington,
made communication to Mr.. s. C. Reid, jun, son
Of the captain of the pnyatoer, refusing to renew
the application, urging that "argument and i'm.
portuaity had bsen exhausted, and that the gov.
ernment could see nothing in the circumstance to
warrant II In having recourse to any other wea.
pons." The claim, however, has in 1880 been re-
aswed. along with others, and the American charge
d'ctair" at Lisbon has given the Portuguese gov
eminent twenty days, lending on the 18th instant
10 decide whether II will reco gnise them or not,
The cost and outfit Of the General Armstrong did
not exceed 1000 dollars but the claim Of the own
ers ana crew has now been sweIled to a00, 800 dol
lars.
Another claim 10 for the unjust seizure Of 10, 900
dollars on board an American ship In this port %
far back ~ the year 1918. The vessel In question
had entered the Tngus from Hamburger, where the
master had sold his cargo, and received the dollars
IN payment. An information was laid that the dol
lars had been put on board here, and as the expor
talon OF coin was then strictly prohibited, they
were seized. lawsuit followed for their recovery,
which was finally decided in favor Of the American
captain, but the government arbitrarily reversed
the judgment OF the courts, and kept the money.
The claim under this head, with interest at FIVE per
cent, amounts to q, 600 dollars.
Some yesrs ago homeward bound Anne rican ship,
laden with palm oil, being in a very leaky state,
put into one of the Cape Verd islands. In order
avoid delay, as the repairs would occupy great
length Of time, the master hired Portuguese gov
eminent transport to convey the oil to It's destina
ton, paying the freight in advance After the
transhipment had been effected, the American cap
tain discovered that the transport, which had been
represented as sea worthy, totally unfit to pro
coed on the voyage, and accordingly demanded
that the agreement should be cancelled, the oil re-
landed, and the freight returned. This was per-
emptorly refused by the governor of the place, and
the consequence was, that the transport, having
sailed, was soon found to be in leaky state
that, after narrow escape from laundering, which
was only prevented by keeping the pumps at work
day and night, she put into port in the Brazils,
where the whole OF the oil was sold to defray the
cost of the repairs. Besides these, which are the
principal, there are various other claims Of minor
Importance.
You will easily imagine (says letter from Lis
bon) into what state OF CONSERVATION the pre-
sentation of these demands backed by the presence
OF an armed force, must have thrown government
already SO distressed for means to meet even daily
exigcncies. council of ministers was ilnmcdl-
aeiy held to deliberate upon the to be pur-
sued, which, it WAS agreed, should be an appeal to
the diplomatic corps to their endeavors to have
the matter submitted TO arbitration. learn, how
ever, that the American minister has positively
fused to submit the case to arbitration, admit
mediation OF any sort, and has insisted on pa ment
OF the claims within twenty days, at the expira-
ton OF which, If no settlement should have been
come to, he will demand his passports and the
squadron, which, it is said, will soon be joined by
other ships, will commence making rcprisals. The
finale, of course, will be- that the Portuguese will
offer to pay the money in instalments, an accom-
mediation which the Americans cannot well refuse
to SO needy debtor For the sake of appearances
however, they are meanwhile making a show of
warlike preparation.
Austria.
Tn,a Il
the Roman Catholic church, no official document
mas produced such sensation the project Of the
Austrian Minister of Commerce for the establish
ment OF a German Aust rian customs union. While
the Minister. President ia busily employing all the
arts of diplomacy in order to secure the .iHiuence
OF Austria in Germany, Baron Bruck, the practi-
cal man OF business, suddenly brings forward
plan which is likely materially to assist his col
league In his sndeavors. The project has been
ceived with the greatest satisfaction by the whole
OF the Austrian press The document is divided
into two parts, the first Of which develops the ideas
OF tne Austrian government concerning the organ
lzauon Of commercial union between all the Ger
man States and the Austrian empire, ''as an ndi-
visible customs unity" the second treats of the
fundamental principles eventually to be observed
by the customs union States in regard to foreign
countries. Some time ago Baron Bruck proposed
TO convoke congress in order to consult about the
steps to be taken TO effect the object
now brought forward. This is at present consd-
cred unnecessary, as Austria, looking upon the
Plenum as the real and lawful central power, has
taken advantage OF its presidial rights and recon-
mended the project to the confederation of the
of the federal States now assembled
at Frankfort. The principal points proposed for
the political commercial organization the fol-
lowing:
l. The regulation of the mutual import, export
and transit duties; the political com
mercial representation of the confederation abroad;
the conclusion OF treaties OF trade and navigation
The central power, which is To be assisted by fed
To haye
the exclusive direction of the internal trade, and
every thing concerning the customs g All trade
within the limits of the States belonging the con-
federation Is 10 be duty free, with the sole excep-
ton of those articles which the objects of finance
3. The fcderative council for commerce
and navigation 10 be deliberative body-a specics
OF federal board OF trade-composed Of deputies
from the sevcral States, the greater number TO be
chosen from the commercial boards of the respec-
tive counties the others TO be appointed by the diff
ierent governments. The federative council to
meet periodically, and to elect permanent com
mitteo from among it's members in such a way
that Austria, Prussia, the North German States
and Southern Germany, shall always be represent
ed therein. 4. commercial department, like the
English Board of Trade, a statistical Office and
chambers OF control and accounts, are TO complete
the machinery connected with the management of
The customs and political commercial affairs of the
German Confederation. The separate governments
are only TO have a right TO conclude treaties of
rade and TO direct and river institutions in ne
lar ms they do not interfere with the treaties and
measures Of the Confederation. Althou rh the re-
,lization of the foregoing ideas would lead 20 a
union likely TO be any thing but accept.
,ble to the other European powers il IA not to be
ienicd that II would DO more effect the pacfca-
ion and unity Of Germany than half dozen con-
whether "octroyed" by Austria or Prus-
TIA, ne IL would be union Of interest instead Of
political phsntasm.
Prussia.
tCorrsspondence Of The London TIme,.
BERLrS, July 3.
TREATY OF PEACE WITH DENsARK.-Thc treaty
)f peace with Denmark was signed last night by
he ,cycral coptracting m rtfcs az