The republic., 1851-12-18

: W
and Pacific Ship Canal Company dated I'd instant
This communication is the principal source of the
information received by the Executive in relation
the subject alluded to, and is presumed TO be es-
| sentiay correct in its statements of the facts.
! Upon receiving this communication, instructions
such as the occasion seemed to demand were i'm
mediately despatched to the Minister of the United
| States in London Sufficient time has not elapsed
for the return of any answer to this despatch from
him, and in my judgment il would at the present
moment be inconsistent with the public interest to
communicate thosc Instructions. communica-
ton, however, OF all the correspondence Will be
| made to the Senate at the earliest moment at which
proper regard to the public interest will permit.
At the same time instructions were given to
squadron-a copy of which, 30 far they relate TO
the case of the Prometheus, is herewith transmit
| ted to the Senate. MILLARD FILLMORE.
WAsnIEoToN, December l6, 1851.
The following are the instructions alluded to in
the message:
NAVY DEPARTMENT. December 8, 1851
| Sin: The President has learned that English
ship-of the Express lying in the harbor OF
San Juan de Nicaragua, has recently fired upon the
American steamer Prometheus, while in the act of
departing from that harbor and compelled her to
pay certain demands, alleged to be port charges,
and claimed by persons protesting to act under the
! authority of the local government.
The particulars OF the affair will be found in a
letter OF the agent OF the Prometheus, already pub
lished in the newspapers of New York, copy OF
which is herewith transmitted.
ton between the captain of the Prometheus and the
authorities of Nicaragua, the United States
know ledge no right in the government or vessels
OF Great Britain to exercise any police or super
vision American merchant vessels in Mica
ragua or elsewhere out ofthe Briish dominons;
the contrary, the first article of the convention be-
tween the United States and her Britannia majesty
relative 10 Nicaragua, signed April 10, 1850, of
which copy is also enclosed, expressly excludes
each OF the contracting parties from assuming or
exercising any dominion Nicaragua, Costa
Rica, the Mosquito coast, or any part OF Central
America.
You WILL therefore, the Saranac shall
be in all respects ready for sea- proceed in her to
San Juan de Nicarauga for the purpose Of affording
protection to American commerce and interests on
that coast against any such interference for the fu
ture. And on your arrival there you will notify
the officer in command of her Britannia majesty's
naval forces in that harbor that coast, of the
object of your visit.
At the same time, you will assure the local au-
tborites of the port that the United States will not
justify the non payment of any lawful and proper
port duties the part of their merchant vessels,
and that they desire the most friendly relations
with the government of Central America, and will
faithfully maintain their part the stipuatons of
the treaty already referred to-
lam, very respectfully, you, obsdiens servant
Commodore F. A PARKER.
Commanding U. s. Home Squadron, Pensacola.
The message and accompanying documents
were ordered to be printed.
NAvIeATIoN OF THE ST. LAWRENCE.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate message
from the President in reply to resolution of the
Senate of MarchS, 1851, calliRg for information
concerning commerce with Canada and the navi-
CATION of the ST. Lawrence river
Mr.. CLEMENS presented joint resolutions of
the Legislature of Alabama, praying the sale of
certain reserved lands in that State.
FLoeeING IN THE NAVY.
Mr.. BRODHEAD presented petition, hume
rously signed, from citizens of Pennsylvania
praying the restoration of the punishment of fog
ging in the naval service.
MIR. STOCKTON said that he surprised that
petition with such an object could receive so
many signatures in Philadelphia He recognised
the right of petition, but he could not approve of
this petition. He desired to present his views on
this subject; and, if it in order, he would
move to lay the petition on the table. He would
call it up on next Tuesday.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
COMPENSATION FoR SUI TREAsuaERs.
MIR. HUNTER, from the Committee on Finance,
reported a bill provide compensation to euch per-
soma may be designated by the Secretary Of the
Treasury to receive and keep the public moneys
under the 10Th section of the act of August g. 1886
for the additional services required under that act
He explained the bill as being the same as the one
passed by the Senate at the last session; and it was
ordered TO be engrossed for a third reading.
WATER ron wAsHiNGToN CITY,
Mr.. UNDERWOOD presented the petition of
Messrs. William Selden, p. G.. Washington and
others, setting forth estimates, &C., of plan to
supply Washington. city and Georgetown with wa
ter from the Falls of the Potomac river. Referred
TO the Committee on the District of Columbia
THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES WITH REGARD TO
FOREIGN INTERvENTIoN.
MIR. WALKER submitted the following resolu-
ton, which lies over:
Whereas, the signs of the times are portentous
OF an approaching struggle in Europe between the
republican masses for constitutional governments
on the one side and the advocates of monarchy for
on the ofhe aud ,xyta
1t pressingly behooves the representatives of the
American people of the united sovereign States of
America to seriously consider, and betimes to in
quire into the relations of the Government and
country to this struggle, and their duty, in view
OF it, to themselves, to for eign nations and the in
ternational law; therefore
BE ii resolved, That the Committee on Foreign
kelatons be instructed to inquire into and report
upon the expediency of open declaration by
Congress- to foreign nations and the world that the
United States hold strictly to the policy and prin
ciple that each individual, nation, State or power
possesses for itself the exclusive right and sole
power to take and dispose of its own internal
concerns, without and exempt from the Intervention
and interference OF any foreign government State,
confederacy, alliance, or power whatsoever, and
that any such Intervention interference by or on
the part OF any foreign government, State, con-
iederacy, alliance, or power, constitutes an infrac-
ton OF the law OF nations, authorizing and justify
ing the lnterposltlon OF any or all other govern
nents, coniederacies or powers, at their discre-
ton, to prevent such Intervention, and to repair
5uch lnfracton OF the law of nations
Reso!red, further, That the same committee be
instructed TO inquire also into the expediency of
requesting the President Of the United States to
cause negotiations to be opened with all other con-
stitutional governments with a view and to the |
end of obtaining their cooperation with the Uni.
ted States in the declaration aforesaid and the |
policy and principle thereof, and in the observance
defence, and maintenance of the law of nations in
this respect,
PENSION TO THE WIDOW OF GENERAL WORTH.
MIR. BORLAND moved that the Senate take up |
the bill granting pension to Mrs. Margaret |
Worth, widow of the late Major General Worth; |
and the motion agreed to.
After debate, in which Messrs. BORLAND and |
SEWARD advocated the BILL and Mr.. UNDER |
WOOD opposed it, it was ordered to be engrossed |
for third reading-yeas 3s, nays 9.
THE COMPROMISE MEASURES.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
OF the resolution declaring the Compromise mea-
sures dehnitive settlement of the subject of sla-
very.
Mr. MASON explained the action of the Senate
ON the Fugitive Slave bill at the session of 1850.
and the causes of the delay in action on it.
Mr.. BRODHEAD, in reply TO come remarks
4. h~I lzz.x l.