The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-12-05

tied TO the protection OF any government, nc
interference shall take place with the lawful
commerce of any nation.
| In addition the correspondence on this sub.
ject, herewith submitted, official information
has been received at the Department of State
of assurances by the French Government that
in the orders given to the French naval forces,
they were expressly instructed, in any opera.
tons they might engage in, to respect the flag o.
the United States wherever it might appear
and to commit no act of hostility upon any yes
sci or armament under its protection.
Ministers and consuls Of foreign nations are
the means and agents of communication be-
tween us and those nations, and it is of the ut
most importance that, while residing in the
country, ..they should feel perfect security SC
long as they faithfully discharge their respec-
tive duties and are guilty of no violation Of oul
laws. This is the admitted law Of nations, ant
no country has deeper interest in maintaining
it than the United States. Our commerce
spreads over every sea and visits every cline
and our ministers and consuls are appointed Il
protect the interests Of that commerce, as wei
as to guard the peace Of the country and main
tain the honor of its flag. But how can they
discharge these duties unless they be themselves
Iprotected ard, if protected, it must be by the
laws of the country in which they reside. Ant
what is due to our own public functionaries re
siding in foreign nations is exactly the meas
ure of what is due to the functionaries ofothel
governments residing here. AS in war, the
bearers OF flags of truce are sacred, or else
wars would be intermidable, so in peace, en-
bas adors, public ministers, and consuls, Charg-
ed with friendly national intercourse, are OBJ
ljects of especial respect and protection, each
according to the rights belonging to his rank
and ststion. In view of these important prin-
eiples, it is with deep notification and regret
announce to you that, during the excitement
growing out of the executions at Havana, the
office of her Catholic majeStys consul at New
Orleans was aSsailed bya mob, his properly de-
stroyed, the Spanish flag found in the Office car
ried off and torn in pieces, and he himself In
duced to flee for his personal safety which ne
supposed to be in danger. On receiving intel
ligence of these events, forthwith directed the
attorney of the United States residing at New
Orleans, to inquire into the facts and the extent
OF the pecuniary loss sustained by the consul
with the intention of laying them before you
that you might make provision for such indem-
nifty to him as just regard for the honor of the
nation and the respect which is due to friend
ly power might, in your judgment, seem to re-
qure. The correspondence upon this subject
between the Secretary of State and Catholic
majesty's minister plenipotentiary is herewith
transmitted.
The occurrence a. New Orleans has led me
to give my attention TO the state of our laws ir
regard to foreign ambassadors, ministers, and
conSulS. l think the legislation Of the countr,
is deficient in not providing sufficiently eithel
for the protection or the punishment Of consuls
| therefore recommend the subject to the con.
sideration of Congress.
Your attention is again invited to the ques-
ton of reciprocal trade between the United
States and Canada, and other British possessions
near our frontier. Overtures for a convention
upon this subject have been received from her
Britanic Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary but
1t seems to be in many respects preferable that
the matter should be regulated by reciprocal
legislation. Documents are laid before you
showing the terms which the British Govern
ment is willing to offer. and the measures which
it may adopt, if some arrangement upon this
subject shall not be made.
From tine accompanying copy of note from
the British Legation at Washington, and the
reply of the Department of State thereto, il will
appear that her Britanic Majesty's Government
is desirous that part of the boundary line be-
tween Oregon and the British possessions
should be authoritatiyely marked out, and thai
an intention was expressed to apply to Con.
gress for an appropriation to defray the expense
thereof on the part of the United States. Youl
attention to this subject is accordingly invited
and proper appropriation recommended.
A convention for the adjustment of claims o.
citizens of the United States against Portuga
has been concluded, and the ratifications have
been exchanged. The first nstalment Of the
amount to be paid by Portugal, fell due on the
3Oth of September last, and has been paid.
The President of the French republic, ac-
cordiDg to the provisions of the convention has
been selected as arbiter in the case of the Gem
eral Armstrong; and has signifed that he ac-
cepts the trust and the high satisfaction he feels
in acting as the common friend of two nations,
with which France is united by sentiments of
sincere and lasting amity.
The Turkish Government has expressed its
thanks for the kird reception given TO the Sui
tan's agent, Amin Bey, on the occasion Of his
recent visit to the United States. On the 2Stb
OF February last despatch was addressed by
the Secretary OF State to Mr.. Marsh, the Amer
lean Minister at Constantinople, instructing him
70 ask OF the Turkish Government PERMISSION
ior the Hungarians, then imprisoned within the
domlnions oil the Sublime Porte, to remove to
TINS country On the 3rd of March last, both
Houses OF Congress passed resolution request
ing the President to authorize the employment
OF public vessel to convey 10 this country,
LOUIS hoSsuth and his associates in captivity.
Ihe instruction above referred to was COM
Piled with, and the Turkish Government hay-
ing released Governor Kossuth and his COM
panions from prison, on the 10th of September
last, they embarked on board of the United
states steam-frlgate Mississippi, which was Sc
lected 10 CARY into effect the resolution of Con-
gress. Governor KoSSuth left the Mississippi at
Gibraltar, Tor the purpose of making a visit to
England, and may shortly be expected in New
York. by communications TO the Deparlme mt
OF state he has expressed his grateful acknowl-
edgments for the interpoStion of this Govern
ment IN behalf of himself and his associates
TINS country has been justly regarded as a safe
asylum for those whom political events have ex-
lied from their own homes in Europe; and it is
recommended to Congress TO consider in what
manner Governor KosSuth and his companions,
brought hither by its authority, shall be receiv-
ed and treated.
1t is earnestly TO be hoped that the differences
which have for some time past been pending be-
tween the Government of the French republic
and that of the Sandwich Islands, may be peace
baly and durably adjusted, so as to secure the
independence of those islands. Long before
the events which have Of late impaired so much
Importance TO the possessions of the U. S. on
the Pacific. We acknowledged the indepen-
dence Of the Hawaiian Government. This
Government was first in taking that step, and
several of the leading powers Of Europe imme-
diately followed. We were Influenced in this