The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-09


gard to that transit, has thrown serious OBJ
stacle in the way Of the attainment of a very
desirable national object. am still willing to
hope that tho differences ON tho subject which
exist, or may hereafter arise, between the Gov
ernments, will be. amicably adjusted This
subject however, has already engaged the at
tention Of the Senate Of the United States. and
requires no further comment in this communi-
cation.
The settlement OF the question respecting
the port of San Juan de Nicar aqua, and Of the
controversy between the RepdDlics of Costa
RIGA and Nicaragua in regard TO their bound
aries, was considered indispensable to the
commencement of the ship canal between the
two oceans which was the subject of the con-
vention between the United States and Great
Britain of the 10Th of April 1850. Accord
ingly, proposition for the same purposes, ad-
dressed to the two Governments in that quar-
ter, and to the Mosquito Indians, was agreed
to IN April last by the Secretary of State and
the Minister of her Britannia Majesty. Be-
sides the wish to aid in reconciling the differ
ences OF the two Republics, | engaged in the
negotiation from desire to place the great
work OF ship canal between the two oceans
under one jurisdiction, and to establish the
important port of San Juan de Nicaragua. uu
der the government of "a civilized power. The
proposition In question was assepted "a by
Costa Rica and the Mosquito Indians 1t has
not proved equally acceptable to Nicaragua,
but 1t is to be hoped that the further negOtia
tons on the subject which are in train will be
carried on in that spirit of Cancellation and
compromise which ought always to prevail on
such occasions, and that they will lead to a
satisfactory result.
| have the satisfaction to inform you that
the Executive Government of Venezuela has
acknowledged some claims of citizens of the
United States, which have for many years past
been urged by or charge daffaires at Carac-
cas- IL is hoped that the same sense of justice
VIII actuate the Congress of that Republic in
providing the means for their payment
The recent revolution in Buenos Ayres and
the confederated States having opened the
prospect of an improved state of things in that
quarter, the Governments of Great Britain and
France determined to negotiate with the chief
of the new Confederacy, for the free access of
their commerce to the extensive countries
watered by the tributaries of the La Plata !;
and they gave friendly notice of this purpose
to the United States, that we might if we
thought proper pursue the same course In
compliance with this invitation, our minister
at Rio Janeiro and our charge d'affaires at
Buenos Ayres have been fully authorized to
conclude treaties with the newly-organized
Confederation, or the States composing it. The
delays which have taken place in the forma-
ton OF the new Government have as vet pre-
vented the execution of those instructions; but
there is every reason to hope that these vast
countries will be eventually opened to our com
merce.
treaty of commerce has been concluded
between the United States and the Oriental
Republic of Uruguay, which will be laid be-
fore the Senate. Should this convention 90
into operation, twill open to. the commercial en-
terprlse OF our citizens country of great ex-
tent and unsurpassed in natural resources, but
from which foreign nations have hitherto been
almost wholly excluded
The correspondence of the late Secretary of
State with the Peruvian charge d affaires, rela-
tive to the LObos Islands, was communicated to
Congress toward the close Of the last session.
Since that time, on further investigation of the
subject, the doubts which had been entertain
ed OF the title of Peru to those islands have
been removed; and have deemed it lust that
the temporary wrong which had been uninten-
tlonally done her. from want of information,
should be repaired by an unreserved acknowl-
edgment of her sovereignty.
have the satisfaction to inform you that
the course pursued by Peru has been credita-
BILE to the hberality of her Government. Be-
fore 1T was known by her that her title would
be acknowledged at Washington, her Minister
OF Foreign Affairs had authorized our charge
daffaires at Lima to announce to the Ameri-
can vessels which had gone to the Lobos for
guano, that the Peruvian Government was
Wiling to freight them on its own account
This intention has been carried into effect bv
the Peruvian Minister here, by an arrange
ment which is believed to be advantageous to
the parties in interest.
Our settlements on the shores of the Pacific
have already given great extension and in
some respects new direction, to our commerce
IN that ocean. A direct and rapidly-increas-
ing intercourse has sprung up with Eastern
Asia. The waters of the Northern Pacific,
even INTO the Arctic sea, have of late years
been frequented by our whalemen. The appi-
cation OF steam to the general purposes of navi-
CATION is becoming daily more common, and
makes 1T desirable to obtain fuel and other
necessary supplies at convenient points on the
route between Asia and our Pacific shores
Our unfortunate c0untrymGn who from time to
time suffer shpwreck on the coasts of the East
ern seas are entitled to protection Besides
these specific objects, the general prosperity of
our States on the Pacific requires that an at
tempt should DC made to open the opposite re-
gions OF Asia to mutually beneficial inter-
course 1t is obvious that this attempt could
be made by no Power to so great advantage as
by the United States, whose constitutional sys
tenn excludes every idea of distant colonial de.
tendencies. ! have accordingly been led to
order an appropriate naval force to Japan. I'M
der the command Of discreet and intelligent
officer, of the highest rank known to our SER
vice. He is instructed TO endeavor to obtain
from the Government Of that country some re-
Taxation of the inhospitable and anti-social
system which it has pursued for about two GEN.
turtles He has been directed particularly to
demonstrate in the strongest language against
the cruel treatment to which our shipwrecked
mariners have often been subjected, and to in
sst that they shall be treated with humanity
He is instructed, however, at the same time, to
give that Government the amplest assurances
that the objects of the United States are SUCH
and such only as have indicated, and that the
expedition is friendly and peaceful. Notwith-
standing the jealousy with which the Govern
ments of Eastern Asia regard all overtures
from foreigners, | am not without hopes of a
beneficial result of the expedition. Should it
be crowned with success, the advantages. will
not be confined to the United States, but as in
the case Of China, will be equally enjoyed by
all the other maritime Powers. / have much
satisfaction in stating that in all the steps pre-
paratory to this expedition, the Government of
the United States has been materially aided by
the good Offices of the King Of the Netherlands,
the only European Power having any CONNER
cial relations with Japan.
Ia passing from this survey of our foreign
relations, invite the attention of Congress to
the condition Of that department Of the Gov
eminent to which this branch Of the public