Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-11


sure 1t would bring into the Confederacy population
of different national stock, speaking different Ian
guage and not likely to harmonic with the other mem
bers 1t would probably affect in prejudcial manner
the industrial interests Of the South and it might revive
those conflicts of opinion between the different sections o.
the country which lately shook the Union to its centre
and which have been SO happily compromised.
The rejection by the Mexican Congress OF the conven
ton which had been concluded between that Republic and
the United States, for the protection Of transit way
the sthmus Of Tehuanepec and of the interests
those citizens Of the United States who had become pro-
pretors Of the rights which Mexico had conferred on
Of her own citizens in regard to that transit has thrown
serious obstacle in the way of the attainment of
desirable national object still willing to hope thai
the differences the subject which exist, or may here
after arise between the Governments, will be amcably
adjusted This subject however, has already engaged
the attention Of the Senate Of the United States and re
quires no further comment in this commuDication.
The settlement Of the question respecting the port
San de Nicaragua and Of the controversy between
the Republics Of Costa Rica and Nicaragua regard
their boundarisa snsideyed indispensable 70 th
of the ship canal between the two
which the subject Of the convention between th'
United States and Great Britain OF the 18th OF April
1850 Accordingly, proposition for the purposes
addressed to the Governments in that quarter and
to the Mosquito Indians was agreed to in April last by
the Secretary of State and the Minister of her Britannia
Majesty Besides the wish to aid in rec0ncng the diff
ferences Of the two Republics, engaged in the negota
ton from desire to place the great work of ship canal
between the two under one jurisdiction and to
establish the important port of San Juan de Nicaragua
under the Government Of civilized power. The pr0po
ston in question was assented by Costa Rca and the
Mosquito Indians 1t has not proved equally acceptable
Nicaragua but it is to be hoped that the further
tatons the subject which in train will be carried
on in that spirit of conciiaton and compromise which
ought always prevail such occasions and that they
will lead to satisfactory result.
have the satisfaction to inform you that the Execu
tive Government Of Venezuela has acknowledged some
claims of citizens of the United States, which have for
haau hv nj
Caracas 1t is hoped that the of justice will
actuate the Congress of that Republic in providing the
means for their payment.
The recent revolution in Buenos Ayres and the Con-
federated States having opened the prospect OF an i'm
proved state Of things in that quarter the Governments
Great Britain and France determined to negotiate with
the chief the Conederacy the free 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
might if thought proper pursue the same course In
compliance with this invitation, Minister at Rio jan
ero and Charge ares at Buenos Ayres have been
fully authorized to conclude treaties with the
ganized Confederation the States composing it. The
delays which have taken place in the formation of the
Government have prevented the execution Of
those Instructions but there is every to hope that
these vast countries will be eventually opened to
commerce
"A treaty of commerce has been concluded between the
United States and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,
which will be laid before the Senate Should this
enterprise of citizens country of great extent 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 dAares relative to the Lobos Is
lands communicated to Congress towards the close
of the last session Since that time further nvestga
ton of the subject the doubts which had been entertained
of the title of Peru those islands have been removed
and have deemed it just that the Temporary wrong
which had been unintentonally done her rom want of
information, should be repaired by unreseryed
knowledgment of her sovereignty.
have the satisfaction to inform you that the
pursued by Peru has been credtable the beray Of
her Government Before il known by her that her
title would be acknowledged at Washington, her Minis
ter Of Foreign Affairs had authorized Charge DAT
fares at Lima the American vessels which
had gone to the Lobos for guano that the Peruvian Gov
ernment willing to freight them its
This intention has been carried into effect by the Peru
vian Minister here by arrangement which is believed
to be advantageous to the parties in interest
Our settlements the shores of the Pacific have al
ready given great extension, and in respects
new direction, TO in that direct
and rapidly yincreasng intercourse has sprung up with
Eastern Asia The waters of the Northern Pacific
into the Arctic have late years been equened by
whalemen The application of steam to the general
purposes Of navigation is becoming daily common,
and makes it desirable to obtain fuel and other necessary
supplies at convenient points the between Asia
and Pacific shores Our unfortunate countrymen who
from time to time suffer shpwreck the coasts of the
eastern entitled to protection Besides these
specific objects the general prosperity Of States
the Pacific requires that attempt should be made to
open the opposite regions Of Asia to mutually beneficial
1t is obvious that this attempt could be
made by Power to great advantage by the United
States whose constitutional system excludes every idea
of distant colonial dependencies. l have accordingly
been led to order an appropriate naval force TO Japan
under the command of discreet and intelligent officer
of the highest rank known TO service He is instruct
ed to endeavor to obtain from the Government of that
country relaxation of the inhospitable and anti
social system which has pursued for about two centu
res He has been directed particularly to demonstrate
the strongest language against the cruel treatment to
which shipwrecked mariners have often been subject
ed and to insist that they shall be treated with humanity
He is instructed however, at the time to give that
Government the ampest that the objects Of
the United States SUCH and such only have in
dcaed and that the expedition is friendly and peaceful
Notwithstanding the jealousy with which the Govern
ments of Eastern Asia regard oil overtures from for
eigners not without hopes of beneficial result of
the expedition Should il be crowned with success, the
advantages will not be confined to the United States but
in the Of China, will be equally enjoyed by all
the other maritime Powers have much satisfaction in
stating that in all the steps preparatory to this expedi
ton the Government Of the United States has been mate
rally aided by the good Offices of the King Of the Ne
therands the only European Power having any CONNER
cia relations with japan.
In passing from this survey Of foreign relations
invite the attention Of Congress to the condition of that
department Of the Government to which this branch OF
the public business is entrusted Our intercourse with
foreign Powers has Of late greatly increased both
in consequence of our growth and the introduction
of many States into the family OF nations In this
way the Department of State has become overburdened
has, by the establishment of the Department Of
the Interior been relieved Of portion Of the domes
tic business IL the residue Of the business of that kind
such the distribution of Congressional documents the
keeping publishing and distribution Of the laws of the
United States the execution of the copyrirh law the