Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-12-18

object. am still willing to hope that the differences
on the subject which exist may hereafter arise be-
tween the governments, will be amicably adjusted
Ihs SUBJECT however, has already engaged the atten-
ton of the Senate of the United States and requires
no further comment in this communication
The settlement of the question respecting the port
OF San Juan de Nicaragua, and of the controversy be-
tween the Republics of Costa RIGA and Nicaragua in
regard to their boundaries, considered ndispensa
bic to the commencement of the ship canal between
the two oceans, which was the subject of the Con-
venton between the United States and Great Britain
OF the 18th of April 1850. Accordingly, a PROPOSE
ton for the purposes addressed to the two gov
ernments in that quarter and to the Mosquito Indians
was agreed to in April last by the Secretary of State
and the Minister of her Britanc Majesty. Besides
the wish to aid in reconciing the differences of the two
republics, engaged in the negotiation from desire
to place the great work of ship canal between the
two under jurisdiction and to establish the
important port of San Juan de Nicaragua under the
government of civilized power. The proposition in
question was assented to by Costa Rica and the Mos
quito Indians. 1t has not proved equally acceptable
to Nicaragua but is to be hoped that the future ne
gotiatons on the subject which in train will be
carried on in that spirit of Cancellation and compro
mise 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 execu-
tive government Of Venezuela has acknowledged some
claims of citizens of the United States aBhch have
for many years past been urged by our Charge DAT
fares at Caracas. 1t is hoped that the sense
OF justice will actuae 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 i'm
proved state OF things in that quarter, the governments
of Great Britain and France determined to negotiate
with the chief of the new Confederacv 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 thought proper, pursue
the same course In compliance with this invitation
our Minister at Rio Janeiro and our Charge dAfares
at Buenos Ayres have been fully authorized to con-
clude treaties with the new organized Confederation
or the States composing it. The delays which have
taken place in the formation of the new government
have, yet prevented the execution of those nstruc
tons; but there is every to hope that these vast
countries will be eventually opened to our commerce.
A treaty OF commerce has been concluded between
the United States and the Oriental Republic of Uru-
quay, which will be laid before the Senate. Should
this Convention go into operation it will open to the
commercial enterprise of citizens a country of
great extent, and unsurpassed in natural resources
but from which foreign nations have hitherto been al
most wholly excluded.
The correspondence of the late Secretary Of State
with the Peruvian Charge dAfaires relative to the
Lobos Islands, was communicated to Congress toward
the close OF the last session Since that time fur
Their investigation Of the subject the doubts which had
been entertained of the title of Peru to those islands
have been removed; and have deemed it just that the
temporary wrong which had been unntentionay done
/
an unreserved acknowledgment of her sovereignty.
have the satisfaction to inform you that the course
pursued by Peru has been credtablc the berality
Of her government. Before it known by her that
her title would be acknowledged at Washington, her
Minister of Foreign Affairs had authorized cur Charge
dAHares at Lima to announce to the American yes
sells which had gone to the LobOs for guano that the
Peruvian government willing to freight them on
its This intention has been carried into
effect by the Peruvian Minister here, by arrange
= Halt no
ties in interest.
I Our settlements on the shores of the Pacific have
already given great extension, and in some respects
a new direction, to our commerce in that ocean. A
direct and rapidy-ncreasing 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 whalemen. The application
of steam to the general purposes of navigation is be-
coming daily more common, and makes it desirable to
obtain fuel and other necessary supplies at convenient
points on the route between Asia and cur Pacific
shores. Our unfortunate countrymen who from time
to time suffer shipWreck the coasts OF the eastern
entitled to protection. Besides these specific
Objects the general prosperity OF our States on the
Pacific requires that attempt should be made to
open the opposite regions of Asia to mutually ben
efcal intercourse 1t is obvious that this attempt
could be made by no power to so great advantage as
by the United States whose constitutional system
cludes every idea of distant colonial dependencies.
have accordingly been led to order appropriate ma
and intelligent officer of the highest rank known tc
our service. He is instructed to endeavor to obtain
from the government of that country relaxation
of the inhospitabe and ant-social system which II
has pursued for about two centuries. He has beer
directed particularly to demonstrate in the strongest
language against the cruel treatment to which oul
shipwrecked mariners have often been subjected, anC
to insist that they shall be treated with humanity
He instructed however, at the time to give thai
government the ampest assurances that the objects
the United States such and such only as have in
Dictated, and that the expedition is friendly and peace
full Notwithstanding the jealousy with which the
governments of Eastern Asia regard all overture'
from foreigners am without hopes of beneficial
result of the expedition. Should it be crowned witt
success the advantages will not be confined to the
United States, but, as in the case of China, will BIZ
equally enjoyed by all the other maritime Powers.
have much satisfaction in stating that in all the steps
preparatory this expedition, the Government of thu
United States has been materially aided by the gooC
Offices of the King of the Netherlands, the only Eu
ropean power having any commercial relations witt
Japan.
In passing from this survey of our foreign relations
invite the attention of Congress the condition
/ that department of the Government to which thi
branch of the public business entrusted Our inter
course with foreign powers has of late years greatly
increased, both in consequence of our own growt
' and the introduction of many new States into tn
: family of nations In this way the Department Q
State has become overburdened. 1t has, by the re
cent establishment of the Department of the interior
been relieved of portion of the domestic BUS
ness If the residue of the business of that kind sue
as the distribution of Congressional documents, tn
t. keeping, publishing and distribution of the laws
the United States the execution of the copyright law
the subject of reprieves and pardons and some othe
subjects relating interior administration, should