Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-12-15

the last session. Since that time, on fur
ther 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 tempo
rary wrong which had been unintentional-
ly done her, from want of information,
should be repaired by an unreserved ac-
acknowledgement Of her sovereignty.
have the satisfaction 20 inform you thai
the course pursued by Peru has been cred
table to the llberalHy of her government
Before it was known by her that her title
would be acknowledged at Washington, her
Minister of Foreign Affairs had authorized
our charge d d'afairs at Lima to announce
to the American vessels which had gone
to the Lobos for guano, that the Peruvian
Government was willing to freight them on
ITS own account. This intention has been
carried into effect by the Peruvian Minis
ter here. by an arrangement which is be-
lieved to be advantageous to the parties IN
interest.
Our settlements on the shores of the Pa
cifc have already given great extension,
and in some respects new direction, to
our commerce in that ocean. A direct and
rapidly increasing intercourse has sprung
up with Eastern Asia. The waters of the
Nothern Pacific, even into the Arctic sea,
have of late years been frequented by our
whalemen. The application OF steam to the
general purposes of navigation is becoming
daily more common, and makes it desirable
to obtain fuel and other necessary supplies
at convenient points on the route between
Asia and our Pacific shores. Our unfortu-
nate countrymen who from time to time
suffer ship wreck OH the coasts of the east
ern seas are entitled to protection. Be-
sides these specific objects, the general
prosperity of our States on the Pacific re-
quires that an attempt should be made to
open The opposite regions Of Asia to mu-
tually beneficial intercourse. 1t is obvious
that this attempt coul1 be made by no pow
er to SO great advantage as by the United
States, whose constitutional system excludes
every idea of distant colonial dependencies.
have accordingly been led to order an ap-
propriate naval force to Japan, under the
command Of a discreet and intelligent Of
fcer OF the highest rank known to our SER
|
tain from the government Of that country
some relaxation Of the lnhospitable and
antl-social system which it has pursued for
about two centuries. He has been di-
rected particularly to demonstrate in the
strongest language against the cruel treat
ment to which our shipwrccked mariners
have often been subjected, and 10 insist
that they shall be treated with humanity.
He is instructed however at the same time
to give that government t amplest assur-
ances that the objects of the United States
are such and such only as have indicated,
and that the expedition is friendly and
peaceful. Notwithstanding the jealousy
with which the governments 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 preparatory 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 COM
mercal relations with Japan.
In passing from this survey Of our foreign
relations, invite the attention of Congress
to the condition of that department of the
Government to which this branch of the
r public business is entrusted. Our inter
, course with foreign powers has of late years
greatly increased, both IN consequence ot
our own growth and the introduction oil
/ many new States into the family of nations
In this way the Department of State has
r become overburdened. 1t has, by the re.
cent establishment of the Department O
the Interior, been relieved of some portion
[ of the domestic business. If the residue O
r the business of that kind, such as the dis
! tribution of Congressional documents, the
= keeping, publishing and distribution of the
I laws of the United States, the execution
a of the copyright law the subject ofreprieve.
r and pardons, and some other subjscts re-
: lating to interior administration, should bt
r transferred from the Department of State
0 it wonld unquestlonably be for The benefi
Y of the public service. | would also sug
t gest that the building appropriated to th'
0 State Department is not fire proof; tha
P there is reason to think there are defects
h in its construction, aud that the archives o
t the Government in charge of the Depart
D ment, with the precious collections ofth'
manuscript papers OF Washington, Jeffer
: son, Hamilton, Madison, and Monroe, are
exposed to destruction by fire. A sim,la
: remark may be made of the buildings ap
propriated to the War and Navy Depart
f ments.
The condition of the Treasury is exhibit
ed In the annual report from that Depart
2 ment.
The cash receipts into the Treasury 70
, the fiscal year eading the 30th June last
exclusive of trust funds, were forty nin
s millions seven hundred and twenty-eigh
4 thousand three hundred and eighty-slx dol
5 lars and eightynine cents, ($49, 1873 1856
t SO, aud the expenditures for the same pc
e riod likewise excu i've of trust funds, wer
y forty-six millions seven thousand eigh
o hundred and ainety-s,x dollars aad twent.
: cents, ($46 0O7, 800 20 y of which min
a mllioas'tour hundred aad fifty-fve thou>an
: eight hundred and fifteen dollars and eight
r three cents $50 ,455,S ,S15 83) was on accoun
e of the principal and interest Of the publ
: debt, including the last instalment of tn
5 indemnity to Mexico, under the treaty Q
: Guadalupe Hidalgo, leaving balance G
d Sl4,632, 1856 81 in The Treasury on tn
t. first day of July last. Since this latter pc
e Rod further purchases Of the principal c
IS the public debt have been made 10 the ex
l. tent OF two millions four hundred and fifty
o six thousand FIVE hundred and forty-seve