Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1854-12-12

fold greater than TO rctaliate. Wec0uld not ex
trcate unty from this unequal condition, with
such enemy, unless Ne It once departed fEom our
present peaceful policy, and became great naval
power Nor would This country be better situated in
war with one Of the secondary naval powers Though
the naval disparity would be less, the greater extent
and more exposed condition OF our wide spread COM
merce, would give anyof them like advantage over
The proposition to enter into engagements to fore
70 resort 70 privsteers in should be forced
into with great naval power is not entitled to
mere favorable consideration than would be propo-
ston not TO accept the services Of volunteers for op
erations on land. When the honor or the rights Of
country require it to assume hostile attitude, it
confidently relies upon the patriotism of it's citizens
not ordinarily devoted to the military profession to
augment the army and navy, 50 as to make them full
" adequate to the emergency which calls them into
action The proposal to surrender the right to en-
ploy privaecrs Is professedly founded upon the prin
ciple that private property, of unohending non
betants though enemies, should be exempt from the
vages Of war; but the proposed surrender goes hut
little way in carrying out the principle which equally
requires that such private property should not be self
ed or molested by national ships of war. Should the
leading powers of Europe concur in proposing as q
rule Of international law, 70 exempt private property
as well by privateers, the United States will readi
" meet them upon that broad ground.
Since the adjournment of Congress, the ratifca-
tions Of the treaty between the United States and
threat brtaln reatlVe 10 coast FISHERIES, ana 70 re-
ciprocal trade with British North American provin-
ces have nccn exchanged, and some Of its antic:pa
ted advantages are already enjoyed by us. although
ITS full execution to abide certain acts Of egisla
ton not yet fully performed. So it was rati
fed great Britain opened to our commerce, the free
navigation Of the river st Lawrence, and to our fish
uumolested to the chores and bays from
which they had been previously excluded, on the
coasts of her North American provinces; in return
for which she asked for the introduction free ct duty
into the ports of the United States of The fish caught
on the same coast by British fishermen. This being
the compensation stipulated in the treaty. for priv
ileg,s Of the highest Importance and value to the
United States, which were thus voluntarily yielded
before it became effective, the request seemed to me
to be reasonable one; but it could not be acccded to
from want Of authority 10 suspend laws imposing
duties upon all foreign fish. In the mean ime, the
Treasury department issued q regulation for
taiuing the duties paid secured by bonds On fish
caught on the coasts Of the British provinces and
brought to market by British subjecte after the
fishing grounds had been made fully accessible to the
citizens If the United States. recommend to your
favorable consideration o proposition which will be
submitted to you for authority to refund the duties
and cancel the bonds thus received. The provinces
Ut Canada and New Brunswick have also anticipated
the full operation of the treaty by legislative arang
ments respectively to admit free of duty the products
of the United States mentioned in the free list Of the
treaty, and arrangement similar to that regarding
British fish, has been made for duties now chargeabe
on the products Of those provinces enumerated in the
same free list, and introduced therefrom into the
United States; proposition for refunding which will
in my judgment, tie in like manner entitled to your
favorable consideration.
There is a difference of opinion between the United
States and Great Britain, to the boundary line of
the territory of Washington adjoining the British pos
sessions the Pacific, which has already led to diff
cutes the part If the citizens and oca authorities
of the two governments-I recommend that provision
he made for commission to be joined by enc on the
part of her Britanic Majesty, for the purpose Of
ming and establishing the line in controversy, Ger
tain stipulations of the third and fourth articles of
the treaty concluded by the United States and Great
Britain in 1885, regarding possessory rights Of the
Hudson's Bay company, and property Of the Puget's
Sound Agricultural company, have given rise to Sc
rious disputes and it is important to all concerned that
summary means Of settling them amicabiy should be
devised. have reason to believe that an arrange
ment can be made on just terms for the extingush-
ment If the the rights in question embracing alo the
rights of the Hudson's Bay company TO the navlga
riOn of the river Columbia; and therefore suggest
to your consideration, the expectancy of waking
contingent appropriation for that purpose.
France was the early and efficient ally Of the Uni
ted States in their struggle for independence. From
that time to the present with occasional slight inter
ruptions cordial relations of friendship have existed
between the government and people OF the two coun-
tries. The kindly sentiments cherished alike by both
nations, have led to extensive social and commercial
intercourse which trust will not he interrupted or
checked by any casual event of apparently unsat
isfactory character. The French consul at San
Francisco was not long since brought into the United
States district court at that place, by compulsory pro-
cess witness in favor Of another foreign consul
in violation as the French government conceives Of
his pr vileges under our consular convention with
France. There being nothing in the transaction
which could imply any disrespect to France o its
consul, such explanation has been made as / hone
will be satisfactory. Subsequently misunderstanding
fho of
as it appeared, abruptly excluded the American MIN
lister to Spain from passing through France, hi
way from London to Madrid. But that government
has unequvocally disavowed any design to deny the
right Of transit Of the United States; and after ex
plantations to this effect he has resumed his journey
and actually returned through France to Spain. /
herewith lay before Congress the correspondence on
this subject, between our envoy at Paris, and the
minister Of foreign relations Of the French Govern
ment.
at the close of your last session. Internal agitation
assuming very nearly the character of political reyo
luton has recently convu!sed that country The late
ministers were violently expelled from power and
men of very different views in relation to its internal
affairs have succeeded. Since this change there has
been no propitous opportunity to resume and press
on, negotiations for the adjustment of serious ques
ons Of dicrlty between the Spanish government and
the Unite States. There is to believ, that
our minister will find the present Government more
taVoIaody Iucneu IMAM the preceding 10 comply with
our just demands, and to make suitable arrangements
for restoring harmony and preserving peace between
the two countries.
Negotiations pending with Denmark to disc,
tinue the practice of levying tolls vessels and
their cargoes passing through the sound. do not
doubt that We can claim exemption thereirom as
matter of right. 1t admitted all hands that this
exaction is sanctioned not by the general principles
of the law Of nations but only by special conventions
which most Of the commercial nations have entered
into with Denmark. The fifth article Of cur treaty
of 1876 with Denmark provides that there shall moi
be paid the vessels of the United States and their
cargoes when passing through the Sound, hi CHER du
ties than those Of the most favored nations. This
may be regarded as an implied agreement to submit
to the tolls during the continuance of the treaty and
consequently, NAV embanass the assertion Of oui
oh III IN ~ r