Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-12-20

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, on all hands, that this exaction is sane
toned, not by the general principles 0
the law of nations, but only by spccia
conventions, which most of the comm er
cial nations have entered into with Den
mark, The fifth article of our treaty o
1895, with Denmark. provides, that ther,
United States and their cargoes whez
passing through the Sound higher duties
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 conse.
Iquently, may embarrass the assertion oil
our right to be released therefrom.-
There are also other provisions in the
treaty which ought to be modified. II
/ was 10 remain in force for ten years, and
until one year after e;:&e.r e;:&er party should
give notice to the other of intention TO ter
inmate it, I deem it expedient that the
contempl'ited notice should be given To
the government Of Denmark.
The naval expedition, despatched
about two years since for the purpose Of
establishing relations with the empire of
Japan, has been ably and skillfully con-
Quoted TO a successful termination by
the officer to whom it was entrusted
A treaty, opening certain of the ports Of
that populous country, has been negotia-
ted and in order to give full effect there
TO. it only remains to exchange ralifica-
lions, and adopt requisite commercial re-
gulations.
The treaty lately concluded between
the United States and Mexico settled some
of our most embarrassing difficulties with
that country, but numerous claims upon
it for wrongs and injuries to our citizens
remained unadj jusCed, and many new cases
have been recently added to the former
list of grievances. Our legation has been
earnest in its endeGvors to obtain, from
the Mexican government, favorable
consideration of these claims, but lIither-
to without success. Tns failure is pro.
baby, in some measure, to be ascribed
to the disturbed condition Of that county
It has been my anxious desire to main
tain friendly relations with the Mexican
republic, and to cause its rights aud ter
ritories TO be respected, not only by our
citizens, but By foreigners, who have re-
sorted 10 the United States for the pur-
pose of organizing hostile expeditions
against some of the States of that Repub
lie. The defenceless condition in which
its frontiers have been left, has stimula-
ted lawlcss adventurers to embark in these
enterprises, and greatly increase the diff
ticulty of enforcing our obligations Of
neutrality. Regarding it as my solemn
duty TO fulfil, efficiently, these obligations
not only towards Mexico. but othertfor-
eign nations, [ have exerted all the pow
ers with which am invested to defeat
such criminal proceedings, and bring 10
punishment those who. by taking part
therein, violated onr LAWS. The energy
and activity of our civil and military au-
thorities have frustrated the designs of
those who medated expeditions Of this
character, except In two instances. One
OF these, composed of foreigners, was at
first countenanced and aided by the Mex
ican government itself, it having been de-
ceived as to their real object The other,
small in number, eluded the vigilance Of
the magistrates at San Francisco, and sue
ceeded in reaching the Mexican terrific
ries but the effective measures taken
by this government compelled the aban-
donment of the undertaking.
The commission to establish the new
line between the United States and Mex
leo, according to the provisions of the
treaty Of the 3oth OF December last, has
been organized, and the work is already
commenced.
Our treaties with tho Argentine Con-
federation, and with the Republics OF Uru-
quay and Paraguay. secure to us the free
navigation of the river La Plata, and
some of its larger tributaries but the
same success has not attended our endca-
vors to open the Amazon. The reasons
in favor of the free use of that river, l
had occasion to present fully, in former
message and, considering The cordial
relations which have long existed between
this government and Brazil, it maybe
expected that pending negotiations will,
eventually, reach a favorable result.
Convenient means of transit, between
the several parts of country, are no, on
ly desirable for the objects of CONNER
cial and personal communication, but es-
sential to its existence under one govern
msnt. Separated as are the Atlantic and
/ Pacific coasts of the United States by the
whole breadth of the continent, still the
/ Inhabitants Of each are closely bound to-
gether by community of origin and ins:!.
tutions, and by strong attachment to the
Union. Hence the constant and increas-
ing intercourse, and vast interchange OF
commercial productions. between these
remote divisions of the Republic. At the
present time, the most practicable and
only commodious routes for communica
ton between them are the way of the
Lsthmus of Central America. 1t is the
duty of the government to secure thes'
avenues against all danger of interruP
ton.
In relation to Central America, per
; picking questions existed between tn,
: United States and Great Britain at tn
time of cession of California. These, a