Washington telegraph., 1854-12-27

ed, abruptly excluded the American Minis
ter to Spain from passing through France
on his way from London to Madrid, But
that government has unequivocally disavow-
ed any design to deny the right of transi,
to the minister Of the United States; and
after explanations to this effect. he has re.
sumed his journey, and actually returned
through France to Spain. l herewith lay
| before Congress the correspondence on this
subject between our envoy at Paris and the
Minister of foreign relations of the French
I government.
The position Of our affairs with Spain re-
mains as at the close Of your last session
Internal agitation. assuming very nearly
the character of political revolution. has re-
Gently convulsed that country The late
ministers we're violently expelled from pow
er, and men. of very different views in rela-
tion to its internal affairs have succeeded.
Since this change. there has been no propi-
tious opportunity to resume. aud press on,
negotiations of difficulty between the Span
ish government and the United States
There is reason to believe that our minister
will find the present government more IA
vorably inclined than the preceding to COM
ply with our just demands, and to make
suitable arrangements for restoring harmony
/ and preserving peace between the two coun-
tries.
Negotiations are pending with Denmark
to discontinue the practice Of levying tolls
upon our vessels aud their cargoes passing
through the sound. / do not doubt that we
can claim exemption therefrom. as matter
of right. 1t is admitted on all hands that
this exaction is sanctioned, rot by general
principles of the law of nations, which most
Of the commercial nations have entered in-
to with Denmark. The fifth article of our
treaty of 1920. with Denmark. provides
that there shall not be paid, on the vessels
of the United States and their cargoes
when passing through the Sound, higher
duties than those Of the most favored ma
tons. This may be regarded as an implied
agreement to submit to the tolls during the
continuance of the treaty, and. consequent
ly, may embarass the assertion Of our right
to be released therefrom. There are also
provisions in the treaty which ought to be
modified. 1t was to remain in force for ten
years. and until one year after either party
should give notice to the other of its inten-
ton TO terminate it, l deem il expedient
that the contemplated notice should be given
to the government of Denmark
The naval <expedition dispatched about
two years since for the purpose Of establish
ing relations with the empire of Japan, has
been ably and skilfully conducted to sue
cessful termination by the officer to whom it
was entrusted. A treaty. opening certain
of the ports of that populous country. has
been negotiated; and in order to give full
effect thereto, it only remains TO exchange
ratiiications and adopt requisite commercial
regulations.
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 remain
unadjusted. and many new cases have been
recently added to the former list of griev-
ances. Our legation has been earnest in
its endeavors to obtain from the Mexican
government, a favorable consideration Of
these claims. but hitherto without success
The failure is probably, IN aome measure.
to be ascrbed to the disturbed condition Of
that country. 1t has been my anxious de-
sire to maintain friendly relations with the
Mexican republic. and to cause its rights
and territories to be respected. not only BY
our citizens, but by foreigners who have re-
sorted 70 the United States for the purpose
of organizing hostile expeditions against
some Of the States of that republic. The
defenceless condition in which its frontiers
have been left, has stimulated lawless adven-
lures to embark in these enterprises, and
greatly increased the difficulty Of enforcing
our obligations of neutrality. Regarding it
as my solemn duty to fulfill. efficiently these
obligations, not only towards Mexico. but
other foreign nations, have exerted all the
powers with which am invested to defeat
such criminal proceedings, and bring to
punishment those who. BY taking q part
therein. violated our laws The energy
and activity Of our civil and military au-
thorities have frustrated the designs of those
who meditated expeditions Of this character,
except in two instances. One of these,
composed of foreigners was at first counten-
anccd and aided by the Mexican govern
ment itself. it having been deceived as to
their real object. The other, small in num-
Der eluded the vigilance Of the magistrates
at San Francisco. and succeeded in reach
ing the Mexican territories; but the effec-
tive measures taken by this government
compelled the abandonment Of the under
taking.
The commission to establish the new line
between the United States and Mexico, ac-
cording to the provisions Of the treaty Of
the Both December last, has been organized
and the work is already commenced
Our treaties with the Argentine Confed-
Grafton. and with the republics Of Uruguay
and Paraguay. secure to US the free naviga-